Beth's 5 favourite campsites in Queensland

"Hodor"

So as I'm sure you already know, Joe and I spent 4 months living in our trusty van, Hodor, and went from campsite to caravan park - sometimes staying in a different place every single day. We found all these using the Wikicamps app, which gave us offline access to prices, reviews, contact information and map. Some spots we stayed in have been particularly notable. Here I'll tell you my 5 favourite ones, the stories behind them and why I loved them so much.

Here I've marked where they all are

5. Bajool Hotel, Bajool, near Rockhampton
Cost: free
Occassionally we found a free spot on wikicamps in the back garden of a pub, which was the case with this one. You can stay free of charge but are encouraged to support the business by buying food or drinks so of course we did, for lunch and dinner. Located between Rockhampton and Gladstone and near the small town of Mount Larcom is an even smaller town called Bajool. This place consisted of this one pub hotel, a small convenience shop and, to be honest I couldn't find much else there. We stayed here because we had a job working at the Mount Larcom show the next day.

Why was this place so great? Well it started out as a normal pub experience though it was very quiet and in the middle of nowhere. Suddenly the place started filling up with truckers as they finished work for the weekend, and the evening entertainment of the night was watching the state of origin series rugby match. This is an annual best-of-3 tournament between the 2 aussie states of New South Wales (Blues) and Queensland (Maroons) and it's HUGE in Australia. The people all wear the colours of where they are from, and get together to watch the games. So, being in Queensland, Joe and I quickly ran back to our van and put on whatever maroon clothes we could find (a venetian flag t-shirt and a "Hodor" t-shirt) and the truckers loved it! The owners were so friendly and welcoming to us both. They could even see that we clearly couldn't afford alcoholic drinks so gave us a couple on the house! It really was a fun and unexpected experience from such a tiny town.

4. Cairns Holiday Park
Cost: $35 per night
Despite all the negative reviews on Wikicamps, our stay at the Cairns Holiday Park was most pleasurable.  One of the more expensive parks we've stayed at ($35 a night) but still one of the cheapest in the city centre. People who complain that the unpowered spots are too cramped have clearly never tried camping at a showground! The park offers a very large and well facilitated camp kitchen, with a "free stuff" shelf which was pretty much my favourite thing ever. I found allsorts here, from a 5kg bag of rice to a pair of tracksuit bottoms that fit me perfectly! There is also a small pool, TV room with free book exchange shelf, laundry facilities and clean toilet/shower block. DVDs can be rented free of charge from reception and there's free limited internet.

One evening had cracking entertainment in the form of a whipcracking show from world record holding whipcracker Nathan Griggs. This was actually one of the best things I've ever seen! The staff at the park were friendly and helpful, especially when it came to booking us a last minute place on a Great Barrier Reef snorkling trip.

The first turtle we saw whilst snorkling the Great Barrier Reef!

3. Murray Falls, TNQ
Cost: $6.15 per person per night (standard for all QLD national parks)
Though we didn't actually camp here, I wish we did because we had 2 days of insane fun. The only reason we didn't stay at the Murray Falls camp site was because all national parks in QLD must be prepaid online or by phone, and we had no phone credit or access to internet at this time as we didn't plan to come here but rather stumbled upon it.

Joe enjoying the natural waterpark at Murray Falls

Murray Falls is a stunning waterfall situated in tropical north queensland near the town of Cardwell. We found it during an awesome road trip from Townsville to Cairns, find out about it here. Now I absolutely love waterfalls, but the most exhilerating part of this place was the swimming hole upstream. We initially came here but had to return the next day once we'd charged the Gopro. There were rocks to slide down and rope swings to jump off in the stunning setting of the rainforest. The water was warm even in winter and it was definitely one of my best experiences of Australia so far.

Murray Falls

2. Scarness Beachfront Tourist Park, Hervey Bay
Cost: $15 per night
This was one of three council-run caravan parks in Hervey Bay, and they are all very similar with the same $15 backpacker rate, but I'd say this was my favourite of the three. Though the cheap price is supposed to be for an unpowered spot, they'll probably give you a powered spot anyway which is a bonus for electrically rigged vans. Otherwise you can charge phones, laptops etc in the camp kitchen.

The parks are all situated on the beachfront, and if you have a front facing spot you will pretty much be ON the beach. It doesn't get much better than waking up to that view!

