Australia
I had my heart set on coming to the Land Down Under from around the age of 11. I finally studied abroad in Brisbane in 2005 and that was all she wrote. I got back here as soon as I could (after graduating university and backpacking in New Zealand) and I’m now an Australian citizen.
The SS Dicky: See It Before It’s Gone
On the 4th of February 1893, the SS Dicky was in the wrong place at the wrong time. In a strong storm and heavy seas, the crew knew that the trader ship from Rockhampton was lost and beached it at what is now Caloundra’s Dicky Beach, mainly to avoid crashing into the rocks at Moffat…
My 13 Best Photos of 2013
It’s the time of year that all bloggers start trotting out their “best of” posts to show off what they’ve been up to during the year. Since 2013 was quite an eventful year for me–one where I quit my job and travelled to 13 countries, only 4 of which I’d visited before–I felt that, of…
The Tale of a Riverfire Fangirl
I’m not the sort of person that camps out waiting for the Apple store to open so I can buy the latest iPhone. I used to go to midnight movies but now I tend to value my sleep too much. However, there is still one thing that you could say brings out my inner fangirl:…
How to Get The Most Out of the Australian Open
A few days ago, I gave you my first five tips on how to survive a trip to the Australian Open. Those tips were all about how to get through the day happily rather than feeling miserable because you’re getting sunburned or heatstroke. The tips I have for you today are all things that I…
A Guide to Surviving the Australian Open
Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal would certainly have a few good tips for you about how to survive back-to-back-to-back marathon matches at the Australian Open (ice baths, anyone)? Visiting the Australian Open as a spectator isn’t nearly as grueling as what these guys put themselves through day-in, d
Aussie Aussie Aussie!
This is the first post on A Pair of Boots and a Backpack that’s being brought to you by a true blue Australian. And no, it’s not a guest post — I became a true blue Australian on Australia Day! After being approved for citizenship on August 28, I had to wait over five months…
My Twelve Best Aussie Photos of 2012
Despite a few setbacks, overall 2012 was a fantastic year for me. This showed through my photos; I took an incredible number (roughly 14,000 according to Lightroom) because I took a lot of opportunities to travel, both within Australia and abroad. Much of my travel within Australia was around South
Brown Lake: Stradbroke Island’s Picnic Spot
I’ve written briefly before about how North Stradbroke Island is one of my favourite places near Brisbane — and it’s one that many tourists never make it to, despite everything it has to offer. While not as popular as Fraser Island to the north, it’s a great island getaway with many of the same oppo
A Fisherman’s Sunset on Stradbroke Island
Unlike many cities in Australia, Brisbane doesn’t actually have a beach (unless you count Streets Beach at South Bank, which I don’t). There are plenty of beautiful beaches on both the Gold and Sunshine Coasts, which are only a short car trip away, but one of my favourite seaside spots is one that m
Sights of the Brisbane Festival
The Brisbane Festival is...well, what exactly? Up until a few years ago, I hadn’t paid any attention to the event at all. River Festival — a week of festivities along the Brisbane River that started with a huge fireworks spectacular called Riverfire — was the event I always marked on my calendar