As Australia is quite a long ways away from where I live in North America, it only made sense to leave as much time as possible for my trip. So, I figured two months would suffice for my first Australian experience and that ended up being a good decision, as I got to see much of the country, while not feeling overly rushed.

I flew into Sydney and spent three days touring the city. I took a sightseeing day tour of the city, where we headed up into the historic district to get an overview of the harbor from Mrs. Macquarie’s Chair, a famous sandstone seat carved by convicts. From this view you can also see the sails of Sydney Opera House and the iconic Harbor Bridge. The next day I went to Bondi Beach where I took my first surfing lesson. Bondi Beach is one of Sydney’s most famous beaches and is definitely one of the most beautiful. It is also one of the most popular as it was full of beachgoers and surfers.

From Sydney, I first traveled to Port Stephens, famous for its fishing, boating, and hospitality. While here I got to go on a dolphin cruise tour where I got up close and personal with bottlenose dolphins. I also hit the massive dunes in Port Stephens for some fun sand-boarding. Although pretty similar to snow-boarding, beware of the amount of sand that gets in your clothes.

When I crossed into Queensland, I visited the Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary where I got up close to some of Australia’s most beautiful and famous wildlife. I got to hold a koala, feed kangaroos, and see wombats, emus, crocodiles, dingoes, Tasmanian devils, and colorful birds. Next I went to Surfer’s Paradise on the Gold Coast which is home to some of the best surfing beaches in the world. While in Surfer’s Paradise, I tried my hand at surfing again and also did some sea kayaking. I also took a rainforest discovery bushwalk through Springbrook National Park with an expert guide.

One of my favorite stops was Fraser Island. I spent three days here taking in the paradise and beauty of the area. I took a day tour to spot some of the region’s best spots and hidden treasures, as well as a half day whale tour out to Hervey Bay to see the great whales in their natural habitat. Another great highlight of my Australia trip was the three days I spent sailing the Whitsundays on a flotilla yacht. I got to snorkel and swim and laze around onboard the yacht. It was a truly fantastic experience.

In Cairns, I took a thrilling ride down the white water rapids of the Tully River in a white-water raft. One night I took a trip to the night markets, where I picked up a local boomerang that is now hanging in my house. The next day in Cairns, I took a day trip out to the Great Barrier Reef. I got to snorkel amongst all the colorful fish, turtles, vivid coral, and incredible clear waters. The Great Barrier Reef was definitely a major highlight of my Australia trip and a must for anyone visiting the area.

My trip to Australia was a once in a lifetime experience that, even though it felt I was breaking the bank to get there, was worth every penny and I will remember for the rest of my life.