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    Daintree River Cruise

    23. November 2025 in Australien ⋅ ☁️ 29 °C

    Next: the Daintree River cruise.
    The views were great, and I was hoping to soak up some rainforest atmosphere, the lovely sounds of the forest — but the group of 25 (mostly 18–20-year-olds, plus one older lady (not me! - though I am getting up there…) was more into being loud than listening. Still, the best part: we saw a croc. There were quite a few, lurking beneath the murky surface. The guide warned us repeatedly to keep our limbs in the boat — apparently a croc could leap up to the roof of the boat if it chose to. Wild. 🐊
    He also said large crocs can slow their heart rate way down and under certain conditions stay underwater for extremely long stretches — though usually they stay submerged closer to 1–2 hours.

    Then it was lunch. In the trees above, I counted maybe 200 bats (likely spectacled flying foxes) — they were loud and frenetically flapping their wings to cool themselves down. I also saw a few bright blue butterflies flitting by, too fast for my camera. Well, not too fast for the camera, just too fast for me to keep up.    Weiterlesen

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    Mossman Gorge

    23. November 2025 in Australien ⋅ ☁️ 27 °C

    I said goodbye to Noosa and was driven to the airport by my lovely — now former — roommates. What a kind send-off!
    I also had to say goodbye to my noble steed that got me from A to B while in Noosa. I shall miss it. For reference, see the last picture.

    I arrived in Cairns on 22 November in the late evening and had no time to explore anything but my shaky new top bunk. The only reason I can sleep is thanks to my beloved earplugs … 😅

    Anyway! The next day I had a very early start to go on a Daintree Rainforest Tour.

    Now, a little background on that particular rainforest:
    The Daintree Rainforest is roughly 180 million years old, making it one of the oldest rainforests on Earth. It’s part of the Wet Tropics World Heritage Area, and is home to extremely high biodiversity — think cassowaries, giant ferns, and rare rainforest species.

    Our first stop: Mossman Gorge.
    Before entering, one of the Aboriginal guides gave us a blessing: he tossed a Melaleuca leaf into a fire, producing smoke we all walked through while he chanted. Then we made our way into the forest. We only had roughly an hour to explore — most people went swimming (blocking parts of the Gorge from my camera), but I hiked instead. I spotted a tiny spider, and crossed a suspension bridge that shook quite a lot under our feet. I didn’t see as much wildlife as I’d hoped, but I did find some cassowary plum: dark, egg-shaped, bluish-black. Fun fact — that fruit is very toxic for humans. Luckily, I’d already eaten a banana. 😅    Weiterlesen

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    22

    Noosa Everglades

    19. November 2025 in Australien ⋅ ☀️ 26 °C

    It took me the better part of four months to finally get around to doing this. The Everglades had been on my Noosa to-do list for ages, and I honestly don’t know why it took me this long.
    I joined a tour and immediately felt like I was bringing down the average age of the group — until I remembered I’m not exactly that young anymore to be smug about it… 😁

    The bus picked us up in Noosa and took us out to Habitat Noosa, a campsite set right on the shore of Lake Cootharaba. That’s the lake you cross to enter the Everglades. It’s surprisingly shallow — only about 1.5 metres at its deepest point — so theoretically you could walk across it if you wanted to. The water ranges from orange to red to deep brown, like a strongly brewed cup of English Breakfast. The Melaleuca and Manuka tea-tree forests surrounding the lake release tannins into the water, giving it that intense colour.

    Now, about the Everglades. The region is one of only two everglades systems in the world — the famous one in Florida, and this one in Noosa. Unlike Florida’s, the Noosa Everglades are not known to host resident crocodiles. (There have been the occasional reported croc sightings in the broader Noosa area over the years, but wildlife authorities haven’t confirmed any living in the Everglades themselves.)

    We cruised up the waterways, soaking in the quiet, mirror-still scenery. The guides pointed out wildlife whenever something interesting appeared. Apart from two species of birds (no idea which ones — your guess is as good as mine), the absolute highlight was spotting two koalas!

    The first little guy, with his tiny claw over his mouth, was incredibly hard to see. It took us about fifteen minutes of squinting into the trees to make sure everyone had spotted him. Yes, I was last… 😁
    On the way back he’d shifted into a different tree, which made him much easier to find.

    The Everglades water is so still and tea-tree-oil rich that it turns into a perfect natural mirror. Pictures 13 and 14 are actually upside down — what you see is just the reflection.

    For whatever reason, one guy on the tour had a bee that just decided to sit on his shoulder like a tiny pet parrot for most parts of the tour. That’s the story behind picture 15.

    Towards the end of the tour, before crossing the lake again, we hopped off the boat for a short 400-metre bushwalk. And guess what? We saw another young koala!

    After our tiny walk, we headed back to Habitat Noosa — which is basically kangaroo central. The kangaroos show up constantly to graze on the grass and socialise.

