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The Professional Hobo

Traveling full-time in a financially sustainable way

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Australia

I lived in Australia on and off for about a year and a half between 2008 and 2010.

I started out volunteering in trade for free accommodation about 1.5 hours NE of Melbourne, in a rural area between Marysville and Alexandra. As a wildlife sanctuary, I became intimately acquainted with Australian critters during that time; I even had a kangaroo that followed me everywhere I went! (It was cute, and also a bit creepy).

Then, my boyfriend (at the time) and I decided we'd stick around for a while longer, and rented a place. Shortly thereafter, we were hit by Australia's worst-ever natural disaster: The Victorian Bushfires in February 2009. My diary account of the event was archived by the National Library of Australia as a piece of history.

Although I had a home base near Melbourne, I covered a TON of territory in Australia, including all of the epic train rides like The Ghan and the Indian Pacific - which ended up forming a big part of my book about trains.

In 2018, I returned to Melbourne for a month, to stay with some friends of mine who were helping me with some physical ailments.

2018: 6 Countries, 32k Miles, And Some BIG Changes

Last Updated: December 4, 2020

2018 - 6 Countries, 32k Miles by The Professional Hobo

Here’s a summary of where I went in 2018; although none of the 6 countries were new to me, the places I visited and experiences I had TOTALLY were! Enjoy.

Filed Under: Australia, Canada, England, Life as a full-time traveler, Thailand, USA, Vietnam

There’s a Huntsman in my Car! (VLOG Ep. 7)

Last Updated: November 21, 2020

huntsman spider on a microwave

In this month’s vlog, I share a story about the huntsman in my car. It’s part comedy, part horror flick, and part metaphysical drama. Have a look!

Filed Under: Australia, Vlog

18 of the World’s Fastest, Highest, Longest (etc) Things to Do

Last Updated: June 5, 2020

world's most dangerous airport

Here are 18 of the world’s fastest, highest, longest, deepest, happiest, smelliest, most dangerous – and more – things I’ve done:

Filed Under: Australia, Bolivia, Canada, China, Denmark, New Zealand, Norway, St Martin, Sweden, Switzerland

Taking the Indian Pacific Train Across Australia: PART SIX

Last Updated: January 16, 2021

This is the last installment of my mammoth series about the Indian Pacific train, which is part of an 11,000km train journey I took across Australia – and back again. My mission: to see if spending eight days on a train could inspire boredom. So far, no luck. Let’s see what the last two days […]

Filed Under: Australia

Taking the Indian Pacific Train Across Australia: PART FIVE

Last Updated: December 19, 2020

Join me 2/3 of the way through my 11,000 km journey taking Indian Pacific train across Australia and back – all to see if I can get bored.

Filed Under: Australia

Taking the Indian Pacific Train Across Australia: PART FOUR

Last Updated: December 13, 2020

So far in my 11,000km journey by train across Australia and back, I’ve been aboard the Indian Pacific for three nights since getting on in Sydney. We’ve stopped in Broken Hill, Adelaide, Cook, and Kalgoorlie. Today, I arrive at my halfway point and destination of sorts: Perth. This post was originally published in 2011. It […]

Filed Under: Australia

Perth in 24 Hours

Last Updated: November 13, 2020

Perth

I had but a mere 24 hours (26 to be exact) to enjoy Perth, between getting off the Indian Pacific train from Sydney, and getting right back on it the following day to return to my point of origin. “Why aren’t you staying in Perth for longer?” was a question I often fielded in describing […]

Filed Under: Australia

Cook and Kalgoorlie – Taking the Indian Pacific Train Across Australia: PART THREE

Last Updated: December 19, 2020

At this point in the Indian Pacific series, I’m four days into my epic 11,000 km journey across Australia (and back), and have spent the last two nights aboard the Indian Pacific, traveling from Sydney to Perth (and back). Today we’re checking out Cook and Kalgoorlie. Learn about my grand departure from Sydney and the […]

Filed Under: Australia

Taking the Indian Pacific Train Across Australia: PART TWO

Last Updated: December 19, 2020

Thus far in this series, I’ve set the stage for my epic 11,000km train journey, boarded the Indian Pacific train in Sydney, explored my digs, and settled in for the night. I will wake up to Broken Hill. This post was originally published in 2011. It has since been updated for accuracy of links and […]

Filed Under: Australia

Taking the Indian Pacific Train Across Australia: PART ONE

Last Updated: June 6, 2020

Indian Pacific

My reasons for taking the Indian Pacific train across Australia in the way that I did are not why most normal folk would have. In reflecting on my three-day adventure riding The Ghan from Darwin to Adelaide, I was surprised at how quickly the time passed. I had figured that, despite my love of long-distance […]

