Tips to Aussie Survival! An extremely late, (and last) post before I fly home to the States!

It's been awhile since I've blogged. And by a while, I mean like 5 months. Buuttt that's okay, obviously I've just been having so much fun, that there is no time for blogging!...yes, we'll go with that.

Anywho, I believe that it is part of my moral responsibility and obligation to offer a kind of "how-to" guide to living in and traveling Australia.  I've learned a looottt of things while living here in Cairns, and will now share with you my tips to success, fun, and an amazing Australian experience.

You're welcome.


1.  Do not take Steve Irwin's episodes of "The Crocodile Hunter" as your example for what Australians say and do.  It's simply not true.  No one actually says "Crikey", "Ain't she a beauty", and "G'day mate". They also most certainly do not wear Khakis, hiking boots, and beige button up shirts everywhere they go.  If they do, you have been lucky enough to meet the elusive and unique Aussie Bogan.

2.  Everyone knows you're American.  Truly.  As soon as we open our giant, loud trap, everyone in a 2 mile radius, know's we're American. So...when someone asks you the "Hey! Where are you from?", DO NOT reply with: "oh! I'm from the USA/States/United States/MERICA". Trust me, they know that part.  They want to know, where in the U.S. you're from.  And to add onto that, if you're not from California, New York, or L.A. (yes, somehow L.A. is it's own important region), then elaborate on where your State is located.
      i.e. "Oh, I'm from the West Coast of the States, from Oregon... (wait for the blank, 'I have no idea look', and proceed...) I live about 40 minutes North of the California border". "ohhhh, how exciting!"

3. Black coffee does not exist.  Cafe's in Australia rarely, if at all, offer a brewed black coffee that we Americans are all so accustomed to. So, upon walking into an Aussie cafe and ordering a black coffee, be prepared to be greeted with a confusing, "what-the-F-are-you-saying-look".  They might suggest a Long Black, (an Americano).  Go with that.  It's as close to the real thing as you're going to find.

4. Iced Coffee - (I've ranted on this before) is a sweet, creamy, non coffee tasting beverage, full of milk, a weeee bit of coffee, ice cream, and whipped cream.  Do not make the mistake of ordering one, (like I did), and expect black coffee with ice cubes. I was quite surprised.  I even tried to give it a go. I hated it. Sad waste of my precious $6.00...which brings me to...

5. EVERYTHING IS EXPENSIVE. Yes, you'll get over the shock of it all, and adapt within a week. Food is more expensive, fuel is more expensive, and most horribly, alcohol is more expensive...by a lot. You may see all of this, and go "Great! Now I'll be super in shape and thin, as I can't afford to eat, drive, or drink!" Don't be fooled...you will find a way to still do all 3.  Especially drink. Desperate times call for desperate measures.
                 
                                     

6. Most Australians don't looovveee Kangaroos.  Kangaroos are comparable to the deer in Oregon. They're everywhere, eat all the grass, and run into cars.  They're generally viewed as pests and are not at all found to be the cute, cuddly, and adorable creatures that Americans love to faun over. Not to say that Aussie's don't find them cute, but not with the same excitement as oozed by tourists.  This goes for Koalas too.

7. Koalas are not bears. I repeat, NOT bears.  They are Marsupials. They have a pouch.  Mammals do not have a pouch.  Bears are mammals.  Do you understand what I'm saying.  It truly boggles my mind how many American tourists refer to Koalas as, "Oooohhh look at the cute Koala bear!!". Any Aussie zookeeper/animal carer that overhears you exclaiming this, will probably do an eye roll, and smile and nod. It's a Koala. Not a bear. Okay, I think I've made that one clear. [Side note: Marsupials are indeed mammals, they are actually part of a different grouping within the mammalian family.  I think I've confused some people here, but I'm not saying that marsupials aren't mammals. Just saying that koalas are not bears. K. Glad that one is cleared up!]

8. Ketchup = Tomato Sauce.  Don't even bother trying to order "Ketchup" for your "French Fries". You sound absurd.  Simply request "Tomato Sauce" for your "Chips".

9. Kangaroo is delicious. It's a gamey meat. Like Venison or Elk, and is delicious as a steak and grilled medium rare on the bbq. Trust me on this one, give it a go. Don't be weird.

10. Try Vegemite.  Do it once, do it quickly, and get it over with.  It's not yummy, it's quite unpleasant, but is an experience nonetheless.  Also, don't feel like you have to love it either, or you might offend the Aussie culture.  You won't.  It's been my experience that most Australians don't like it either. It's truly just...bleck.

