Day One & Two
As I finished packing my final items struggling to close my suitcase, I knew this trip would be a chance of a lifetime. Arriving at CCSU, a flood of emotions quickly hit home. I couldn’t tell if I was nervous to leave home or nervous to never want to come home!! Busing through New York, I was able to see new environments and landmarks that I had never seen before. It wasn’t the first time I had been to New York, but it was my first time not only flying out of JFK but internationally.
As we approached the airport I knew that there was no turning around from here. Our flight to LA was an interesting trip in itself, I had never been on such a GINORMOUS plane before, experiencing that was a journey within itself. At this point, it still hadn’t completely hit me that I was about to leave the US soil. Truthfully this trip most likely isn’t going to hit me until I return home to my bed. Boarding the plane in LA I knew that the fifteen-hour flight that we were about to experience was going to be challenging within itself but honestly it wasn’t as bad as I thought. To be honest, it didn’t feel like we were on a plane at all, I was pleasantly surprised by how friendly and informational the staff was. I wish the lady that was sitting next to me was just as friendly, but sadly she definitely wasn’t. The couple that was sitting behind us, were natives from Sydney and were flying home from their journey to New York. We began to talk about New York and how different the United States was compared to Australia. I truly enjoyed talking to them and learning the nitty gritty about this beautiful country.
As we approached the continent we were awoken by a BEAUTIFUL sunrise and a vast ocean underneath. After slowly making our way through customs and the airport, Will gave me a gentle reminder that I was not allowed to pet the dogs, even though I wanted to and knew I couldn’t, I thought it was funny that he had made the comment. Entering the van that was going to bring us to our hostel, I quickly noticed that the driver’s drive on the opposite side. I had never seen or been in a vehicle that resided to the left side of the road, it took some getting used too. Staying in a hostel was going to be an experience like no other, seeing how my college career I lived at home, staying in a dorm style hotel was pretty cool. I liked how the ground level had an archeological site where individuals could go and learn about Sydney’s cultural history. Approaching our room, and realizing we had the best room in the entire hostel, my excitement level shot right through the roof. It wasn’t until I got to witness my incredible view, I said to myself, wow I’m actually in Australia.
Day Three
My roommates; Caitlyn, Giuliana, Lauren, Maryssa and I quickly changed out of our two-day old plane clothes, knowing we had a long and interesting day ahead of us. Our tour began by walking the streets of Sydney, slowly making our way to the Sydney Harbor. As we turned the corner I was in absolute awe as I witnessed with my very own eyes the Sydney Opera House.
As I turned to my left the Sydney Harbor Bridge had appeared. When someone says that pictures don’t do justice it is absolutely true. As a group we walked all the way from the edge of the dock to the other side of the harbor were with my very own hands I touched the Sydney Opera House. Knowing that I still had a full day of site seeing, I thought to myself I don’t think it could get much better than that. Well, I was soooooooo wrong!
As we approached the Royal Botanic Garden I was memorized by the different species of trees and birds. Touching a eucalyptus tree had been on my list and now I can say I did! I couldn’t believe how interesting they looked, it was like a tree from a trippy movie. Hearing as well as seeing the birds within the trees and on the ground, we were lucky enough to see the Rainbow lorikeets, native to Aussie. In Will’s class; Australia, New Zealand and Oceania, I had learned about these birds and the sounds they make but hearing it with my own ears was incredible.
Finishing up our journey for the day we ended in the Convict Barracks where we got to tour the living arrangements of the thousands of individuals that had been through the barracks. An interesting fact that we learned were the convicts as they were building the barracks after every 100th brick they marked it with their fingerprints, which we could still see today!! The tour guide explained it as a placemark in time, a piece of the past left by the convicts.
Finishing up our journey for the day we ended in the Convict Barracks where we got to tour the living arrangements of the thousands of individuals that had been through the barracks. An interesting fact that we learned were the convicts as they were building the barracks after every 100th brick they marked it with their fingerprints, which we could still see today!! The tour guide explained it as a placemark in time, a piece of the past left by the convicts.
Day Four
Getting used to the time change was difficult the first night. I found myself wide awake at six-thirty and decided I would go sit on the roof patio. As I walked out the door I was greeted with the sleepy faces of Will, Chaz, and Amanda. We mingled about our sleepless night until the glimpse of light caught our eyes. As the sun started to peak over the horizon a mix of pink and orange began to replace the darkness. An Aussie sunrise is a sunrise one shall never forget. I had never seen something so elegant and pure. As the sun continued to rise the sky turned from its pinkish hue to a crisp blue, it was time to start our day.