Filed Under: Australia

Train Travel: The Ghan from Darwin to Adelaide – Day Three

Last Updated: December 19, 2020

The Ghan train

Almost 48 hours after boarding The Ghan on Day One in Darwin, stopping in Alice Springs on Day Two, and with only a few hours to go to Adelaide, I was surprised to wake up and discover that we were still very much in the Australian outback on this three-day journey from Darwin to Adelaide. This […]

Filed Under: Australia

Train Travel: The Ghan from Darwin to Adelaide – Day Two

Last Updated: December 19, 2020

The Ghan

On day two of my three-day epic journey on The Ghan, I awoke from my slumber and gazed out the window. One of my favourite things about overnight train travel is laying in bed and watching the sun rise over the moving landscape. And today was no exception. The earth was even redder than on […]

Filed Under: Australia

Taking The Ghan Train from Darwin to Adelaide – Day One

Last Updated: June 6, 2020

The Ghan Australian train

One of my motivations in returning to Australia for a few months has been to experience the world-class multi-day train journeys that venture through some of the most uninhabitable parts of this sunburned country. And The Ghan train is one of those world-class trains, also reputed to be one of the most luxurious. Lucky me: […]

Filed Under: Australia

Darwin: The Crocs, The Heat, The Attitude

Last Updated: December 4, 2020

Darwin

“Watch out for crocs,” was the advice of a friend ringing in my ears as I slipped off the steps and onto the rocky beach in Darwin, Australia. I knew better than to swim in the ocean (rife with box jellyfish, salt-water crocodiles, and other lethal delights), but I figured the beach would be safe […]

Filed Under: Australia

The Australian Aboriginal Tent Embassy: The World’s Longest Protest

Last Updated: June 6, 2020

Aboriginal Tent Embassy

While I was visiting Canberra, my friend (also a Nora) and I wandered by a derelict collection of tents and temporary-looking dwellings in front of the old parliament building. “This is an odd spot for a campground,” I commented. “It’s not a campground,” Nora said. “It’s the Australian Aboriginal Tent Embassy.” Huh? That’s some kind […]

Filed Under: Australia

Why Would I Want to Visit Canberra?

Last Updated: November 6, 2020

Canberra

Canberra (pronounced more like “Can-bra” with the emphasis on the “can”), gets a bad rap. “Why would you want to go to Canberra?” was a question I had to answer more than once about visiting Australia’s capital city. Most of the people asking this question were Aussies themselves. For many tourists, Canberra doesn’t even make […]

Filed Under: Australia

Australian Seagulls, Spider Bites, and Blue Mountains

Last Updated: December 4, 2020

spider bites

My visit to Sydney and the nearby Blue Mountains was beautifully rounded out by staying with some friends just outside of the city. And aside from a chance encounter – or rather encounters (37 in total) – with some nasty spiders, all was beautiful. First, we took advantage of a gorgeous day (the first that wasn’t […]

Filed Under: Australia

The Manly Scenic Walkway, and How to Catch a Bus in Sydney

Last Updated: June 5, 2020

Manly Scenic Walkway entrance sign, Sydney Harbour National Park

While enjoying Sydney, I decided to explore the 10km coastal Manly Scenic Walkway. And no…the walk isn’t particularly masculine in nature…Manly is the name of the Sydney suburb where the walk begins. This article was originally published in 2010 and has since been updated for accuracy of content and links Getting to Manly from Sydney […]

Filed Under: Australia

Random Observations from Sydney, Australia

Last Updated: December 13, 2020

If you want a comprehensive guide to seeing Sydney Australia, this post is not going to be very fulfilling. But if you would like to enjoy some random observations from Sydney and tips I have from roaming the streets of Sydney for almost a week, then please, feel free to continue reading. (I’m pretty sure […]

Filed Under: Australia

Walkabout Woes – and Wonders

Last Updated: December 19, 2020

Walkabout Woes in Australia: We’re barely into 2010, and I can already see that it will be an interesting year. Coming into the year, I’ve had a few reservations – not the least of which is an agenda that entails us basing ourselves in Australia for another year; one that my itchy feet are objecting […]

Filed Under: Australia

10 Rules for Being Human

Last Updated: December 4, 2020

Kelly stumbled on to some words to live by the other day, and I think they’re worth sharing. Both poignant and even humourous, these Ten Rules for Being Human are good ones. This post was originally published in 2010. It has since been updated for accuracy of links and content.  10 Rules for Being Human […]

Filed Under: Australia

2009 in Review: The Professional Hobo

Last Updated: December 4, 2020

As I sit in the remaining days of 2009, reflecting upon days past and planning for days to come, I realize that this year has seen quite a few adventures! It all started roughly a year ago, when we decided to give the gift of pumpkin pies to as many Australians as we could. We […]