    To sum it all up: today I saw beautifully serene nature, tea-tree-coloured waterways, and not one but two iconic Aussie animals - 2 koalas and 17 kangaroos. I’m still pretty elated about all of it — and yes, still slightly disappointed that I didn’t see a single snake… 😁    Weiterlesen

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    K‘Gari 3: Lake McKenzie

    9. November 2025 in Australien ⋅ ☁️ 27 °C

    Last day on K’Gari — and an early rise at 5 am! After gathering our stuff and a quick breakfast, we drove to the probably most famous attraction on the island: Lake McKenzie (Boorangoora). The water around the shore is intensely turquoise and tropical-looking. The sand is amazingly white — it's composed of nearly 100% silica. We were told this stuff is great for your skin, hair and teeth — so once in the water, everyone started scrubbing. And yes, some people brushed their teeth with the sand. I didn’t. All I can say: my skin did feel incredibly smooth, my hair looked freshly washed — though I cannot guarantee that wasn’t just the novelty effect. 😁
    Since we got to the lake very early, we were lucky to be one of the first there. The beach filled up fast afterwards!
    This was the last attraction on K’Gari that we visited. We then drove for a few more hours to get off the island and back to Noosa.
    To sum up: the island is stunning. Endless beaches, rainforest in the middle, lakes, dingoes etc. My favourite parts: seeing dingoes, the shipwreck and driving the LandCruiser three times (on the beach, on soft-sand inland trails and back on land on normal roads) — and, modestly, being complimented on my driving.
    Also, camping was nice. Sleeping in nature with the distant sound of waves and the howling of dingoes (the camp was said to be dingo-proof, but one actually got in… 😁) plus not using any kind of devices for most of three days was refreshing.
    The tour guide was great, the group sucked. They were not my kind of people, for sure, and I felt excluded most of the time. But you never know in advance and it was an experience to be had. I don’t regret doing the tour at all and I’m happy to be back with my friends here in Noosa whom I’m glad to have!    Weiterlesen

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    K‘Gari 2: Wreck, Creek and Pools

    7. November 2025 in Australien ⋅ ☀️ 25 °C

    Three stops for the day were scheduled. First stop (the one I was looking forward to the most): the shipwreck. It looked magnificent! Corroded, metallic, large — waves breaking on it, and the sun illuminating the entirety of the wreck ☀️.
    (The weather was on our side for the 3-day tour — the whole week prior was rubbish: rain and thunderstorms left and right — and as soon as we arrived back on the mainland, the weather turned overcast and rainy again.)
    The wreck is the SS Maheno, launched in 1905 and beached on K’Gari in 1935 after a cyclone blew her off course.
    I went a bit overboard (pun intended) on the amount of shipwreck pics I added to this post. I just couldn‘t decide on which to exclude (actually, there‘s many more!). 😅

    Second stop: Eli Creek, also known as “The Lazy Creek”. Beautiful, pristine water, waist-to-chest-deep, flowing gently.
    The confirmation email everyone got after booking the tour specifically stated: Bring a flotation device. Wanna guess how many people brought one? If your answer was “one”, I congratulate you — correct. I was the only one with an inflatable donut. While not exactly adrenaline-fuelled, it was good fun floating through the creek that pours roughly 4 million litres of fresh water into the ocean per hour.
    Day 2 was not ideally planned. We only had three stops, which meant a lot of waiting at Eli Creek and the other stop. With nothing else to do, I went down the creek ten times with my ring and waded through once (when I lent it to one of the girls) — which separated me further from the group. I, however, enjoyed chilling and floating down the creek, taking in nature. Unfortunately, there were plenty of noisy people blocking the creek for an Instagram photo session. That stuff certainly got my pulse going. 😅
    While large parts of Eli Creek were shaded by trees, the sun was burning. Even though I’m almost religious when it comes to applying sunscreen, I still got sunburned that day. K’Gari doesn’t provide a lot of shore-shade, so it’s easy to burn even if you remember the slip-slap-slop.

    Last stop: Champagne Pools. The Pools’ appearance varies day to day; in our case, they were incredibly sandy but still offered enough of the “pools” to get into. Unfortunately, there were lots of people there — as with the Creek before (I edited them out on the pics). Standing in knee- to chest-deep water amongst around 90 people for 2.5 hours in the boiling sun without shade wasn’t exactly my ideal idea of time.

    After the pasta predicament of the previous day, my group actually managed a decent dinner (steak with veggies).
    Even though the main meals were somewhat healthy, the snacks of crisps, cookies and marshmallows made me cheat on my diet. No, I don’t have a problem. I can stop at any time. But the fire-roasted marshmallows were quite nice, I’m telling ya!

    After dinner, we made a trip to the beach to stargaze. I purposely forgot my tripod (too heavy/large, we had VERY limited space), but given the remoteness and low light pollution on the island, I came to regret that choice. I tried building a makeshift tripod with duct tape, rope and three dingo-sticks. That was a fiasco. All that did was make my camera drop into the sand! Also: no chance of a Milky Way shot. People kept coming to the beach with their torches and cars drove by with headlights on, and you can see the beams from far away since the beach stretches many kilometres. So, less regret in that department.
    But stargazing was nice nonetheless. The highlight: the moon-rise. The slightly waning orange orb rising on the ocean horizon was stunning to watch 🌙.    Weiterlesen

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    K’Gari (Fraser Island)

    6. November 2025 in Australien ⋅ ☀️ 25 °C

    In 1836, Eliza and her husband James Fraser were shipwrecked when their brig, Stirling Castle, ran aground near the coast of what’s now K’gari. The local Butchulla people offered help, but James, scared and mistrustful of the Aborigines, accepted it too late and died soon after. Eliza survived with their assistance and was eventually brought back to the mainland.

    Now a widow with no way to earn money, she began selling her story. At first it was factual, but over time she sensationalised it — turning a story of survival into one of abduction and torture. The embellished version spread quickly, portraying the Aborigines as barbaric, cannibalistic savages. Ironically, the island ended up bearing her and her husband’s name.

    After years of petitions by the Butchulla people, the island finally regained its original name: K’gari (pronounced “GUR-ree”), meaning “paradise” in the Butchulla language. The change became official in 2023, though some still prefer the old name.

    K’gari is where I would spend the next three days — on a swag tour.