Sunrise at Hervey Bay, taken from the front of my camp spot

Caravan park resident possum

The kitchen here is well equipped with hobs and barbequeues while some of the other beachfront parks also have a microwave. However, my favourite part of the kitchen in this particular park was the resident possum who was absolutely adorable, especially when Joe fed him a bit of fruit. There was a TV/chillout room with pool table. Wifi is charged at $2 per hour (Pialba beachfront park down the road should but don't charge for wifi!) The staff were incredibly friendly and accommodating, and helped us a book a tour to Fraser Island. You can read more about our adventures in Hervey Bay and Fraser Island here.

1. Mount Nimmel Lodge, Gold Coast
Cost: $10 per person per night

Set up camp at Mount Nimmel Lodge, with roaring fire!

This is my #1 camp spot for the whole of Australia (so far). I loved this place! Situated 20 minutes outside of the Gold Coast city centre at the base of the Springbrook mountain, this is the ultimate bush camping experience. Owner, Tony and caretaker, Cymon are two of the friendliest people I've ever met and will go out of their way to accommodate their guests. Cabins are available to rent but unpowered camping spots are available in the large grassy area in the centre. Campfires are encouraged, and fire pits are there for you to use. If you're nice, Cymon will even give you some free firewood that he'd chopped up earlier in the day. There's a small camp kitchen with stove, oven, microwave etc.


The animals love this place too, as the friendly kookaburras, magpies and possums will eat from your hand. And this handsome little fella pictured below posed for my camera for a good 10 minutes!

Inquisitive Kookaburra

The site is a great base for seeing both the Gold Coast city and the hinterland. From here we took a short drive to Movieworld, Wet 'n' Wild and Seaworld. It's also just 20km up the mountain to Springbrook national park (which is where "I'm a Celebrity..." is filmed) The Springbrook circuit follows waterfalls, creeks and rainforest, as well as picturesque spot "natural bridge" and glow worm cave. Sadly we were here in the daytime so couldn't see the glow worms, but still an awesome place! Cymon tells us it's even better to visit the mountain at night, as completely away from the city you get the most perfect view of the milkyway. Hopefully we'll get to experience that on our next visit to the Gold Coast!

Waterfall in Springbrook National Park

Natural Bridge, Springbrook National Park

I've had an absolute blast camping around Australia so far and these are some of the best spots I've come across. If you've stayed at campsites in Australia and have some awesome stories, leave a comment! Until next time...

The 10 best backpacker jobs

The backpacker lifestyle is great. You spend your days surfing, eating, exploring and partying the nights away, but how do you afford this? No matter how much you save up in advance, if you're staying for more than about 2 months, you WILL need to find a way of making money and it's always best to do that legally. Here's what I've found to be the best jobs for backpackers and typical wages whilst travelling Australia, but can also apply anywhere in the world.

1. Au Pairing

Chickens and children - the life of an Au Pair

As long as you don't mind kids, being an au pair is one of the best jobs you can find while travelling abroad. In any country you can look online (Gumtree!) and find families looking for an English speaking helper to look after their kids and do a few household chores. You'll often receive benefits such as accommodation, food, pocket money, and maybe even a car to use in your own free time.

Average wage: $200 per week
Benefits: Accommodation, food, casual work, paid weekly

2. Food vans

Joe selling slushies at Townville show

Joe and I worked on numerous different food vans at shows around Australia. We sold corndogs (or dagwood dogs as the Aussie's call them), slushies, coffees, burgers and more. It even encouraged us to try running one ourselves when we get back home. Other stall options include working on the rides, amusement games or showbags if you don't like handling food. Australia is the perfect place to do this because every city holds their annual show at various different weeks of the year. In autumn/winter, you can travel round to a different show every weekend. They usually go on for 2 or 3 days, but larger cities such as Brisbane and Sydney can have longer shows of up to around 14 days. It's not something that

My favourite part of the week

really occurs to this extent in England. A similar event is a carnival or fete/fair, but I wouldn't say these are as big as in Oz. This is an excellent job to get and easy to obtain (Gumtree, again!). It's perfect for backpackers because it's casual, and the best part - your wage is paid in tax-free cold hard cash. Now, it may be an easy job to get, but it's not an easy job to work due to the long hours. Typically, we would start the day at about 9:00 and finish at around 22:00 - though it differs for each show. If you are required to help set up or close down, it can be a lot longer. The longest show we worked was 10 days at Brisbane, and safe to say by the 5th day I had forgotten what it was like to have feet that didn't hurt. But make sure you've got some good shoes on, massage your aching feet every night, and think of the wonga.

Average wage: $15 per hour ($180 per day for 12 hour days) 
Benefits: casual work, very easy to get hired, paid weekly (or at the end of the show), free enty to shows, possibility of free food/rides depending on what you're working on.

