3 cities, 4 girls, 12 last days in Australia

Now there were 3 big goals ahead for the 4 of us: Sydney, Canberra, and Melbourne.

After saying goodbye to Leon, we boarded the plane that would take us from Townsville to Sydney.

When we arrived in Sydney, everything went smoothly. Even better than we thought - we happily received an upgrade in our hostel for one night due to a double booking. That meant a four-person room, a private bathroom, a television, and lots of Mentos. On top of that, we also received a voucher for a free breakfast. It couldn't have been better, and we indulged in the luxury and went to sleep feeling blessed.

We were all looking forward to the next day! So we eagerly set out to explore the city. We walked to the harbourfront and admired the Opera House and the Harbour Bridge - both very famous sights in Sydney. Then we walked to the Botanic Gardens and also checked out George Street. And to end the day on a relaxed note, we all bought ourselves a frozen yogurt. Frozen yogurt had definitely become one of our favorite treats during our trip - but only the self-serve kind :p. In the evening at the hostel, we had the idea to buy some cheap wine, and we spent a fun, long evening together chatting and laughing. Plus, our room was right next to a balcony where we could overlook the entire city, and in the darkness, we especially enjoyed the view.

In the following days, we wanted to take in and explore as much as possible. So we strolled through Chinatown, went to Bondi Beach and Manly Beach. Both are very beautiful beaches. When we were at Bondi Beach, there happened to be competitions from the lifeguards. So we got to see lots of surfers, speed games, and skill games. But what we also really liked about Bondi Beach was a swimming pool. A swimming pool that ends where the waves break and looks like it's part of the ocean.

One evening, we were able to see an impressive fireworks display at the harbor. Since we won't be in Sydney on New Year's Eve, we were all very happy to still be able to experience a fireworks display in Sydney. And this was one of the most beautiful ones we had ever seen. The fireworks were launched on the water, and around it, there was the beautifully illuminated 'Darling Harbour'. It was simply a wonderful sight with a beautiful atmosphere.

To learn even more about the city that impressed us so much, we decided to join a 'Free Walking Tour'. A guided tour of the city, and it was completely free. It's definitely highly recommended! Our tour guide was able to captivate us with his picturesque and vivid descriptions of the city. We also learned many interesting details about Australian history.

On our last day in Sydney, we decided to go for a jog and do a workout on the grass at the edge of the Botanic Gardens, overlooking the Opera House, the Bridge, and the harbor. We had never had such a beautiful view while exercising before.

And to make our stay in Sydney even more unforgettable, on our last night we sat in a park with a view of the Opera House, as there was a light show happening there. It was less spectacular than we thought, as the Opera House was 'only' illuminated on one wing of the roof and we could hardly see it from our distance.

Nevertheless, it was still a great last evening in the beautiful city of Sydney.

Our next stop, Canberra, was intended to be a place of relaxation for us. But what we were also excited about was that we wouldn't be living as a group of four in Canberra, but as a group of six.

Two friends from Germany (Julian and Moritz) are currently living with an Australian friend on a farm in Canberra.

But for the next few days, they stayed with us in an AirBnB. We had some super cozy days where we had a lot to talk about.

We also explored the city together and went out one evening. On that evening, Mitch, our Australian friend, and his girlfriend came to our apartment, and the eight of us went to a club. We all had a lot of fun and danced for hours. It was great to spend such a wonderful evening with so many people we hadn't seen in a long time.

For the 4 of us, the next morning we continued on to Melbourne. Julian and Moritz took us to the train station and then it was time to say goodbye. We are all sure that the 6 of us would make a great flatshare, and it was sad to have to separate again after just a few days. But the six of us decided that we have to meet again in Bali during the last 3 weeks of our trip. And so, Julian and Moritz booked a flight, and we are all very excited to see each other again in a few weeks. This time not as a group of four, not as a group of six, but as a group of seven. Anna's boyfriend, Philippe, is also flying from Germany to join us and spend some amazing days in Bali. We can't wait for the unforgettable moments we will experience with familiar faces and friends.

But first, we continued on to Melbourne. In Melbourne, we only had a few days, so we decided to do a free city tour here as well. Our conclusion: Sydney definitely has a larger historical background. But Melbourne is also an incredibly fascinating and beautiful city, with many artistic corners adorned with street art.

The next day was unfortunately our last day on Australian soil, so we decided to explore the city once again. We also packed a package in which we packed all our warm clothes and sent them home. From now on, we will only be traveling towards the sun and the rest of our trip will be around 30 degrees.

The next stop is Bangkok. Different culture, different continent, different experiences. We are ready.