BLOG

Can you believe there's actually a place called Rabbit Island in Japan? Well, actually its official name is Okunoshima but thanks to the multitude of cute and fluffy inhabitants, the island has become famous all over the world! It's been on my bucket list for years, since videos on Youtube emerged of rabbit stampedes towards tourists rattling bags of treats and pellets for them.

The island has a fascinating history beyond its adorable residents. During World War II, Okunoshima was actually used as a secret chemical weapons manufacturing site. After the war ended, all the chemical weapons were destroyed or disposed of, and the island was abandoned. The current rabbit population is believed to have descended from rabbits that were either released from the laboratory or brought to the island by schoolchildren in the 1970s.

Today, the island is home to hundreds of wild rabbits that have learned to approach humans for food. They're incredibly friendly and will often hop right up to visitors, especially if you're carrying the special rabbit pellets sold at the port. The rabbits have become so tame that they'll climb on you, sit in your lap, and pose for photos – it's like a real-life Disney movie!

Planning Your Visit

The best time to visit Rabbit Island is during spring or autumn when the weather is mild and comfortable for both you and the rabbits. Summer can be quite hot and humid, while winter might be too cold for outdoor activities. Plan to spend at least half a day on the island to fully enjoy the experience.

Make sure to bring comfortable walking shoes as you'll be doing quite a bit of walking around the island. There are several walking trails that take you through different areas where you can encounter different groups of rabbits. Each area seems to have its own rabbit community with different personalities!

How To Get To Rabbit Island From Hiroshima

Total Journey Time: 2 Hours

The easiest way to travel Japan is by train, so my recommendations focus on train travel! From Hiroshima Station, you want to head to Tadanoumi Station. Look for the Tokaido Shinkansen towards Shin-Osaka. You'll be taking this train towards Mihara station, which is around 30 minutes away on the bullet train.

Get off at Mihara station and transfer to the JR local lines. Here, you need to catch the next train heading towards Hiro on the Kure Line. This scenic route takes you along the coast and gives you beautiful views of the Inland Sea. The journey to Tadanoumi station takes around 40 minutes, and you'll recognize it as the right stop from the bunny cartoon on the station sign!

From Tadanoumi station, it's just a 3-minute walk to Tadanoumi port. The path is well signposted and impossible to miss. At the port, buy your ferry ticket at the small office and stock up on rabbit pellets – trust me, you'll want plenty! You can also leave luggage here if needed for 500 yen.

How To Get To Rabbit Island From Osaka

From Osaka, the journey is slightly longer but totally worth it! You can reach Rabbit Island within 3 hours. Start at Shin-Osaka station (not regular Osaka station) and take the Tokaido Shinkansen towards Hiroshima. After about 1 hour, get off at Fukuyama station.

At Fukuyama, change to the JR San-Yo Line towards Mihara – this journey takes about 40 minutes. Finally, at Mihara, transfer to the Kure Line heading towards Hiro, and Tadanoumi station is just 25 minutes down the line.

What to Expect on the Island

The island itself is quite small – you can walk around most of it in a couple of hours. There's a small museum about the island's history, walking trails through wooded areas, and even a hotel if you want to stay overnight. The rabbits are everywhere, but they're particularly active in the early morning and late afternoon when it's cooler.

Remember to be gentle with the rabbits and don't chase them if they run away. They're wild animals, even though they're very tame. The special rabbit pellets are the best way to attract them, and watching them hop over to you en masse is absolutely magical!

We arrived in Ho Chi Minh City (previously known as Saigon) at around 7am by night bus from Sihanoukville, Cambodia, and I was immediately struck by the culture shock of this vibrant South East Asian metropolis. If there's 9 million bicycles in Beijing, then it looks like there could be 10 million mopeds and scooters in Vietnam!

The city hit us like a wave of energy – the constant hum of motorbikes, the aromatic street food vendors on every corner, and the incredible mix of French colonial architecture alongside modern Vietnamese buildings. It's a city that never seems to sleep, with activity from dawn until late into the night.

After finding accommodation in a small family-run hotel tucked away in a bustling alley, we headed to exchange our money for Vietnamese Dong – my new favorite currency! With 32,000 dong to the pound, my £32 daily budget meant I'd be living on 1 million dong a day. Vietnamillionaire status achieved!

