Travel

Sydney has never stopped surprising me, there is just so much to see and do in this city, it feels endless – you never get bored! My last trip during my internship at WTC was to the beautiful Watson's Bay – what a great way to finish this trip to Australia!

The unique suburb Watson's Bay is only a short ferry ride away from the city. It offers some nice views of Sydney’s magnificent skyline and there are restaurants, bars and cafes in the area to suit anyone's tastes.

The Watson's Bay Beach Club Restaurant is one of a kind and definitely my favourite. The Restaurant has the perfect spot overlooking Sydney and the gorgeous Watson's Bay Beach. The atmosphere is unbeatable and is definitely an amazing spot to catch up with some friends or just enjoy the view with your favourite drink in your hand.

I highly recommend to catch the Ferry and see Watson's bay. It’s beautiful, it is only 30 minutes from the city and it only coasts you a couple of dollars to get there; so why not? While you are there and have some spare time, you should walk the five kilometre cliff-top walk (‘The Federation Cliff Walk’) from Watson's Bay to Dover Heights. It's a stunning postcard view out to the Pacific Ocean and, if you are brave enough, there are some places where you can go cliff jumping (tick that off your bucket list!!)

This is my last post for the WTC blog and my interning has sadly come to an end :-(  I am so very grateful for this amazing and unique opportunity and I couldn't have been happier with my time in Sydney and at WTC. I have learnt that anything is possible, you just have to believe in yourself and it will all work out! Over these past two months I have grown so much, and learnt a lot about myself. I have gained invaluable experience which will be useful for my studies and my future carrier in the Travel & Tourism industry. I have created life-long memories for which I will be forever grateful.

Thank you Sydney for the amazing time and I will see you again one day (for the fifth time!)  Like the WTC travel agent said (in his charming Aussie accent) when I said goodbye: ‘You are like a boomerang, you just keep coming back!’ And I guess he is right, this was definitely not the last time I will travel to the land down under.

Recently, I was lucky enough to get a chance to go to Palm Beach, also called the "Jewel of the Northern Beaches". Palm Beach is the northernmost of Sydney's beach suburbs, and this place is pure paradise! The beautiful beach and suburb is about 28 kilometers from Manly and less than an hour drive from the Sydney Harbour Bridge and the CBD. You can get here by bus, which is very convenient, but I recommend to go by car if you can - you will want to stop for pictures and to gaze at the spectacular ocean views and beaches along the way.  This was my second trip to Palm Beach and it is definitely worth visiting more than twice – the breathtaking views, the ocean breeze and the friendly locals with the most relaxed lifestyle, it just makes you want to stay there forever...

Palm Beach has a few nice little restaurants and cafes, but my favourite one is the amazing little Boathouse (see all the pics). The food is delicious (especially their freshly made juices), this place will definitely be one of the things that brings me back on my next trip to Australia. The restaurant is located right on the water, and what could possibly be better than listening to the sound of the ocean while you’re enjoying your lunch?

If you have some spare time, catch one of the small ferries that run across Broken Bay to Patonga and have a look at the National Park Ku-ring-gai, which is a Bushland reaching down to the water. Make sure you don’t miss the the fascinating Aboriginal Heritage walk, where there is rock art and engravings of the Guringai people of West Head (this part is also ideal for cycling, fishing and bushwalking). This is a great way to experience a little bit of Australia's history.

Palm Beach is also the home of TV series Home and Away, a perennially popular Australian television show that has been on TV from 1988, with over 6300 episodes! I’m fortunate enough that my Australian friend, who also came with me on this trip to Palm Beach, is an actor on Home and Away. She told me it is an amazing experience to work with such a popular Australian TV series, which she has grown up watching; can you imagine growing up to work for your favourite show as a kid? The actors and the rest of the Home & Away team are very friendly and easy going too!

Palm Beach is also known for its famous lighthouse bushwalk. The uphill walk is 1.2 kilometers and it is definitely worth every step when you finally get to the top. I have seen a lot of stunning views in Sydney, but this particular one from the historic Barrenjoey lighthouse would have to be one of my favourite views. With spectacular 360 degree views, you can see the uninhabited rocky island resembling a resting lion which guards the entrance to Broken Bay (Lion Island, fitting name!), its northern arm Brisbane Water, and Pittwater. The lighthouse was built of sandstone in 1881 and its light can be seen 19 nautical miles out to sea; yes, it still operates! If you go to Palm Beach sometime during May to November there is a chance you would see whales during their annual migration, which by itself makes the trip worth putting on your bucket list...

It was already over 30 degrees Celsius when I got to the YHA pick up location at 7.15 am. And it was predicted to be about 42 degrees in the Hunter Valley today. What would be better than relaxing at an exclusive wine tasting tour this particular day? Not many people would say no to a day trip out to Australia's oldest wine production region, especially not if you mentioned that a wine crawl is included in the price!