Fireworks mark the end of the day at Townsville show, must be nearly time to finish work!

3. Delivery jobs
We also worked for 3 weeks delivering phone books. Again, this job we found very easily (Gumtree, you should be noticing a pattern by now). They are not so bothered by your skill set, but rather your ability to walk. Having a vehicle can help, as some delivery jobs will require one, but others will be just in a local place and you will essentially get paid to get fit. We loved this job because we got given a load of books and a map, and could work at our own pace until we run out of books - and then go back to get some more. It is usually paid "by piece" rather than by the hour, so you will want to work as quickly as possible to get more money.

Average wage: 20c per book/leaflet (up to $200 per day depending on area given)
Benefits: casual work, paid weekly, be your own boss

4. Fruit picking/farmwork

Maybe you'll end up picking giant mangoes!

I'm not going to tell you where to go to find this job because you should know by now. Though, in Australia, these jobs are a lot more widely advertised because backpackers on a 1 year working holiday visa need to complete 4 months of farm work to extend their visa by another year. So although work is hard, it is a very popular job with backpackers. It can be a good job, but it's not for everyone. Joe and I worked a day picking oranges and then realised that we'd rather explore the rest of the world next year than slave away at this to get our 2nd year visa. The work is physically quite demanding, and the pay is often per piece so you have to work harder to get paid more. In the 8 hours I worked, I earnt $80, but the experienced lads I was working with earnt double that. I'm sure I would have done better if I'd stuck at it and quickly improved. If you find a farm job that is paid hourly, then you are incredibly lucky and should probably stick at that job. Working with animals is generally a bit better than working with fruits, so try a dairy or chicken farm. The work is hard, but some backpackers find these few months are the best part of their trip. Many farms offer accommodation in work hostels, and it's a great place to make new friends. I've also heard horror stories of farms, so don't let any farmers rip you off, bully you or harrass you as this can happen with some backpackers so desperate to get their 2nd year visa.

Average wage: $15-20 per hour (or piece rate $80 per bin for oranges, apples etc and $20 per basket for small fruits. This can vary a lot depending on what you're doing)
Benefits: Casual work, 2nd year visa, possibility of accommodation, good experience.

5. Manual labour
Labouring is a great job to do if you're a man. Unfortunately in this sexist world we live in, a woman who wants to work in labour or construction will have to have experience and prove herself a lot more than a man would. If you're a man, the only requirement is that you're actually a man. You'd apply for these jobs as you normally would online, and experience is probably more beneficial. In Australia you will need a valid "White Card" which can be obtained by going on a $130 course. It can also be done online for about $40 but this option can't get you jobs everywhere. The work is often physically demanding, and they generally just need bods to be able to lift, carry and maybe hit things.

Average wage: $20-40 per hour
Benefits: Higher rate of pay

6. Housekeeping
This is what I do currently and actually, I love it! I work cleaning a beachside motel, and in any country where there is tourism, there will no doubt be an abundance of cleaning jobs available. Jobs will vary, but I work 2-3 hours a day depending on how many rooms I need to clean, and I get paid per room so I work quickly but thoroughly.

Average wage: $20-25 per hour (more if paid per room and you don't mess around!)
Benefits: Get to keep whatever you find in the empty rooms (loose change and beer are the common ones)

7. Restaurant
This is pretty much the same as you would back home, and it's the same anywhere in the world. The difference in Australia is that if you work as a waiter/waitress you will need an RSA (Responsible Service of Alcohol) which you can achieve by going on a course. It works throughout the whole country (except the state of New South Wales where you will need a specific NSW one) and once you have one you can get a job in a bar, restaurant or bottle store. If you're a chef, you have the added bonus of being able to apply for chef positions. Or otherwise you can do what my fiancé does - wash dishes and prep food. This is actually a pretty good job, you don't need an RSA, and you don't even need to deal with customers. He currently works in a Thai restaurant, and loves the team he's working with, brings home free food every night and is even starting to learn how to cook Thai food - which pleases me immensely because I love food.

Average wage: $15-25 per hour
Benefits: Free food, tips

What NOT to do when working in a kitchen...

8. Bar
Like working in a restaurant, to work in a bar in Australia you will need an RSA certificate. Working in a bar can be fun and rewarding. Experience will help you, but is usually not essential for landing a job. You'll learn allsorts of new skills such as changing a barrel and preparing various different cocktails. You will however probably have to deal with drunk people, which is not great. If you're a woman you may find that you get this job a little easier than if you're a man. Unfortunately there's no changing the fact that tits sell pints.

