This week we are going down under. Australia is filled with natural beauty and world-renowned sites. I have never been to Australia, but I am planning on studying abroad there next spring. I am currently deciding between two universities in Sydney, Australia. I wanted to use this week’s blog as a way to research the place I will call home in less than a year.
The first important landmark I want to draw attention to is the Sydney Opera House. This architectural masterpiece is located on the Sydney Harbor and provides majestic water views. Aside from seeing a show, guests can also take tours of the opera house. There are a wide variety of tours available, ranging from an architectural tour to a sunset tour. Each tour allows guests to learn about a different sector of the historical building.
The next stop is one of Australia’s most famous beaches, Manly Beach. This area is known for its hip shopping and aesthetic cafes. The beach is unique because it is lined with Norfolk pine trees. It is also a great place to learn to surf or take a dip because of the presence of lifeguards. Learning to surf is one of the things I am most looking forward to about visiting Australia. This beach offers activities for all, with sand volleyball courts and snorkeling opportunities.
Royal National Park is located on the coast, south of Sydney. It is about a 30-minute drive from Sydney, but also easily accessible by bus or train. This national park features amazing lookout points and a countless number of trails, each tailored to a different experience level. The trail that I want to focus on is the Karloo walking trail. This hike is just over 6 miles and features waterfalls and picture-perfect picnic locations. The trail takes visitors to Karloo Pool and Uloola Falls. Both of these destinations are recommended as perfect spots to take a dip or have a picnic. I think it is amazing that there are so many national parks located just outside Syndey. This allows residents to escape the city and reconnect with nature.
Lastly, I want to discuss the Great Barrier Reef. While this is not close to Sydney, it is an attraction that I will be sure to visit while I am in Australia. It is about an 8-hour drive or a 3-hour flight from Sydney. I recently had a friend who went scuba diving in the reef and her pictures were immaculate. She saw sea turtles, majestic coral formations, and huge fish. Since I am an inexperienced diver I would choose to schedule an excursion through a company. The Great Barrier Reef is the largest in the world, spanning approximately 1,200 miles.
I only touched the surface of all the amazing attractions Australia has to offer. I am extremely excited to call Australia home for six months next year. Most importantly, I hope I get to see a kangaroo and hold a koala.
I really enjoyed reading this blog post, and how you touched on various different sites to see in Australia. It’s such a beautiful country, and has such beautiful nature. That’s also very cool that you have another opportunity to not only travel but study abroad again after your Cambodia trip. Whichever university you decide to study with, I hope you have an amazing time (and get to see a kangaroo & hold a koala)!
First of all, I absolutely love how you used your blog as a way to research your study abroad options. Studying abroad is such an amazing opportunity for students, and there are so many possibilities that come with it. Research is so crucial to ensure that you get everything out of it that you expect to! As much as I would love to study abroad, I do not think I could do an entire semester. However, I would definitely consider doing a Maymester. Sydney would be such an amazing place to study abroad. Manly Beach looks absolutely amazing. I would also love to learn how to surf. That beach looks like the perfect place to learn. After you study abroad, you are going to have to let me know if you were able to do it! Royal National Park looks amazing as well. I never thought that I would want to go to Sydney, but it is definitely on my bucket list now!