Kangaroo Island

I have spent the past 2 days on Kangaroo Island, one of the best places in Australia if you ask me! We started our tour by going to Rob's Sheep Sheering Demo, what a cool experience that was. It only took him about 2 minutes to sheer the whole sheep!

We then went off to an Eucalyptus Oil Distillery and met Edwina the Emu and fed her some lunch. On Kangaroo Island there are a lot of really cool little family owned places that make things that are local to the island like the eucalyptus oil and honey farms to name a few.

 This picture is at Seal Bay where a number of seals live in a National Park so they are protected. There only predator is a shark when they go out for 3 days and 3 nights to sea to get food to bring back to their families. It was really funny when we got to this beach instead of being lined with people tanning it was lined with seals sleeping!

We went to a Koala sanctuary where they are kept in a protected environment so they don't become endangered.

I finally got to see a kangaroo in the wild and feed it! It was incredible it just came up to me and started eating out of my hand!

Some of the scenery on the island is absolutely beautiful. These rock formations are called the "Remarkable Rocks" There are different rock formations that you can make different pictures out of, I had quite the imagination to say the least!

These are New Zealand Fur Sea Lions that we saw. I literally got to see pretty much every kind of wild life Australia has to offer here on Kangaroo Island. The island is very protected from predators and many of the species were introduced many years ago and the island acts as a sanctuary to these animals.

These are pictures of some of the other scenery I saw....

The best part about this tour was that it was only myself and another Swiss girl on the tour so it was very personal and we didn't have to stick right to the itinerary we were able to stretch our limits a bit and see a bit more then a regular tour would get to see.

The Group!

10 Day Safari from Broome to Perth

After I had saved all my hard earned money I decided to spend it go traveling before I depart Australia.

On the 12^th of May I boarded the Western Exposure Bus on route to Perth with 16 other backpackers like myself. There were 3 Swiss, 2 Americans, 1 Canadian and 9 Germans. I swear that half of the population of Germany is in Australia.

The first night we stayed at a sheep and cattle station called Paradoo Station. Accommodation this night was quite interesting 3 of us piled into a room that I didn’t even think would be possible. It was nice and cozy.

 The next day we headed for Karijini National Park where we spent the next 3 nights sleeping in tents. It was freezing in Karijini and the sleeping conditions were horrible but we got through it. In Karijini we hiked down into many gorges and scaled rock walls and did the all-famous Spider Walk. All of these hikes were so amazing but after 3 nights I was sure happy we were leaving and going back to civilization!

Our next stop was in Exmouth. It felt like we were staying at a 5-star resort but it was only a Backpackers/Caravan park. The facilities here were beautiful and the showers were hot! In Exmouth we went snorkeling over the Ningaloo Reef. I was speechless, this reef was so beautiful with vivid colours and amazing fish, we even got to see sea turtles, sing rays, and reef sharks.

On to Coral bay where we spent 2 nights, this time the backpackers wasn’t as nice but now I know that it could always be worse! We stayed in Coral Bay for 2 nights and 1 day. I went on a glass bottom boat tour over the Ningaloo Reef and snorkeled in 2 spots. I just can’t get enough of this reef. I’m defiantly coming back and next time my Momma is coming with me to experience the beauty of this reef!  We all gathered at the beach for a beautiful sunset.

Next stop was Monkey Mia and Shark Bay with a stop at Shell Beach on the way.  Shell beach is a beach that is totally made up of very small white shells. Its not the most pleasant to walk on or lay on but the beauty of the beach makes up for all of that!

In Monkey Mia we got to see a stunning sunrise followed by a dolphin feeding. This was a very quick stop because we had a lot of driving to do to get to our next destination of Kalberri, another national park! We only stayed in Kalberri for one night and we went on another hike to some lookouts and what is known as “Natures Window” We left very early the next morning and made out way to the final destination of Perth, along the way we stopped for lunch and went sand boarding, it was so much fun, and we also stopped at the Pinnacles Dessert.

I spend 2 nights in Perth at the worst hostel ever. This was the first time I didn’t stay at a YHA and I regretted my decision immediately. The 1^st night in Perth we all got together and headed out to the all famous nightlife district of North Bridge. The next morning we woke up and went to the markets in Fremantle, again another one of my favourite places. I did some sightseeing after the markets and headed up to Kings Park and watched a very beautiful sunset over looking Perth.

I have no been in Adelaide for 2 nights, I spent the day touring the Barossa Valley doing wine tasting, and another day sightseeing in the city, I did a really nice local chocolate factory tour, and as I sit here blogging I’m also indulging in my chocolate covered raisins! I have to say that Adelaide is my least favourite spot that I have visited so far in Australia. I don’t really know why but I just don’t “feel it” in this city.

Tomorrow I am leaving for a 2 day 1 night safari on Kangaroo Island, I have heard nothing but fantastic things about this Island so I can’t wait for the adventure. I’ll let you all know how it is when I return!

The Rest of Eco Beach

After we got into the start of the season Eco Beach really got busy and we had a very full on Easter and 3 small weddings. Though the midst of working very hard and dealing with the extreme heat and flies I got a tropical cyst. It was hands down the most painful thing ever. I had to have it cut open, drained, and have the bandage changed daily for a week; it was not a fun experience.

I was also able to spend some time exploring Broome a bit more and catch up with an old friend, Emily! Broome is up there on my list of my favourite places in Australia. One day my friends from Eco, Simon and Bec, and myself went into Broome and met up with Emily and took off on our moped it was a lot of fun exploring around. I think we were able to cover the whole of Broome! I discovered my love for markets in Broome, and now try and seek them out wherever I go!

I had my first taste of fishing in the ocean off the boat (all the other fishing I have done was land based) I was so excited that I caught 2 salmons, a handful of G.Ts, and a scarlet sea trout. We smoked the salmon and ate it that night and it was beautiful, melted in my mouth. The next night I fried up my scarlet sea trout fillets and had another fresh and beautiful dinner. I really like fishing now and eating my catch, such a fun experience.

Other then that I didn’t do anything that was too exciting just working a lot and making money for my upcoming travels. On my days off I did go bushwalking, sea kayaking, did some morning yoga, swam in the ocean and relaxed.

I gave my notice in at Eco Beach and let them know I was leaving, I was sad to go and they were sad to see me go but I have some great international references now, and I also have my wedding and or honeymoon destination picked!