Back to the UK!

Wow, haven't updated my blog for ages! Started writing a little something at Melbourne airport last week so I'll copy and paste that to begin with!


"So here I am once again waiting to begin a 25 hour flight, though this time in the opposite direction! Definitely doesn’t seem like close to a year since I was at the airport sat at the gate staring out the window at a HUGE Qantas plane.

So much has happened in the last few months. Well, not loads, but I made the big decision to use my second year visa straight away. So although it feels very strange to be going back to the UK, it’s nice to think that in 3 weeks time I’ll be back in my flat in Melbourne. Though I really can’t wait to see people back home!

I made the decision because I have loved all my time in Australia, especially Melbourne, and I feel so at home and settled here, and definitely not ready to leave. Even leaving for 3 weeks makes me feel like I’m going to miss out on something exciting in Melbourne, there’s always something cool going on like a random festival or even just a fun night out with my friends!

Luckily I’ve managed to secure my job at the cupcake shop and will be working there until the end of October, as you can work for the same company for another 6 months in your 2^nd year visa. So the plan is to save up as much as possible, then begin my travels once again and probably go over to Western Australia. That’s about as far as my plans go. I’m just going to see what happens!

There’s no free internet at Melbourne airport so I probably won’t actually post this til I get home!"

So that's what I wrote at the airport. I've been back in North Wales for about a week and a half now, but in just over a week I'll be heading back to Australia! Not really got much to say about my last few months in Melbourne. It's mainly just involved working and going out with friends! Doesn't really feel like I'm on holiday over there now, just feels like home! Actually felt like coming back to the UK was a holiday as it's three weeks off work!

I've managed to fit quite a lot in so far while I've been at home. In the first week I managed to go to the hairdressers, the doctors and the dentist. Went over to Yorkshire to see my Dad and his side of the family. It was nice to see them though I was still a bit jetlagged so was really tired after the drive! It was so weird though, on the way there I actually drove through some snow - something I wasn't expecting to see in April! I've also seen a lot of the family here in North Wales, and caught up with a few friends! 

Although it's nice to come back here and see people, it really has confirmed that I made the right decision to stay in Australia for another year. The thought of actually staying here and having to find a job etc is not something I want to do anytime soon, if ever!

Got a few more things planned while I'm home, going shopping to Chester with my mum tomorrow. Meeting up with a few friends and going on a night out with my sister at the weekend! So still got a few things to look forward to. Then it's back to Melbourne to start my 2nd year in Australia!! So hopefully lots more adventures for me! I'll try and keep my blog updated as much as I can!

Bye Bye Farm!

I have finally completed my 88 days farm work in order to get my 2nd year visa! Hooray!

Had a pretty non eventful last few weeks at the farm. Got back from Malanda and Jo and Paul left, then 2 weeks later Steph left. It was sad to see them go cos we'd all been together on the farm since me & Steph arrived! So for the last two weeks there was just 4 of us!

We had a couple of good nights though, we went to the 'DJ FM Party' at the Mareeba RSL which was fun, then had a house party for my birthday - not quite how I imagined I would spend my birthday in Oz, but it was still fun.

Sarah & Me at the RSL

Sean, Andy & Me at the RSL

My birthday party!

So on 15th September I packed my bags and left the farm! Bye bye farmer Helen, Hello backpacker!

Photos from the farm!

Nothing exciting to write about the farm so here are a few photos!

Our house.

 Mango trees.

Squash rows. 

Where the bees live.

The harvester.

The girls - all dressed up and nowhere to go!

The boys.

All of us - Andy, Me, Jo, Paul, Sean, Sarah & Steph!

Night out in Cairns!

Night out in Cairns!

First Post!

As I'm going to Australia for a year in April I've decided to make a blog to post about my adventures. I mainly want to do this to update family and friends with what I'm up to, without having to write out individual emails! Another reason I wanted to create this blog was so that other travellers can read it and it might help them with their planning, as I've read a lot of travel blogs while planning my trip and they were a massive help :)

Since going to Australia for 3 weeks as part of a round the world trip in Summer 2009, I've been desperate to go back and spend more time there!

I've got a few things booked now including:

FLIGHTS! I fly from Manchester to Heathrow on 20th April with British Airways, then board a Qantas A380 plane to Sydney with a short stopover in Singapore. I arrive in Sydney in the evening on 21st April! Despite the recent problems with the engine on the A380, I still booked with Qantas as most of my previous RTW flights in 2009 had been with them, and I was impressed so booked with them again. I'm pretty sure that because of what happened with the A380 last year, they will be extra careful so should be safer than before! That's what I'm telling myself anyway.

OZINTRO! This is a company who organise your first week in Sydney. They sort out accommodation, bank account, tax file number, Aussie sim card, medicare and all the other things I'd have had to sort out separately. They also help with finding a job. The main reason I've booked with them is because I'll be travelling alone, and they put you in a group who you do activities with for the whole week, including surfing, a trip to the Blue Mountains, jet boating, BBQs and various nights out! It's a relief to feel that I won't be on my own once I'm there, and if I have any problems during my year there then OzIntro can help me. 

VISA! I've got a working holiday visa which is valid for a year, and means I can work to fund my travels once I'm there. I'm hoping to be able to save enough money so I can travel round for a month or two without having to get a job!


I still need to book my first couple of nights accommodation as the OzIntro week doesn't start til 25th so I'll have a couple of nights in the centre of Sydney to try and get over the jet lag! 

So, in exactly 100 days (sounds like ages...) I'll be saying my goodbyes and preparing for a 26 hour journey to Australia!