We started our journey to Manly Beach by taking the ferry across the harbor. We got to witness incredible views of the Pacific Ocean as well as the land surrounding the harbor. Will discussed how Botany Bay was the entry point of the first European landing in Australia. To see this entrance with my very own eyes was breathtaking. As we arrived at our destination we ran to the shore to see the Pacific. The beach has always had a special place in my heart and has lead me to place my toes in multiple bodies of water, but the Pacific had not been one I had come across. Feeling the rush of room temperature water mixed with the smooth, warm sand was just the perfect combination to steal my heart. Allen, Caitlyn, Maryssa, Lauren, Giuliana, River and myself all jumped into the water splashing and enjoying the waves. As we looked around we noticed everyone was more or less bundled up staring at all of us as if we were crazy. I guess swimming in winter is odd?? Who would have thought LOL we were just making memories! After a long day at the beach, our group returned back to the hostel before our adventures to China Town.
China Town reminded me much of New York in the sense of markets, shops, and food courts. Stopping in Sydney’s Paddy Markets for many this had been their first real experience of a night market. Throughout this market, you can find anything from GIANT crabs for sale to video game bars, what you would least expect you can find in Aussie! Finishing up the night the group parted ways, some went out on the town while others went to the movies to see Incredibles 2! Seeing as we were fourteen hours ahead of viewing the movie in Aussie would mean watching it before the USA, it was so cool it had to be done so Maryssa and Giuliana took an uber! As we all returned back to our rooms at the wee hours of the morning I knew I would dread staying up seeing as we were leaving Sydney and flying to Tasmania at six am. As I finally laid in bed and looked at my phone I was blinded by the numbers 3:45 am, yeah it was time for bed.
Day Five
Waking up at 5:30 am we all could barely keep our eyes open. At this point not only had the jet lag set in so had the pure exhausted, followed by the knowledge of what was in store for our day. Some of us hadn’t gone to sleep and were functioning normally, I envied those individuals. As we boarded the plane I began to get anxious as well as excited to arrive at our next destination. Our morning going as it did, long story short VERY ANGRY bus driver, I would say our group was not only a little shaken up but even more ready to leave Sydney. Even though we were five days into the trip I still couldn’t believe we were there in Australia. In Sydney were learned that many local Australians had never been to Tasmania. Some locals talked down upon the individuals who lived in Tassie, believed that they were impure as well as “cousin lovers.” Although there was much negativity surrounding Tasmania I couldn’t help but find myself more interested to learn why these locals felt this way!
After our just about two-and-a-half-hour flight, which was cake compared to our sixteen-hour flight a few days ago, we quickly noticed the difference in temperature the minute we stepped off the plane. The air was thin, light, feeling it enter my lungs was not only refreshing but exhilarating. As we loaded our stuff into the van and began our journey to Hobart I could begin to see the difference in not only climate but landscape wise as well. The land was much greener, covered with plants, bushes and fields of sheep for as far as you could see. Sheep, which are a main resource for Tasmania room like deer, they are used not only for food use but in clothing and textile industries. As we approached our hostel we found ourselves smack dab in the middle of Downtown Hobart. In Southern Tasmania, their industries are focus towards fishing, tourism and as we know sheep. If it wasn’t for tourism, life in Tasmania, particularly Hobart would be dark and grim.
As we changed into our rain jackets, or what Tassie natives call spray-jackets we adventured down to Battery Point. Once we arrived at the bay Will began talking about the history and significance of Hobart. As I glanced over across the bay I noticed an object floating in the water. As I began to look closer I noticed the object was bobbing in and out of the water. Now that my attention had been shifted to this object floating in the water I quickly yelled, “I think there is a seal over there!” Just like that we all be-lined it to the other side of the dock, I felt bad I had interrupted the lecture but hey how often do you see a seal this close, LIKE NEVER. As we were all memorized over this adorable little seal, Will thanked me for interrupting his lecture for he had lived in Hobart for a few years and had never seen a seal that close-up.