11. Visit Cairns.  I know that I'm pretty biased since I've only lived and spent the majority of my time in Cairns, but it truly is an amazing and beautiful area of Australia.  I know that most Americans, (and other tourists I'm sure), often view Australia as rugged, outback terrain for 95% of the country, and then the other 5% is oh! look! a city!  But no, Cairns is incredibly tropical and part of Far North Queensland, (FNQ if you're cool), a beautiful region of the country.  But really, besides beaches, the Great Barrier Reef, and Rainforest..what else could you want..??

12. There are not snakes everywhere.  I am quite aware that Australia is home to pretty much THE most venomous and deadliest animals on the planet, but they don't just walk around all willy-nilly.  I rarely, if ever, have seen a snake just out and about when in the city.  The only times I've ever seen one was when I went looking for them with the boys.  You will not step on one as you walk from your car to the local cafe or shopping centre.  You are quite safe in urban areas.

13.  Back to being American for a second. You will be made fun of for your accent.  I know that many of us forget that we even have an accent to other people, but as soon as you start talking and say things like "Banana", "Tomato", and describing what the weather is doing, "It's nice out!". You will be laughed at.  But it's okay, Aussie's say some weird ass things as well.

14. Oooh! Speaking of, I've mentioned this before, but Australians like to abbreviate everything.  It will take you a little while to understand what they are saying, (arvo - afternoon, devo - devastated, maccas - Mcdonalds, etc.)  But you'll figure it out eventually.  Until then, just prepare yourself to be confused.

15. EAT A TIM TAM. Tim Tam's are Australia's classic cookie-biscuit thing. In other words, heavenly little chocolate, (or white chocolate or caramel) rectangles.  Be smart though.  Only buy snack sized portions at a time.  A full package of Tim Tams is dangerous business.  Especially if you like chocolate and cookies and eating everything when on Holiday.  Which is basically everyone.

16.  No one "vacations" in Australia. They go on "holiday". Saying, "I'm on vacaatttiiiooonn. #selfie#yolo" makes you look way more American and ridiculous than you already are.

17. Night clubs/bars are generally open wayyyy later than American clubs/bars, (except for Vegas). The average night club here in Cairns is open till 5/6am.  So pace yourself.  Don't go all out in the first couple of hours expecting to be home and in bed by 2 or 3.  Oh no no no, prepare for a literal night out. Besides it's always so classy leaving a bar at 6am, when people in suits are walking to work.  You'll thank me for this tid-bit.

18. Go on a crocodile cruise! FNQ, (remember this is the cool way to say Far North Queensland), the Northern Territory and parts of Western Australia are the only places in Australia where you can see crocodiles in the wild, so take advantage of it! It's a relatively cheap experience, $30-$40 for the two-hour cruise, and you're pretty much guaranteed to see at least one croc.  Plus you're also seeing a beautiful scenic river tour in the rainforest! I loved going on one myself, and the mother and brother loved it too. So make sure to book that one in.  Especially when you visit the Cairns region.

19. Meet people! Introduce yourself to peeps who are doing the same touristy crap you are! So many people come to Australia to simply have an amazing time, so why not meet some great people to go enjoy it with! It's been my experience that people who travel, are happy people.  So if you see a group of people out on a tour of the rainforest with you, say hello, chit chat with them, and odds are you have some new hang out/party/beach bummin' buddies for the next couple of days.  Plus, meeting people from all over the world and from different cultures, is pretty damn wonderful I must say.

20. Do as much as you possibly can while in the country! Yes, it's all wonderful and dandy to eat and drink to your hearts content, and party all night long with the Aussies, but remember that Australia is an incredibly beautiful country. So go see it! Go to Sydney, see the Harbour Bridge, the Opera House, go to Cairns and see the Great Barrier Reef, and go scuba diving.  Literally go and see as much as you can, with all the money and time that you have.  Because in the end, who is going to remember that delicious $20 cocktail you had at a random bar in Sydney.  What you will remember is seeing the Opera House with your own two eyes, and the gorgeous and colorful fish of the Great Barrier Reef.

So there you have it, you lucky people, you! All, (okay most), of my worldly tips and advice to living in and traveling Australia.  There is so much to see and do while in this country, that you must take advantage of every moment, because Australia is undeniably amazing.

And I can't believe that the day has finally arrived for me to leave this beautiful country and all of the wonderful people who have become part of my little Aussie family.  I have literally had the most perfect year living in Cairns, and have truly had the experience of a lifetime.  I can not even begin to put into words how much I will miss Australia and my life here, but I will be back soon, as I know there's no way I can stay away for too long!  It's a beautiful life here in the land down under, and I hope that you all personally take advantage of the chance to go explore it. : )

Missing Australia already, but looking forward to seeing all of my friends and family upon my return.

See you tuesday Oregon! xx

Cape Reinga & My time in the city of Auckland!

