My Top 5 Western Australia! Not Today Blog 10

For me, Western Australia was a working opportunity, not a travel destination. Today one of my few regrets is ever leaving Oz.

A Working Holiday

It was two days before Christmas Eve 2015. My best mate and travel buddy Seb and I were Couchsurfing at a lady’s house in Alcoy on the island of Cebu, Philippines. For five nights Seb and I slept on the outdoor couches of Claudia’s patio, waking up to a salty breeze and ocean view every morning. Seb and I opened his MacBook to type in the words “Work and Travel Australia”.

Just 10 days earlier we had met this couple at “Ardent Hot Springs” on Camiguin Island. In 35 °C warm water, they explained to us that there were numerous jobs available in Western Australia, especially north of Perth. Two strangers had planted the seed in our heads that our trip might not be over as soon as we had expected. That there was a possibility of not running out of cash after all.

We learned from the Google search that for German citizens a Working Holiday 317 Visa was not hard to obtain but was costly. Suddenly Australia was on our map. The whole day Seb and I talked about one thing only. “Should we?”. It took me exactly 24 hours and loads of Emperador Light Brandy with Sprite to make a decision. The next morning, I called Etihad to change my return flight to Germany from 1^st February 2016 to 1^st July 2016.

Freo Shore

After Christmas Eve in Cebu and New Year’s Eve in Boracay, Seb and I found ourselves at a Burger King in Brunei about to finish our application for our Working Holiday Visas for Australia. One month and two weeks later, we had our visas granted. We were both running on a tight budget and were certain we would fly to Australia and find jobs.

It worked. Three months later we ended up working on a farm for 88 days and earning a decent amount of money.

I am not going to lie. I hated Australia as a backpacking destination the first month or two. Wherever we went at our weekends away from the farm, we bumped into groups of German or French backpackers. Only staying with each other, not even speaking English. It was not until we first visited our friend Danny in Fremantle that I fell in love with Australia. He had left the farm for a plumbing job on a ship for double the pay and half the hours. He lived in Fremantle Beach Backpackers Hostel. The chemistry in this hostel was amazing. 20 people from all over the world living together like a family making up reasons to get drunk every single night.

I fell in love with Australia. I should not have judged early.

Western Australia Must Dos

I stayed in Australia for a total of 5 months. I explored the coast of Western Australia. Here is my top 5:

1. Fremantle

Fremantle is a port city south of Perth. Contagious good mood vibrations.

I stayed at Fremantle Beach Backpackers Hostel for a month. I had the best time! Goon Pong Nights, Quiz Nights in next door’s Bar Orient, Karaoke Nights in Bar Orient, Sunday Sessions at The Left Bank, Friday nights @ Benny’s, Saturday nights in Metro. As I said, we were pretty much-making excuses to get drunk every day of the week. Haha!

Going for a stroll along Freo Park and the seafront or through Fremantle Markets is magical.

2. Karijini National Park

Karijini National Park is a wilderness area in Western Australia. Lookout spots show views over gorges, natural pools, red rocks and waterfalls.

3. Lucky Bay Campground in Cape Le Grand National Park

Lucky Bay is officially home to Australia’s whitest beach. It has been the winner in a decade of research. The nearby beaches are also magical. Turquoise water and beach-loving kangaroos.

4. Margarete River

The town Margarete River is known for its surrounding wineries. An area destined for day drinking. Wineries offer on the spot wine tastings of which most wines are free to taste. Most headaches in the area are not caused by the alcohol but when figuring out who will be the driver for the day.

I have no photos. And no recollection of the day whatsoever. But you know what they say. “Low-quality video, high-quality moment.”

5. Guilderton Area

This area has grown on me like the olives on the farm nearby where I was working 12-hour shifts driving tractors and harvesters. My flat was 10 minutes from Lancelin Beach.

Why Not Today

I have this vision of growing old in a house on a hill in Australia. Waking up to a sea view and a long wooden stairway that leads down to the beach. Going on morning walks, barefoot, down to the beach. Putting my feet in the water. Walking up and visiting the little bakery a couple of houses down the road that serves the best pies. Fresh air and silence. And whenever I need action – the next big city is 50 kilometres down the coast.

How do you envision growing old?

Why not sit down today and try imagining how you would like to spend your mornings in 20, 30, 40 years’ time. Try to capture that photo in your head. Then jump on google images and find pictures of what you have visualised. Print and frame them. That is your new vision board.

Are you walking in the right direction? Today is the day to take a step towards that future.

If you can see it in your mind, you can hold it in your hands.

Steve Harvey

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And because I love Western Australia so much here are couple more photos.

Thanks Mon for your help with this one!