As we continued our lesson on the history of Hobart we strolled through Hobart Town and stumbled across The Dark Mofo. The Dark Mofo is a pagan festival that occurs every year in Hobart. It just so happened that The Mona, a well-known museum, had put it on that week. The natives also informed us that there was a man who had buried himself under the road to protest the treatment of the aboriginal people. He was proving the point of hundreds of people walk on Hobart's streets but don’t think about the significance of how this town came to be. No one thinks about the people who worked and lost their lives for modern day society. This gentleman wanted to change individuals view by remaining underground with just oxygen for three days! At first, I was a little freaked out by the atmosphere itself but then it grew on me, I was blessed to be able to witness such an amazing festival! As we continued to walk further into town we stopped by shops and cafes sampling new and unique food along the way. As the weather began to turn some of the group began to head back to the hotel while a few of us including Will wanted to get a better look at Battery Point. From a distance, you could see the outskirts of towns on the horizon as well as magnificent ships in the ports. One thing that I will never forget about this trip are the stunning views I got to witness with my very own eyes, so peaceful like a painting.
Day Six
After our night of fun at the Dark Mofo, our group met for breakfast at a tavern down the street, it was delicious! As we finished our breakfast we hopped in the van with our tour guide starting our day-long trip to Port Arthur. Throughout our path to our final destination, we stopped at a few locations including the Tasman Peninsula, Eagle-hawk Neck, Foreshore Walkway, Murdunna, and a local café. As we drove up this long curvy road we reached our first stop, Eagle-hawk. Standing at the top of this landing was comparable to standing on the top of the world. Looking to the left you could see the ocean for miles and to the right maritime towns took over much of the mountains.
Continuing on our path our next stop was the Tasman Peninsula. As we drove down this dirt road the weather quickly changed, and it began to rain, some of us weren’t prepared for precipitation and were unhappy that they were now having to hike through it. But if you ask me the hike was worth every penny. As a group, we witnessed many amazing views of the Peninsula! River, Allen, Allison, Caitlyn and I were even able to see pademelons, which are part of the kangaroo family, in their natural habitat!! It was truly life-changing.
As we embark on our final destination for the day, we begin our two-hour drive to our world heritage site of Port Arthur. Here we explored the ruins of the prison as well as went on a ferry and explored the surrounding islands and landscapes. We learned that depending on the crime you committed as well as your age determines where you were placed throughout Port Arthur. Upon venturing through the ruins, you are given a playing card. Once inside the museum you must find the same card on the wall, this card would determine not only your fate at Port Arthur but the crime you committed to be sent there. As we finished the museum and began walking to our ferry ride, Will quietly pulled us all aside. He explained that in 1996 the deadliest mass shooting had occurred right in our very location. During this gunfire, thirty-five people were killed and since gun laws are very serious all over not only Tassie but Australia in general. Letting that sink in for a minute we all collected our thought and boarded the ferry. Once back on land, our group parted ways, some went on a tour with a tour guide and others went for our own tour with Will and Chaz. Once the tours were over we all met up to discuss what we thought of this UNESCO site and then headed back to Hobart. During our venture home, we stopped in a small village to get a sweet snack at the local candy shop. In the beginning of our ride, our tour guide said she was going to bring us to view the bridge that connects Hobart to the local surround towns. She explained how once a barge drove into the bridge creating a massive accident where multiple casualties were documented. Not only did many individuals lose their lives but the bridge became unusable which lead natives to drive hours out of their way to get into the city. Today, when a barge comes through the river the bridge opens to allow them to pass without any cars on the bridge. Watching all the cars pass over the bridge at night combined with all the lights appeared to be a light show within itself, a perfect way to end our trip in Hobart.
Day Seven
Waking up we head down to the same tavern as yesterday morning for another wonderful breakfast. But today was a special day, as all the fathers entered the room we wished them a Happy Father’s Day! As for Chaz, he got to spend his Father’s Day with his family and us touring the beautiful landscapes of Mount Fields National Park and Lake St Clair. Both located in the central highlands of Tasmania we witnessed an array of temperate forests filled with plants and animals. In Mount Fields National Park, we climbed up these stairs made out of stones found in the park as well as man-made wooden stairs which reached all the way up to a ginormous waterfall. Along the way up to the waterfall, we encountered unique alpine species of plants including giant ferns and tree moss. As the rain continued to fall harder and harder we ventured off to our next location St Clair Lake. We walked along the path which would bring us to Platypus Reach. Although the only person able to see the platypus was Bob with his high-definition camera it was still amazing to see where these creatures live and breed. As we began to quickly lose sunlight, and myself after having to spend forty dollars on socks, we began our journey to Strahan located on the Western side of Tasmania.