French Colonial Influence

What struck me most about Ho Chi Minh City was the incredible French colonial architecture scattered throughout the city. France occupied Vietnam until 1954, leaving behind a beautiful legacy of buildings, cuisine, and culture. You can buy the most delicious French baguettes from street vendors – imagine crispy French bread filled with Vietnamese ingredients like pâté, pickled vegetables, and fresh herbs.

The Saigon Notre Dame Basilica stands as a testament to this colonial period, with its red brick facade and twin bell towers dominating the city center. Built in the late 19th century, it's surrounded by beautiful gardens and creates a surprisingly European feel in the heart of this Asian metropolis.

Museums and History

We visited the Ho Chi Minh City Museum to learn about the city's rich history and culture. The museum is housed in a beautiful French colonial building and offers fascinating insights into the city's transformation from Saigon to Ho Chi Minh City. The exhibits cover everything from ancient Vietnamese culture to the modern day.

The War Remnants Museum was perhaps the most moving experience of our visit. I actually had to sit down and have a little cry when I saw the devastating effects of chemical weapons on the Vietnamese people. The museum presents a powerful and emotional account of the Vietnam War from a Vietnamese perspective. It's harrowing but essential viewing that gives you profound respect for the resilience of the Vietnamese people.

Street Food Paradise

Coffee culture and street food are absolutely central to Vietnamese life, and the incredible news is that everything is amazingly affordable! A bowl of Phở – the famous Vietnamese noodle soup – costs only 12,000 dong from a street vendor, which equals just 30p! But it's not just cheap; it's absolutely delicious.

Phở is an art form in Vietnam. The broth is simmered for hours with beef bones, star anise, cinnamon, and other spices, creating a complex, aromatic base. Fresh rice noodles are added along with thin slices of beef, fresh herbs like cilantro and mint, bean sprouts, and lime. Each region has its own variation, but Ho Chi Minh City's version tends to be slightly sweeter with more herbs.

Vietnamese coffee culture is equally impressive. The coffee is typically served with sweetened condensed milk and brewed through individual metal filters directly into your cup. It's strong, sweet, and incredibly refreshing when served over ice. Sitting on tiny plastic stools on the sidewalk, watching the world go by while sipping this incredible coffee, became one of my favorite daily rituals.

City Views and Atmosphere

For spectacular city views, we treated ourselves to drinks at the rooftop bar of the Grand Hotel. The 20th-floor bar offers breathtaking panoramic views of the sprawling city below, with its mix of colonial buildings, modern skyscrapers, and endless motorbikes weaving through the streets like rivers of organized chaos.

The contrast between hotel prices and street food prices was quite a shock – one coffee at the hotel cost more than an entire day's worth of street food! But sometimes it's worth splurging for those incredible sunset views over the Mekong Delta region.

Practical Tips for Visitors

Getting around Ho Chi Minh City requires some courage! Crossing the street might seem impossible with the constant flow of motorbikes, but the trick is to walk slowly and steadily – the scooters will navigate around you. Never stop suddenly or run; just maintain a predictable pace.

The city is incredibly walkable once you get used to the traffic flow, and there's something fascinating to discover around every corner. From hidden temples tucked between modern buildings to bustling markets overflowing with tropical fruits, spices, and textiles.

Bondi is famous for its beach, incredible surf, and of course, its legendary brunch scene. Since moving to Sydney, I've never eaten breakfast out as much in my life! Back in the UK, dinner is the main social meal, but in Bondi, Sydney, and most of Australia, brunch absolutely dominates your weekend social calendar.

What I've been absolutely loving since arriving here is the abundance of healthy choices available at practically every cafe. Even the cafes that aren't particularly trendy or hipster serve almond milk as standard. The ultra-trendy spots serve macadamia milk, oat milk, coconut milk – and trust me, macadamia milk makes for the most incredible cappuccino you've ever tasted.

The Australian Brunch Culture

Australian brunch culture is something truly special. It's not just about the food – though that's incredible – it's about the entire lifestyle. People dress up for brunch, make plans weeks in advance, and treat it as the highlight of their weekend. Tables are booked solid from 8am to 3pm on weekends, and there's a genuine social buzz in every cafe.

The focus on fresh, local, and healthy ingredients is remarkable. Avocados are practically a religion here (though they'll cost you a fortune!), and every cafe seems to have their own unique spin on classics like eggs Benedict, acai bowls, and smashed avocado toast.