Can't believe that my time in New Zealand, has come to an end! Tomorrow morning I fly out of Auckland, bright and early, at 7am.  Although, I'm sad to be leaving beautiful NZ, I am definitely looking forward to arriving back in wonderful Cairns!  Except for the heat, humidity, and surplus of rain that is.

Since my last blog post, I've been up to tons here in NZ!  I've had a birthday, an NZ meat pie, some NZ lamb, been to the tippy top of the North island of New Zealand, been to 90 mile beach, been to the Auckland Zoo, witnessed an intense Rhinoceros fight at said zoo, experienced some delicious kiwi beer, and have seen almost every surrounding area of Auckland.

I've certainly been busy, busy.

My time in Rangiputa came to an end earlier this week, and was definitely a bit bittersweet! Although, a small town without much activity, the area is absolutely beautiful and full of outdoorsy activities, water sports, and a gorgeous beach.

In my last posts, I included quite a few pictures of the beach and shoreline.  However, there were a couple of photos I failed to post that I want to include now!

While running on the beach, I came across this!
A stingray, that I'm assuming, had been caught by a local fisherman and tossed on the beach to die.
:(
So sad, but pretty cool to look over.  Stingrays are definitely weird creatures.


About to go quadding on the beach to do some fishing, and when I turned my back..

...my spot had been taken by Bubba, The Jack Russell.
She was apparently ready to go! 

At low tide, this area of mussel covered rocks are exposed and are the perfect place to go fishing off of.
I didn't end up catching any fish, but I did splash around in the tide pools and found a couple of interesting things.

Little squishy starfish.

Egg-like things that turned out to be Jellyfish eggs! 

The day before I left Rangiputa, I woke up nice and early to head up to Cape Reinga.  Cape Reinga, as I've mentioned before, is pretty much as far north as you can go. It's also the only place in New Zealand where you can see the exact points where the Tasman Sea meets the Pacific Ocean.  An absolutely incredible thing to witness.  It's a bit of a drive to the top of the Cape, but absolutely worth it, once you're there! There's also several beautiful places to stop and see along the way!

On the way up the cape, we stopped at a small camping site
that had some Maori art scattered throughout the area.
(Hi, I'm such a tourist.)

Not sure of the name of this Lake/River, but it was a beautiful place to see...


...especially as it flowed into the ocean.  

Tapotupotu Bay.  About 10-15 minutes before you reach the Cape.

Although incredibly annoying, these little seagulls have the most beautiful red feet!
Never seen anything like it, so of course I had to take a photo.

Finally made it to the Cape after several hours of travel and picture taking, and could not have had a more amazing view of the ocean and surrounding area!

A view of the Tasman Sea and the beginning of 90 mile beach!
A beach that you can actually drive on when the tide is out.

The exact point where the Tasman Sea meets the Pacific Ocean.
On a particularly rough day, locals say that the oceans collide together with amazing force.

Cape Reinga Lighthouse.  A popular tourist attraction.
As is the whole of Cape Reinga, and for good reasons!

Sand tobogganing on the sand dunes!
Although tempted to join in, the thought of sand absolutely everywhere, was not appealing in the slightest.
Did see some great wipeouts though!

My day spent traveling the northern part of the North Island, was absolutely wonderful! I was able to see so much in one day and definitely enjoyed the trip up for my birthday.  There's certainly so much to see in New Zealand, and although, I was unable to see it all during this trip, I'll certainly be back.

After spending a couple of days in Rangiputa, I made the trip back to Auckland and promptly went to the Auckland Zoo the next day.  It seems that everywhere I go, I have to make it to the zoo!

The Auckland Zoo is surprisingly not the largest of zoos, and really only took a couple of hours to see it all.  I did, definitely enjoy it though!

NZ Kea bird.

Cheetah's are absolutely my most favorite animal.
However, this one wasn't too happy to see me as he enjoyed his breakfast.
As if I'm going to take it.
Silly Cheetah.

Giraffes! With babies! Cute, cute.

Hippo! 

Two big male Rhinos. Pre-fight.
These two big boys managed to do some bloody damage to each other when they began fighting and didn't stop for over 10 minutes.  It was pretty incredible to see these two animals going at it, and is definitely something that I've personally never witnessed.
Thankfully the Rhinos did stop and only appeared to have superficial wounds.

In addition to visiting the zoo, I took the time to see the city of Auckland, and the surrounding areas, including the Northern Beaches.   Auckland is truly a beautiful city!  I also took the time to enjoy some classic kiwi beers and an NZ meat pie! 

View of the city off of the Auckland Harbour Bridge.

The famous Auckland SkyTower! And a gorgeous ferrari.
Quite a combo.

These large containers belonged to some industrial company along the marina and were each pained in a rather unusual way, with inspirational quotes written on the sides.

The NZ meat pie! This one was Steak and mushroom and amazingly delicious.