Day Eight
Waking up on day eight I found myself dead in the middle of winter. Grabbing my phone to check the temperature it was about eight degrees Celsius or about forty degrees Fahrenheit. As a group, we all shivered together as we embarked on our journey down the Gordon River. We witnessed views of Hells Gates which is the opening to Macquarie Harbor as well as Sarah Island. Sarah Island was once an island that contained prisoners who hadn’t been transported to Port Arthur. Now it’s one of the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Areas and is visited by tourists daily. Prior to landing on Sarah Island, we stopped at Franklin Gordon Wild Rivers National Park, where we walked along the path and got to breathe the benchmark for the cleanest air in the world. Refreshing is an understatement! Once at Sarah Island we took a tour through the remains of buildings and boat yard. I began to think of awful it must have been to have had to stay on this island from months to years! As a group, we felt extremely isolated. Are journey back into port was a quick one, because of the how vital the surrounding environment is to sustain life the ferry is loaded with electric and gas to ensure proper care to the ecosystems. Once those gas motors started up we were back at port in no time.
Just as we thought our day was over, we all loaded back into the bus and headed over to “The Best Little Town in the World”- Zeehan World Heritage Center. In this center we visited a mining museum where got to see different types of stone and material that had been mined all over Tasmania but more specifically in Zeehan itself. Ending our night our bus driver Andrew had a surprise for all of us including Will and Chaz. As we approached the local beach the sun was just about to set, all at once we ran down to the water to try and comprehend the view we were about to see. If heaven could be defined through a picture I would say I captured heaven. As sky turned from its baby blue to a deep pinkish purple tone, I found myself in awe all at once there was a sudden silence. I will forever remember Strahan simply because of that night, that mental picture in my brain will forever stand still. As we returned back to town, as a group we all gathered around for a family dinner. Laughter filled the room, laughter that one will never forget.
Day Nine
I can’t believe it’s time to pack everything up once again. In the beginning, I felt like our trip would last a lifetime, but now that we are more than half way done I would do anything for time to stand still. As the sun rose over the horizon it painted a pink sky. Bob came over to me and said: "the best pictures are taken right at sunrise and sunset go take advantage!" Just like that, I ran outside to take this incredible photo.
Today we set our ventures to Cradle Mountain and Trowunna Wildlife Park. Cradle Mountain is a popular tourist attraction for not only its views but the history which lies beneath the surface. Once covered with a glacier the remains provide vital landscapes for not only its native animals but plants as well. As the glacier reseeded over time it released secrets of the past that now provide important knowledge for today’s society. My favorite part of Cradle Mountain was climbing to Glacier Rock with Allison, Caitlyn, and Allen. Joined by the rest of our group we all took a minute to take in the view, a view not too many individuals have witnessed. As we packed up the bus once again heading to Trowunna we witnessed a family of wombats! Wombats are Wills favorite animal so we had to stop and take millions of pictures!
Throughout our two-hour trip to Trowunna we not only saw vast landscapes changing from bush to forest, but we saw an Echidna! These animals resemble a porcupine but are extremely rare to see! At the wildlife sanitary the owner could not explain to us how lucky we were to witness the animal. He said that “people look for their entire life and don’t even see one, and you guys saw one your first time to Tassie!” I knew I liked the owner from the minute we entered the wildlife park. Our experience here cannot be explained in words…why don’t you take a look!
By and large, I think we can all say this was the best day ever! How many people can say that they played with a kangaroo and pet a Tasmanian Devil! Throughout my life, I have been part of many animal encounters, but my experience at Trowunna will probably take top slot for the rest of my life. I'm so grateful for wildlife centers like Trowunna that take injured animals in rehab them and then return them to their native environment. Without instituations like this sadly many species would probably become endangered if not existed. After spending about an hour in the gift shop our entire group donated enough money for multiple weeks worth of food for these animals, I'm just happy that as a group we were able to help a cause and lives of many species. As we pack up and head on to our final location in Tassie, a sense of a bittersweetness filled the air. I was excited to embark on our next journey to Cairns but I was sad to leave such an incredible environment. Choosing to go to Tasmania was a choice that I will never regret. BUT for future reference, Tassie in the winter is too cold, the next time I return it will be in summer!
Day Ten
Four days in Cairns was no less packed with activity, history, and nature than Hobart and Sydney. Our first excursion took place on the Great Barrier Reef. A full day of snorkeling in world-renowned reefs. Currently, the reef is in danger; pollution in the water and rising temperatures are having devastating effects on the health of the reef. For us, this dive was a chance to see the living reef up close, and to see first- hand the discolored and dying reef, known as coral bleaching. It is difficult to put into words how amazing it was to see the towers of coral and the many varieties of animals living on the reef. Some were lucky to see sharks, turtles, and rays! But to see up close the vibrant tropical coral alongside the bleached, colorless reef was disheartening.
