Sydney: First Impressions

So we have now been in Sydney for around 3 weeks and I feel I can now report back on my thoughts and feelings on Sydney so far.

As soon as we arrived there was such a different atmosphere to Melbourne. Sydney just screams character and really makes you want to investigate more. There's so many suburbs in Sydney (I was told it was 52ish but don't quote me on that!) and each has such a different personality. Everything also seems a lot more compact and closer together- we're now able to walk into the city centre where in Melbourne it would take a tram ride from more areas unless you lived in the actual city centre. 

With so much to explore we decided to go on a free walking tour and found that although there isn't nearly as much history as there is back home, there's still so many stories to hear about. 

All in all, I LOVE Sydney already. There's such a great atmosphere and so much to see. Obviously there is the Sydney Opera House and the Sydney Harbour Bridge but there's so much more to see in Sydney which just hasn't had a look in. We plan to be here for around 2/3 months and I can't wait to explore more and report back on my favourites places/things to see.

Iona x

Goodbye Melbourne, You Legend!

As you may be able to guess from the title I have said my final farewells to the beautiful city of Melbourne. After spending the past 5 months or so living and working there we thought it was time for us to up sticks and leave. This was in no way because we didn't like it but more because we liked it too much and felt too settled. I genuinely would call it a home from home and have gained some of my best memories during my time there.

We are now getting ourselves set up in Sydney and are back to square one with the struggle to find a flat/jobs but everything is new and exciting. As much as this year is about travelling around new places I will miss Melbourne and will be planning on going back again before I head home in September. 

Below are some photo's of my favourite memories and experiences which I will never forget. Usually I don't see myself as lucky but after looking through the photo's I'm extremely grateful for every moment I've been able to have over here. As well as all these amazing times I've had there's also been the not-so-amazing times but I can already see how I'm learning from it all and growing as a person (lamest sentence I've ever put together!) Hope you've enjoyed sharing these moments with me so far...here's to many more in Sydney!!

Iona x

The amazing aquarium!

Australia Day!

 Australia Day Blog

Christmas day spent sunbathing on the beach!?

 Christmas Day Blog

Belles Beach

Sunset from our campsite on Great Ocean Road

Great Ocean Road Blog

The 12 Apostles

Standing on the actual Ramsay Street during the Neighbours Tour

 Neighbours Tour Blog

A wallaby which I fed soon after this photo

 Phillips Island Tour

Dream of a lifetime coming true

Up the Eureka Skydeck looking over all of Melbourne

Eureka Skydeck Blog

Episode 18!

Contain your excitement but there is now another episode up on our YouTube channel! For those who don't know, as well as this blog I'm also uploading videos onto YouTube so that people can watch as well as read what we're getting up to on our year away! 

The latest episode is us going on the Neighbours tour as well as quite a few random bits and bobs from a few months ago! Next up will hopefully be the great ocean road so make sure to subscribe to the channel to ensure you don't miss out! 

www.youtube.com/thelittlelassies 

Iona x

Eureka Skydeck

Last Christmas my sister got me some vouchers for things to do in Melbourne and one of these vouchers was for the Eureka Skydeck.

The Skydeck is basically a very tall building with the highest public vantage point in the Southern Hemisphere. There's also a feature in it called the 'Edge Experience'. This is where you are put into a glass cube and ejected 3 metres out from the building. This cube is 300 metres up and you can only imagine the views that we got (annoyingly we weren't allowed cameras so couldn't even take photos of these views!)

Although I am scared of heights (managed to only have a sly cry once though-win!) the views took our breaths away and we spent a good while just looking out across the whole of Melbourne and taking it all in. 

The whole experience is one I've never come close to having before (maybe going up the Eiffel Tower but I was too young to remember) and would recommend everyone to do it! Even if you are scared of heights- I managed! If you do have a bad fear of heights though I'd maybe not do the Edge experience as it did freak me out a bit and you still get amazing views from just the Skydeck viewing platform. There's even a cafe up there to help you relax and enjoy the views. 

Iona x

Stood eye level with a flying helicopter!

Great Ocean Road

Did someone say ROADTRIP!!?? Well we certainly did and last weekend we embarked on what was surely the greatest road trip of all time....well...maybe just to us!

We jumped into our hired campervan (!) and hit the road full of excitement and not knowing just what to expect. We headed along the Great Ocean Road and visited little towns and sites such as Geelong, Colac, Torquay, Belle Beach, Anglesea, Aireys Inlet, Lorne, Erskine Falls, Kennet River, Apollo Bay, Johanna Beach, 12 Apostles, Port Campbell and Warrnambool.

It was my first time staying in a campervan and although I'm not the best at the whole camping scene (what's wrong with wanting a shower every day!?) I loved the entire experience and barely noticed the fact that I didn't shower the whole 4 days.

We saw wild kangaroo's, wild koala's, some sort of hedgehog/porcupine type thing and a countless number of the most beautiful beaches. Driving along the windy road beside a massive hill did turn our stomachs at times but the beautiful sights which kept appearing made it more than worth while. 

The four days were spent full of laughter, excitement, seeing new sights, being wow'd by how beautiful the world can actually be, having coffee in small cafe's as we plan where to go next and just enjoying each others company. Not everything did technically go to plan as the first night we may have got slightly lost when looking for the camping site and spent a good couple of hours driving round and round the same very windy roads. It didn't help that our phones ran out of battery rather quickly which meant that google maps was no longer our answer. 

However, somehow we managed to survive without the constant checking of our phones and we made it back alive. The whole trip was a massive success and I would seriously urge everyone, whether young or old, to pack up a car/campervan, grab a few of your favourite people and go on a trip to somewhere you've never been and just explore.

Iona x

Belle's Beach

Erskine Falls

Sunset over Johanna Beach at our second  campsite

The 12 Apostles

Seagulls sitting in our footprints

Our 'Palentines' Day

Whether you are a loved up couple who looks forward to the 14th of February or a singleton who's trying to pretend they haven't noticed what day it was, sometimes there's just no getting out of getting caught up in good old Valentines Day.

I've never been all that fussed by the day, whether I've been with someone or not, but I have to admit that this year was one of my best. For Christmas my sister had got me a Groupon voucher for all you can eat pizza and bottle of wine at a place called 'Cushion' on Fitzroy Street. So we thought what better day to spend with the girls stuffing our faces. 

I noticed one of my best mates from back home had done the same thing and had named it 'Palentines Day' instead- the P standing for pals and pizza (always what a winning combo!)

The pizza was amazing, the sparking wine went down a treat and many a laugh was had without a single male in sight. Just goes to show- you don't need a man to have a good Valentines Day!

Iona x

Such good pizza!! We only managed to get through 4 though...we were SO full!

Bloglovin'

I've been hearing bits and bobs about this thing called Bloglovin' for a little while now but only today did I actually decide to find out what it is. After scrolling through the site I have decided I really like it and signed myself right up.

It's basically a place to follow all your favourite blogs and discover new ones on a whole range of topics. It's also a place to easier share blogs which you enjoy and for people to share their favourites with you too.

I would highly recommend joining if you're someone who enjoys reading blogs and of course I would appreciate a follow on it too- there is a link at the bottom of this post which will take you straight there.

I'd really love some followers over there and if you do go then thank you very much :)

Iona x

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