Average wage: $17-25 per hour
Benefits: Tips

9. Hospitality
In Australia or anywhere with tourism, there are cities and towns full of hotels, hostels, campsites and any kind of place where people will come to stay and be tended to. Jobs in nice hotel receptions are always good, but a backpacker favourite is working in the hostels where work is generally a bit more casual, and it usually comes with accommodation and that fun party atmosphere. This is a great job if you're a people-person, as meeting new people and having friendly conversations are what it's all about.

Average wage: $17-25 per hour
Benefits: Possibility of accommodation

10. Sales
Working in sales can be a rewarding job, but for many people it's their least favourite. Some people have a knack for it and some don't, so it's always good to at least give it a try. Sales jobs are pretty easy to find and consist of mostly call centres, door-to-door sales and travel companies such as Greyhound, Peter Pans and Happy Travels. You could be selling anything from solar panels to skydiving packages. Generally these jobs will receive an hourly wage plus commission to encourage you to sell, sell, sell. It can be annoying and disheartening when you don't sell, but if you've got the gift of the gab then you'll find yourself making a small fortune. There are also the standard retail jobs such as working in a shop or supermarket, but these are usually surprisingly harder for backpackers to get as they will often be looking for someone longer term. Don't let that stop you from trying!

Average wage: $17-20 per hour
Benefits: Commission

Now these aren't necessarily the "dream jobs" that you may have been picturing, but they are the ones that for backpackers are the most convenient and easy to get. Throwing CVs out and applying online like you would back home are definitely good ways to land other jobs too.

If you've got any more tips, or if you managed to find your dream job abroad, leave me a comment below!

Why travel is SO good for your health

“Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness, and many of our people need it sorely on these accounts. Broad, wholesome, charitable views of men and things cannot be acquired by vegetating in one little corner of the earth all one's lifetime.”
- Mark Twain

As someone who has suffered from depression, severe bouts of IBS, and the common cold at least 6 times a year, since I've been away from home I haven't been ill once and it's the best my body and mind has felt in a long, long time. I've always heard that travel has been proven to increase health, but in the past few years I've experienced that first hand. Here's why travel is so good:

1. Travel helps with mental health and depression
Travelling is proven to lower stress levels considerably. It's the perfect way to get away from the environment that may be causing you to feel depressed. Be it a week, a month or a year, getting out can really help your mind recover from the stresses of everyday life. The effect of this lasts even after you've returned home, and even gives you a new perspective to help cope with anxiety when it comes. Of course there are still struggles while you're travelling, but you also learn new ways to overcome them that you can put into practise when you're back home.

Kayak for two, please!

2. Travel makes you more physically active
I admit that I hate exercising, but the travel lifestyle is a lot more active without you even realising it. It gets you out of the house, stops you being lazy, and works those muscles. I can't count how many steps and hills I've climbed to the top of a tower or waterfall. Currently my whole body aches from kayaking 8km yesterday, but it was definitely worth it! Exercise is good not only for the muscles and waistline, but the brain and heart too. Now I just need to work on avoiding the awesome tasting, calorific restaurant food...

3. Exciting new experiences give you a high that's better than drugs
Ok so, I've never actually taken drugs, but I definitely know the side effects. As a much healthier alternative, experiencing something new, fun or exhilerating leaves you with a buzz that can last hours, days, or even a lifetime.

I'm still buzzing months after seeing wild turtles and sharks for the first time!

4. Different environments boost your immune system
As well as your active body performing better at fighting infection, the exposure to lots of new environments produces stronger antibodies, boosting your immune system. Probably the reason why I haven't experienced an infection as common as the cold while I've been away.


5. Vitamin D and vitamin sea
Sun and sea are like daily medicines to keep the body healthy and glowing, and when you travel you're likely to be more exposed to both. Of course, we all know the risks of too much sun, so sunscreen and protective clothing are a must when travelling. The salty sea water has healing properties and will cleanse cuts and grazes and even skin conditions such as eczema, allowing them to heal quicker. It also feels awesome when immersed in the water, a time to chill out both the body and mind.

6. Finds you healthy hobbies
When you travel, you're more likely to engage in fun new activities that you've never tried before.
Watersports, hiking, walking, swimming, yoga, photography, healthy cooking - it can be anything! Hopefully you'll find you really enjoy these, but don't forget that most things can be done somewhere at home too even if it's not as popular a pastime. You may even find when you go back home that your experiences have encouraged you to continue trying new things such as joining a sports club. As long as it doesn't involve drugs or alcohol, it's gotta be better than staring at a TV or computer screen all day.

