Victoria’s Adventure: Three Weeks Along Australia’s East Coast

I had always wanted to travel to Australia between finishing high school and starting university, so that was already a firm plan. My cousin recommended SGA to me, as she had done the trip herself. I quickly decided to book the trip, and on July 19, 2025, my adventure to Australia began. I arrived three days before the tour started, which I definitely recommend, as it helps to adjust to the time zone and explore Sydney a bit since there isn’t much time to do so once the tour begins. On the first day of the tour, I met my group, and we got a quick look at the beautiful city before receiving all the organizational details for the next three weeks.

After an overnight drive, I arrived in Byron Bay, a place that immediately captivates with its relaxed hippie vibe and laid-back surfer culture. The lighthouse at Cape Byron, Australia’s easternmost point, offered a spectacular view of the coast – especially at sunrise. As if that wasn’t enough, whales and dolphins greeted us in the morning! The “Behind the Waterfall” tour was also very nice, although the water was too cold for me to swim at that time of year.

From Byron Bay, we continued on to Surfers Paradise. Here, two worlds collided: the endless sandy beaches and the ocean on one side, and the shimmering high-rises and vibrant nightlife on the other. I took my first surfing lesson here, which I definitely recommend! The next day, we spent on a catamaran and had the chance to jump into the ocean and swim a little.

The next stop was Brisbane, where we visited the Botanical Gardens and learned about the history of the city. In the evening, we enjoyed the Giggle Game Nights, which were filled with laughter, singing, and dancing, creating beautiful memories. The next day was an absolute highlight – the Australia Zoo! There, we had the chance to pet kangaroos and koalas and watch the famous “Crocshow.”

After a stop in Rainbow Beach, the gateway to Fraser Island, my absolute trip highlight began. Two days on Fraser Island – the world’s largest sand island! The ride in the 4x4 vehicle along the sand beach, which serves as a highway, was an experience in itself. I swam in the crystal-clear lakes like Lake McKenzie, explored the rainforests on sand, and marveled at the shipwreck. The untouched nature and wildlife were simply breathtaking! Camping and the themed “Shirt-Shirt-Night” brought our group even closer together. Back in Rainbow Beach, we watched the sunset and spent the next day on the beach before heading to Airlie Beach.

Here, I took a scenic flight over the Great Barrier Reef, which I highly recommend. Afterwards, I set sail for two days. The sailing experience was fantastic! We visited the world-famous Whitehaven Beach (a filming location for Pirates of the Caribbean) with its fine white sand and went snorkeling twice. A highlight of the sailing trip was waking up to the sight of whales in the morning and falling asleep to the jumps of dolphins in the evening.

I spent the last days of my trip in Cairns, in tropical northern Australia. From there, I went on excursions to the Daintree Rainforest, the world’s oldest rainforest, and took the scenic train ride to Kuranda. We also went on a snorkeling trip to the Great Barrier Reef. On the last evening, it was hard for all of us to say goodbye. Not only did I have the best trip of my life, but I also made many new friendships.

I always had a point of contact through SGA, where I could ask any questions. And if you’re worried about spiders – I didn’t see a single one, even while camping. If you’re worried about not fitting in with the group – you’ll definitely find someone to connect with! Thanks to this trip, I even gained a pen pal, and next year, the whole group will have a reunion in England, because we all got along so well.