Filed Under: Australia

I’m Dreaming of a Brown Christmas – New Lyrics for an Old Carol

Last Updated: December 13, 2020

Merry Christmas everybody! While people back home in Canada are playing in the snow, I’m playing with snakes here in Australia. Go figure. I’m dreaming of a brown Christmas…because it certainly isn’t white here. This post was originally published in 2009. It has since been updated for accuracy of links and content.  This year, Kelly […]

Filed Under: Australia

Special Post: Reflections on the 2009 Victorian Bushfires – by a Year Nine class in WA

Last Updated: November 30, 2020

I was recently contacted by a high school teacher in Western Australia, who said her year nine class was doing a project on the 2009 Victorian Bushfires, and having found my own diary entries on the ordeal, asked if I would be kind enough to read and respond to their reflections, as somebody who was […]

Filed Under: Australia, Victorian bush fires

Learning the Art of Fire Spinning

Last Updated: December 11, 2020

fire spinning

When a fellow travel blogger recently wrote about fire spinning in Thailand, I realized in reading it that I have been amiss with you, dear readers. You see, I have blatantly (and unintentionally) kept you in the dark about a new part of my own life; a hobby that is both relaxing and actively playful….Fire […]

Filed Under: Australia

Camping with Koalas at Cape Otway

Last Updated: November 21, 2020

Koala at Cape Otway

Enjoying a piece of the world famous Great Ocean Walk at Cape Otway, I happen to find myself camping on night two in a little spot that wasn’t idyllic. As a former paddock, cows had trampled through not so long ago, as was evidenced by the dried out cow patties that consequently drenched the site […]

Filed Under: Australia, Video Clips

Imagine: A Vagabond Story – Book Review

Last Updated: May 16, 2020

Imagine: A Vagabond Story book cover

This is a review of Imagine: A Vagabond Story, by Grant Lingel. While his backpacker antics weren’t my cuppa tea, the vicarious debauchery was fun.

Filed Under: Australia, book reviews

The Sounds of Australian Birds

Last Updated: December 19, 2020

King Parrots in Australia

When I was recently overseas in North America visiting family and friends, things were eerily quiet. Sure – there were sounds of traffic, laughter, and the hum of the city, but there was something inexplicable missing. When I returned to Australia, I realized what was missing: the extraordinary lives and sounds of Australian birds. This […]

Filed Under: Australia

Joining the Gold Rush at Woods Point

Last Updated: December 11, 2020

A clip of conversation with the postmaster at Woods Point: Nora: “We just rolled into town here on the recommendation of a friend of ours. And what a lovely place it is! It’s absolutely charming – I love it. What is the population?” Postmaster: “The population of Woods Point? 37. But if you include the […]

Filed Under: Australia

Is Full-Time Travel an Act of Withdrawal?

Last Updated: December 19, 2020

is full-time travel an act of withdrawal?

In a philosophical conversation with an acquaintance the other day, I was informed that he doesn’t like the way I travel. Not only does he not like it for himself, but he doesn’t like it for me; he feels that full-time travel is an act of withdrawal from the world. This post was originally published […]

Filed Under: Australia

Canadian versus Australian Coins

Last Updated: December 4, 2020

Here is a conversation I had with an Aussie mate the other day: Me: “Do you have a nickel?” Aussie Mate: “A what?” Me: “A nickel”. Aussie Mate: “A what?” Me: “Oh for god’s sake. A nickel! You know – a five-cent piece!” Aussie Mate: “OH! You mean a five-cent piece!” (hands over said currency) […]

Filed Under: Australia, Canada

Australian Abbreviations

Last Updated: December 4, 2020

In my series of posts on Australian expressions and idiosyncrasies, I realize that I have left you, dear readers, sadly in the dark. You see, I have just now unlocked one of the secrets to speaking like an Aussie in no time. In a way it is so simple that I adopted it without realizing […]

Filed Under: Australia

Winter Fog: A Magical Hazard

Last Updated: December 19, 2020

winter fog in Australia

The winter fog rolling through the Australian countryside in Victoria is epic. Check out these pictures of this magical (if not slightly hazardous) wonder.