    After a quick info talk the night before, our group of 14 got picked up in two Toyota Landcruisers by our guide, Ash — a fun, knowledgeable Aussie who made the tour genuinely enjoyable.

    The two-hour drive from Noosa to Rainbow Beach led us to the ferry to K’gari. The mostly empty ferry left without us the moment we arrived — cheers, mate. So we spent an hour on Rainbow Beach, which isn’t exactly the worst place to be stuck.

    Once on the island, we drove straight to Lake Wabby. Along the wide beach, a guy in oncoming traffic sped through a flock of birds, killing two young ones. Everyone is told before setting foot on K’gari that wildlife must be protected at all cost. His actions could’ve meant a $10,000 fine — hopefully he was reported.

    We reached the lake after a 40-minute hike in the midday heat. At first, we weren’t sure we were in the right place — after climbing the huge sand dunes, there was no water in sight. We followed footprints and finally found the green, murky lake — and a cloud of sandflies. Damn, they were relentless, stabbing every bit of exposed skin. After the tenth bite, you start wishing they’d find someone tastier. 😅

    I went for a swim with the others, though they soon had enough, sunbathed for a while, and then they decided it was time to head back for beers. We’d barely had time to take in the scenery. I was still in the lake, struggling to gather my stuff, still hoping to snap a decent photo. The others just left without a second glance or consideration. Being alone on K’gari isn‘t recommended/allowed. K’gari is dingo country, and you’re supposed to stay in groups of at least three or four. Our group wasn’t exactly big on rules…

    We arrived at camp (dingo-safe, fenced off) in the late afternoon, had a quick briefing, and a few of us made dinner — overcooked pasta, but good sauce.

    Afternoons and evenings mostly revolved around drinking, smoking, and loud music. The smoking especially drove me away a lot; the smokers refused to move, so the rest of us got to enjoy passive smoking. It seemed as if no one else (apart from one guy) was bothered by it. I hadn’t come here for party but for nature, photography, and the joys of camping, so it got a rather lonely at times. Still, I tried to make the best of it and occasionally spent some time with two girls as soon as there was a short-lived smoke-free moment.

    The swag tents looked basic, and the porta-potties set a low bar — other groups in the same camp had far better ones, as we found out after wandering in through the wrong gate. But the swags were surprisingly comfy! You couldn’t sit up, they were barely body-length, yet I slept better than I had in months. Probably because there’s no reception on K’gari. It’s kind of scary how much technology messes with your sleep. Changes will be made. I hope. 😅    Weiterlesen

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    Sunrise Beach

    15. Oktober 2025 in Australien ⋅ ⛅ 23 °C

    After weeks of hunting for a room to rent, lots of false hope, and grudgingly extended stays at the exorbitantly expensive hostel with a loud construction site out back, I’ve finally found a new place to live! 🎉

    It’s in the Sunrise Beach area, close to a lovely bit of forest and just a 20-minute hike to the ocean. 🌊 Whether I’ll actually end up swimming there, however, remains to be seen — the bluebottle jellyfish are starting to appear. 🪼 Their long, trailing tentacles can deliver painful stings, so it’s best to admire them from a safe distance! Bluebottles often get washed ashore after windy days, and with summer approaching, box jellyfish season is also coming up in Noosa — another good reason to be cautious before diving in.

    The house itself is really beautiful — bright, spacious, and surrounded by greenery. It instantly felt like a calm little retreat after the chaos of the hostel.

    The only disadvantage is that I’m now a bit further from the main beach and all the shops, and apparently, the buses here suck. 😅 They only come once or twice an hour, and I usually have to walk about 20 minutes to reach the nearest stop — only for the bus to occasionally get cancelled without warning. They’re rarely on time, either. Just recently, I had to take an Uber to work because one bus refused to show up — and after hiking to another stop 30 minutes away, that bus didn’t come either. Good times!

    On the bright side, I’m about to acquire a new mode of transportation. Alas, not a car…

    Now I just need a new job. I’m not gonna lie — I’m not a fan of all the constant uncertainty and the time wasted trying to find a new place to live or work. But let’s see what the next few weeks will bring.    Weiterlesen

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    Fun Times in Noosa

    8. Oktober 2025 in Australien ⋅ ☀️ 26 °C

    In the past few weeks, I’ve been able to enjoy some great times with Erin and Pia — going on photography tours, having Yo Chi (frozen yoghurt) (I’m now officially accepting donations of larger pant sizes…), visiting surf outlets, spending time at the beach, and going on hikes.

    The first few pics are from the Noosa River area — the main character being the pelican, whom you can see progressively looking for prey, catching something, chewing on it, swallowing it, feeling quite pleased with itself, and finally flying away.
    Honorable mentions go to the large orb spider 🕷️ I found lingering in the bush. A beauty, isn’t it? And no, orb spiders won’t harm you — unless, of course, you’re an arachnophobe… 😅

    Pic 14 and onwards show impressions from the coastal track we hiked (second time for me). At the end, we got lucky and spotted a few dolphins in the distance 🐬. You might have to squint a bit to spot one breaking the surface in the last pic.    Weiterlesen

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    Ssssssssnaaaaake!

    4. Oktober 2025 in Australien ⋅ ☀️ 23 °C

    It finally happened — I saw a snake! An Eastern Brown, to be exact.

    I was working at the hotdog van (with a beautiful view of the beach) when a customer pointed out some commotion and mentioned there was a snake. I was already halfway out the door while asking my boss if I could go have a look. 😄

    There was quite a crowd when I arrived. People were staring at the snake, keeping a bit of distance (encouraged by the lifeguards), but not quite realizing the danger when the snake suddenly came a little too close for comfort — prompting the lifeguards to frantically call everyone back. 😅

    Eventually, the snake slithered up the beach, past the van, and into a restaurant. From where I stood, all I could see were people suddenly jumping to their feet.

