Guest Post ~ Ultimate Katie

"There's No Place Like Home..."

The beautiful Clare has asked me to share what I love about Australia, while she is off gallivanting around South America on a well-deserved holiday with her hubby. Yes, it goes without saying that I'm well jealous.

I've actually done a lot of international travel myself, but there is something truly special about coming home, especially when my home is such a beautiful country as Australia. It's almost a shame that my particular strain of the travel bug tends to pull me overseas instead of inland, because there really is a lot to offer here, and so much diversity!

Our Home is Girt by Sea

My parents live in a little town called Bargara, on the coast near Bundaberg (where they make sugar and rum!) and it really is a little piece of paradise. It's the start of the Great Barrier Reef, and home to one of the largest natural turtle rookeries in the world. While my husband and I were living back with my parents a couple of years ago, Clare and her hubby came to visit and we actually went to see the turtles laying eggs at Mon Repos. It was so much fun!! All in all, Bargara really is the perfect location of a relaxing holiday, with safe swimming beaches, sunshine all year round and a truly country town laid back mentality.

photos of Mon Repos courtesy of Queensland Blog

Our Land Abounds in Natures Gifts

In 2007, I was very fortunate to spend 4 months living and working in Yulara right in the middle of Australia. The area is filled with natural geological pheneoma including the most famous, Uluru. I recently stumbled on this AMAZING elopement photographed by Ben Adams, which took place in the beautiful outback. I was genuinely taken aback by just how stunning it is. Don’t you agree? You can view the rest of this incredible elopement at Ben's photography blog.

ben adams elopement pics

Of Beauty Rich and Rare

My home today is at the foot of the Blue Mountains, which is an incredible series of sandstone rock formations, waterfalls, rivers and gullies that feature great bushwalking tracks and stunning panoramic view points. This year, as part of my 30 Before 30, Clare and I along with our hubbies, hiked the National Pass from Wentworth Falls and up the Grand Stairway (which nearly killed us, by the way…hahaha!) It was GORGEOUS!! I'm so glad we got to do it, because not only was it another item crossed off my list, practice for Glenn and Clare before they jetted off to hike the Inca Trail, but it was also a great way to experience our home turf. 

Blue Mountains photos by moi

As part of my 30 Before 30 List, I've included a few more experiences here in our home state, as well as a few interstate ones as my "stretch" goals:

#7 Run/walk/skip my way to the finish line of a 5km fun run – The 4 of us are all registered for the Colour Run in Sydney on August 25^th!

#8 Play tourist and take a walking tour of my home town, Sydney

#9 Go on the Q Station Ghost Tour in Manly

#11 Hire a van and travel around Tasmania

#24 Explore the Jenloan Caves

#25 Take a wine an dcheese tour

#26 Go glamping on Cockatoo Island

#27 Ride the River Cat

#28 Climb the Harbour Bridge

I can't wait to tick them all off the list…and I'm sure my bestie Clare will be right by my side the whole way! J

 ~ Katie x

Hola! from Santiago de Chile

Hi Guys! Just a brief post to let you know that currently I'm in Santiago de Chile. You can see a couple of my instagram shots above of what I've been up to so far. Follow me on instagram for more.

I also wanted to let you know that I've arranged a few guest posts while I'm away. I've asked a few of my favourite bloggers from around the world to post about life in their neck of the woods. I thought it was fitting since I'm currently gallivanting across the other side of the world!! Watch out for those coming soon.

Chao for now...
Clare x

Vivid Sydney 2013

All images by Glenn Chiofalo

Each year in May - June, Sydney Harbour is transformed into a "spectacular canvas of light, music & ideas" as soon as the sun goes down thanks to the Vivid Festival.

Each year this festival gets bigger & bigger with one night this year so crowded that numerous people I know said they couldn't move and unfortunately ended up coming straight home without seeing anything. So we decided to skip the crowds, catch a boat & cruise the light festival from the harbour instead this time round. Best idea ever!

Above are my hubby's photos. You can see the ones he took last year here. He was on foot last year rather than a boat so his photos were much clearer. 

Did you go? What did you think?

Clare x

Spit Bridge to Manly Scenic Walkway

All images by Creative Flair Photography

As I'm leaving for Chile & Peru next week I have been going on some hikes around Sydney to not only keep up my fitness but also to wear in my hiking boots before I trek the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu. Joining my husband and I on some of these trips were Katie & her hubby, Ben.

You can see our recent Blue Mountains hike here where we saw some stunning waterfalls, cliffs, mountains and Aussie bushlands. This time we headed to Sydney's Northern beaches and hiked the Spit Bridge to Manly Scenic Walkway where we encountered bushland, sandy beaches, picturesque views of Middle Harbour and (my hubby wanted me to mention) a public toilet that played jazz music and talked to you...

I think Mr Looking Glass' photos above capture the beauty of this part of Sydney perfectly. We have such marvellous beaches and a superb harbour. I've lived here my whole life and I never tire of the harbour views.

Next up I'll share with you a different view of our city as we cruised the harbour for the Vivid Sydney festival of lights!!

Clare x