Photos, video, and maps of my study abroad experience in Australia, spring 2012.
First stop: Sydney
My hotel room was a room with a view! Our orientation began in Sydney so we weren't in our semi-permanent housing just yet.
The iconic Sydney Opera House was lit up every night and could be seen throughout the harbor.
One of the most famous beaches in Australia is Bondi Beach, where they film the tv show "Bondi Rescue" every week.
Meat pies (Above) and kangaroo steaks (Below) are staples among native Aussies, and they're tasty too.
Kangaroos (above) could be seen all over the place hopping and lounging about. Koalas, on the other hand, were rarely visible unless you were in a wildlife park like this Featherdale Wildlife Rescue (below).
Next stop: Fremantle, Western Australia.
This would come to be my home. Where I studied, lived, and, of course, swam.
Fremantle was full of historic buildings including the old train station which now houses the weekly produce market (below).
The P&O Building (above) and Port Lodge (below) were both dorm buildings for the University of Notre Dame Australia, where I would be studying for the next four months. Port Lodge became my home away from home.
Perth, Western Australia
Only a 40-minute train ride away, it quickly became one of my favorite places to explore.
From King's Park, the biggest park in Australia, you could see a beautiful skyline of the city of Perth.
Back in Fremantle, Bathers Beach was only a half block from my dorm. Needless today, I would be spending a lot of time at this beach.
One of the courtyards on campus also became a frequent hangout.
During several festivals, restaurants in Perth and Fremantle would advertise their viewing decks by signs like these.
South Beach in Fremantle was a frequent hangout for the local dolphins. They would let us swim with them and sometimes even touch them.
We got active with the locals by playing cricket (Above) and running in an annual marathon (below).
A tendency toward extreme sports, we enjoyed cliff-diving into Swan River.
Rottnest Island
A common tourist destination, this island was full of beauty and quokkas.
Lighthouses (above), boats and beaches (below) were plenty on Rottnest Island.
The water around the Island was so clear, you could see straight to the bottom.
Boats flocked from everywhere to come to Rottnest.
Our cabins on the island were quaint and cozy. Wood on the outside (above) with bunk beds (below) and a small kitchenette (bottom).
Quokkas (Above) were everywhere on Rottnest Island. Stores had even built little doors (below) because they were having a problem with the little rascals getting in.
The Perth skyline could be seen all the way from Rottnest and was beautiful during sunrise.
A friend of mine scored free tickets to a Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons concert where we enjoyed some old classics and got to meet Frankie and the band backstage.
The lead guitarist was a friend of my friend's!
On a bus tour, I visited Yanchep National Park where we were able to walk through some caves (above) and the 80-foot tall Diamond Tree that I climbed (below).
The Fremantle Street Arts Festival is an annual occasion that brings street performers from around the globe.
Aussie Rules Football (above) quickly became one of my favorite sports.
William Bay in Southern Australia was my favorite beach. It was beautiful, even in cloudy weather.
I rented a catamaran one afternoon and sailed down the Swan River (above) where I got a great view of the Perth skyline (below).
For one of my classes, Maritime Archaeology, we got to embark on an adventure to an actual archaeological site.
We found several bullets, buttons, and nails at the Mears' settlement, one of the first settlements in Western Australia.
I saw some of the most beautiful sunrises in Australia. This photo is taken at King's Park.
On the last night, we hit a country bar where live music played.
If you want to read about my adventures, visit my blog Wonders Down Under.