    All in all, it was exhilarating — and I can’t wait to see another snake! 🐍😄    Weiterlesen

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    More Noosa News

    30. September 2025 in Australien ⋅ ☀️ 25 °C

    Fear not: this month will not go by without a post. As you might have gathered from the lack of updates, not much has happened.
    I’m still staying at a hostel here in Noosa — admittedly against my will. Summer season has started, which also means Noosa accommodation is no longer affordable. Must have something to do with Noosa being one of the most expensive places in Australia and a major holiday hotspot. With prices jumping to up to 95 dollars per night at the beginning of October, I had to extend my hostel stay for about 12 nights — until mid-October — so I can finish my work hours at my job (more about that later). The price is beyond reasonable for a hostel (with a construction site out back, so forget peace and quiet).

    I’ve been looking for a room to rent for a few weeks now, but so far, a decent option has eluded me. A shame, really. I’d love to stay in Noosa longer — having found friends, Pia and Erin, with whom I enjoy occasional outings and copious amounts of frozen yoghurt. (At this rate I’ll soon level up a pant size if I don’t take up exercising again.)

    The Job Front

    I had started working as a waitress in Noosa but only got very few hours. Next up, I actually got two jobs to replace waitressing. One of them was working as a dishie and sandwich-prepper at a joint with several restaurants in the area, jumping between three of them. This segment is written in the past tense because cleaning dishes for a few weeks flared up my kumara-related wrist injury and gave me a free helping of tennis elbow. So much for that. To be fair, there were enough screw-ups with my pay and mysteriously docked hours at that place that I’m at least glad I won’t have to keep chasing them anymore. After I get the last pay, that is. Would be great if stuff like that didn’t require constant vigilance and follow-ups on my part for once.

    Luckily, I still have my other job at an ice cream/hot dog van — at least for a few more days. On rainy days there’s no work (that’s the downside). But I actually really like working there. Not just because the hot dogs, ice cream, and iced coffees are top-notch, but because it’s a reliable, relaxed, and appreciative work environment — and the boss is cool.

    The $220 Jellyfish

    What else has been happening? Well, I saw two extraordinarily expensive jellyfish. Each of them cost 110 dollars. If you’re confused, allow me to clarify. I wanted to go swimming with whales a few weeks ago for the proud price of 220 dollars. Equipped with a wetsuit, fins, and lots of excitement, we all went out to sea. We saw quite a few whales from the boat already, and the swimmers were let into the water plenty of times to seize the chance to swim with them.

    After the 7th time of hopping into the water, being pushed in all directions by 1m waves, and climbing back into the boat (with considerable effort — the waves were a pain…), I (and the others) had still failed to spot a single whale. At this point, I was so seasick that I was incapable of further attempts. (I enclosed a video of the waves - might not look like much, but I assure you it was…) I sat down (didn’t even make it to the seats) and focused on the horizon. Luckily no one tried talking to me — I couldn’t have responded in a way they’d have appreciated.

    The crew didn’t give up and, of course, on the 9th and 10th attempts, the others actually saw whales in the water. The observers on the boat saw them too — it wasn’t hard if you were able to stand up. Unlike me at this point. All I saw were two jellyfish… But! I took the liberty of drawing what the event would have looked like. Enjoy!

    Car Sale Chaos

    There was another incident that almost ended with me calling the police.
    I had the chance to buy a car — a Landcruiser. I got the insurance sorted, the seller and I agreed on a price, and we set a time to meet. Then, the night before the sale, I got a message from the couple saying they’d changed their minds and were going to give the car to someone else who had already paid a deposit. All while fully knowing I was ready to buy.

    Then came the plot twist: I could still take the car — for 400 dollars more. At this point I was convinced the whole thing had to be illegal (spoiler: it wasn’t, at least not here in Australia). Frustrated but still hopeful, I agreed. They cancelled the other guy’s deposit (which was illegal) and came to Noosa for the sale. I checked the car, drove it, all seemed fine — until the payment part.

    We had agreed on a bank transfer, but suddenly things got complicated. A third I paid straight from my Aussie account. The rest was meant to come from another account of mine, but that would have slapped me with several hundred dollars in transfer fees. I hadn’t expected that — stress, 45-hour workweeks, and unfamiliarity with Aussie car-buying procedures don’t exactly make for a sharp mind. Together we tried finding alternatives, but then he started pushing for the money to go into a foreign account instead, and on top of that he expected me to cover not only my own transfer costs but also his withdrawal fees. That’s when the whole thing went from annoying to downright dodgy.

    The more I hesitated, the more aggressive he became. His girlfriend tried calming him down, but no luck. I felt very unsafe and finally decided to back out of the sale. I asked for the part I’d already transferred back. He refused, she agreed, and the whole thing escalated to the point where I was about to call the police.

    Luckily, Pia — one of my roomies — turned up at exactly that moment to check on me and gave me backup. In the end, they returned most of my money. Most, not all. He kept 100 dollars for himself as “compensation” — illegally, of course. But I let it go. Consider it the price of peace of mind — and 100 dollars’ worth of “lesson learned” tuition fees…

    Wildlife Spotting

    To end this post on a positive note: from the deck of the hostel (with a view of the forest) I can spot the occasional water dragon and monitor lizard (see pics), and plenty of bluish butterflies! If I’m not working, this is usually where you’ll find me — observing the animals. Mind you, I have yet to spot a snake. These buggers are harder to find than I thought!