Bellagio Tuck Shop, Bondi Junction

This was my first taste of Sydney's incredible brunch scene, and I think it might still be my absolute favorite cafe. The Bellagio Tuck Shop is one of five Bellagio cafes scattered around Sydney's eastern suburbs, and each one has its own unique personality while maintaining consistently high standards.

I ordered their famous Breakfast Salad – initially I was skeptical because who wants salad for breakfast? But this dish completely changed my mind. Made with purple kale (which is somehow less bitter than regular kale), green lentil falafels that were perfectly crispy on the outside and fluffy inside, roasted sweet potato, and a curried coconut dressing that tied everything together beautifully.

What amazed me was how energetic and light I felt after eating it, completely unlike the heavy bacon and egg breakfasts that often make you want to crawl back into bed. This is breakfast that actually fuels your day rather than weighing you down.

Ruby's Diner, Waverley

Just down the road from Bellagio, on the scenic route toward Bronte Beach, sits Ruby's Diner – and this is where I discovered the magic of macadamia nut milk cappuccinos. I also learned that Sydneysiders will happily queue out the door for exceptional brunch, and it's considered completely normal!

Ruby's has mastered the art of creative yet approachable menu items. Alongside classics like bacon, egg, and sourdough, they serve innovative dishes like poached eggs with pea and zucchini fritters, coconut chili eggs that have just the right amount of heat, and pistachio and quinoa granola that's more like dessert than breakfast.

Their coffee game is absolutely on point – they source beans from local Sydney roasters and their baristas clearly take pride in every cup. The macadamia milk adds this subtle, creamy, almost buttery flavor that perfectly complements the coffee without overpowering it.

Speedo's Cafe, North Bondi

If Instagram-worthy brunch is what you're after, Speedo's is absolutely your destination. This place creates the most incredible looking acai bowls and "mermaid bowls" I've ever seen – they're basically edible art installations decorated with fresh flowers, colorful fruits arranged in perfect patterns, and toppings that look too beautiful to eat.

But it's not just about the looks – everything tastes as amazing as it appears. My pea and zucchini bruschetta was a revelation: perfectly toasted sourdough topped with a vibrant green pea and zucchini mixture, fresh herbs, and a light citrus dressing that made the whole dish sing.

The location is absolutely unbeatable. Speedo's sits on a small hill at the north end of Bondi Beach on Ramsgate Avenue, offering spectacular views of the famous beach, surfers catching waves, and the endless blue Pacific Ocean. Grab a table outside and you'll understand why Bondi is considered one of the world's best beach suburbs.

Harry's, Bondi Beach

I discovered Harry's completely by accident while walking back from North Bondi, and sometimes the best discoveries happen when you're not even looking! There was just something about the atmosphere that drew me in – maybe it was the quirky, eclectic decor, the abundance of outdoor seating, or the incredible aroma of freshly roasted coffee.

Harry's is wonderfully versatile – it works equally well for brunch, lunch, or dinner, with a diverse menu designed to satisfy groups with different tastes and dietary requirements. I was torn between the strawberry bircher muesli with natural yogurt and saffron pear (which sounded like breakfast dessert) and the quinoa and feta fritters.

I went with the fritters and they came with the most creative, zesty salad I've ever encountered. Fresh grapefruit segments, toasted cashews, massaged kale, and a dressing packed with herbs and citrus that somehow made healthy food taste indulgent. Every bite was a different combination of flavors and textures.

About Life, Bondi Junction

About Life proves that healthy doesn't have to mean boring or pretentious. This bustling cafe attracts a diverse crowd of weekend warriors dressed in their finest activewear, casually sipping expertly crafted coffees and sharing stories of their morning beach runs or yoga classes.

What makes About Life special is their attached health food store, where you can browse organic produce, superfoods, and specialty items you didn't even know existed. Yes, you might need to take out a small loan to afford the organic avocados, but it's all sustainably sourced and incredibly fresh.

The whole-food breakfast options are outstanding, focusing on nutrient-dense ingredients that actually nourish your body. But they haven't forgotten about indulgence either – James was thrilled to discover their bacon sandwich, which somehow manages to be both satisfying and made with high-quality, ethically-sourced ingredients.

The Bondi Brunch Experience

What I love most about Bondi's brunch scene is how it reflects the area's laid-back yet health-conscious lifestyle. People here genuinely seem to prioritize wellness and community, and brunch becomes this wonderful social ritual that brings everyone together.

