Wildlife #1

Today my family and I drove up to the Yarra Valley to see the vineyards. We went up to some forested hills which were blanketed in cloud. It was like I was still in New Zealand. The temperature dropped from around 13C in the city to 8C in the hills.

I saw my first kangaroo and wombat on the way to the valley. Unfortunately they were both roadkill. Great start, guys.

And then we drove to a nearby park area and saw live kangaroos! Some were still very young and were hopping around like mad. They were cuter than I was expecting, because I hadn't seen one close up before. 

So now I just need to see koalas, wallabies, wombats (preferably alive) and the tiny Phillip Island penguins, and then I've ticked off my must-see wildlife for Australia. I'm okay with just seeing the safe animals it has to offer. 

I haven't even been to the centre of Melbourne yet. I've been busy sorting out bank accounts and an Australian phone number etc. And jobhunting ferociously. But I'll take a trip in in the next couple of days. I need to see what all the fuss is about! 

Bureaucraversary

Four months ago today I left the UK, and today I spent my first full day here in Australia. A double milestone.

Last night my uncle picked me up from Melbourne International, and took me straight to meet my aunt and cousin at a wine bar, followed by fish and chips. I was a very happy boy. They live in a beautiful beachfront house in a suburb of the city and they are extremely kind and are letting me live with them. I'm here to find work and get some funds back together before I continue exploring Australia and head up to Asia. I have enough money left to do one or the other, but not both. 

So today was a day of bureaucracy and sorting. I applied for a TFN (tax file number) and opened Australian bank accounts. Tomorrow I'm going to join Medicare. Then I can get down to some proper jobhunting. And maybe some exploration of Melbourne too. And according to Monocle's Most Liveable Cities Index, Melbourne stands at number three, after Copenhagen and Tokyo. So after living here for a while, I'll have hit two out of three! Watch out, Denmark. 

Over the Pond

Tomorrow I leave Auckland for Melbourne, and have to sort my life out and find a job for a few months. I'm going to miss the freedom of travelling, but it'll be nice to be in one place for a while, and I'll be staying with family there. 

But I am going to miss New Zealand a lot. Its snowy mountains, misty forest-covered hills, sparkling clear lakes, spectacular glaciers, golden beaches, vivid colours, volcanic rock formations straight out of Lord of the Rings, the charming Maori accent, activities galore, parties and relaxed atmosphere. 

People say you're either a New Zealand or Australia person, and I've loved NZ. Come on Australia, top this and I'll love you forever.