Travel Interviews

Check out my two recent interviews with Totally Sam's World and Londoner Abroad here! 

One Month In - Surfers, Brisbane & Noosa

Brisbane's Man Made Lagoon 

So we’ve been in Australia for one month now, which is hard to believe as it feels like it should be so much longer. We’ve slept in a total of six different hostels and nine different rooms, experienced both city and town life, and done things I could have only imagined doing. We’ve met friends that’ll continue on with us, and friends that we’ve been sad to say goodbye to. Friends that have lasted a day, or some that have just been part of one evening. Sitting on the bottom bunk today, writing this with a fan directed solely at my head and desperately trying to stream the season finale of How I Met Your Mother, I think it’s safe to say that we’ve well and truly adjusted into the backpacking life. Since starting our Oz adventure on March 6th, we’ve visited Sydney, Byron Bay, Surfers Paradise, Brisbane and now Noosa. We’ve hiked mountains, visited Steve Irwin’s zoo and canoed around the Everglades - it’s pretty surreal to think this is actually my life, after what seems like years of saving up, planning and waiting. 

Backpacking Tips & Tricks

The more people you eat with, the cheaper it'll be.

1 - I’ve mentioned it before, but don’t assume that because you’re backpacking, you must have a backpack. I came out with a 120L capacity backpack and within just a few room changes I was ready to dump it and leave all my worldly possessions behind. A suitcase will become your best friend - easy to move, easy to pack, and most of all - easy to see where the hell all your stuff is! There is nothing more frustrating than trying to find a specific item of clothing and looking like a vet with his arm inside a cow - trust me, wheels are best.

2 - Never be afraid to ask for the odd cheeky discount. When buying my suitcase it was $199, a little over my budget. But after a simple question of ‘do you do backpackers discount…?’ I had managed to work $80 off - bargains! 

3 - Suncream suncream suncream. I can’t stress this enough - anything under SPF 50 and you will burn. To be honest, even with SPF 50 you’ll still have the odd lobster day. The ozone layer is a lot thinner in Australia, making it deceivingly difficult to guess when you need to apply. Simple solution - buy the aerosol kind and top up regularly, no stickiness, no greasy hands and you’ll be covered within 20 seconds. 

Top 10 Highlights So Far

1 - Jet boating around Sydney Harbour 

First Week in Australia - OzIntro

Sydney Harbour

They say time flies when you're having fun, and boy were they right. My first week in Australia with the OzIntro team has been the most random, spontaneous, fun, drunken, and mind-blowing week I think I’ve ever had. Meeting some amazing new friends, the days just flew by and before we knew it, it was time to say goodbye over one last goon session. From jet boating around Sydney Harbour on the Monday, to surfing lessons, Bondi volleyball games and a trek through the Blue Mountains, you really can’t say that you don’t get your moneys worth with this company. With an amazing group of leaders, we’ve not only been shown the beautiful sights of Sydney, but also the cheapest alcohol to buy and the best dance moves to bust out in Side Bar on a Tuesday night - everything a backpacker needs to know and more! 

Bit by the Travelling Bug

Well, okay, not literally. For as long as I can remember I’ve wanted to travel. Even going back ten years as to when I started Secondary School, I can still remember that first ‘introduce yourself to the class’ session that every eleven-year-old child dreads. 

“Hi...I’m Chloe. I like to write and I want to travel the world someday.”

To be fair, eleven-year-old me knew what she was on about. Seven years on I chose my degree of Multimedia Journalism at Canterbury Christ Church University and so began my future of writing in a new place. Of course, Canterbury was hardly Timbuktu, and although my halls of residence were certainly questionable at times, I was hardly slumming it backpackers-style in a hostel somewhere. Nevertheless, those three years I spent away from home provided me with both the life and professional experience needed in order to one day make that big move abroad.