Central Coast

So my week on the Central Coast is coming to an end as it is my last full day here. The week flew by, being occupied by a whole host of different activities and adventures. The first day I went with Jess and her mom to visit her aunt at Anna Bay and the nearby Nelson Bay. We ate lunch on the water, saw dolphins on a dolphin watch cruise, and took some beautiful pictures. We watched the sunset over Newcastle and it was breath-taking. Bright orange, red and yellow painted the sky like watercolors, blending together at times yet boldly distinct and separate at other times.

One of the highlights of the week was watching a pro rugby league game. Footy is a popular sport, comparable to soccer in Europe. The teams were the South Sydney Rabbitohs versus the Newcastle Knights. Fans sported their team’s jerseys and waved huge flags and banners in their team colors. While I still do not fully understand all the minute details and rules of the game, I understood the general happenings and I had an absolute blast.

I spent a few afternoons at the beach swimming and sunbathing. It is the most relaxing activity and I love it. The warm sun beating down as the waves crash, the light ocean breeze and the taste of salt, it is paradise. Fishing is popular here; most people just fish off boats or off the beach. Seagulls and pelicans also frequent the beach which adds to the atmosphere.

The other major highlight was doing a Treetop adventure high ropes course in the Ourimbah State Forest. You start on the lowest level, the easiest, and progress on to harder parts of the course as you feel comfortable doing. There were zip lines, rope swings, cargo nets and other obstacles to cross. I’m not afraid of heights so it was a blast but definitely a bit of a work out. It requires pretty good flexibility and upper body strength but I survived the course and had a blast. This holiday has been such an adventure and been a wonderful time with friends.

I am now transitioning from the city to the country, which I cannot wait to experience. As a country gal at heart, I am eager to experience Australian country life. I’m not sure if it is considered ‘the outback’ but it is a small town called Coolah and I’ve been told it is very small. The internet and phone reception is said to be scarce at best so I will be posting, most likely upon my return to college.