Day Eleven
The second day in Cairns was an early day jammed pack with breathtaking landscape and culture. Kuranda Scenic Railway was an old-timey experience traveling up the mountainside, offering some of the best views in Australia (a tough competition) From out train car we watched the tropical rainforest sprawl and intertwine with the local Aussie landscape. Our acescent included waterfalls and deep gorges. At the top, Kuranda, an adorable tourist village, welcomed us as we explored shops with aboriginal art, crafts, and restaurants stocked with meat pies. Here, some of our group members were able to take pictures holding a Koala! The sky rail was the only way could have left the mountain, coasting over the rainforest with stops along the way. Complete with a guided trail, we learned about creeper vines and some of the camoflouge plants and animals use to survive the forest. Most importantly- the cassowary! The world’s third largest bird, decedents of velociraptors, they are still every bit as threatening today, as the guide warned. If we ever see a cassowary, to be sure to put a tree or anything between it and you!
Day Twelve
Day three was, again, all about nature. Destination: Port Douglas. First stop was the Rainforest Habitat Wildlife Sanctuary. This sanctuary was a little more zoo-like than the sanctuary we visited in Tasmania, but many animals including wallabies and birds had free range of certain areas. Among their displays were birds of prey, koalas, and cassowaries. Even though Tasmania had a colder climate, so maybe they had more fuzzy animals, generally, there were no big differences in animal life between zones. Australia’s wildlife as a whole was a very unique experience. Every animal seemed so exotic.
Day Thirteen
Next stop was the Aboriginal Daintree Rainforest Tour. Guided through the ancient rainforests, very different than the forests of Tasmania. The tropical rainforests were very dense with climbing vines. Last stop was the crocodile boat ride and an up-close look at the mangroves. The mangroves are an amazing part of the river system where the roots of the tree grow down into the water then back out again “like a snorkel” as our guide explained. This area is pivotal to life in the river as well as the sea as many fish varieties are first born in the mangroves then migrate to the ocean. The crocodiles that occupy the waters have no question who is the top of their food chain; completely unbothered as we cruised past them. Crocodiles are very territorial and if they sense anything disturbing their area, they will investigate and take out the perpetrator.
Day Fourteen
Our fourth and last day in Cairns was arguably one of the “top five” days. Our schedule was completely tossed, so naturally, we started with a big, lazy breakfast and we were able to decide our own itinerary for the day! The options were endless, everyone scattered in different directions! Open air market, botanical garden, aquarium, white river rafting, and an island excursion for more snorkeling are just some of the activities enjoyed that day. Cairns offered so many opportunities, from the very mellow shops, markets, and ferries to more extreme sporting adventures like four wheeling, horseback riding, diving, and skydiving. A group even explored the local aquarium, where displays of ocean plastic pick-up were shown through ocean animals. Everyone has a place in the adventures. It was unfortunate the activity sacrificed for this free day was some voluntary beach clean-up, where would have learned the things that are polluting and jeopardizing Australia’s ocean and beaches. It would have been nice to have the opportunity to give something back to Australia. However, having spent 13 days looking at the many faces of Australia, it was nice to have a free day to soak in an activity of our own choosing.
Day Fifteen
BEEP BEEP! As we slowly crawled out of bed during our 3:30 am wakeup call, all that was going through my head was how long this day was going to be. As we said our goodbyes to Cairns we began our journey home to the USA. After an early flight from Cairns to Brisbane we departed from Australia at ten in the morning expected to land in LA at six in the morning the same day! I guess you can say were all time travelers now because technically we went back in time. Even though our flight was twelve hours, watching movies and talking with Amanda really made the time go by. Before we knew it, we were back in the USA, only to wait to board our last flight home to JFK. The entire flight I couldn’t help myself to all the excitement I had to be going home. Even though this experience has changed my life in so many ways I missed my loved ones and my family. If you were to ask anyone that has traveled to Australia, the response you would get would just be “GO.” I will miss my Australian family, I would have never been able to make it through alone, whenever anyone felt low our family knew how to cheer them up, maybe it was just the tequila ;)…I could only wish to travel with this amazing group of individuals again. But until then, CHEERS MATES!
A special thanks to Central Connecticut State University for this opportunity! Also, an even bigger thank you to Dr. Chaz Button and Dr. WIlliam Price! Thank you both for making this experience an once in a lifetime trip!
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