There And Back Again...Maybe
Australia
Sophie Dixon-Box is setting off on a trip to Australia with her boyfriend. Like many Brits hitting the southern continent she'll be on a working holiday visa, whereas he's a Kiwi whose two year visa to the UK is about to run out.
They fly to Sydney (via LA and Fiji in three weeks) and 'the plan' changes on a regular basis. They aim to stay in Sydney for a few months and get some work while it's winter - with a liberal helping of trips to the Blue Mountain, etc - then do a month or so up the east coast, back to Sydney for Xmas/New Year, and finally buy a car/motorbike and shoot off into the horizon for the remaining few months of the working visa.
If the relationship holds out through whatever knocks this might trip might bash them with, the next plan is to get Sophie a visa to NZ and repeat the backpacking shennanigans. One day they might even settle down, but with two hemispheres to choose from there's no guarantees!
Follow their travels via the links below or to find out more about Sophie and Rob, read their story here.
Latest Articles
Footy Fever
The World Cup is upon us and Sophie gives you the guide to supporting your favourite team around Sydney. She also gives a run down of the other ball sports going on in this sports-crazed nation.
Catch Up On The Journey
Things to do in Sydney when you're alive
On her second stay in Sydney, Sophie is determined to experience more of the city. That means Christmas on the beach, New Year's Celebrations and the Sydney Mardi Gras.
The Final Leg
The final installment of Sophie's road-trip diary (though not the end of this travelogue), tells the tale of Hervey Bay to Sydney, taking in Fraser Island, Bundaberg and Noosa along the way.
I can see the sea!!
Sophie's journey down the east coast takes her to Cape Trib, Maggie, Rockie and Airlie. She even found time to meet the Stripteasing Buddha!
Feeling Hot, Hot, Hot!
So much for all that green and rain, but from the Top End and throughout the Northern Territory and to the East Coast, Sophie doesn't at all lack for things to do. Even if it does require boiling away.
Here Comes The Rain Again
Australia's Red Centre is a desert, right? Apparently one that gets it's fair share of rain, as Sophie discovered. Who ever thought deserts were green?
On the Trail of Priscilla
Scrappy can't make it over the Blue Mountains so a new car is in order to follow in the footsteps of that great pink thing: Priscilla, Queen of the Desert.
Ode to a backpackers' car
Having a car can be a great thing, but it can also commit highway robbery on its poor, unsuspecting owners.
Follow the yellow brick, um, plane...
Sophie's settled into life in Sydney pretty quickly, checking out a few of the sights and getting work visa issues sorted out.
Stopover 2: Fiji
This stopover was a lot more relaxed - swimming, sunning, snorkelling - and a perfecr primer for heading to Oz.
Stopover 1: Los Angeles
Three days in the City of Angels is never enough, but the beaches, Hollywood and the airport all get some quality time.
June 26th: Last Minute
Just 26 hours to go - 21 if you count the trip to the airport - and Sophie hasn't packed yet. Oops!
