When I first went to the travel agents as a naïve 18 year old to look at the option of a solo holiday, I never expected for it to kickstart what it did. A few months later, at 19, I left Manchester airport to embark on what would later become the start of my travel adventuring lifestyle.
Little did I know how much it would redirect my life, how many connections it would provide, and how inspiring it would feel. The freedom. The independence. The life lessons. These all developed because I was brave enough to head out to Australia on my own when I had no one else to come with.
Whilst friends and peers left town to explore cities and university endeavours, I was navigating my first full-time job, and trying to keep my mental health under control. Hypervigiliance and anxiety attacks were regular occurances; and the constant ‘on-edge’ and ‘pretending’ whilst in the office just left me with so much unwanted, noisy energy in my brain. It came to no suprise therefore, I left only a few months later.
But this is when the first of my ‘gap years’ began.
Personal Development:
I travelled to many countries that year, but none quite as significant as Australia. And, I suppose, the subsequent New Zealand and UAE segments of the trip too.
Who would’ve thought removing the daily stressors of the responsibility and commitment of being tied down to a job and a place would allow a person to flourish in such a way? For the first time I was untethered and free to explore my own interests. For the first time, I was learning who I was aside from the girl bounded by school and by work. For the first time, I was given the opportunity to become myself.
Hostel & Backpacking Culture:
I want to start this off by saying I don’t drink. I don’t like parties. And I don’t go out out. I never have done. So let’s talk hostels…
Of course the party scene is large in any touristy hotspot – especially within the hostel and backpacking communities. But I surprised myself at just how headstrong I was at saying no and returning to my private room (the only trip I’ve opted for private hostel rooms – I’ve become pretty accustomed to the chaos of shared ones now!) Anyway, being true to myself in those moments is something my current self is incredibly proud of. I don’t think I fully realised at the time just how susceptible I was at trying to fit in with the crowd when I was back at school.
My experience in these hostels, however, is one full of positive memories. I was able to keep myself to myself when needed, but equally felt welcomed to chat when I wanted to socialise. The staff in particular are so helpful, and certainly know their local areas inside out. I only wish I hadn’t been so rigid with the tight schedule I had – I would’ve loved some of their spontaneous days out!
Booking:
I had booked every excursion ahead of time, every transfer, every flight and every accommodation too. None of this trip was spontaneous, none of it going off track. It was meticulously planned to the day. But this is certainly not how I would do it again now. With life-experience, maturing and being confident in myself, I can now trust myself to holiday on a whim. But I wasn’t that brave back then.
Perhaps due to it being my first solo-holiday; being the first in my family to travel in such a way; or simply because my anxious mind needed such a structure to be in place. We booked the entire trip via a high-street travel agents. That’s not to say there’s anything bad about travel agents. In fact, the company I used went above and beyond to adhere to any changes I requested. Their knowledge and connections ensured my trip was solely tailored around my interests perfectly, and there were no hiccups with flights or transfers etc. But as someone who has travelled extensively since, I’d be much more comfortable booking something like this independently next time.
The Itinerary:
Not fully knowing the extent of the beauty spots Australia and New Zealand had to offer, I left the focal points of this trip in the hands of my travel agents. The only thing I knew I wanted was plenty of natural beauty and animals to see. And they certainly delivered. This trip took me to a zoo, a dolphin swim cruise (although the conditions weren’t the best that day, so the company refunded me with a lifetime voucher to go back!), a snorkel trip in the reef, and many beautiful parks and beaches. I’ll only talk briefly of UAE here, as this particular destination isn’t one I’d actively head out of my way for – it’s just not my style of holiday. But I will admit, the rest bite of a 3 day stay in a luxury hotel after 5 weeks of hostel life was greatly welcomed.
Below is a quick itinerary of the tours and places I visited in each country:
Australia
- Melbourne: Grampians National Park; and the Great Ocean Road.
- Cairns: Great Barrier Reef; and the Kuranda scenic Skyrail.
- Sydney: City sights; Bondi beach; and Taronga Zoo.
New Zealand
- Auckland: Waiheke Island; and the Bay of Islands.
- Queenstown: Milford Sound.
UAE
- Dubai: Burj Khalifa; and the mall.
- Abu Dhabi: Sheik Zayed mosque; Yas Marina circuit; and other sights.
Summary:
The first trip which showed me there’s more to life than work and routines. The one that ignited a spark for adventure. And, above all, the one which taught me so much about myself and my capabilities. Australia in particular will always hold a special place in my heart; because despite the years since, the fond memories still remain.
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