Filed Under: Australia

Australian Expressions of Pleasure

Last Updated: December 4, 2020

Australian expressions of pleasure: I love traveling through different English-speaking countries. Although we all speak the same language in that we can (usually) order a burger and fries without much ado, at the same time we really don’t speak the same language. I’ve been baffled by heavily-accented fast-talking Outbackers, confused by sayings about drinking, and […]

Filed Under: Australia

Snow in Australia (vs. Canada)

Last Updated: December 13, 2020

snow in Australia

This photo of Snow in Australia was taken yesterday from our backyard…literally. Although I’m a Canadian on a permanent mission to avoid winter, I’ve done a pretty crappy job of it. This post was originally published in 2009. It has since been updated for accuracy of links and content.  After summer in western Canada, I […]

Filed Under: Australia

Celebrating One Year in Australia

Last Updated: December 11, 2020

celebrating one year in Australia at sunset

Two cool things happened this week. Winter started, which means we are celebrating one year in Australia. This post was originally published in 2009. It has since been updated for accuracy of links and content.  A year ago when we arrived in Australia, winter had begun but we were none the wiser: we enjoyed a […]

Filed Under: Australia

Five Signs I’m Turning into an Aussie

Last Updated: December 11, 2020

Two Aussie mates chatting in the bush

We’re fast approaching the 1-year anniversary of our arrival in Australia. And in the course of our Aussie adventures, some of the local customs, slang, and other characteristics are slowly permeating my daily way of life that’s finding me turning into an Aussie. Here are a few: This post was originally published in 2009. It has […]

Filed Under: Australia

Australian Hamburgers, Lamingtons, Meat Pies, and Other Foods

Last Updated: December 4, 2020

Australian Hamburgers

As I was inhaling another of many Australian hamburgers the other day, I realized I was eating a burger that nobody in North America (and other places for that matter) had ever seen the likes of. In explaining to some folks at home in Canada how Australians prefer to eat their burgers, the awed silence […]

Filed Under: Australia

Australian Easter Down Under

Last Updated: December 11, 2020

White and yellow flower during Easter Down Under

Having recently experienced Easter Down Under here in Australia, I continue to marvel at the little differences that exist between two strikingly similar countries – Canada and Australia. This post was originally published in 2009. It has since been updated for accuracy of links and content.  Although traveling in countries where the native language is […]

Filed Under: Australia

Living the Dream: Climbing on the Rooftop of Australia (Mt Kosciuszko)

Last Updated: December 13, 2020

rappelling off Mt Kosciuszko

“Okay, ready to rappel – I mean abseil,” I say as I prepare to descend a small cliff near the summit of Mt Kosciuszko – Australia’s highest mountain. “That’s okay, say rappel. It’s nice to talk to somebody who actually knows what rappelling is and doesn’t call me a Yank for it,” says Chris, our […]

Filed Under: Australia

Conquering Kozzy (Mount Kosciuszko) in the Off-Season

Last Updated: June 6, 2020

Mount Kosciusko

The mission: To climb Australia’s highest mountain, Mount Kosciuszko (pronounced kahz-ee-ahz-koh) at 2,228 meters above sea level. The highest peak on the continent. A feat for anybody aiming to climb the highest peaks on each continent. A real notch for the climbing belt, if you ask me. (Sshhh….don’t tell anybody that there’s a chairlift that […]

Filed Under: Australia

After the Fires: Our Multi-Coloured Backyard

Last Updated: November 30, 2020

victorian bushfires 2009

After being home for a few days in the wake of a month-long evacuation due to the Victorian bush fires, we hear/smell/feel/see something that makes our hearts sing: rain. It pours overnight, and drizzles through the next few days. Although naysayers worry about erosion and the negative long-term restorative effects of too much rain, we […]

Filed Under: Australia, Victorian bush fires

Anthony Bourdain, Why Didn’t You Call?

Last Updated: December 4, 2020

Anthony Bourdain, my hero

Anthony Bourdain has long been my hero. So imagine my distress when I learned that he was in the very same small town in Australia as I – and I didn’t know.

Filed Under: Australia

Australian Bushfire Diary: February 24th – DAY EIGHTEEN

Last Updated: November 30, 2020

Australian bushfire diary - returning home!

In this final entry of my Australian bushfire diary, I return home…to a place I’d only moved into 2 days before the fires.

Filed Under: Australia, Victorian bush fires

Victoria Bush Fires Diary: February 20-22 – DAYS 14-16

Last Updated: November 30, 2020

fire spinning - a different kind of fire than the victoria bush fires

Two weeks into the Victoria Bush Fires of 2009, I need to get away. Thankfully that chance comes, and I reflect on living in the present moment.

Filed Under: Australia, Victorian bush fires

Victorian Bush Fire Diary: February 19th – DAY THIRTEEN

Last Updated: November 30, 2020

In this busy fire diary, I am heading back into the thick smoke after a brief break in Melbourne. Going back is very difficult.

Filed Under: Australia, Victorian bush fires

Victorian Bush Fire Diary: February 18th – DAY TWELVE

Last Updated: November 30, 2020

In this fire diary: The roads are finally open and I take a drive through charred landscapes to visit some friends in Melbourne.

Filed Under: Australia, Victorian bush fires

Victoria Bush Fire Diary: February 17th – DAY ELEVEN

Last Updated: November 30, 2020

tanks in Australia, for the Victoria bush fire diary

On the 11th day of my Victoria bush fire diary, I start to wonder how long this will last. We are all feeling the effects of fatigue.

