So, I’m set to leave work in mid-September but what next?
Australia
On 8th October, we begin day one of our travels by flying to Melbourne in Australia. This will be the start of twelve months in the country. I’m not sure I have ever been so excited.Australia was an easy choice for our first destination. It seems such a unique and diverse land with top cities, endless beaches, good weather and a laid back attitude. Also, now that we’re only a few years away from the age of thirty, it made sense to take advantage of the Working Holiday Visa before it’s too late.For the first six months, we plan to share our time equally between Melbourne and Sydney. I understand that there’s quite a fierce rivalry between the two cities but, from what I’ve heard and read, Melbourne could easily be my favourite. I haven’t even stepped on a plane yet but I’m dreaming of those rooftop bars and burger trucks. Surely being voted as the world’s most liveable city for seven years in a row must count for something. Although, there’s nothing more iconic than the Harbour Bridge and the Opera House in Sydney. I’ll let you know the outcome.Whilst we’re living in the cities, we will hopefully find jobs to build up some extra spending money. We want to ensure that we experience the country as though it is our home and having that extra cash will really help. I’ve heard a pint of beer is around £8!We’ll be spending a lot of time exploring too so there’ll definitely be plenty of posts to come.Once winter settles in, we’ll hit the road in a campervan and head north from Sydney. This will be the start of a six month lap of Australia which some say is the ultimate road trip. The general route will be from Sydney up to Cairns, followed by the Red Centre, Darwin, Broome, Perth, Adelaide, Tasmania, Melbourne (again), Canberra and back to Sydney. Sounds easy right?I’m looking forward to this part of the trip the most. Why? I think its the ultimate sense of freedom of being able to choose where you want to go, when you want to go. I can only imagine the endless photo opportunities; maybe I’ll buy a drone after all…
And Then?
It doesn’t stop there, we’re also hoping to visit New Zealand, Japan, Vietnam and USA. I’m not sure how we’ll be feeling after living on the road for six months. However, this is a once in a lifetime opportunity so we have to make the most of it.If you’ve already been to Australia or any of the other countries mentioned above, I’d really welcome your thoughts on any must-see places or travel tips generally. Is there any other country that should definitely have a place on our list? If so, let me know!