Whether you're a surfer grabbing a quick acai bowl before hitting the waves, a fitness enthusiast refueling after a morning workout, or a tourist wanting to experience authentic Sydney cafe culture, Bondi's brunch scene has something special waiting for you.

I'd heard so many negative things about LA before visiting that I arrived with pretty low expectations. Almost everyone I'd spoken to described it as grotty, overcrowded, and inferior to San Francisco. While I'm sure those challenging aspects do exist, I have to completely disagree with the negative assessments. I absolutely fell in love with LA and would happily move there tomorrow given the chance!

What I experienced was a glamorous, dynamic, and endlessly exciting city – a sprawling metropolis perfectly positioned between dramatic desert mountains and the sparkling blue Pacific Ocean. LA isn't just about the Hollywood Walk of Fame and celebrity spotting; we actually avoided most typical tourist attractions and I think that's exactly why we had such an authentic, incredible experience.

Venice Beach Adventure

LA traffic really is as legendary as everyone says – in fact, it's worse than the reputation! You basically need to add an extra 30-45 minutes to every journey to account for inevitable delays. After driving in from Santa Barbara and experiencing hundreds of miles of open highways, the sudden traffic reality was quite a shock.

We decided to make our first stop Venice Beach for a quintessential LA bucket list activity: rollerblading along the boardwalk! Even on a quiet Tuesday afternoon with slightly overcast skies, Venice Beach was absolutely mental in the best possible way. Every direction you turn reveals weird and wonderful people, bizarre street performers, quirky shops selling everything from vintage band t-shirts to handmade jewelry.

We rented rollerblades for an hour and glided down the famous boardwalk toward the legendary Muscle Beach outdoor gym. Watching bodybuilders work out while street artists create masterpieces and musicians perform for crowds – it's sensory overload in the most entertaining way imaginable.

Hiking Runyon Canyon

The morning after we arrived happened to be my birthday, and I know this might sound boring to some people, but all I wanted was to go hiking in the California sunshine – LA style! What could be more authentically Los Angeles than hiking Runyon Canyon, the famous trail where celebrities regularly get photographed and post Instagram stories about their fitness routines?

Runyon Canyon offers the perfect hiking experience: challenging enough to get your blood pumping and provide a genuine workout, but not so difficult that you can't maintain conversations or stop frequently for photos. The views from the top are absolutely spectacular – you can see the entire Los Angeles basin spread out below, from downtown's skyscrapers to the Pacific Ocean, with the Hollywood sign visible in the distance.

The trail attracts an entertaining mix of serious hikers, tourists like us, and incredibly glamorous locals who somehow manage to look perfectly put-together while climbing hills in the California sun. It's people-watching paradise with stunning natural beauty as the backdrop.

Rodeo Drive Shopping Experience

Anyone who's watched Pretty Woman, Clueless, or reads celebrity magazines knows that Rodeo Drive represents the absolute pinnacle of exclusive shopping in Beverly Hills. Even if your budget doesn't stretch to Gucci or Versace, it's absolutely worth visiting to experience the incredible atmosphere.

Window shopping here is an art form – the store displays are like museum exhibitions showcasing the most beautiful clothing, jewelry, and accessories money can buy. The architecture alone is worth the visit, with each boutique designed to create a unique luxury experience.

Beverly Hills itself feels like stepping into a movie set, with palm tree-lined streets, impossibly manicured lawns, and architecture ranging from classic Spanish colonial to ultra-modern glass mansions. We were fortunate to have blogger Bey Andall as our local guide, providing insider knowledge about the best spots and hidden gems.

Amorino Ice Cream Discovery

One of Bey's best recommendations led us to Amorino in Beverly Hills, where they create the most Instagram-worthy ice cream I've ever encountered – shaped like actual roses! It's not just a gimmick; the gelato is absolutely delicious, made with high-quality ingredients and crafted with genuine Italian techniques.

Watching the staff artistically arrange different flavors into perfect rose shapes is mesmerizing. Each scoop becomes a petal, and they can incorporate multiple flavors into a single rose design. It almost seems too beautiful to eat, but trust me, you'll want to devour every bite.