As soon as we left the city behind us I could feel how relaxed and calm I was. The city is nice but nothing beats being surrounded by open fields and the atmosphere of the farmland and vineyards that stretch as far as the eye can see.  We were a small group of 10 people including me and we were all from different places around the world, like America, Mexico, Switzerland, Denmark, Germany and Sweden.

Our professional tour guide took us to three different wineries and we tasted like 20 different wines; red, white, sparkling, fortified and rose! We started off with the world-famous McGuigan wines, which has won “International Winemaker of the Year” at the International Wine and Spirit Competition in London - 3 times!… and they also had a nice little shop with their own wine and some delicious cheese.

After the second winery we sat down and had lunch in the shade, and finished off at the Wynwood Estate winery (my personal favourite). The whole experience there felt genuine, and the host made us feel very welcomed... AND the wine was absolutely amazing!

Even if you are not a massive wine drinker, you would absolutely love this trip and will probably love wine after the tastings. You'll at least feel like a wine expert after this tour, since the winemakers explain in detail the process and the character and quality of every wine you get to taste. A really good thing is that you will also support the small local family producers who are so important Australia’s wine making, so it's a feel-good experience beyond just a load of wine! And who doesn't like cute boutique shops, incredible cheese shops, and a brewery tour too??

I have always liked to meet new people and have always been interested to hear their stories; it's inspiring to hear where they have traveled and what has led others to where they are today. As we drove back to the city, I couldn’t stop thinking of how lucky I am who get to do all these amazing things with my life and see all these beautiful places.

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***Want to book the famous ‘Hunter Valley Winery Tour’ for yourself?  Message the Travel Desk to get the best deal in town.

The great thing about Sydney is that there is so much to see and do, it seems endless! And what could be more amazing than experiencing beautiful Sydney by riding a bike through it! (it's such a nice change from public transport, buses and taxis too) I highly recommend this tour as it's such a different experience, it really takes your breath away: the fresh air, being outside soaking up the sunshine and the beautiful weather!

The harbour bike rides takes you on a 12 km joy ride around some of the most iconic Sydney harbour scenes. It's a nice way to see a different side of the city (the north) and enjoy the cute cafes and sights along the way. It takes about 2 hours, and you are free to stop whenever you want and take photos or just stroll around in North Sydney.

 
It’s an easy ride and anyone can do it, even if you are a beginner! You get a close up look at some of Sydney's most iconic scenery, like riding across the harbour bridge - you can't get any closer than that! I thought climbing the bridge, which I did a few years ago, was the most amazing experience; well, this topped it, just when I thought it couldn't get any better. Riding a bike though Sydney wasn't something I dreamed of doing, but it's made me more grateful of the beautiful world we live in. Many friends back home in Sweden would love to have this amazing opportunity!

It's never too late to try new things. Sometimes it may be a simple thing like a bike ride, but I'll never forget it. Do more of what makes you happy!

Call or Email the Travel Desk to book your bike ride today! You might be surprised how cheap it is :-)  [email protected]

Captain James Cook was about 19 years older than me when he first discovered Australia. I was 23 years old, and pretty much didn't know what to do with my life so I booked a flight to Australia ‘the land down under’ and applied for a Working Holiday Visa. People told me that Australia would be an easy country to travel, work, and meet new people - even if you're travelling alone. And they were right!

I didn't have a plan. I didn't think about it at all to be honest. I just jumped on that plane, and moved from Sweden to the other side of the world; I didn't know what to expect. I took a risk and, to be honest, Australia wasn't one of the countries to tick off my bucket list, but I couldn't have been happier! It was the best decision I have ever made in my life and I wouldn't change a thing.

This is now my fourth trip to Australia; every time I left, I promised myself I would come back, and so far I have... I lived in a beach house (with 4 Aussies and an American) on the Northern Beaches where I made friendships that I never thought could exist. I've worked in a beach side restaurant, and I've worked in a local pub in what felt like the middle of the outback in Queensland where I experienced the 'real local' life living in a big house in a small country town ('becoming a local' in QLD is an unforgettable experience everyone should have!)

Four years later, I am back in Sydney again, doing my internship with the Work and Travel Company and loving every minute of it! It's been great to use my own experience as a traveller to help WTC members with all their questions, because I really know what they are going through firsthand. I get the opportunity to develop myself and my career, working alongside experts in the industry I love the most: Travel! This beautiful country has so much to offer and there is so much to see and experience. Even having done so much already, I still have plenty more places in Australia I would love to experience one day! Working at WTC, I will get to see so much more of Sydney this time, and create more life long memories for which I will be forever grateful.

I believe everything happens for a reason, and good things do come to those who wait... but they also come to those who go out and get what they want and chase their goals. I believe I achieved mine by getting on that plane all by myself and taking a massive risk: travelling alone, not knowing what to expect. I just believed in myself, and knew that I could do this on my own; if I can do it, anyone can! You just have to push yourself out of your comfort zone. Travel is one of the few things you can buy that actually makes you richer.

My name is Emelie and this is the story of my Australian experience. And it's just the beginning.