Three-Week East Coast Tour in Australia: Lea’s Travel Adventure
CATEGORY: Adventure travel - 3 weeks
COUNTRY: Australia
READING TIME: 4 minutes
Lea, 18 years old and a recent high school graduate, undertook a three-week tour along Australia's east coast with StudentsGoAbroad before starting her studies. From Sydney to Cairns, she explored breathtaking landscapes, overcame personal fears and made lifelong friends. In her blog, she shares her experiences and impressions of Australia's wild east coast with you.
Hi, my name is Lea, I’m 18 years old, and I just graduated from high school this year. Before starting university, I wanted to travel a bit, so I explored options online and came across StudentsGoAbroad.
I was impressed by their website, especially because of the numerous testimonials and options they offered. That’s why I ultimately decided to go with this organization. I quickly chose the three-week East Coast Tour in Australia. Initially, I was worried that three weeks might not be enough time to see the entire East Coast. Unfortunately, I couldn’t opt for the six-week tour due to time constraints, so I decided to just go for it.
- One of the many beautiful beach landscapes
Arrival for the adventure trip in Australia
Only a few days into the trip, I was blown away by all the impressions I had gathered in such a short time. The three weeks turned out to be absolutely sufficient!
I landed in Sydney, where I spent the first two days before the tour officially started. The trip to the first hostel was super smooth because everything was organized for me. I just had to hop on a bus that took me directly to the hostel. I highly recommend booking an extra night or two before the tour begins to get used to the new surroundings and adjust to the time difference.
The first days in Sydney & Byron Bay
On the first day of the tour, I met the group members. I was a bit nervous about fitting in, but my worries quickly disappeared. Everyone was so friendly, and I immediately felt at home. Sydney amazed us with its many fascinating sights. Despite a packed schedule, we still had plenty of time to explore the city on our own and bond with each other.
On the first evening, we took an overnight bus to Byron Bay and arrived the next morning. We had the chance to relax at the beach or visit the charming small town, which was just a few minutes from the hostel. One of the highlights was a trip to waterfalls and lakes, including a tea tree oil lake. These spots were relatively unknown, so we had them almost entirely to ourselves.
- View of Sydney's world-famous opera house from the Harbour Bridge
The perfect mix of city feeling and wild nature
After two days, we moved on to Surfers Paradise. There, we explored the city and enjoyed a wonderful group dinner. During our stay, we took a surfing lesson and went on a catamaran tour – both were absolutely amazing experiences.
In Brisbane, we visited the famous Australian Zoo, where we had the incredible opportunity to pet kangaroos and koalas – a definite highlight of the trip!
Next on our itinerary was Rainbow Beach.This stop was particularly exciting because it was the gateway to Fraser Island. We spent two nights camping on the island, surrounded by stunning nature.
At Airlie Beach, we went on the Whitsundays tour. Sailing through the area, snorkeling with colorful fish, and seeing the Great Barrier Reef was absolutely breathtaking.
Our final stop was Cairns, where we participated in various activities and ended the trip with an emotional farewell dinner.
- Dream scenery on the Whitsundays tour
My conclusion after 3 weeks in Australia
This tour gave me so many new experiences I would never have had in my everyday life. I overcame fears, such as being afraid of the ocean or spiders (which I only encountered on Fraser Island). I also learned to let go and take things as they come, a mindset that still helps me stay calm and confident in many situations.
The time spent in hostels brought the group closer together, and I’m happy to now call three group members some of my closest friends.
Two activities I highly recommend are skydiving in Cairns and the surfing lesson in Surfers Paradise – unforgettable!
Written by Lea from Germany (Participant of the adventure trip to Australia with StudentsGoAbroad)
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