Filed Under: Australia, Victorian bush fires

Victoria Bush Fire Diary: February 16th – DAY TEN

Last Updated: November 30, 2020

Victorian Bush Fire camp for the firefighters

We’re still on high alert, but 10 days in, the Victoria bush fire is becoming a norm of sorts. Also a great news story involving goldfish.

Filed Under: Australia, Victorian bush fires

Australian Bush Fire Diary: February 15th – DAY NINE

Last Updated: November 30, 2020

Victorian bushfires

In day 9 of my Australian Bush Fire Diary, I check in on the home I’ve been evacuated from. But it’s still not safe to stay there.

Filed Under: Australia, Victorian bush fires

Australian Bushfire Diary: February 14th – DAY EIGHT

Last Updated: November 30, 2020

Hazy sky of the Australian Bushfire

We are over a week into the epic Australian bushfire of 2009, and things are unfortunately getting political at the relief warehouse. Also, a dramatic juxtaposition of photos.

Filed Under: Australia, Victorian bush fires

Victorian Bushfires Diary: February 13th – DAY SEVEN

Last Updated: November 30, 2020

relief warehouse for the Victorian Bushfires

On Day 7 of the victorian bushfires, on february 13th, the warehouse we started is filling up with donations from around Australia.

Filed Under: Australia, Victorian bush fires

Victorian BushFire Diary: February 12th – DAY SIX

Last Updated: November 30, 2020

The smoky landscape on February 12th, amid the Victorian BushFire

On Day 6 of the Victorian Bushfire of 2009, I stay up all night writing an article for the Toronto Star on a tight deadline, and I’m a mess.

Filed Under: Australia, Victorian bush fires

Victorian Bush Fires Diary: February 11th – DAY FIVE

Last Updated: November 30, 2020

bush fires diary - donations are rolling in

On day five of the 2009 victorian bush fires diary, the warehouse is filling up with donations for fire survivors. It’s heart-warming.

Filed Under: Australia, Victorian bush fires

Victorian Bush Fires: February 10th – DAY FOUR

Last Updated: November 30, 2020

victorian bushfires 2009

We’re trying to spread some love to the traumatized survivors of the Victorian bush fires. This is Day 4 of my history-making diary.  

Filed Under: Australia, Victorian bush fires

Australian Bush Fire Diary: February 9th – DAY THREE

Last Updated: November 30, 2020

A frustrated emergency worker during the victorian bush fires

On day 3 of the Australian bush fire diary, I find myself face to face with the Prime Minister of Australia! I also sleep on a pub floor.

Filed Under: Australia, Victorian bush fires

Victorian Bush Fire Diary: February 8th – DAY TWO

Last Updated: November 30, 2020

Victorian Bush Fire smoky morning

Victorian Bush Fire Diary: Sunday, February 10 th, 2009. Day 2 of a month-long chronicle of living amid the fires whilst evacuated.

Filed Under: Australia, Victorian bush fires

Victorian Bush Fire Diary: February 7th – DAY ONE

Last Updated: November 30, 2020

Victorian Bush Fire Diary

On Feb 7th 2009, Australia saw it’s worst natural disaster. I was in the middle of it. Read on for the historic Victorian Bush Fire Diary.

Filed Under: Australia, Victorian bush fires

The 100 Year Heat Wave

Last Updated: December 19, 2020

I got what I asked for, in spades. Heat, heat, and even more…heat. Not just heat; I got the 100 year heat wave. This post was originally published in 2009. It has since been updated for accuracy of links and content.  Typically the Legendary Hot Days of more than 40 degrees that plague Australian summers […]

Filed Under: Australia

If you Aren’t on the Move, Are you Still a Traveler?

Last Updated: December 11, 2020

sculpture of man sitting down with hat and cane

A question asked of me recently by a reader, and possibly especially pertinent now that we are looking at staying in Australia after a year here already, may be: “Are you still a traveler if you’re not actually…traveling?” You may wonder how I can satisfy the title of The Professional Hobo if I am in […]

Filed Under: Australia

Moving On…But Staying…But Traveling…

Last Updated: December 13, 2020

I would say that our time in Australia is coming to an end and that it is time to move on. But that would be a lie. In fact, quite the opposite: our time in Australia is not coming to an end. But it is still time to move on. Let me explain. This post […]

Filed Under: Australia

“Fair Dinkum” Explored: Meaning and Origination

Last Updated: December 4, 2020

Fair Dinkum in Australia

The meaning of “Fair Dinkum” in Australia is elusive at best. Here is what I learned, along with a whole collection of input from readers.

