As an Australian I’m so happy you had a wonderful time in our great country!! There is so much to see and enjoy and mostly the people are friendly and helpful. I hope you have plenty of good memories in your stay down under 😊👯♂️
Im so glad to hear that! You got this!! It’s scary in the beginning but you’ll quickly learn how friendly people are and how easy it is to make friends :)
@Marketing Mad Never be apprehensive to ask someone in Australia something or for help. Information /Visitor centres are great for just getting general information (even if not doing any visiting or touring stuff) as are staffed by volunteers who are very knowledge & more than than happy to help. Also great with helping find overnight or longer accommodation when want or need something different to backpackers. What country are you coming from and what city are you landing in first? I put a comment further up re how to find some social activity groups, not just Melbourne, it's an international website/platform so there's social & activity groups around the world on it. That Space backpackers on Russell St is a very good one btw. Don't stay in any central one on Flinders St. Couple are good, towards west end of Flinders St such as YHA, but some central Flinders St are awful.
What a great Video. Thanks for sharing. Im from Geelong and I really enjoyed watching my home area through new eyes! Good luck on your journey and I look forward to seeing more!
welcome to Melbourne ! hope you enjoy and appreciate what our city and state has to offer . ohhh get to the footy (a football game ) at the MCG , season starts this weekend , its something you will never forget
Welcome to Melbourne and Australia 😊 Aussies are pretty easy-going - so park your worries about scheduling etc, relax, and enjoy your time exploring our amazing country ❤ Why did you guys eat Vegemite without butter or margarine, lol? If you're game enough to try it again, toast the bread till it's golden, spread lots of butter/margarine, and a SMALL amount of Vegemite. It's much nicer that way.
Welcome to Melbourne Maddie… it’s a great city with lots to explore and experience. I did a similar thing when I was about your age and moved to work in Germany. Away from my family, that experience shaped my life for the better - that was 25 years ago. Enjoy you time here.
Good on you Maddie. I travelled solo across the United States in the mid 2000's and I was terrified at first too but I found that when I started talking to strangers, it made things so much easier. People were so nice and helpful and I relaxed a lot more and enjoyed myself. Even when I got stranded in the middle of Texas overnight with three random strangers (because the greyhound bus we were meant to catch had overbooked), it turned out to be enjoyable as we played cards, shared snacks and got to know each other while we waited for the next bus to come along. One guy played basketball with the Texas Longhorns and was on his way home to see his family. He told us that he had declared for the NBA draft and was hopeful of being selected. Unfortunately I don't remember his name but I often wonder what became of him. Solo travel offers experiences like none other, and it's a personal growth journey as well 🙂. I wish you wonderful adventures and interesting companions.
Welcome to the creative and coffee capital of Australia. I travelled as a backpacker and moved to London to live. Like you a huge move. If you ever need a hand with anything whilst you are in Melb please just reach out. Enjoy and safe travels 🙏🏻
Great time to arrive. Moomba Festival just started. Formula One Grand Prix is soon. Some day trips I always recommend are the hot springs at Mornington Peninsula and to visit Wilson’s Promontory. A nice day activity when you want to do a walk is the to scale solar system. The Alexander McQueen fashion exhibition is still on. Brunswick St in Fitzroy is a great day. Check out suburbs like Carlton, Richmond and Fitzroy. Perhaps take a boat to Williamstown. If you’re ever over Ascot Vale way and need a local Aussie grandma to buy you a coffee, tell you you’re doing amazingly well, and give you a hug, shout out 😊
Welcome Maddie😄🤚……enjoy stay safe and ask all the time and travel….don’t get overwhelmed and don’t isolate……nice people are everywhere here and have fun 🥳👍🏾
Mate! Great to have you here, and hope you really enjoy your time in Australia. Most Aussies are not gonna growl at ya if you ask for help… just reach out and say gidday …
Welcome to Oz Maddie. I look forward to watching your journey through yours eyes and words and taking this adventure with you. If I can give you some advice it would be “If in doubt yell out”. If you’re unsure of anything at all, ask. Ask for help, ask for directions, ask for advice just ask. We won’t bite you, we are a pretty friendly people and want you to go home with nothing but great memories and some new Aussie friends.
