Coffs Harbour Surf Camp

We left Sydney and made our way on a long adventure of 8 hours up to Coffs Harbour Surf Camp.  Very long tiring trip on the coach.  When we got to the camp site, they had arranged us in bunk beds.  Here I am in my amazing bunk bed lol, not!! I look like a tomato from being so sunburnt.

Before dinner we hung out and just played games and got to know eachother.  Everyone started drinking cheap boxed wine.  That was pretty interesting.  Hung out with my roommates and the three guys from the tour.  Marcus and Freddie who are from Sweden, and Rick who is from South Africa.

They look so excited about the boxed wine

The guys pouring their wine

Look who I found, say cheese!!

Are you two tipsy already??

In line with the girls for dinner, figured we would do something while we wait

The after dinner festivities:

I think the pictures will speak for themselves.  

These suckers all volunteered.  What were they thinking?
Guess they didn't know they would have to dress up like women

After all the fun and games which lasted all night, it was time to call it a night since we had to get up early the next day for surf lessons.



Good morning, surfs up!!  Time to head to our morning lesson.

As we started our lesson the instructors were very thorough and detailed with taking the time to teach us how to get on a surf board.  We were split off into groups of people where we had one instructor per group.  The instructor brought us not too far out into the water to start.  He wanted us to get a feel for the water and the waves.  The instructor spent about 5 to 10 minutes with each of us to make sure we were getting on the surf board properly.  It took me several times to try standing up on the board, unfortunately due to not holding my hands and feet properly I continued to fall.  We were out in the water for about 2 hours with the instructor.  Had lots of time to practice getting on the board and controlling our stance.  I definitely think I need alot of practice with this activity.  Doesn't take just one time to be good at this.  I am not too fond of snowboarding and skate boarding.  The instructors thought it would help if we were used to doing either one of those activities.  He said it gives you good balance and helps you stay in control with your movements.

I noticed that there is not much time while you are out in the water to make mistakes.  The important thing is to focus on what the instructor says and do things their way not your way.

Last Day In Sydney!!

The last day in Sydney the whole group headed to Manley Beach.  This is where I got the worst sunburn of the century.  I stayed on the beach with Pipp way longer than I should have.  After we left Manley Beach and headed back on the ferry, I couldn't even sit down I was in so much pain.  Just FYI make sure you take at least 50 SPF, otherwise you are sure to be burnt to a crisp otherwise.  Luckily I didn't have to go to the doctor.

Copenhagen Ice Cream is known for making homemade ice cream.  It is said by the locals that Copenhagen is the best ice cream shop in Australia.  Thats pretty high rated.  

Of course as you see I had to check it out before we left.  I can never pass up sweets!!  

They were pretty good.

My brits came and met up with me the last night.  I was so happy they came to hang out and say their good byes.  So a group of us all decided to go to dinner at the Opera House Bar and
then do some bar hopping.

I decided to sneak out for a bit and leave the group, so I could go and find some souvenirs before we left Sydney. I ventured off down to a local bookstore called Ariel Booksellers, I found a book called Farts around the World.  It looked really funny and the guy told me that it was a best seller.  I decided to buy the book, it is hilarious.  When you turn each page you press a certain number button and it makes different fart sounds for each country.  If your in a bad mood it will definitely make you laugh.  Then I walked down to an ice cream place that I heard is one of the best ice cream places in Sydney called Copenhagen.  You can see above how happy I was to be holding an ice cream lol.  After the ice cream shop I went back to the bar and rounded up my brits.  We made our way back to the train.  They helped me get on the right train, as I was sitting down on the train and the doors closed.  They stood outside to make sure I left ok and waved good bye.  I wanted to cry. I have been with them for the last four days straight its hard to part ways.  But I know sometime in the future I will see them again.

Cook Your Own Steak Dinner at Stacks in Darling Harbour

Pipp and I happy to be getting ready to make our own steaks on the grill

Us girls all dressed up for a fancy steak dinner ready to make our own steaks on the grill

Shelly and I showing off our skillz

Brittany is saying, "Ok guys so this is how you prepare the steak............"