Filed Under: Australia

Legendary Heat and Total Fire Bans: Welcome to Summer in Australia

Last Updated: December 11, 2020

total fire ban sign in Australia

Today is a total fire bans day. The air is heavy (but not humid) as I step outside from the cool respite of our practically-air-conditioned-it’s-so-cold cottage. I walk into the sunshine, and even at 3pm I immediately feel its rays burning through the first few layers of my skin. Even a breeze on this calm […]

Filed Under: Australia

My Christmas Present to Australia: Pumpkin Pie

Last Updated: December 19, 2020

pumpkin pie in Australia

Australians aren’t familiar with Pumpkin Pie. I baked one for everybody I knew; though people were skeptical, it was a hit. Here’s the recipe!

Filed Under: Australia, recipes

Enjoying a Brown Christmas in Australia

Last Updated: December 19, 2020

Having grown up with white Christmases in Canada, I wasn’t been feeling Christmas spirit here in Australia. But my first Christmas in Australia turned out pretty well! See also: I’m Dreaming of a Brown Christmas (new lyrics to an old song)And: My Christmas Present to Australia: Pumpkin Pie! (with recipe) This post was originally published […]

Filed Under: Australia

Gardening Down Under

Last Updated: December 11, 2020

Australian Garden

“You must have a little veggie patch at your place, don’t you? Everybody does,” said one Aussie fellow to me when speaking about the Australian agriculture industry. “Chuck just about anything in the ground, it grows here,” were his wise words to me that day about gardening down under. This post was originally published in […]

Filed Under: Australia

There’s a Rosella on my Head at Wilson’s Prom

Last Updated: December 19, 2020

there's a rosella on my head at Wilson's Prom, Australia!

First off, who the heck is Wilson, why am I at his prom, what on earth is a rosella, and why is it on my freaking head?! Never fear, it will all make sense.

Filed Under: Australia

Playing With Poppy the Wombat

Last Updated: December 13, 2020

Poppy the Wombat

After meeting Bracken our horny and insatiable kangaroo, and feeding the beautiful king parrots here at Kingbilli, we knew we were in the perfect place to become acquainted with native Australian wildlife in ways that most people – even Australians – don’t have a chance to. Such are the benefits of living on a property […]

Filed Under: Australia

She’ll Be Right Mate: Words to Live By

Last Updated: June 5, 2020

She'll be Right Mate is a classic Aussie saying. Here's what it means and how to use it! #Australia #localslang #Aussieslang #expatlife #longtermtravel #TheProfessionalHobo

Your dog just died. “She’ll be right mate,” is the sympathetic response of your Australian friend. Climate change is upon us. The whole country, and in particular the state of Victoria has endured over a decade of drought. “She’ll be right mate,” replies an Aussie as they seem to shrug off an evident problem. You […]

Filed Under: Australia

Melbourne: Four Seasons in a Day…Literally

Last Updated: December 11, 2020

When I initially came to Australia, I thought the rhetoric that Melbourne has four seasons in a day was precisely that: rhetoric. Turns out it’s not that big an exaggeration. This post was originally published in 2008. It has since been updated for accuracy of links and content. For more about my 2 years of Aussie […]

Filed Under: Australia

There’s a Redback in my Kitchen

Last Updated: November 21, 2020

When there’s a redback in your kitchen, it’s something to note. Australians and arachnophobes alike will know what I’m talking about here. This post was originally published in 2008. It has since been updated for accuracy of links and content. Despite learning the hard way the punch a centipede bite can pack, seeing snakes slither […]

Filed Under: Australia, Video Clips

The AFL Grand Final: An Australian Institution

Last Updated: December 19, 2020

There are two specific sports in Australia, the culmination of which grind many places to a total halt, in some cases warranting an all out public holiday: the Melbourne Cup (a horse race, yes a horse race), and the recently held AFL Grand Final. This post was originally published in 2008. It has since been […]

Filed Under: Australia

King Parrots: A Common Australian Sight

Last Updated: December 11, 2020

Local Australians tend to view the copious King Parrots with varying degrees of enthusiasm or converse nonchalance. Some people are quite interested to observe them when they land on a stair banister close by. Others don’t even bother to give them a second glance. This post was originally published in 2008. It has since been […]

Filed Under: Australia

Slip Slop Slap: A Way of Life in Australia

Last Updated: December 13, 2020

With a giant hole in the ozone layer above Australia, there is an entirely different approach to spending time in the great outdoors here. One in three people suffers a bout with skin cancer, and evidence of it is common; I see many a reconstructed nose, bits of ears missing, or grafted skin on various […]

Filed Under: Australia

Eek! The Australian Huntsman

Last Updated: December 11, 2020

huntsman spider on a microwave

Eek! The Australian Huntsman. This post was originally published in 2008, toward the beginning of my 18 time in Australia. It has since been updated for accuracy of links and content.  For a subsequent entertaining incident where I shared my car with an Australian Huntsman for quite some time, check out this post and this […]

Filed Under: Australia

City Life vs Country Life: An Unbiased Analysis

Last Updated: January 20, 2021

City Life vs. Country Life: An Unbiased Analysis

Can’t decide if you’re a city person or a country person? Here’s an unbiased analysis of the pros and cons of city live vs country life, after having lived extensively in both. Enjoy!