Having experienced a YOLO trip of New Zealand, it's definitely nice having a structured trip. My wife and I lived in Philadelphia for 5 years and returned home to Australia at the end of 2021. At the beginning, we were lucky that our apartment complex was mainly people from work, and we had each other's company. I'm not sure how I would've coped without my wife, but internet connectivity has made the world a lot smaller. I'm hopeful you continue to enjoy your experiences of Australia.
Be proud of yourself. I thought I was brave moving three hours away from my country home to Adelade. But you my dear are next level awesome. Welcome to the land down under. ❤
I’m 60 now but when I was 19 I went to Europe specifically France and remember the culture shock. I grew up in Australia with a background of bird calls, magpies, cockatoos etc and in France it was deadly quiet. Just that small thing freaked me out so I understand your trepidation.
travelling alone is like Love... it's scary as hell and nerve wracking but also exciting and exhilarating all at the same time. what you won't see till much later is that this adventure will forever change you as a person. You will be more wise to the planet we live on, wise to other cultures, wise to dealing with conflict and so much more. It's going to be one helluva rollercoaster ride filled with up's and downs.......... think wisely, grab it by the Balls and enjoy the ride Mads you will never ever forget this journey.............. I never did! 😁😍
1. Don’t move to any country without making sure you can use your debit cards! 2. Vegemite is extremely salty, you scrape like one eighth of a teaspoon on a piece of bread and drink a glass of milk when eating. It’s like mustard in strength. 3. Well done for trying something outside your comfort zone!
Glad you made friends here...yes all you need do is ask for assistance and we will help. Two weeks down the track, I guess lots would've happened in your journey, so I'll try and catch up with your vlogs. Cheers 🤗👍🥳
Great video of your living abroad journey, inspiring ~ so great to move abroad! Excited for you and all the feelings of becoming a world citizen...reminds me of my feelings when I moved to Madrid by myself...looking forward to your next post...(a friend of your mom)
Well done! So brave ….Aussies love to help….So don’t be shy to ask …especially in Country towns….Stay safe and have the best adventures….There are always down days when you travel…that is just part of it…but it seems like you are on the right track ….Good on you
Welcome to Oz! I’m originally from Canada, but I’ve been in Perth (WA) for about 15 years. If you ever happen to travel over to the west coast, would be happy to give you some advice and ideas. Enjoy the adventure! Edit: I still get that excited to see kangaroos after all this time :)
Thankyou for sharing your first week and your concerns and happy moments. Welcome to Oz. It is understandable that being alone you would feel very homesick as Australia is really not America when you get out of the cities, but there are so many variable things to see on this great land, you won't be bored, I assure you. As for the vegemite, that woman who ran that tour was mean to you all - you don't put it on dry bread and I saw that was what was happening there. You have to put it on with margarine or butter and only a very small amount spread on. It is very salty. It is actually very nice also with mashed potatoes and carrots - I used to have it on all the time as a kid. Anyway, I agree with you about the coffee. We pride ourselves on our coffee down here. Have a lovely and safe trip. I travelled the world too - but not until I was 28 and I am guessing you are lot younger. I admire your spunk!
@@kayelle8005 Yes, considering she is in the travel business working with overseas travellers, you'd think she would have enough intelligence as to how to present the food item to unsuspecting first time tasters. You never do it the way she did it.
Thank you so much for such a sweet and reassuring comment. It really means a lot. So far I’ve been loving my trip and can’t wait to see more of australia :)
@@MaddieRyles My pleasure and it is nice to know that you are having a good time here. When I was overseas in 1988 having my long service leave I was in Dublin writing back to my parents and I had a mental blank on what Adelaide was like. It's amazing how as time goes on our perceptions change. I simply couldn't picture it because my mind was full of new and exciting things that I was seeing around Britain. LOL.
G'day Maddie! Belated welcome to the land down under aka Australia! How is life as an Australian been treating you? If you visit Sydney be sure to visit the Sydney Opera House as well as Darling Harbour (with a visit to the Chinese Garden of Friendship), Taronga Zoo & The Art Gallery of NSW (if you like art). More importantly get to know the locals.