The first beer I tried in NZ, and one that I continued to enjoy throughout my trip.
Very tasty, with a lemony-orange flavor to it. Yumyumyum.

I put this picture in, to show how beautiful NZ is! (Aussie money is quite colorful too)
The U.S. dollars are truly so incredibly boring, in comparison.

Auckland is in an area surrounded by several large hills and small mountains.
It was on one of these mountains, Mt. Victoria, that I was able to see the most amazing views of the whole city.
Including this view of the east side of the harbour.

Auckland really is a beautiful city.

New Zealand is amazing in so many ways, and truly needs more than 10 days to see it all.  You also need to have a fairly good sized budget to travel do and that wasn't quite doable this trip around, but definitely will be the next time I come to visit.

Man, the places I could see if money wasn't an issue. Boo.

Anywho, I've definitely enjoyed my time in NZ and have met some wonderful people along the way. I'm looking forward to Cairns and the process of looking for work, but will definitely miss my time in New Zealand.  It's certainly a country that is beautiful in every way.

It's another place to add to the bucket list, friends and fam!

Until next time, Cheers!

Nicole

My first couple of days in NZ!

New Zealand is beautiful.

It's actually so similar to Southern Oregon, (or at least the North Island is), that it's confusing.  Part of me feels like I'm back home! Large, rolling, grassy hills with cattle, and pine trees galore! Except for the palm trees, and beaches of course.

As most people know, (or you do if you have been following my blog), I've come to NZ to apply for a Work and Holiday Visa for Australia.  I can happily say that the mission was accomplished and was insanely easier than I expected.  It's an online application, and was too easy to fill out.  I was all prepared to submit documents proving sufficient funds, passport photos, birth certificate documents, passport details, etc. and I ended up not uploading a thing! It even processed in less than an hour! Definitely was not expecting that, but I'm not complaining! Just allows me to truly enjoy my holiday!

With the help of my Dad, I was put in contact with several people in NZ, and they have all been so generous and have allowed me to stay with them during my stay.  There are truly some lovely people in New Zealand and I am thoroughly enjoying my holiday here!  I arrived in Auckland on thursday night and am definitely looking forward to touring the city, later this week.

I drove up to Rangiputa, NZ on friday and have been enjoying the breathtakingly gorgeous scenery and beaches!  I'm definitely enjoying a life of luxury on a I-Have-No-Money Budget.  I've been very fortunate :)  I'm currently writing this blog, with an amazing view of the ocean, that is less than 100 feet away.  Life is goooooddd!

See. Ocean....right there.

On the way up to Rangiputa, I was able to stop in a few coastal towns and see some touristy sights! Especially in Kawakawa.  In Kawakawa, there are the Hundertwasser toilets which are famous for their architectural work and modeling, done by an Austrian architect who came to New Zealand, fell in love with Kawakawa, and built these toilets! I'm sure there's a bit more to it, then that, but they're pretty fancy schmancy public toilets.  To keep up the feel of the town's art and historical importance, buildings are beginning to incorporate Hundertwasser art into their structure. It's a cute little place, with some beautiful art murals on the buildings.

Absolutely love this artwork done in the style of Hundertwasser.

Such a tourist.

Rangiputa is a small, remote beach town, that is right at the top of the north island.  It's full of Holiday homes, and only about 30 permanent residents.  The people I am staying with are wonderful, and have made me feel completely at home, which has been so great!

The view directly outside of the doors of my room!

Hello paradise!

The water is a bit cold, but so incredibly clear
and has these beautiful turquoise tones to it. 

Since coming to Rangiputa, I've been relaxing, enjoying the beach and some beach runs, and even more so enjoying the lack of heat and humidity! Don't get me wrong, I LOVE Cairns, but a break from melting is nice.   Plus it's hard not to enjoy such gorgeous surroundings.

In other exciting news, TOMORROW, (the 14th) IS MY BIRTHDAY!
It's a bit bittersweet spending it in NZ without friends and fam, but I'll be celebrating the day with a drive up to Cape Reinga tomorrow, for an all day adventure!!  Cape Reinga is the northwesternmost tip of the Northern part of the North Island.  I'll practically be going to the tip top of New Zealand.  Pretty cool, I must say!  But seriously, I can't believe I'll be 22! I feel so old.  It's even more strange to think that I'll still be 21 back in the states, due to the time difference.

Two ages at once, whassup.

Anywho, I'm absolutely loving my time in Rangiputa and the northern beaches, and am definitely looking forward to exploring Auckland later this week.  I have several goals in mind for Auckland, including: going to the zoo, having some delicious NZ lamb, and the legendary mince pie.

New Zealand is wonderful and life is great and I am incredibly lucky.

Cheers!

Nicole