Definitely gonna give surfing another go

7. Live longer and fuller
Given all these health benefits, people who travel tend to have a longer life expectancy than those who don't. A more stress free life is not only more enjoyable, but reduces the risk of heart disease amongst other problems. It's also a life that can be looked back on as having done something. No regrets. No wishing you did more when you could. You can be any age to travel. You can travel anywhere in the world. Even if it's just down the road to get away from work for a week or so. Travel is the answer and it may be the medicine you've been searching for that the doctor can't prescribe.

And then you sit down, chill out and relax...

Beth's guide to... Toowoomba!

5 months ago (I've only just got round to typing up my blog post for this one) Joe and I lived for about a month and a half in a city called Toowoomba, labouring and au pairing for a family of 8: yes, that does mean 6 kids! (If we're not counting the 11 chickens, 5 bearded dragons, a horse, and 50,000 redback spiders)

Feeding time for the babies

While we were there, we got to see the city centre, neighbouring towns and amazing scenic views of the glass house mountains. The stunning modern house we were living in was perfect for this, as it features a 30 metre long curved window facing the mountains. Safe to say, I never got bored of eating my coco pops while enjoying the breathtaking views, listening to the kookaburras and looking out for the occasional eagle.

Double rainbow photographed through their massive window

Toowoomba is Queensland's largest inland city, and it's located about an hour west of Brisbane. It is named "The Garden City" for it's vast amount of lovely gardens and parks. It has just finished celebrating it's annual flower festival, something that sadly I didn't get to experience.

However, there was plenty that I did get to see. Sunday was "family day", so we'd generally go with the whole family to a park, country drive, or a local market. On my day off I'd usually end up going into the city centre, as there are a great number of shops, restaurants, cinemas and allsorts of fun to be had. But other than that, there are some wonderful spots to take advantge of while in the area. Here I've listed my top 5 sites that I visited.


5. Springs Bluff Railway
On a drive to Murphys Creek, we first stopped by at the historic and quaint Springs Bluff railway (which ended up being more spectacular than the rather disappointing Murphys Creek). The beautiful gardens spring to life in season, and the cafe is open to welcome tourists and residents alike. Good spot for a picnic, and a tranquil afternoon.

Springs Bluff railway

4. Japanese Gardens

At number 4, the Japanese gardens in Toowoomba, though smaller than I expected, proved to be one of our favourite spots in the city. Joe and I were both partial to the cute red bridges dotted around the park, and we decided that in our future house we will have a peaceful Japanese style garden, with Joe's own judo dojo, and my favourite flowers. Walking through the paths surrounded by bamboo and Japanese plants and flowers, you'll find plaques with Japanese words and phrases written in both English and Japanese. Ibises, ducks and even turtles frequent the park - and I don't blame them, it must be the perfect place to live.

3. Coomba Falls
If a nice drive out of the city is what you're after, Coomba falls is the perfect place to come. You'll know you're close when you reach the near vertical roads (picture Joe driving Hodor up them in first gear and me gritting my teeth and peeking through the gap in my fingers until the road is level again). But once you reach the falls, you'll realise the serenity. It had been pretty dry prior to our visit, so no waterfall, but it was still lovely to picnic by the waters edge. A good swimming spot, I'm told, as it is popular for people to jump off the large rocks into the water. Perhaps I would have braved it in summer, but not this time.

2. Picnic Point
This is where you go (funnily enough) to have a picnic. There is a restaurant at the summit with some pretty good ice cream, but there's nothing quite like a ham, cheese and crisp sandwich whilst enjoying the views, avoiding sitting on sticks under your blanket, and flicking the ants away from getting their dirty, theiving little antennae on your dessert. I love it - and I love the aptly named Picnic Point. There are walks here for every ability, and it really does make for an excellent day out.

Best seats in the house - picnicking at Picnic Point

1. Pioneer Village, Highfields
My number 1 spot goes to the Pioneer Village and museum located just outside Toowoomba. It was a different and interesting way of learning about the history of Australia, and how things were done back in the days of the pioneers. The village covers every facility of a real village, and lets you enter their world each room at a time to see what life was really like. Visit the hospital, school, dairy, butchers, and even the fire station and jail. Stop at the cafe for "tea and damper" - an aussie tradition of tea and bread cooked over the fire. Then don't forget to visit the museum to find out the history of, well, just about everything else that wasn't covered already! During school holidays and special event days, you can even have the opportunity to meet the infamous Australian bushranger and folk hero, Ned Kelly.

