Leon Lohrer
Autumn 2024 Study Abroad student from HWZ University of Applied Sciences
Zurich, Switzerland
During the study vacation (StuVac), I went on a road trip by car from Sydney to Brisbane with five other Swiss exchange students. I will now tell you a little about our experiences and perhaps inspire you to do the same:
Day 1: Our first stage took us along the coast to Newcastle (locally nicknamed Newy). On the way there, we visited the famous Palm Beach (not to be confused with the town in Florida). Although it is best experienced in the evening, we still really enjoyed it. Once we arrived at our destination for the day, we treated ourselves to culinary delights at a small local festival in the evening and rounded off the day with a glass of wine and live music at "Good Brother".
Day 2: The second day started with a stop in Port Macquarie at the Koala Conservation Hospital. Here, injured/sick koalas are nursed back to health. Although the little ones don't do much (they sleep 20 hours a day), a visit is definitely worthwhile. The highlight, however, was Hat Head National Park, where you have a breathtaking view of the coastal landscape and where it is teeming with kangaroos. We then spent the evening in Coffs Harbour, more precisely at "The Hoey Moey". This restaurant was recommended to us by our motel owner and had a lot to offer. Not only did it feel like half the town was there, but there was also good food and a live show.
Day 3: On the third day, we travelled to Byron Bay without a stopover. This lively coastal town is truly unique; you feel at peace as soon as you arrive. The best way to describe it is as a small but cosy surfer town. If you love Mexican food, you should definitely stop by "Chihuahua Taqueria". We spent the sunset with many other tourists at the Cape Byron lighthouse. You should definitely get there early to get a good view.
Day 4: On day 4, our destination was the Gold Coast. After a hearty brunch at the "Hot Shott", we headed straight to the beach to go surfing. It is not without reason that the place is called "Surfers Paradise". The kilometre-long white sandy beach with the skyscrapers behind it reminds you of Miami and makes you want to stay. We enjoyed the evening in one of the most popular Italian restaurants called "Alfresco".
Day 5: The second last day took us past Brisbane with a stopover at our hotel near Marcoola Beach to Noosa Heads. This small town has a similar vibe to Byron Bay and is home to the first Betty's Burger. In the national park there, you can watch the numerous surfers on an idyllic coastal walk through idyllic natural surroundings. All ice cream lovers should definitely go to Massimo's Gelateria.
Day 6: After much consideration, our group decided to spend the sixth day on the beach and enjoy the last warm hours instead of exploring Brisbane. Our trip ended with a flight from Brisbane back to Sydney after travelling around 1300km. We were not only able to collect valuable and beautiful memories, but also get to know the different facets of Australia.
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