    I also set out for some night-time photography - but the light pollution around Noosa was way too strong for what I was going for. But still. Could have been worse. ^^    Weiterlesen

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    Noosa News

    28. August 2025 in Australien ⋅ ☁️ 24 °C

    The past few weeks have been filled with my hunt for jobs. Nothing really cool or eventful — unless you count my last night at the first hostel I stayed in. A new guy moved into the dorm with the three of us who were already there. Upon entering the room, he accused us of working with the Antichrist and the same people who killed JFK. Then he said he would stab us in the face. For obvious reasons, none of us felt we could stay in the room, so we were moved to a 10-bed dorm instead of the 4-bed we had paid for. At least I got the difference refunded after asking.

    After that, I wanted to move into a hostel a bit further along the road, closer to the more interesting parts of Noosa. The deal was work for accommodation: I was supposed to work 12 hours a week in exchange for a free stay in an 8-bed dorm with six 18-year-old girls. I was — well, how to put this — overwhelmed by the sheer disregard for hygiene, personal space, and tidiness. The place looked like a bomb had gone off: clothes and shoes scattered everywhere, covering the entire floor. The two en-suite showers were disgusting, and the sink… let’s just say I wasn’t keen on touching it. I slept only centimetres away from the AC unit and some lovely patches of mould on the ceiling.

    I went to reception and mentioned the condition of the room. One staff member was very understanding; another just shrugged and told me, “I thought it was awful when I first got here, but chill, you’ll get used to it.” I tried. For one night. Then I left.

    Now I’m staying at a new place even closer to the beach — and I love it! Clean, private bunks — dreamy! Honestly, it’s what I wish were the standard everywhere.

    In the past few weeks, just about everyone in Noosa has come down with a cold. I wasn’t spared, but luckily I’m feeling better now.

    My job hunt has been semi-successful. I landed two weekly shifts at a restaurant, about 15 hours total. It barely covers accommodation. I might have another job coming, but even with both, I’d probably only reach around 25 hours a week. Sadly, this isn’t what I was hoping for. While it pays for my stay here in Noosa, it doesn’t really leave room for savings toward onward travels… We’ll see.

    On a brighter note, I’ve made two friends at my new hostel — Gaelle from France and Ethan from England. After my first swim in Australia (early afternoon, and it felt amazing!), we met up to enjoy the sunset at Noosa Spit, had dinner back at the lodge, and went for frozen yoghurt. Ethan and I were already pretty full, but Gaelle was so delighted with all the topping options that we couldn’t resist joining in.

    Of course, all good things must come to an end — Gaelle and Ethan left the next day. I had a wonderful time with them and was really glad for their company.

    Oh, and this deserves a special mention since it’s been a while since I’ve won anything in sports: I beat Ethan in a ping-pong match. 😁    Weiterlesen

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    Eumundi Markets

    9. August 2025 in Australien ⋅ 🌧 16 °C

    Eumundi Markets – Australia’s largest art, craft, and food market, full of local products, music, and a lot of esoteric hokum—think crystals and palm readings around every corner.

    I have mixed feelings about this place. On the one hand, exploring somewhere new was fun, and I do like a good browse. On the other hand, without a home to decorate, a specific need for countless dust collectors, or plenty of money to spare, there wasn’t much I could actually buy. (Apart from a properly brewed matcha, which turned out to be the highlight of the day.)

    To be fair, the day’s vibe would have improved tenfold if it hadn’t been raining like Zeus was trying to douse a bushfire the size of Eumundi. At one point, I stepped into a foot-deep puddle—which only mildly bothered me—but if you’ve ever soaked your shoes like that, you know the best part is yet to come: once dry, they reek to high heaven. 😁

    As you stroll through the stalls, you often end up chatting with the owners. I had quite a few nice conversations—though, inevitably, they cover the same ground: where you’re from, what you’re doing in Australia, etc. When I stopped to talk to a lady selling seashell art, things took a turn. After I mentioned that staying in Australia permanently would be enticing, her warm demeanour switched instantly: “No. You go back to where you came from. Nobody wants you here. We never should have let you people into this country.”

    It took me a while to process that properly. That concluded an odd day.

    ⸻

    What else has been happening?

    I’ve now completed every official hike in Noosa National Park—and had an absolute blast! It’s a little sad I’m done with them 😁

    I’ve been job-hunting some more. Still waiting to hear back from a bunch of places. Fingers crossed.

    Oh, and there was some drama at the hostel. A few days ago, one of the guests apparently had a shotgun, which he casually placed on a bed while rifling through other people’s belongings and robbing them. He left early the next morning. Everything was caught on security cameras, and the robber even helpfully left his wallet by the pool. Witnesses say he seemed to be under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

    Good times! 😁    Weiterlesen

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    Hiking in Noosa National Park

    6. August 2025 in Australien ⋅ ☁️ 21 °C

    Another hike planned for the day. How 10 scheduled kilometres turned into 20 unscheduled ones, I’m not entirely sure. Honestly, it’s amazing I ended up with only one blister.

    The hike is called the Coastal Track. After already walking 3.5 km just to get there, I was greeted with a climb at the very beginning. It was a warm day, and the sun was relentless. Pausing for a sip of water, I realised I must have lost the larger of my two bottles. So — decision time. The sensible thing would’ve been to turn around and call it a day. But I really wanted to do that hike. So I kept going.

    Surprisingly, I was fine.

