I've been three years out of uni and I still can't get used to 'working life'. After getting used to only working for half the year, having your nose to the grindstone the whole year round has been a bitter pill to swallow.
But then it came to me - why not pack in the jobs, get a working visa to Australia, and re-live the half'n'half experience again?! Okay, so we're not taking a traditional gap year, and maybe we're too used to a regular salary, but myself and Dan (the boyfriend) have decided to go for the plunge - and I'd like to give people a chance to learn by our mistakes by keeping this travelogue!
So Sydney first (for work) and then a tour around Oz (for play) - if we don't run out of money first!
Latest Update
17: End of the East Coast Road
If you've ever wanted to skydive, scuba dive, see the reef, bungee jump, or see a wet t-shirt competition, Cairns is the place to do it!
16: Marry a Millionaire and Other Ways to Make Money in Tully
Tully is a one street town in tropical Queensland popular with backpackers for two things: fruit picking work and whitewater rafting.
Catch Up On The Journey
15: Do as Much or as Little as You Like
On a good weather day, Magnetic Island offers a wealth of activities, including some of the cheapest diving on the east coast.
14: You Can Choose Your Boat, But You Can't Choose Your Cabin Mates
A boat tour of the Whitsundays is a must-do event, but unfortunately, you can't choose your cabin mates.
13: The Last Untouched Area on the Whole East Coast
Yvonne found that 1770 is a great place to recharge the batteries between Hervey Bay and Airlie Beach. Just get there before everyone else finds out.
12: Dingos Ate my Toothpaste
A self-guided tour of Fraser Island is a great way to meet other travelers and enjoy the world's largest sand island.
11: Between Yuppieland and a Bushcamp I'll take the Chemical Toilet
Yvonne believes if you're visiting Australia's East Coast, and Gagaju is not on your itinerary, you're really missing out.
10: Beautiful Brisbane
Yvonne found Brisbane to be a fantastic city, because it offers both the convenience and culture of a big city, but with extremely friendly locals.
9: Australia's Shrine to Tat
Surfers Paradise is an easy place to blow your backpacking budget and Yvonne did just that, even on the days she did very little.
8: Home of the Great Unwashed
For all its hippy spirit, Yvonne found Byron Bay can really fleece the tourists as well as the rest of them. Evidently it costs money to chill out.
7: We Broke the Drought!!!
The first day of Yvonne's trip up the east coast corresponds with the first rain in seven months, breaking a drought but dampening her spirits.
6: New Year, and the Belts are being Tightened
Determined to save for a trip around Australia, Yvonne and Dan list ways to enjoy Sydney and not spend a lot of cash.
5: Landing on Our Feet
Apprehensive after some horror stories about work in Sydney, Yvonne and Dan have settled quickly. When you travel for fun, things seem to just land in your lap.
4: Never Underestimate the Power of Jetlag
After walking around like a zombie for a few days, Yvonne's mood improved along with the weather. Until, that is, she went to the bank.
3: Organised Chaos
For her last minute preparations, Yvonne considers travel insurance and just how much she loves her backpack.
2: Can I Come in, Please?
Before Yvonne could book her trip to Australia, she had to make sure she had her Oz working holiday visa. No one likes dealing with bureaucracy and Yvonne's advice is to cut out the middle man.
1: Need Convincing?
Yvonne is suffering a Quarter-Life Crisis. Her remedy is pack up and move to Australia for a year and see what happens.
