45 | Oliver’s Observation

My 366 day adventure was a series of high and lows which have built my character. You often learn from failures and mistakes and there were a few along the way which cost me more money than I would have wanted to spend and took up my limited time in the process.

Looking back I do not regret doing the Ultimate Oz experience in the first week, because I have met some friends for life however being charged $1000 for them to get a tax file number for you, provide accommodation for 6 nights, do an overnight tour and take you to a bank to register for an account which I could have done anyway was a little steep.

The Loka trip was great value for money, especially when it included activities such as Scuba diving, a 2 night Whitsundays cruise and stays in places such as Magnetic Island. It was fantastic.

Spending 1 month of my Australia experience doing farm work for a second year visa was a mistake. I am not afraid of hard work or a bit of graft however the conditions we worked in, the pay and dreadful accommodation provided (for a cost) was basically exploitation.

All of Australia has a little something to offer. The East coast was more party focused while the West coast was rugged, untouched and pretty much unconnected from the World. The 29 hour coach journeys were a test of the patience but they are the cheapest way to travel. If you want to see the wild side of the country then the NT is the best place for that. The phrase ‘everything wants to kill you’ is pretty accurate. That being said it was the best place for wildlife and seeing the Salt Water Crocodiles on the Adelaide River was a highlight for me.

It seems over the past few years from speaking to people that the job opportunities for backpackers have really started to decline. I had spent weeks of my time sat in public libraries applying for hundreds of jobs off Gumtree and various other platforms with few responses. It literally is first come first serve and a game of luck. I would have ideally liked to work for 6 months at the start of my trip in Sydney in a corporate job but it didn’t turn out that way unfortunately. Doing bits of jobs here and there doesn’t exactly settle your nerves when you see your budget rapidly declining.

The best thing about travelling is meeting new people and discovering places. On the flip side you need to be prepared to unpack and repack your bag pretty much every day which does become tiring in the end and all you crave for is a bit of private space and a wardrobe.

New Zealand was incredible for the striking scenery and the type of outdoor lifestyle you can live. I only had 16 days but it was one of the best parts of my travelling experience.

Now that I am writing this from my dining table back in the UK the nostalgia is starting to kick in as I regurgitate my fond memories. I have lived abroad before but this was different. When you move around a lot and there is the constant element of the unknown, it becomes a real adventure. One that I would certainly like to repeat in the future.

For now this is my last post to The Nomad.

I hope you have enjoyed the read.

Cheers!

#Advice