    I finished the Coastal Track, then wandered around all the cafés and restaurants, handing out my CV in hopes someone might be hiring. From there, I hiked across Main Beach to reach the furthest point — Noosa Spit — and then uphill (exhaustingly steep and for longer than anticipated) to reach Laguna Lookout just in time for the sunset. And I mean just in time. Two minutes later, and I would’ve missed it.

    Back at the hostel, I downed 1.5 litres of water and probably could’ve kept going — if it hadn’t been bedtime already.

    And geez. So far, every night at the hostel has been pretty awful. People come in at all hours, and it’s not like they try to be quiet because others are sleeping. No — they’re playing music and having loud conversations at 2 a.m. And just when you think you might finally sleep, the snoring begins. Loudly.

    My watch has been reprimanding me for a terrible sleep score the past few nights.

    If anyone’s looking to donate a luxury caravan to the needy, let me know.    Weiterlesen

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    2

    Alexandria Bay Track

    4. August 2025 in Australien ⋅ ⛅ 21 °C

    A lovely day for a hike!
    The track was only supposed to take around 1–2 hours and be an easy hike. It was — I can confirm.
    What took me by surprise, however, was the sudden warning sign about a quarter of the way in. Apparently, a dingo had been sighted in the area. They also recommended not hiking alone… because of said dingo.
    But what was I gonna do?

    I was fine — otherwise I wouldn’t be writing this right now — but I’m not gonna lie, I was rather tense for the rest of the hike and very relieved when I didn’t run into the dingo in question. (Though I will be in the area again for other hikes, so fingers crossed 😬.)

    The hike itself was beautiful, and it was my warmest day in Australia so far — 25°C! That’s the winter I came here for.

    Alexandria Bay has an impressive beach with astonishingly high waves that crashed into the rocks on the right side quite beautifully.
    (There’s a 20-photo limit per post — that’s the only reason you don’t see more than three pics of cool wave-rock collisions!)

    To end the day, I went back to the main beach and enjoyed the sunset with my camera.
    And a chocolate thickshake. (Mixing things up!)    Weiterlesen

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    Noosa

    3. August 2025 in Australien ⋅ ☁️ 15 °C

    The day has finally come.
    After around seven weeks with Ben and Celeste, I’ve moved on to a place a little closer to the ocean — just the way I like it. I mean, I still have to walk about 3 km every time I want to get to the beach from my hostel (at least I know I’ve earned it)…

    Ben and Celeste kindly drove car-less me to Noosa, walked me to the hostel reception for check-in, and then we shared one last car ride to the beach, where we enjoyed a little breakfast and said goodbye. I shall miss them. And their cat. And the chickens. Especially the egg hunts (like Easter every day! Awesome!).
    The cows… Cute as they were, they moo very loudly. That didn’t quite agree with me — though they did seem appreciative when I fed them toast. My hands felt honoured to be covered in cow-slop by their surprisingly blackish-blueish tongues. But I digress.

    Noosa.
    I explored all day. I really enjoy hiking everywhere and feel oddly disappointed when places are too far away not to walk. Turns out, though, Noosa Heads isn’t actually all that big. Still, covering 13.5 km for the day just by walking back and forth is a decent effort.
    And of course, as soon as I was let loose in Noosa, I found my way to places that sell milkshakes… I’m at the point where I’d seriously consider joining a self-help group for vanilla thickshake addiction management. As long as they provide the drinks. 😁

    After a long day of hiking and exploring, I took a few wrong turns (not my fault — Google Maps sucks) and finally made it back to the hostel.

    P.S.
    I added two pics I took back in Ocean View about a week ago, when neither the moon nor clouds were in the way.    Weiterlesen

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    Still here!

    28. Juli 2025 in Australien ⋅ ☀️ 17 °C

    What happened in the past few weeks?

    While it wasn’t anything too exciting, the first two weeks of July were truly delightful! I got a house-sitting job for the neighbours while they were away on holiday. That meant I had a beautiful place to myself — well, almost. I shared it with Lilly and Lloyd, the two adorable doggies who graciously allowed me a small corner of the bed. And then there was Chelsea the chicken, as well as Duko and Kodee, the two horses.

    It was a welcome change from my usual style of travelling to have animals — especially the two pups — around for company. There was only one incident. Apparently, Lloyd (the Yorkie) had grown so fond of me that he felt the need to absorb my scent — one chewed bra at a time.

    I first caught him happily gnawing away at my bra. I rescued it in time and moved it somewhere safer. Or so I thought. It got quiet again — never a good sign. On my second investigation, I found a slightly damp T-shirt in the jaws of the furry culprit. Silence followed. The third time… it was my bra again! I still have no idea how he reached it after I’d placed it far higher than any Yorkie should be able to climb.

    But that wasn’t the end.

    The next day, I was enjoying a quiet afternoon when it dawned on me — silence. Could it be? My track record of catching Lloyd red-pawed was 4 for 4. This time, he had somehow managed to get hold of the same bra — the one I’d buried deep in my backpack. I found it clenched between his teeth. My first instinct was to try and salvage it, but something felt seriously wrong. Apart from a few gaping holes, the fastener was completely gone — about three centimetres of fabric missing from each side, along with the metal hooks.

    Luckily, the vet was still open. I drove there rather quickly with both Lilly and Lloyd in the car. Since I couldn’t rule out Lilly’s involvement, the vet induced vomiting in both dogs.

    From the waiting room, I suddenly heard the vet and assistants exclaim, “Oh, Lloyd!”

    The vet showed me what he had swallowed: all the missing fabric, in one piece. Hooks and all. How on earth did he manage to swallow that??

    (You can look at the photo at your own discretion. 😄)

    At that point, I was very glad I’d erred on the side of caution and taken them in.