Hollywood Sign Hiking Adventure

After perhaps too much rose-shaped gelato, we decided to earn our indulgence by hiking to the Hollywood sign at Griffith Park. This hike is absolutely incredible but surprisingly difficult to find – the actual trailhead is located at the top of a residential street, not at the main Griffith Park entrance, which confused us for nearly 40 minutes!

Make sure your GPS directs you to the specific residential area where the trail begins, or you'll find yourself driving in circles through Hollywood Hills neighborhoods. Once you find the correct starting point, the hike itself is moderately challenging but incredibly rewarding.

The views from various points along the trail offer different perspectives of the iconic sign, and reaching the closest viewpoint feels like a genuine achievement. You're looking at one of the most recognizable landmarks in the world, with the entire city of Los Angeles spread out below.

Nightlife at Laurel Hardware

For evening entertainment, asking locals for recommendations typically yields the best results, which is exactly how we discovered Laurel Hardware on Sunset Boulevard in West Hollywood. This unique bar occupies a converted hardware store, maintaining some of the original industrial elements while serving incredibly creative cocktails.

The clientele is fantastically diverse and perfect for people-watching – exactly what LA dreams are made of. We ended up making friends with other patrons and spent the rest of our week exploring the city with our new LA connections. This perfectly captures what I love about America – people are genuinely friendly and welcoming to visitors.

The bartenders definitely don't hurt the atmosphere either – they're seriously attractive and clearly passionate about their craft cocktail creations.

Malibu Beach Excursion

About 30 minutes from central LA (allow 50 minutes due to traffic!) lies Malibu, the exclusive beach community where many celebrities and wealthy residents call home. The drive along the Pacific Coast Highway is stunning, with ocean views and dramatic cliffs creating a perfect California coastal experience.

We spent a perfect birthday afternoon at the beach and treated ourselves to lunch at the famous Nobu restaurant. The oceanfront dining experience, combined with exceptional Japanese-Peruvian fusion cuisine and world-class service, created an unforgettable celebration.

Fitness Culture: Spin Classes

After watching Hollywood Cycle on E! for months, we were determined to experience an American spin class at Cycle House in West Hollywood. These fitness experiences are unlike anything you'll find elsewhere – imagine a concert venue crossed with an intensive workout session.

The rooms are kept deliberately dark, music pumps as loudly as a nightclub, and instructors act like DJs, mixing motivational coaching with party atmosphere. It's simultaneously a serious workout and an entertainment experience. Soul Cycle is another popular option and apparently celebrity-spotting central during early morning classes (6am if you're brave enough!).

Healthy Dining at Urth Cafe

LA's health-conscious culture is perfectly represented by places like Urth Cafe, scattered throughout the city and serving stunning, natural, healthy food alongside exceptional coffee and fresh smoothies. We loved it so much we returned twice during our short visit!

Everything is fresh, organic, and beautifully presented. From colorful salad bowls packed with nutrients to creative breakfast dishes that somehow make healthy eating feel indulgent, Urth Cafe represents LA's commitment to wellness without sacrificing flavor or presentation.

Pop Culture Stop: Dash

Maybe this reveals us as complete pop culture nerds, but as massive Keeping Up With The Kardashians fans, we couldn't resist checking out the famous Dash boutique! The clothing is genuinely beautiful and not completely unreasonably priced (assuming you're not surviving on a backpacker budget).

It's a perfect example of how LA blends celebrity culture with accessible experiences – you can literally shop where your favorite reality TV stars work and wear the same styles they promote.

In-N-Out Burger: West Coast Institution

No West Coast visit is complete without experiencing In-N-Out Burger, a family-owned institution that deliberately remains regional rather than expanding into a massive corporate chain. This commitment to quality and local identity makes it available only in California and select southwestern states.

The burgers are fresh, affordable, and genuinely amazing. But here's the insider secret – there's a "secret menu" with items not listed on the regular board. Make sure to ask about options like "Animal Style" burgers or "protein style" wrapped in lettuce instead of buns.

The experience represents everything great about LA – quality, authenticity, local pride, and just enough insider knowledge to make you feel like you've discovered something special.

Since moving to Australia, I'd been completely hyper-focused on settling into my new job, building a new life, and making Sydney feel like home. This intense focus unfortunately meant neglecting my blog for several months, which was regrettable but felt necessary as I concentrated on establishing my new Australian life.

