My First Year in Australia
My first year in Australia began with a random Facebook post and turned into a journey along the east coast. This enormous country, which once seemed like just a distant spot on the map, suddenly became the place where I navigated foreign bureaucracy and a new legal system.
During this year, I traveled north from Melbourne through Sydney, Brisbane, Gold Coast, and Cairns, until I reached Townsville. I saw incredible places and felt how each day taught me something I hadn't known before.
This year was full of ups and downs, surprises, and most importantly – experiences and encounters that still accompany me today.
Read the collection of stories that capture my experience across Australia:
Explore the stories from the cities that left the biggest impact on me:
Melbourne
Melbourne is much more than just a stopover on my journey – it became my base, my center, my home. For two years, this city with its wide streets and impressive towers was the place from which I explored Australia, but mostly myself. After four months of searching (yes, really) and attempts, I finally found an apartment that felt like home.
I arrived as a barista and found a coffee paradise. Along the way, I also found love I wasn't even looking for, and a community of people who quickly became close friends.
Everyone asks what Melbourne's secret is – maybe it's the crazy "four seasons in a day" weather, maybe the amazing cultural events, perhaps the human diversity, the trams, or simply the "no worries" atmosphere. But I know that Melbourne gave me the most precious gift of all – the permission to be exactly who I am, at my own pace, in my own way.
Sydney
Sydney is exactly the place I had imagined when thinking about Australia all my life - with the iconic Opera House and the stunning harbor, probably the most beautiful city I've ever seen.
The days I spent there were incredibly diverse. From the walking tour that told the story of Sydney's beginnings as a city of criminals and rum, to an amazing 11-course Disney-inspired meal. I explored hipster Newtown and magical Manly.
Sydney was just the first stop on my journey along the east coast, but I already knew I would return. And indeed, in my second year in Australia, I came back with my mom to experience it anew through completely different eyes.
To this day, when I think of Sydney, I feel that special heartbeat – a sense of perfect urban beauty blending with vibrant human energy.
Brisbane
Brisbane was a pleasant surprise on my journey – a beautiful, well-maintained city along the banks of a winding river, with a relaxed atmosphere that allowed me to slow down. Here, far from bustling Melbourne, I discovered new sides of myself – the ability to enjoy a quieter evening, a non-alcoholic cocktail, and simple pleasures.
In Brisbane, I climbed a bridge (Story Bridge) for the first time, an experience I didn't know would become a beloved hobby later in my journey. I lived in an apartment with adorable kittens and hosts who reminded me how small the world ultimately is.
In this city, I learned that sometimes the quieter places are precisely those that give us space to breathe and look inward.
Gold Coast
Gold Coast was the stop where I released all the limitations I had set for myself, and I was glad I did. Surrounded by magnificent towers and endless beaches, I found myself saying "yes" to every challenge that came my way.
I climbed to the 77th floor of the SkyPoint tower, leaned backward over the dizzying height, and let go of my hands, despite my shaking legs and racing heart. I walked through a dark and deceptive maze at Infinity, wandered among comic book characters at Warner Bros, and helped Batman catch the Joker (yes, really). I threw axes for an hour and a half until I couldn't feel my arms.
This place, with its resort energy and perpetual carnival atmosphere, invited me to rediscover the childlike and mischievous part of myself.
Gold Coast taught me that sometimes the thing we fear most is exactly what we need to do.
Cairns
Cairns was a turning point in my Australian journey – a place where I learned to listen to my gut feeling. I didn't expect to find an atmosphere so similar to Thailand at the opposite end of the continent.
Although I didn't connect with the city itself, the surrounding nature was amazing – I dove in the Great Barrier Reef and saw the real Nemo peeking out from the corals, just like in the movie.
The people I met were also surprising – I talked for five straight hours with a Romanian guy about life, and heard a lecture about heaven and hell from a Christian app developer.
The moments when I felt unsafe in the city taught me to trust my instincts.
In the end, the decision to leave and move to Townsville felt like a step toward maturity – recognizing that sometimes the right place isn't the one I planned, but the one to which the journey leads me.
Townsville
I arrived in Townsville by chance, after feeling unsafe in Cairns, and found a place that became the stage for four intense months of my life.
I quickly found myself working four jobs simultaneously (oopsie...) – barista in the mornings, waitress in the afternoons, bartender in the evenings. I ran between shifts, met people from all over the world, and in the midst of all this chaos – the universe decided to plot its scheme.
Without looking, I met someone who changed all my plans.
Townsville taught me that sometimes things happen exactly when our soul is ready for them, and that true courage is knowing when to stay and when to go.
After four months, I left Townsville – with a flight ticket to Israel in one hand, and a big question mark about the future in the other.
Byron Bay
Byron Bay was an unplanned stop on my journey. The truth is that I debated a lot whether to include this place in my blog at all.
I had excitedly booked flights and accommodation because an Israeli stand-up comedian was supposed to perform there, but then October 7th happened, and all plans changed. The show was canceled, but I had already paid for everything in advance, so I went anyway.
I found myself on a grief vacation. I wandered the streets, sat on the beach and cried, and discovered that sometimes you need to walk without direction to find your way.
I choose to share this experience despite usually avoiding political topics in my blog, because I believe in transparency and honesty. The full stories here won't be as easy to read, but they are a genuine part of my journey in Australia.
When I look at my first year in Australia, I see a journey of accelerated growth. In this year, I lived in five different cities, worked in too many jobs, and changed apartments like socks. I learned to trust myself, build relationships from scratch, and understand what truly works for me.
When I arrived in Townsville at the end of that year, I felt I had already come a long way from that confused girl who landed with an oversized suitcase in Melbourne.
The fears I had at the beginning were replaced with quiet confidence. And although the path developed differently than I expected, it led me to places and experiences I wouldn't want to miss.
Your support helps me to continue experiencing new worlds and sharing them with you through my words. Sometimes, a single cup of coffee can make a difference.
Thank you for being part of this journey.
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Great to read your story about Australia. I can totally related to it. When I was young, I moved to Germany. I was in Berlin the first year and I moved like 5 times within the year. I admit that it can be stressful moving to a new country. But I also learn and grow so much during this process. Like you, I became more confident. I solved problem all by myself and the sense of achievement was really rewarding. Looking forward to more of your stories!