    But apart from that, I had a fantastic time in the house with my new furry friends and was honestly a little sad to leave it behind. I also grew quite fond of Yvette and Mick, who had entrusted me with their animals and home.

    The next two days, I tried my hand at babysitting. “Baby” being relative — the kids were 7 and 9 years old. But wow…On the first day, I was there for 7.5 hours. The boys had tablets and TV for entertainment. Even though I kept trying to interact with them, it was utterly futile. Nothing could separate them from their screens.

    I was pretty shocked, to be honest.

    On the second day, they were only allowed to use the TV. The younger boy actually asked me to play chess with him (I’d been offering the day before as well). Mid-game, though, he suddenly reached across the board and began putting all the pieces away. When I asked why, he simply said, “I feel like watching TV.”
    The rest of that day was fully screen-centered. I tried offering a round of UNO, but when I said “UNO or TV,” well… I never stood a chance. 😄

    Not sure I need to do that again — the dogs were definitely quieter! (Although the house where I babysat did have two very adorable donkeys.)

    After almost two months here in Ocean View, it’s time to move on in the next few days. Where to? That remains to be seen — but the next adventure is calling.    Weiterlesen

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    This chess set is made entirely of beeswax!

    Half a Year and Dayboro Show

    6. Juli 2025 in Australien ⋅ ☀️ 21 °C

    Today marks exactly half a year of travelling for me. Time really does fly (mostly, though not on the kumara farm)!

    With beautiful weather and some tangible warmth in the air (it’s been pretty cold the past few weeks!), Ben, Celeste, and I set off for the Dayboro Show. It’s a kind of agricultural fair featuring entertainment and local competitions in categories like baking, honey, best fruit, photography, etc. There were also plenty of animals.

    Apart from farm animals like cows, chickens, alpacas, goats, and sheep, there were also a few snakes — including a snake show presented by (what a coincidence!) a German, reptile-loving James May lookalike. He introduced the crowd to about nine snakes in total: red-bellied black snake, tiger snake, king brown, eastern brown, and taipan among them.

    The three deadliest, by the way, are:
    3. Coastal taipan
    2. Eastern brown snake
    1. Inland taipan

    Most people in Australia who die from a snake bite are killed by the brown snake (responsible for about 66% of fatalities between 2000 and 2016). That’s quite a number — but let’s take a look at another, more illuminating one: about 2 people in Australia die from a snake bite annually. So… in comparison, about 1 to 2 people die from a dog bite every year. 🐍🐶

    My favourite part of the show would have been the petting zoo… if it hadn’t been full of children. I also had my first gin tasting today. Those two events are not connected.

    Also, don’t trust everything you read. 😄    Weiterlesen

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    Veiled in Mist

    23. Juni 2025 in Australien ⋅ ⛅ 16 °C

    It’s been a couple of rainy days here.
    Not exactly ideal, but it did offer the perfect opportunity to capture some cool photos!

    Since Celeste and Ben’s beautiful home is perched on a hill, it’s often surrounded by low-hanging clouds that gently drift through the garden, cloaking everything in thick, billowing mist.

    I’ll admit—I had a lot of fun taking moody, atmospheric shots—especially of cobwebs.

    It was honestly hard to decide which ones to post here because—in all modesty—they’re all so cool! (Yep, there are more.)
    (Though I was kind of glad not to meet the residents of those webs…) 😄    Weiterlesen

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    Dreamworld

    22. Juni 2025 in Australien ⋅ ⛅ 21 °C

    What an awesome day filled with childlike fun! Though, for safety reasons, no camera/action cam this time. 😕
    I got to join Ben, Celeste, and their youthful entourage on a trip to Dreamworld—a theme park between Brisbane and the Gold Coast. Dreamworld isn’t just a haven for rollercoaster enthusiasts; it’s also a paradise for animal lovers.

    There’s a section of the park that functions like a mini-zoo, filled with iconic Aussie animals: dingoes, emus, kangaroos, snakes, toads—and cassowaries (a new one for me)! And of course, koalas. One of which I have befriended… and was devastated to leave behind. Or did I…? ^^

    The koala cuddle session was probably the highlight of my day — although the free-fall ride from a tower 119 meters high (that’s 39 stories!) comes in at a very close second (you can see the tower on pic 3). It was both terrifying and exhilarating. You’re pulled up slowly (it feels like it never ends…), left waiting at the top… and then suddenly —CLICK— and WOOOOSH. Down you go. Fast, about 135 km/h.

    It only lasted just under 5 seconds—but the adrenaline rush stayed with me much longer.

    Despite the rain pouring down all day it was fantastic! I’m really glad I had fun people around and didn’t have to go alone. 😊    Weiterlesen

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    Body Worlds Brisbane

    20. Juni 2025 in Australien ⋅ ⛅ 21 °C

    Today I was walking through Brisbane again and stumbled upon a Body Worlds exhibition by accident — and decided to have a look. Impressive, I must say! And educational. These photos only show the “milder” exhibits — there were many others, but to exercise viewer discretion, I left a few out.

    The exhibition revolved around one central theme: happiness and how you can achieve it. A few of the tips they shared? Stay active. Keep learning new things. Stay connected with people. Exercise and eat well. Find something you’re passionate about. Not exactly rocket science, but still so easy to neglect.

    While some exhibits showed healthy organs and bodies, others displayed what a smoker’s lung can look like, or the effects of a stroke. Pic 14 shows the “Orthopaedic Body,” which had “a lot of work done” — illustrating what it looks like when bones are screwed back together with plates, or after a hip replacement. You could see preserved bodies (admittedly, most of them male) performing all kinds of sports — even chess, if you’re inclined to count that as one 😄 — and various internal systems like the nervous or vascular system. They even had the three smallest bones in the human body. Where are they found, again? Exactly — in your ear.