Strangely, I thought I'd be blogging more frequently after the move, with so much exciting new content and adventures to share with readers. Instead, I found myself living similarly to back home – except weekends involved sunbathing, meeting new friends, and hiking in glorious sunshine rather than constantly wishing I was somewhere warmer and more exciting.

But after several months, I began missing the core reason I started blogging in the first place: that incredible sense of adventure, creativity, and excitement that comes from exploring new places and sharing those discoveries with others.

Discovering Nelson Bay

A couple of weeks ago, we finally took a proper road trip up the coast to Nelson Bay, a charming holiday town approximately 3 hours' drive north of Sydney. Nelson Bay is famous throughout Australia for its expansive sand dunes, wild dolphins that regularly visit the harbor, and absolutely stunning beaches that stretch for miles along the coastline.

The drive itself is part of the adventure, taking you through beautiful coastal scenery and charming small towns that each seem to have their own unique personality. As you get closer to Nelson Bay, the landscape becomes more dramatic, with rolling hills covered in native Australian bush and glimpses of pristine beaches through the trees.

Stockton Sand Dunes Adventure

One of the absolute highlights of our weekend was visiting the famous Stockton Sand Dunes, part of the largest moving coastal sand mass in the Southern Hemisphere. These dunes stretch for over 30 kilometers and create an almost desert-like landscape right on the coast – it's like discovering the Sahara Desert beside the Pacific Ocean!

The dunes are popular for sandboarding, 4WD adventures, and camel rides (yes, really!). We spent hours just walking through this otherworldly landscape, climbing the massive sand hills for incredible views over Port Stephens and the surrounding coastline. The contrast between the golden sand dunes and the brilliant blue water is absolutely spectacular.

What makes the experience even more special is how the dunes constantly change shape due to wind patterns, meaning the landscape literally transforms over time. No two visits are ever quite the same.

Beach Hopping: One Mile and Fingal Bay

We explored several of the region's beautiful beaches, each offering something different. One Mile Beach lives up to its name with seemingly endless stretches of pristine white sand and crystal-clear water perfect for swimming, surfing, or simply relaxing in the Australian sun.

Fingal Bay Beach offers a more secluded experience, surrounded by dramatic rocky headlands and native bushland. The bay creates calmer waters ideal for snorkeling, and the beach itself feels wonderfully private and peaceful. The walking track around Fingal Island provides stunning panoramic views and opportunities to spot native wildlife.

Wildlife Encounters

One of our most magical moments happened completely unexpectedly when we spotted a little penguin swimming in the clear waters near our accommodation. We managed to follow it with our drone for several minutes, capturing incredible footage of this adorable creature gracefully navigating its natural habitat.

Port Stephens is famous for its dolphin populations, and we were lucky enough to see several pods during our visit. These beautiful creatures regularly swim into the harbor and bay areas, often approaching boats and kayakers with playful curiosity. The area is also known for whale watching during migration seasons.

Accommodation and Local Tips

We stayed in an Airbnb property just off Victoria Parade, Nelson Bay's main street where most shops, restaurants, and activities are concentrated. I highly recommend choosing accommodation in this area because everything is within walking distance, and you're treated to gorgeous western sunsets over the water every evening.

However, I must mention that our specific property was disappointing – they didn't provide basic bedding, and our keys didn't work properly! So while the location was perfect, make sure to read reviews carefully and confirm what amenities are actually included.

Local Dining and Activities

Nelson Bay offers excellent dining options ranging from casual fish and chips shops serving incredibly fresh local seafood to upscale restaurants with waterfront views. The town has a relaxed holiday atmosphere where you can spend hours simply walking along the marina, watching boats come and go.

Popular activities include dolphin watching tours, fishing charters, kayaking through the calm bay waters, and bushwalking in nearby national parks. The area really offers something for everyone, whether you prefer active adventures or peaceful relaxation.

Rediscovering the Joy of Travel

This weekend reminded me why I fell in love with travel blogging originally. There's something incredibly fulfilling about discovering new places, even when they're relatively close to home, and sharing those experiences with others who might be planning their own adventures.

Sometimes you don't need to travel to the other side of the world to find amazing experiences – Nelson Bay proved that incredible natural beauty, wildlife encounters, and memorable adventures can be just a few hours' drive from your own city.

The combination of dramatic landscapes, pristine beaches, friendly wildlife, and that relaxed Australian coastal lifestyle created the perfect weekend escape and reminded me to prioritize exploration and adventure, even while building a new life in a new country.