After a month and a half of living in Toowoomba, we missed the beach too much, and it was then that we decided to head off on our next adventure. If you haven't already, check out here what happened when we left and how our plans changed drastically... again!

Surprising holiday destinations: Isle of Arran, Scotland

The Isle of Arran is the 7th largest Scottish island. (Not to be confused with the Aran islands in Ireland, which is where Aran jumpers come from.) It is located on the south western side of Scotland, and if you're not too familiar with your UK geography,view the handy map below. So, why come here?

During my time on the Isle of Arran, I wasn't actually on holiday but rather working at the Lochranza Field Studies Centre. Lochranza is a village located on the north of the island. It has a population of around 200 people, and as soon as there is an event on, you will see everyone attending. It's about a half hour drive from the main ferry port of Brodick, which with a population of just over 600, makes it the main settlement on the island.

Days before my arrival in April 2013, the island had experienced the worst snow measured in 40 years with snow drifts of up to 20ft. Upon coming here, I asked myself "why would someone choose to visit the Isle of Arran on holiday?". Why would you go somewhere that's cold, uninhabited and most importantly - Scottish? During my time here that's exactly what I found out.

Wildlife

If you're an animal on the Isle of Arran, you have the life of riley. Spotting the island's wonderful creatures is easy because they have no fear of humans. Ok, so the sheep always ran away when I tried to hug them, but the deer graze the fields undisturbed and the occassional stag will even come up to your kitchen window for a cheeky snack. Seals and otters can regularly be seen in the water or lazing on the rocks. Owls, eagles and other birds are also a regular occurrence, making the island a haven for birdwatchers and wildlife photographers.


Whisky 
Lochranza is home to the Isle of Arran whisky distillery, where you can partake in a guided tour and whisky tasting while you learn the history and method of how it is made. Now it is the only distillery on the island, though Arran used to be home to about fifty distilleries - most of which operated illegally. If you can't get enough of the free tasters, head to the local pub hotel in Lochranza where the friendly landlord will share with you his own brew as well as offer advice and tastings on an entire wall full of different whiskies.

Hiking and walks

One of Arran's most persued activities (and most rescues needed) is hiking the vast landscapes and hills. Goat Fell marks the highest point on the island at 874m above sea level. It takes on average 5 hours to complete the climb, not including breaks. Not much of a hiker myself, but with a love of countryside walking, I would often take myself up a not-too-treacherous path in the hills in my spare time, watching for Golden Eagles and enjoying the stunning views.



Abseiling off a cliff edge
One of the activities that my place of work had to offer, especially for families who came to visit during the school holidays, was abseiling. But not off a man-made structure like everyone has done before. No. This was abseiling off a large rock face. It makes for a much more interesting day out, as the journey to get to the abseil point follows along streams and hills, and a more challenging climb than the normal steps of an abseil tower. A number of other fun outdoor activities can also be done here with stunning settings, giving an experience to remember.

 
Ceilidh dancing
Something definitely to be experienced as it is a LOT of fun. Ceilidhs are a Gaelic tradition from Scotland and Ireland involving folk music from a live band and country dancing. They are still practised in some areas (mostly rural), and Arran is one of them. During the summer months, a Ceilidh will be held at the Lochranza village hall every week for residents and visitors to experience a taste of Scottish tradition. So get ya kilts out, guys!

Photography

One thing Arran is not short of is sensational views and a landscape that changes with every few steps you take. Every evening (on a sunny day) my bedroom would fill up with the most vibrant orange colour I've ever seen, and I'd run down to the harbour to capture the most breathtaking sunsets. The picture above is the actual colour and has not been edited at all. There is always a photo opportunity over every hill and round every corner, and that's why I made it a rule never to go out without my camera.

Brodick

If I wasn't wandering round aimlessly looking at sheep, I usually went to the port town of Brodick on my day off. This is where you will arrive when you catch the ferry over to the island from Ardrossan Harbour, and it's pretty much the only place you can go to spend money on things that aren't alcoholic. Brodick's main street along the beachfront holds a few cafés, eateries, shops, and the best fish and chips I've ever had - and also the first place I experienced the delights of a deep fried spicy haggis. Best enjoyed with plenty of salt, sitting outside in the fresh (cold) sea air. Brodick is one of the few places you will find a supermarket (though it is only a small co-op) and also an ATM. Walking further north from town you can find a few quaint shops selling gifts, luxury soaps and homemade scottish ice cream, fudge and tablet. Mmmmm...

