Sydney travel & expat blog: irreverent musings of a life down under and a one-stop-shop for expats and adventurers to Australia & Oceania
Sydney ocean swimming. Sharks. Deep open water. Riptides. At first glance, it might sound like the start of a bad horror movie. However, open water ocean swimming is really popular in Sydney, and ocean races are huge events here. I’ve always loved swimming and used to swim competitively, so the idea of entering an ocean … Read more
Sydney is world-renowned for its gorgeous summers- days at the beach, barbeques, surfing, and suntans. Not to ruin the illusion if you’re moving to Sydney or visiting, but it does actually get cold here. Yes, some people do swim year round, but if you’re not that brave (I am certainly a fair weather swimmer), there … Read more
Sydney to Byron Bay road trip Take two American girls, one 19-year-old Saab convertible, add a few too many bags of kettle chips, plus the Christmas holidays and what do you get? A spontaneous Sydney to Byron Bay road trip, of course. This popular beach town is well-loved by locals and backpackers for its surf … Read more
How to plan a New Zealand South Island road trip? Where to start, where to go, what to do… The South Island is unbelievable for its natural beauty, such as Milford Sound, Queenstown, and the Otago Peninsula, to name a few. The South Island is well worth a week (or more!), however, it’s all a … Read more
Things to Do in Melbourne While at the Australian Open There are only several weeks more to go before the next Australian Open. Have you already booked your tickets to the see the games, January 14 to 27th? If so, now is a great time to plan your trip. Here’s a short list of things … Read more
Vaucluse House, Sydney Vaucluse House is one of those places I had been meaning to visit for ages, but just hadn’t gotten around to it. Sort of like washing the car or getting a haircut, there are things I know I want to do, but the year gets away from me, and next thing I … Read more
UNESCO World Heritage treasure, the Great Barrier Reef, may be the best known natural wonder in Queensland, if not Australia. It draws huge numbers of guests per year, with a significant percentage of the 24 million visitors that visit the state each year spending time at the reef. But Queensland, in Australia’s north-east, is home to some fabulous … Read more
What to do in Chiang Rai? Chiang Rai is one of the best kept secrets of Thailand. Why visit Chiang Rai? Well, this northern province, near the borders of Myanmar and Laos (known as the Golden Triangle), offers the shining White and Blue Temples, trekking and hikes, and an insight into the rich Lanna culture … Read more