<p style="text-align: center;">We caught up with our girl Rachel (<a href="http://instagram.com/life.with.three" target="_blank" title="@life.with.three instagram" rel="noopener noreferrer">@life.with.three</a>) and she shared some of her top tips for travelling on the East Coast of Australia.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><strong>Tell us a little about yourself </strong></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><strong><img src="//cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/1175/6730/files/Snapseed_1_large.jpg?v=1482317616" alt="Great ocean road australia travel guide" /></strong></p>
<p style="text-align: center;">I’m Rachel and I am 28 Years old. I am based in Adelaide but my partner and I try to travel at least twice a month. My love for travel was epitomised by my partner and I walking away from our jobs at the start of 2016, packing our bags and embarking on a six-month caravan trip up the east coast of Australia. Our love of both travel and photography had us quickly absorbed into the world of Instagram. I believe each destination holds a new story and this is something I always try to capture within my photos.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">One of my favourite things to do is spend time with my partner and my Chihuahua Poppie. If there is anything that I am obsessing over, it’s her haha!</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><strong>What areas of Australia have you travelled to most? </strong></p>
<p style="text-align: center;">As a child every holiday was spent travelling Australia so I have actually been to most places, even most of the outback! Most recently, I have explored the beautiful East Coast.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><strong>Where is your favourite place in Australia that you’ve been to?</strong></p>
<p style="text-align: center;">As soon as my partner and I drove into Byron Bay I knew it was somewhere special to me. It just has this aura about it that makes you feel whole and happy and healthy. We only visited Byron again a few weeks ago and I just miss it so much. If someone were to offer me the opportunity to move there it would be an instant yes!</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><img src="//cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/1175/6730/files/IMG_1687_large.JPG?v=1482316804" alt="Byron Bay - Australia travel guide" /></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><strong>Where are the best beaches?</strong></p>
<p style="text-align: center;">I am a little bias as I live in South Australia and we have some incredible beaches but I don’t think anything compares to the eastern beaches in Australia as here the greenery, cliffs and hills come right to the waters edge, making them so spectacular.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">Sunny Queensland is home to some amazing beaches including Whitehaven Beach in the Whitsundays, which if you haven’t been you must put it on your bucket list. This location is a dream. The water is the clearest you could imagine and the brightest aqua blue. The sand is white and because it is silica sand even on the hottest days it is cool to the touch.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><img src="//cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/1175/6730/files/IMG_5712_large.JPG?v=1482317418" alt="Whitsundays Australia travel guide" /></p>
<p style="text-align: center;">Hyams beach in New South Wales boasts the whitest sand in the world and is such a magical little spot tucked away from the business of life.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">Byron Bay wouldn’t be one of my favourite places without having gorgeous beaches either.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><img src="//cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/1175/6730/files/IMG_1757_large.JPG?v=1482317553" alt="Byron Bay Australia travel guide" /></p>
<p style="text-align: center;">Wategos is really something special and here you’ll see dolphins swimming amongst the surfers. Just around the corner is Little Wategos and this is such a beautiful little spot to spend the day lounging around if you want someplace a little quieter.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><strong>Where are the best views?</strong></p>
<p style="text-align: center;">This is just so hard to choose, as there are so many stunning places. I think I will have to say the Great Ocean Road and the Whitsundays. The Great Ocean Road is so rugged and raw and the cliffs turn the most incredible colours at sunset. The Whitsundays are really something special where I think you’ll see some of the bluest waters you’ll ever lay your eyes on.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><strong>Where are your top 5 favourite places to eat and drink?</strong></p>
<ol>
<li>
<p style="text-align: left;">Road House Byron Bay – Amazing for breakfast.</p>
</li>
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<p>Woods Bangalow – The most delicious breakfast bowls.</p>
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<li style="text-align: left;">
<p>Milk Bottle Lorne – The best burgers, even vegan J.</p>
</li>
<li style="text-align: left;">
<p>The Grounds Sydney – Magical! <img src="//cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/1175/6730/files/IMG_6712_large.JPG?v=1482317780" alt="The Grounds Sydney Australia travel guide" /></p>
</li>
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<p style="text-align: left;">The Little Larder Port Douglas – Brilliant lunch food and so fresh! </p>
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</ol>
<p style="text-align: center;"><strong>What are your top 5 activities to do whilst in Australia and where can we do them?</strong> </p>
<ol>
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<p style="text-align: left;">Taking the Sea Plane and landing on Whitehaven Beach – Whitsundays, Qld<img src="//cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/1175/6730/files/IMG_5369_large.JPG?v=1482317044" alt="Whitsundays sea plane - australia travel guide" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" /></p>
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<p style="text-align: left;">Hot air Ballooning for sunrise – Mareeba, Qld</p>
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<p>Sunset Cruise – Port Douglas, Qld</p>
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<p>Bondi to Coogee Walk – Sydney, NSW</p>
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<p style="text-align: left;">Climbing Mt Cooroora – Noosa, Qld</p>
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</ol>
<p style="text-align: center;"><img src="//cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/1175/6730/files/IMG_9893_large.JPG?v=1482317141" alt="Noosa Australia travel guide" /></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><strong>Packing tips?</strong></p>
<p style="text-align: center;">Pack light; you will never use everything you bring! I suggest bringing a comfortable backpack that holds everything you need for day trips without being too heavy. Portable chargers are life savers and we wouldn’t have gotten by without ours. Of course sunscreen and a hat.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><strong>5 Tips for others travelling around Australia? </strong> </p>
<ol>
<li>
<p>Plan your trip. Instagram is one of the best places to look for inspiration and you will find places here you never knew existed!</p>
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<p>If you’re going for an extended holiday or travelling over a few months, make a budget. This way you will be able to fit in all the things you wanted to do, even at the end of your trip.</p>
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<p>Take your time. Sometimes the best places are hidden away down that untravelled road. This is where we found some of the best beaches and rainforest hideaways.</p>
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<p>Be in the moment. Experience travel for what it is and take in all that is around you.</p>
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<p>Have fun! There is so much to see and do, no matter where you go.</p>
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</ol>
<p style="text-align: center;"><img src="//cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/1175/6730/files/Snapseed_2_large.jpg?v=1482318040" alt="@life.with.three" /> </p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><strong>Where is next on your travel bucket list?</strong></p>
<p style="text-align: center;">On Christmas Eve we are heading off to London and Paris for the first time together, where we will spend the festive season. Although it will be cold, I’m really excited to explore the city in its winter time glory. We have planned to see lights, fireworks and of course taste delicious foods!</p>
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<p class="p3" style="text-align: center;"><span class="s1">To see more stunning travel inspo check out <a href="http://instagram.com/life.with.three" target="_blank" title="life with three instagram" rel="noopener noreferrer">@life.with.three</a> on Instagram!</span></p>
<p class="p3" style="text-align: center;"><span class="s1">If you enjoyed this, check out our other blog <a href="https://www.eteswimwear.com/blogs/blog/western-australia-travel-guide" target="_blank" title="Western Australia travel guide" rel="noopener noreferrer">Western Australia Travel Guide</a></span></p>
December 24, 2016 — Jessica Williamson