    At the end of the exhibition, there was a big chalkboard wall that read: “Before I die I want to…” and everyone could write something down. It was pretty touching to read what people had written. A lot of them mentioned the classics: travel more, find love, start a family. Others were more specific — I remember reading about someone wanting to skydive, or marry a particular celebrity. And then there were the cheeky ones. My favourite? “Get men pregnant.” 😄

    Maybe think about it yourself — what would you have written down? 😉    Weiterlesen

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    Grand Views and New Furry Friends

    18.–19. Juni 2025 in Australien ⋅ ☁️ 15 °C

    The past few days have been lovely, and I’ve been taking it a little easier. After the stress of getting up between 3 and 6 a.m. for about two weeks, I was still pretty exhausted and needed some time to re-energise.

    What better way to do that than by offering friendship to a few of the cute resident animals? (The friendship is still pending — not sure why they’re so skittish! That’s also why none of them have a friendship bracelet yet…)

    I’m really enjoying my time with Celeste and Ben, who have not only made me feel incredibly welcome but are also, I’m glad to say, a lot less skittish. 😄    Weiterlesen

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    Another Day in Brisbane

    17. Juni 2025 in Australien ⋅ ☁️ 18 °C

    Today I went into Brisbane on my own by train (it was only slightly confusing to figure out which one to take) and spent some more time exploring.

    Highlight of the day: the best vanilla thickshake ever! That definitely made me happy. 😁
    Aside from that, I came across even more beautiful architecture — and took the time to photograph some of it.

    There’s not much more to say… except that I still don’t have the beach bod I’m dreaming of.
    Mirrors in clothing stores are just not flattering — I’m convinced the fault lies with the mirrors. Everybody please agree. 😁    Weiterlesen

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    South Bank

    16. Juni 2025 in Australien ⋅ ☁️ 21 °C

    Today, Celeste and I went into town and strolled along the South Bank — in beautiful weather!
    We had a great view of the CBD skyline, walked across bridges, and came across an awesome public swimming pool (free!) designed like a tropical lagoon. Eventually, we ended up in the Botanical Gardens, where we had a quick look around and a drink before we had to skedaddle again.

    Even tonight, I’m looking forward to catching up on some sleep — while I’ve been okay during the day, I’m still feeling the effects of not having really slept that last night in Sydney…    Weiterlesen

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    Brisbane

    15. Juni 2025 in Australien ⋅ ☁️ 8 °C

    What a night.
    With my flight to Brisbane scheduled to leave at 6 am, I’d set my alarm for 3 am to give myself ample time to get ready and get to the airport.

    Thanks to people coming in at all hours after partying, I don’t think I really slept at all until around 1 am. Then, just as I’d finally dozed off, a guy came in at 2:30 am — drunk — turned on all the lights in the room, and just sat on his bed for minutes. The lights were blindingly bright and woke everyone up. Slightly annoyed, I reached down from my bed and turned them off again — only for him to turn them back on. By that point, I was properly angry. So, I got up way too early.

    Turned out that was a good thing.

    I wanted to book an Uber to get to the airport — usually a pretty reliable option. But for whatever reason, four drivers in a row failed to show up. One kept telling me to call him. First, he sent me the wrong number, and then, with the right one, he simply wouldn’t answer. In the end, I had to take a taxi — much more expensive — just to make it on time.

    ⸻

    I arrived in Brisbane and, after getting lost on the way to baggage claim (who puts the luggage collection for some flights — but not all — in a completely different building?), I was picked up by Celeste. She and her husband Ben had invited me to stay with them for a bit while I’m here — we met a few months ago and stayed in touch.

    Celeste drove me around and showed me the area — a place called Maleny — including the view from the aptly named Mountain View Road, which you can see in the photos.

    Somehow, I actually made it through the entire day without feeling too tired, despite not having slept properly at all. That said, I thoroughly enjoyed going to bed — a really nice, properly sized bed with no one else in the room! Well, except for the kitty cat, who’s crafty enough to bend the door handle to her will and barge in unannounced. 😁    Weiterlesen

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    Bondi Beach

    14. Juni 2025 in Australien ⋅ ☀️ 16 °C

    My last full day in Sydney – for now.
    Equipped with my camera in one hand and a box of ripe, freshly harvested macarons in the other, I hopped on the bus to Bondi Beach. (There were four different bus stops, and I missed a few buses figuring out which one was the right one… Luckily, with buses arriving every six minutes, it wasn’t too bad. Yes, I could have asked for help, but I decided to prioritise savouring the macarons and figuring things out myself. 😁)

    As soon as I arrived — and true to what one of my taxi drivers in Vanuatu once called me, “the daughter of the rain god” — it started to rain. Bondi didn’t look especially welcoming under grey skies, but that didn’t stop a few brave souls from swimming and plenty more from surfing. I tried to capture some of that action with my camera, and that was lots of fun.

    As for the swimmers, the ever-vigilant lifeguards kept watch from their rescue tower. Being a bit of a fan of the YouTube series Bondi Rescue, I’d secretly hoped to spot a familiar face or two — but no such luck.

    Eventually, I wandered around the cliffs on the right-hand side of the beach, then made my way back to the bus stop — where I got lucky: the payment system was broken on that particular bus, so the ride was free. Considering how expensive everything is here, I revelled in that small win for quite some time. 😁    Weiterlesen

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