Kayaking and watersports
Brave the cold seas and take a kayak out on the loch. The Gulf Stream supposedly brings in slightly warmer waters (though I'd much prefer it 20 degrees or more). But kayaking, canoeing and other water based activities are all to be enjoyed in the island's waters. For the adrenaline seekers, white water rafting and kayaking is an option down some of the rivers and streams.

Golf
If golfing is your thing, there are 6 golf courses on Arran - which to me seems an astonishing amount for a place with such a small population. But nevertheless it gives golfers something to experience no matter what part of the island you're staying on. For those less enthusiastic about the sport, the courses offer a nice walk surrounded by beautiful scenery.

Here I've summed up just a few things there are to do on this absolutely outstanding part of the UK that most Brits will never see. I only got to see half the island, so I'm sure there is so much more that I didn't have the chance to experience. It really is worth a trip up there, and would even be a perfect stop on a UK roadtrip where you can also see what else Scotland has to offer. Hopefully I'll find out for myself some day and I'll let you know.

Byron Bay - unlike any place I've been before!

After being on the road for so long and spending almost 4 months sleeping in a van, we decided to stop somewhere, settle, get jobs and stop worrying about money. And we ended up in Byron Bay.

View of Byron Bay beach on my way to the lighthouse

Byron Bay is a small, picturesque seaside town as seen in much of the rest of Australia, but this town is nothing like any town I've been before and quite frankly, I love it. People go round with no shoes on. Everyone can surf. Males, females, kids, grannies - everyone has long blonde dreadlocks. The people look like they're wearing pyjamas, but they're not. You can sit on the floor in the street like you did when you were 12, but no-one cares. Everything that can be painted with artwork, will be painted with artwork. Rainbows and curly patterns fill your view walking down the street. You can buy crystals, headdresses, beads, didgeridoos, there's also a colourfully painted "Happy Herb" shop which definitely doesn't look legal, but I think it is. You see things you don't see anywhere else. There's a guy in his sixties who descends on the street every few days with a hula hoop and banana and pineapple shaped maracas, giving it everything he's got. Initially I thought this was crazy, but then I realised that he has 10x more skill than me so I can't help but admire his passion.

And here he is... shaking it... with my fiancé...

Incase you're wondering where Byron Bay gets it's name; and whether it's roots are planted in romanticism, debauchery and flamboyancy; in 1770, the bay was the anchorage site for Lieutenant James Cook who named it after fellow sailor John Byron - the grandfather of English poet Lord Byron. The Cape Byron lighthouse built in 1901 marks the most easterly point of the Australian mainland.

Cape Byron lighthouse

Amongst Byron Bay residents include my 2 favourite Aussies - John Butler (from musical band John Butler Trio) and Chris Hemsworth (so gorgeous even my fiance admits to a mancrush). As of yet I haven't seen either of them. Butler now lives in WA and spends most of his time there (not that I'm stalking). Hemsworth is currently in Brisbane filming the new Thor movie, though I have seen him playing with pineapples in the promo video of the local smoothie bar.

Other than those two, Byron has approximately 5000 permanent residents. There is a big hippy
community, and a large number of backpackers stop here - especially in summer. It's a main attraction for "schoolies" as school finishes for the summer and the students all stampede to Byron to drink and start their vacation in style. I have this to look forward to in the next couple of months, as my manager always reminds me as I'm cleaning the rooms of the beachside motel.

The sign says it, it must be true

There are some great spots to eat in Byron, especially if you're vegan, vegetarian, organic, health freak, fruitarian, gluten free, lactose free, sugar free... and come to think of it, I'm not sure what they do
put in their food. All joking aside, Byron Bay does exceptionally well at accommodating these people, but also has some awesome restaurants and eateries along the beachside or further into town for those of us who aren't so picky. I'm happy to say there's no Mcdonalds or KFC in sight, and the only worldwide chain you'll find here is Subway - but then that's not all so bad is it? Since Joe now works in a Thai restaurant, I don't see a reason to turn down Thai curries every night. Though I can't wait for them to teach him the recipes! Munchies is a small family run restaurant that we've also found ourselves returning to. They serve a number of mouth watering pasta dishes, chef's specials, and the best schnitzel I've had so far!

The first whale I've ever seen!

There's so much to do in Byron, that I might write another blog post just on that subject, but to summarise - and so you can feel the excitement that I do - you can surf, kayak with dolphins, whale watch at the most easterly point of Australia, skydive, have ice cream at the lighthouse, watersports, laze on the beach, drink yourself silly, check out the markets, eat, sleep, and do it all again. A number of events and festivals occur throughout the year. The most notable being the Byron Bay Film Festival and the East Coast Blues & Roots Festival.

