The second I got my acceptance into the UBC Go Global Exchange Program to Sydney, Australia, I could not stop daydreaming about the adventures I would be going on. When I used to think about Australia, I imagined golden beaches, blue oceans and dry desert. When I think about Australia now, lush tropical forests, vast mountain ranges and countless waterfalls have been added to that imagery.
I managed to score a spot in an Australian outdoor learning course, which is one of the main reasons why I could explore some of Sydney’s surrounding mountains and national parks. On a day-long hike and a three-day camping trip in the Blue Mountains and Royal National Park, I saw incredible views that gave Canada some competition.
One highlight was bush-walking along a colorful sandstone cliff, bordered with endless green shrubs and an equally limitless turquoise ocean, ending at a crystal-clear swimming hole that overlooked the valley. While in the Blue Mountains, our trip began in a biodiverse valley, rock hopping across rivers and creeks, and ended with feeling the strong breeze from powerful waterfalls that seemed to appear out of nowhere. Before my semester began, I was also able to explore tropical rainforests up north and snorkel with the full Finding Nemo cast on the colourful Great Barrier Reef.
Although British Columbia will always be my favorite place to explore, I must admit Australia has some of the most gorgeous backdrops for getting sweet ‘grams. I went from being immersed in snow-covered mountains to relaxing on never-ending golden beaches only minutes away from campus. I am so grateful that I got the opportunity to adventure around completely new landscapes and I am even more excited to explore the rest of Australia’s tropical beaches and hidden surf spots.
My advice for travellers coming down under: don’t spend a second inside. Absorb nature any moment you can, take the long train rides or road trips up the coast and don’t listen to TLC when it comes to chasing waterfalls.