Filed Under: Australia, Life as a full-time traveler

On The Rescue: Koalas Up Trees

Last Updated: December 13, 2020

Our first koala rescue comes as a surprise. At 5:30pm, Georgie (the young and beautiful owner of Kingbilli) knocks on our door. “Any chance you guys would like to help me wrestle a koala out of a tree in Alexandra?” No sooner than the words are out of her mouth are our dinner plans put […]

Filed Under: Australia

Spring Has Sprung and the Swans are a Swimmin’

Last Updated: December 13, 2020

Spring has sprung in Victoria, Australia, and it’s a grand and beautiful thing. Enjoy these observations (and pics) of the black swans and their chicks!

Filed Under: Australia

Our (Creepy) Affectionate Kangaroo

Last Updated: November 21, 2020

Bracken, our Creepy Kangaroo in Australia

He is our watch-kangaroo. Our sentinel. And our unrequited lover. This post was originally published in 2008. It has since been updated for accuracy of links and content. I wake up bright and early, eager to get some writing done. I poke my head into the kitchen on the way to the living room, peering […]

Filed Under: Australia, Video Clips

Small Town Life in Australia

Last Updated: December 13, 2020

Small town life is a creature that lives and breathes; it is a way of life very different (and sometimes challenging) for the urban warrior. Here’s how.

Filed Under: Australia

How to Meet a Llama

Last Updated: December 11, 2020

As I mentioned in a previous article, the Llama can be quite stand-offish, and we had a heck of a time getting close to these dears for the longest time. They would eye us wearily as we sidled towards them cooing and clucking in as friendly a way as we could muster, only to look […]

Filed Under: Australia

The Animals of Kingbilli

Last Updated: December 19, 2020

Bless all the creatures at Kingbilli! From wild to rescued to rehabilitated to domestic, we are not alone. Here are a few of the animals we’ve met so far.

Filed Under: Australia

More Things That Make Australia Unique

Last Updated: December 13, 2020

Gotta love Australia. As much as we feel completely at home in this foreign land, every once in a while something happens – somebody says something odd, or we see a strange sign – to remind us that we are still oh so far away from our home country. Although we initially had a number […]

Filed Under: Australia

We’ve Died and Gone to Kingbilli

Last Updated: December 19, 2020

“We’ve died and gone to Kingbilli,” I said to Kelly, as we gazed in awe at the place we are to call home for the next six to ten months while we volunteer in trade for free accommodation. This post was originally published in 2008. It has since been updated for accuracy of links and […]

Filed Under: Australia

Our World Nomads Ambassador Trip Legacy

Last Updated: November 21, 2020

Having come through sub-tropical rainforests, learned to drive on the other side of the road, squished squeaky sand between our toes at beach towns, slept in the chilly high-altitude tablelands, fossicked for treasure in opal mining towns, driven through the great outback, and hiked through yet more national parks, before seeing the ocean again along […]

Filed Under: Australia, World Nomads Ambassador Trip

Winding Along Australia’s Great Ocean Road

Last Updated: November 21, 2020

Great Ocean Road with World Nomads campervan

As the road south from the climbing and trekking Mecca of Grampians National Park spilled out onto the ocean a few hours later, we knew our World Nomads Ambassador adventure was coming to an end. But it wasn’t a sad moment, because we plan to go out with a bang, on Great Ocean Road. This […]

Filed Under: Australia, World Nomads Ambassador Trip

Setting the Records Straight at Brambuk Cultural Centre

Last Updated: November 21, 2020

This post about Brambuk Cultural Centre was originally published in 2008. It has since been updated for accuracy of links and content. Being from Canada, we feel right at home in Oz. We’ve said it before, and we’ll say it again. Everywhere we turn, we see more and more similarities between Australia and Canada, and […]

Filed Under: Australia, World Nomads Ambassador Trip

Caravan Parks in Australia

Last Updated: November 21, 2020

Here’s what we’ve learned about Australian caravan parks while on the epic World Nomads Ambassador trip, spending six weeks in a campervan.

Filed Under: Australia, World Nomads Ambassador Trip

The Mining Horns of Broken Hill

Last Updated: November 21, 2020

A long blare of a not-too-distant horn echoed throughout Broken Hill around 6:30pm, while we were preparing dinner. Read on to see what this was.

