AUSTRALIA! G'Day Mate!

Wednesday the 29th we went to work until lunch break and sorted as fast as we could! I got to say HAPPY BIRTHDAY to my little sister Jennifer who was in New York with the cousins! I hope you had a great birthday jenny! I had to call the 29th since it’s your real birthday the 28th back in the states! Lol Wish I could have been there with you! I owe you birthday punches! Just kidding! Love you sis! Then I grabbed my luggage and Lara and I met the others to go to the airport! For someone who hardly ever travels, I have been on so many flights this summer its crazy! We flew to Queensland, the Gold Coast and stayed in surfer’s paradise!!!!!! We had a luxurious stay at the Marriott hotel thanks to Lara’s dad who hooked us up! It made us go “WOW.” once we saw it, that’s all I can say! The pool was salt water and had over 400 tropical fish you could snorkel to see and a lazy river that led to another pool then a huge hot tub in a cave! What a resort! Now I won’t want to go back to the apartment in the city! All of us enjoyed the hot tub and passed out early because the time difference is 2 hours earlier there so it felt late to us.

Thursday the 30th
We planned on sleeping in and woke up at 7am! The few hour time change really through us off, but we didn’t mind we had breakfast and were all soooo energetic and excited to get bathing suits on for the beach! Finally it feels like summer after a winter in NZ! The sun was so hot I have missed it so much! We ran down the beach, into the water, climbed up sand dunes, did cartwheels, Baywatch running and took tons of jumping pictures! After all of that…we passed out on our towels and baked in the sun! The tide came up and we laughed as Hannah and Courtney got soaked and looked so confused! Hannah’s purse started floating away haha It got cool once the sun went behind the tall buildings so we walked 4 minutes back to the resort and used the hot tub again! After everyone took showers we all napped for a while and Hannah, Sabrina, Courtney and I decided to go out! It was such a fun night! It had the best music to dance to and the entire road was extremely busy with people!

Surfer's paradise= HEAVEN

I love Baden! Australia!

Our balcony view was of the city and some of my dream homes! lol

Friday the 31st
We slept in some but went to the beach early again! Some of my friends rented surf boards and boogie boards and I watched them struggle to stand! Another hot day under the Australian sun. Surfer’s paradise is definitely paradise! We layed out all day until the sun went behind the buildings again and we all went to the hot tub, I love this routine! We all tried going out at night, even Lara and Phil but since it was the weekend it was too expensive to get in so we had New York pizza (not the same but so yummy) then went to bed!

Saturday the 1st of August- I can’t believe its August already!
Today is the day I get to see Kangaroos and Koalas!! Everyone woke up and we walked downstairs for breakfast and I had the most delicious chocolate pancakes! Then we hopped on the bus to take us to Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary. (my friends just told me I use too many exclamation marks but I feel like everything is exciting so it sounds boring if I don’t haha) The first thing we ran to was the Koala’s and they were adorable. Usually they aren’t as active and just sleep but the first group we saw hopped on the branches, chewed their food and looked at us. I loved them! After we admired the Koala’s with our Ooo’s and Ahh’s we went into the gate where all the Kangaroos! I pet them and fed them! They hop right up to me and it was the cutest thing ever. There were wallabies in there too. We stayed with them for a while until we walked around and found even more Australian animals like Wombats and Dingo’s! The Australian Aboriginal dancers had a show so we got to watch them play instruments and dance their traditional dances. One was a bird pecking the ground! After we met them and got a picture. The day ended with my favorite part… I held a Koala bear! His name was River and he is 5 years old! Funny story… I waited in line with Hannah and Courtney and usually I don’t rub things in but I turned and go “haha I get to go first!” Then she puts him down because he started peeing!!!! Ew. I was a little hesitant after that but still wanted to hold him…then he pooped while each of us held him and she goes its “okay they do hundreds a day just leave a space it’ll fall to the ground.” It made the experience very entertaining! I went to the NY pizza place for the third time with Hannah, Court and Sabs and it was still good! Then we went home to eat Tim Tams (best cookies ever, I hope the states gets them!) and listen to the music channel all night.

<3

This video is of me feeding a couple of Kangaroos! I loved them, so cute!

This video shows the funniest Kangaroo ever, slow motion hops... and an itch haha

This is known more as a New Zealand symbol, it's the first step to the fern plant!
The Dingo!
The Wombat!

Us with the Aboriginal Dancers!

He wins the BEST face award! :)

Feeding Kangaroos in Australia! So amazing!

Me holding River... he really was adorable!

Sunday the 2nd of August
We woke up in time to see the fish feeding at the pool and saw the Doris up close. Then the girls and I went to the café by the beach for some yummy eggs and bacon. We souvenir browsed on our way to the surf board rentals booth and then I watched them try surfing again. Today was the day they each stood up at least once or twice! I was so proud of them! We had to go back to the hotel and change to catch the taxi to the airport. None of us wanted to leave at all. But we ate some Hungry Jacks (their burger king!) and got on a flight back to Auckland. Now it’s back to work, Australia was my last vacation within my vacation! It’s kind of sad but I have really done so much that I am so thankful for. I’ll never forget my adventures this summer!

Fish in the Marriott pool!

Courtney catching a wave! haha

mermaid! lol

Goodbye for now Australia! I'll be back soon!!!!!