First Day of the Contiki Tour

Me and my UK gal, Liz under a giant rock.  Holding it up so it doesn't collapse on us, just kidding.

 Me and my Canadian bud, Jessica posing like proes

 My favorite German sidekick Ellen.

 Group shot of all my new friends in front of an amazing view

Echo Park.  Very deep rocks that actually echo when you yell

Pipp, Liz, and I showing off the great mountains and forest.

The Whole Contiki Group's first official picture in Sydney

Darling Harbour With the Gang!!

After Shelly and I had our first official Contiki meeting we met another gal from Canada that was on our tour, her name is Brittany.  The three of us decided to go and meet the brits and head to Darling Harbour.

Group Shot

Just Us Girls

We went to a local steakhouse for dinner that was inside the big circle surrounding the water.  There are lots of shops and restaurants around here.  Very lively kind of place.  When we walked over to the restaurant there was big crowd of people standing around.  We discovered two guys doing a well known American dance called "break dancing," they had Black Eyed Peas playing while they showed everyone their moves.  Quite entertaining.  I find it to be hilarious that people down in Australia know the American culture.  I'm glad that we inspire them.

Bondi Beach!!

The view is incredible.  We were standing in front of the pier where we were about to make our way
down the stairs to to check out the potentials on the beach.  

Miss New Yorker Shelly and I at the Bondi Beach where the famous hott Aussie guys are.  The sand and water was so clear.  Weather was so perfect.  Couldn't ask for anything better than that.

I'm sure your wondering, whats with the orange beanies? Well in a nutshell, Holland has a tradition where the day after New Years everyone wears an orange beenie and runs in the water.  Every year a different place is chosen to do the tradition.  Just so happens that Australia was the chosen destination this year, imagine that.

The Most Incredible New Years of My Life!!

Today is the big day!! Time for the big extravaganza.  The brits and myself head back down to the main area by the Opera House where everyone gathered to see the fireworks.  Some of the locals and security guards told us to go to the gardens aka "grass area."  We head up to that section, everything was specially blocked off.  There was a giant area that had several food trucks and porter potties outside.  The brits bought beers and we were ready to start our mission.  Find the perfect view for the show.  People had they're spots already arranged from the day before.  So we were way behind the game.  Piece of advice to all of you, make sure you show up the night before.  Have blankets and plenty of food to hold you until the following night.  Once you get there and find a great spot you won't be able to leave.  As we walked around we got lucky and there was a small spot perfectly aligned with the sydney bridge.  We met this great local couple who allowed us to sit with them.  They fed us their goodies and gave us their drinks.  What hospitable locals.  We discovered that there were 3 showtimes for the fireworks.  The first time was at 9 which was for families who didn't want to stay late.  The second was 10:30.  The grand finale was 30 to 45 minutes long and started at midnight.   Hands down the grand finale was the most spectacular thing I've ever seen.  It had me in tears.  Please put this on your bucket list of things to do.

Tarunga Zoo

I convinced the brits to go to the Taronga Zoo before we made our way to find seats for the fireworks.

 Koala Bear in the tree!!

Look at me again, and I will take you out!!

1

zzzzzzzzzzzzzz

Preoccupied Zebras

Where are my peanuts?

Slithering amphibian 

Peek-A-Boo, I see you!!

Going Out With the Brits

My brit boys came all the way from Salsbury to go on a different tour throughout Australia.  They came and met me at the hotel.  Great chaps if you ask me.  Since they arrived on December 28th they had a chance to scope out the area.  They took me to the famous opera house and bridge.  It was roughly a 10 to 15 minute walk from the hotel.  There were so many people walking around. So much life, the weather was perfect.  When I saw the opera house it was just so surreal to me that I am in Australia.  I thought maybe I was dreaming.  After we went and took some pictures near the opera house we went and met some of their friends at a restaurant/lounge nearby called the Opera House Bar.  They had a large outdoor lounge area where you could sit at tables that overlooked the water.  The breeze felt so good on my skin.  I didn't want to leave.

We stayed at the bar for a couple hours, after that we decided to walk around the area to get ideas of where to go for New Years.  We discovered a lot of places were sold out.  So we decided we were going to just wing it, maybe talk to the locals and see what they could recommend.