Filed Under: Australia, World Nomads Ambassador Trip

Royal Flying Doctors to the Rescue!

Last Updated: November 21, 2020

While a title like Royal Flying Doctors might evoke images of yet another hospital trip for Kelly (as happened in Thailand and Hawaii), this story has a much happier ending. This post was originally published in 2008. It has since been updated for accuracy of links and content. No, instead, this is about an incredible tour […]

Filed Under: Australia, World Nomads Ambassador Trip

Outback Adventures

Last Updated: November 21, 2020

When people told us about the colours of the outback – the stark contrast between the red of the dirt with the blue of the sky, and the silvery green of the eucalyptus trees that dot the landscape – we were somewhat blasé about it. We knew it would be beautiful, but really. And when […]

Filed Under: Australia, World Nomads Ambassador Trip

Lightning Ridge: Catching Opal Fever

Last Updated: November 16, 2020

“When I close my eyes, I see opals,” said Kelly, shaking his head.It seems he has a touch of opal fever. This post was originally published in 2008. It has since been updated for accuracy of links and content. Lightning Ridge and the surrounding areas are famous for its abundance of opals, and in particular […]

Filed Under: Australia, World Nomads Ambassador Trip

Lightning Ridge: The Black Queen Experience

Last Updated: November 21, 2020

“Outback theatre with a twist,” says the flyer for Black Queen, with a picture of an oil lamp and a woman with a mysterious look. I didn’t really anticipate that this opal mining town would exactly have a bustling theatre community, but there it is. This post was originally published in 2008. It has since […]

Filed Under: Australia, World Nomads Ambassador Trip

Lightning Ridge: The People, and The Appeal

Last Updated: November 21, 2020

When we rolled into Lightning Ridge, after a series of unfortunate and displeasing coincidences, we were ready to roll right back out the following day. I was crushed. Luckily things changed, very quickly. This post was originally published in 2008. It has since been updated for accuracy of links and content. Ever since reading about […]

Filed Under: Australia, World Nomads Ambassador Trip

Lightning Ridge: Past and Present

Last Updated: November 21, 2020

Upon first blush in Lightning Ridge, you may find an opal-mining town with very little to keep you here for more than a day or so. It reeks of an environment trying a touch too hard to be attractive to tourists. The one and only road to leading into and out of town is lined […]

Filed Under: Australia, World Nomads Ambassador Trip

Kangaroo Spotting in Warrumbungle National Park

Last Updated: November 16, 2020

Warrumbungle National Park kangaroo spotting

“I’m sure I’ll eventually get tired of seeing all these kangaroos, but for now I just can’t get enough of them,” I said, as I apologetically snapped off a few more pictures at one of my many kangaroo photo sessions. It seems that we’ve happened upon a mecca for wildlife here in Warrumbungle National Park. […]

Filed Under: Australia, World Nomads Ambassador Trip

Bloody Cold: It Really Is That C-c-cold

Last Updated: November 13, 2020

This post was originally published in 2008. It has since been updated for accuracy of links and content. Uralla – a very small town in the New England Tablelands (read: high altitude lands) was a painful shot to our tropical arms whilst traveling around Australia in a campervan for 6 weeks. If we thought we […]

Filed Under: Australia, World Nomads Ambassador Trip

Fishing (and Whale Watching) at Ballina and Beyond

Last Updated: November 16, 2020

This post about deep sea fishing with Ballina and Beyond was originally published in 2008. It has since been updated for accuracy of links and content. Byron Bay is lovely. It is a surf town full of surf shops, surf food places, surf cafes, and more surf-y stuff. Everything is horribly over-priced, but that’s what […]

Filed Under: Australia, World Nomads Ambassador Trip

Vision Walks: Night Walking With the Pro

Last Updated: November 21, 2020

This post about Vision Walks was originally published in 2008. It has since been updated for accuracy of links and content. “I hope you don’t mind having a corpse in the back of the van,” Wendy said in her ever-cheerful demeanour. She was loading the body of a pademelon (a small kangaroo from the looks […]

Filed Under: Australia, World Nomads Ambassador Trip

Caravan Culture in Australia

Last Updated: November 13, 2020

Caravans (meaning trailers in Australian) and caravan parks are everywhere in Oz. Caravan culture is a whole thing, and something entirely new to my Canadian sensibilities. Trailer Parks. Tornado Bait. Trailer Trash. Drunks on welfare raising families of six kids born from three different fathers (or mothers). Lots of stained white tank tops with beer […]

Filed Under: Australia, World Nomads Ambassador Trip

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I'm Nora Dunn. I traveled the world full-time for 12 years, and I still travel for half the year (pandemics notwithstanding).
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