The first day in New Zealand.

We arrived into Christchurch and found our YHA hostel for the first night. My auntie was right, New Zealand instantly felt like home. England with an American twang, including the weather. We had a wander around Christchurch before heading to our first Contiki meeting. I'm sure I'll talk more in depth about Contiki in a later post. Then guess what... it was bed time. Usually I'm not a fan of bed time as I get bad FOMO (fear of missing out), on things happening in life (sad eh!). But so far I cannot wait until my head hits that pillow every night. 

The next day the whole Contiki group got together and loaded our bags on the coach for our first full day. Our tour guide is Hayley, and our driver is Pat, both lovely! Firstly we headed up through Mackenzie country towards Lake Tekapo, that first view coming around the corner over the hill of a flat, still, crystal blue lake was amazing. We all of course stopped and took as many selfies and Instagramable photos as we could of the Lupins all out in bloom, and the lake with the endless mountains in the background. 

 

 

 

 

We thought that lake was amazing, until we saw the next one.... Lake Pukaki was more inland and was even more crystal clear. The glacial water looks like ice and it's drinkable it's that clean. These were the views we had been hoping to see, even with cloud the blue water against the mountains just can't be captured properly by camera. 

 

 

 

I knew from this day on I was to be amazed every single day at the sights and views that this country has to offer. There isn't just lakes though, even just driving from one town to the next, going over a canal bridge can provide spot on views. 

We arrived at our first nights stay, Country Time Hotel, in Mackenzie Country. It reminded me of the kind of hotel you see in horror movies, one single old fashioned hotel in the middle of nowhere. We definitely triple checked the locks when we went to sleep, although that may just be me being a wuss and being terrified of horror films. The first full day was over and I was both overwhelmed and extremely excited for what the next two weeks had to offer.

Amy x

P. Sherman, 42 Wallaby Way, Sydney.

We had our first internal flight from Melbourne and the most luxury departure lounge I've ever been in. I'm talking Mcdonalds with food I've never even heard of before, Krispy cremes and charging ports by every chair. May not be luxury to most people but as amateur travellers this was heaven! 

After being in the most horrific downpour I've ever experienced, we arrived at another Base Backpackers hostel in central Sydney. This one being three times the size of the last one. We checked in to the hostel looking like drowned rats, and found ourselves our 6 bed room. Feeling like we were in the penthouse suite on our top bunks. Seeing as it was late we attempted to find some food, but little did we know what a mission this would be. Who would think it would be hard to find some food for less than $15! All we wanted were plain noodles! Being tired and teasy, we settled for super noodles and cooked them in the most horrendous hostel kitchen I've ever seen. I'm talking 100x worse than a university kitchen! Neither Jade or myself are clean freaks but that kitchen was beyond what we ever expected, it was the boys obviously...

 

After a homesick evening but a very good nights sleep as we were so tired, we woke up to scorching hot sunshine so we were both extremely excited to venture out and explore the home of P. Sherman (can you tell we're both Finding Nemo fans). We walked from our hostel along Darling harbour around to the harbour bridge. Seeing as it was extremely hot, we both thought it would be relaxing to chill down by the water on the rocks, minutes later jade starts panicking that she can hear a snake behind us, we both jump up and realise it wasn't a snake but we are being absolutely soaked by water sprinklers... what a way to be cooled down in that heat eh.

When the Sydney opera house came into view, we both stopped in our tracks as it hit us that we were in Australia, a place we never thought we would actually come and visit. Being typical tourists we took as many photos in as many different angles as we could.

 

 

 

 

We collapsed with exhaustion into bed that night knowing we had a 5am alarm set to catch our plane to.... NEW ZEALAND!!! 

Amy x

First stop, Melbourne.

Feeling absolutely grotty from the 21 hour plane journey, myself and Jade were making the most of the free wifi in Melbourne airport. We were people watching for a good hour before either of us even mentioned finding a hostel to stay in, priorities eh! We landed at the airport and knew two university friends were here somewhere, so we messaged them, and as if the travelling fairies were on our side they asked if we wanted to go to their hotel over the road for a shower, YES PLEASE!

Debbie and Lucy joined us for our first night in Melbourne, and we managed to find a hostel after traipsing around central Melbourne for what seemed like hours... only 4 of us in a 6 bed room in a nice hostel, perfect! 

It was overwhelming how many things there were to see and do in Melbourne city centre, but we knew a priority was to sort out our tours for the next few months. The boring stuff first but needed to be done.

 

 

 

 

After the best night sleep and what felt like a good start to hostel life, the girls joined us when we went to find a hostel in St Kilda, and we ended up at Base St Kilda with an UPGRADED room! Double bed (sorry for star-fishing jade), ensuite and TV. How did we manage that?! Second luxury hostel stay we have bagged. We explored St Kilda even though it was cloudy, and we got slightly worried that the next three months weather forecast would be like this, but knowing Australia, I knew we would be proven wrong.

 

 

 

 

As I knew we would, we managed to find a lovely bar called Vineyard, with yes... free wifi! We sipped on our cocktails and chatted about the upcoming plans. It was a bit of a shock to the system at the Australian prices for us British girls, I mean the drinks weren't too overpriced at $14 dollars each but I think drinking cocktails in a cool bar isn't what I imagined Backpackers doing, let's see how long this lasts haha!

The girls got on their overnight bus to Sydney as they weren't in Australia for as long as myself and Jade were, so me and jade being the party animals that we are, went back to the hostel room to sleep!

With one more night in Melbourne we wanted to make the most of the slightly warmer weather, strolling along the seafront and the marina. Then a good friend from school Charlotte commented on one of my many Instagrams I had already posted that day saying she lived only 5 minutes away, small world! So I spent a lovely evening catching up with her, being talked into sky dives and other adrenaline activities I don't think my stomach could physically cope with. Before heading back to my, did I say luxury, hostel room for the night ;)

Next stop, Sydney!

Speak soon, Amy x

Starting out

Hey! I guess I should start with who I am, im Amy, a 23 year old from Cornwall, England, who has always wanted to travel but has only now manned up enough to do it haha!

So, you may be wondering what Fernweh means. I saw a quote on Pinterest (amazing app if you haven't heard of it) that stated 'Fernweh, the feeling of missing somewhere you've never been'. Instantly I was drawn to that word as I never knew there was a word that defined how I felt. The beach part, well I just LOVE the beach, simple as.

 

So, having never done a long haul flight before I thought I'd have the genius idea of joining one of my best friends Jade with going travelling for three months.

Brave or or down right crazy?! Not sure yet...

It took a while but I managed to get some unpaid leave from work and then the excitement/anxiety hit. Having to leave my family and also my boyfriend at home (until he joins me), was a scary prospect. 

Definitely for the last couple of years, and probably long before... I have always lived by the motto 'live every day like its your last' and for the first time in 23 years I'm putting that motto into action.... 

First stop Melbourne, then making our way up to Sydney before joining a Contiki tour in New Zealand. Being spring I wasn't expecting much sun so then onto Fiji after that, before having seven weeks to travel down the east coast of Australia from Cairns to Melbourne. Eleven weeks in all. The boyfriends joining us in Brisbane for the late three and a half weeks!

 

I would say bring it on.... but I've already made it through two weeks before having the guts to start this blog, so bring on the next 9 weeks as I'm loving it so far!

Speak soon, Amy x