We also spotted dolphins swimming just off shore

So that's my home for the next few months. It's very hippy, and at first I thought I wouldn't fit into Byron Bay. I don't wear colourful patterned dresses or do yoga. But actually, there is no "fitting in" in Byron Bay, and there's no excluding. It is what it is, and you can be whoever or whatever you want, and that's awesome! Everyone is so laid back and friendly, they don't care who you are or where you're from but you'll be welcomed in anyway. If you want to know more about what it's like in Byron Bay but I haven't quite convinced you to come here, just watch The Inbetweeners 2 movie.

The Inbetweeners 2 - set in Byron Bay

Well that's it for now. If you've been here and loved it, send me your comments! Give me a like and share this post. Peace out.

What's it really like staying in a hostel?

So I've told you what it's like living in a campervan, but what about living in a hostel? The first month of my trip was spent going from dorm room to dorm room and sleeping in a room with up to 10 different people each night. So what is it really like?


Privacy
This is a pretty big downside to staying in hostel rooms. They are designed to be a base for travellers who want to go out and explore, though of course with differing schedules, you can almost always be sure that someone will be in the room at any one time. You're living in a confined space with up to about 11 strangers. It's not a place to keep up your normal bad/awkward habits from when you're at home, you can't run around naked, or throw your smelly undies everywhere. But I can guarantee that at some point someone will have sex in your room while you're trying to sleep. Make sure it's you.

Security
Lockers or under-bed lock boxes are usually provided, and are a good idea to use to store your stuff. Make sure you bring your own padlocks or buy one from the hostel at some extortionate rate. Pretty much the whole world has access to your room, and with people coming and going so often, things can certainly go "missing". Keep your valuables safe, and don't presume everyone in there is friendly and innocent once you've been living with them for 2 days.

Party Pumper
Where's me jumper? I stayed in 2 different hostels in Melbourne. XBase is the one that the STA Travel package will send you to, and they have many locations throughout Australia. It was pretty much the epitomy of everything I hate and everything I was when I was 18. Having said that, it's an excellent place to go if you like to party, get drunk and meet new people who are also drunk. There were cheap drinks and different questionable events being held in the bar every night. Let's just say, bingo night wasn't suitable for granny - I'm sure poor old Agatha would be flabberghasted to see honourable young people humping on the floor every time the number 69 came up. We also stayed in Habitat HQ hostel down the road, and then I remembered that I don't really hate people that much. Habitat still had events on every night, but these were a lot more chilled out and enjoyable for the 22-going-on-40 year olds like me. Pub crawls, quiz night, free barbeque, live music - it's a nice place to come and meet fellow backpackers especially if you're travelling on your own.

Meeting new people
This is the upside to a hostel. You share a room with like minded people from all over the world who generally share a passion for travel. It's a great place to find travel buddies for your onwards journey, and in some cases life-long friends. Most people will be friendly, bubbly and excited, and it's always helpful when they've been the places you're going, and you can exchange tips and find out the best places to visit. Of course you get your fair share of weirdos too. We encountered the German guy that kept losing his job, the Swedish guy that puked all night, and the old racist Aussie woman who blamed the Germans when she was evicted from her room by the hostel management when she thought it was for permanent residency.

A plethora of smells
I don't know why sleeping people smell so bad but oh my goodness. At HabitatHQ, Joe and I worked as housekeepers to earn free nights, and each room had a different level of stench depending on who and how many were living in there. My room was fine thanks to the friendly couple that had been living in there for a month and liked to keep it in order. The evenings change to an overpowering mix of Lynx Africa, Rihanna Rogue Love, Impulse Musk, hairspray and toothpaste as people get ready to go out. Not as distasteful as ass and sweat, but still not great if you prefer breathing.

Prices and facilities
A hostel dorm room costs about $30-40 (£15-20) per person per night sharing with 5 other people or more. If sharing with less, it can sometimes be more expensive. A private room with double bed would cost around $60-80 (£30-40). So what do you get for that price? Generally you get all this:

• A bunk bed and lock box 
• Ensuite bathroom or clean, hot shower/toilet block down the hall
• Shared kitchen with fridge/freezers, hobs, ovens, utensils etc
• Limited wifi
• Opportunity to partake in free events
• Tourist spot advice and booking
• A common area with sofas and possibly a TV
• Experience of a lifetime

So, I've made out that living in a hostel is terrible. Well it's not that bad, if you want to see what it's really like, watch the 2005 film "Hostel". If you have any scary, funny or inspiring hostel experiences let me know in the comments!