Its funny you're doing this here. Im planning a solo trip to the USA.... just go over there and explore. Happy to hear your thoughts and advice for travelling around the USA, Im sure ill face the same struggles you are here in Melbourne!
Hi Maddie you've done the hard part already, keep it up you're doing great. I also see you made it to my local beach in Mt.Martha (6mins 20secs into the video).
Welcome to the land down under where you will make a life time of lasting memories . Yes, it can be daunting ( especially travelling by yourself) but in sure you will do just fine. You will find the majority of people here are more than willing to help you with any problems that you may encounter, do not be afraid to ask . As we say here “ no worries “.
Just saw your vid I live in melb very ballsy to commit on your own. I got home yesterday from a 13 day trip to south WA drove across & back. You'll love it
I am Australian I live in Canberra, Canberra is a few hours travel to Melbourne, us aussies are so friendly and will not mind helping you with directions or just giving you some support
I admire your courage and sense of adventure! Welcome to Oz. When traveling up the east coast you will probably not go to Newcastle (100 miles north of Sydney). It never makes the list of must do places to visit for some reason. But if by chance you do find yourself there, you won’t be disappointed. Beautiful city, spectacular beaches and coastline and friendly relaxed city where you’ll find it easy to meet people and make friends.
I remember when I moved to Japan. I had a job waiting for me there but I did not know Japanese, I knew nothing about the food also. But quickly found food I liked and friends. I was excited about living there and exploring it
Great vid. I live here, and have not had that much fun. Lucky/Unlucky to hit 40C day here. That must have been the only one this whole summer. I also noticed you went from Melboooorn to Melben in your first week. Well done.
Welcome 😎 you'll be right. Were a friendly bunch and are always willing to help you. You just got to ask and don't be afraid. It's a great place to live. ❤️
I hope you enjoy your stay and haven't packed too much into your schedule. Save some time to put your feet up and soak up the culture. I am 50 and still haven't seen all that i want to of Australia. I have been to all of the state corners an yet to see any of WA nor the top end of QLD.
Don't miss out on Adelaide, it is the most user friendly state capital (I have been to all of them, so I can compare. There is a little bias though, as I grew up in Adelaide.). It has more attractions within an hour of the city centre than any of the other state capitals and it is the only one with hills close by. The Adelaide Hills are 15 minutes by car, 30 minutes by bus or train and they are a beautiful place to visit (quaint towns, wildlife parks, wineries, an array of food producers)Public transport is as good as Melbourne and better than Sydney. Adelaide has easier access to more beaches than the other cities. South Australia also has the finest wine and sea food in Australia and the costs of almost everything (food, accommodation, transport, entertainment) are much cheaper than the eastern states. It also has the airport closer to the city than the others (15 minutes drive).
Maddie welcome to Oz ! You have to get a local get you to try a Tim Tam slammer with hot chocolate! Way better than Vegemite :) Enjoy the rest of your stay
Being young, adventurous, articulate, out-going, bubbly and very good looking you are going to find Australia really welcomes you and a bevy of opportunities await! Melbourne really does have the world's best coffee and great culture and interesting things to see and do - whilst Sydney is not far behind in places, but we have amazingly better beaches - amongst the best in the world. Hope you really enjoy your trip and we put on an amazing time for you Maddie!
@@MaddieRyles totally agree - my favourites growning up where Freshwater (where I grew up) and Manly beach - where my great granfather started the Surf Life Saving club in 1907! The Hawesbury river has some fantastic beaches if you find a friend with a boat! Palm beach is pretty spectacular too - pretty much all the beaches are - just swim safe and stay between the flags and if you can always have a friend wathcing you and ensure a life guard is on duty - and you avoid rips!
As a ex-victorian that now lives in Brisbane, hope you get a chance to make your way north as summer starts to wind down. Melbourne is a lovely city but you'll definitely appreciate avoiding the Melbourne wet and cold winters haha! Highly recommend visiting the Sunny coast if you get a chance!
I think you have to grow up eating Vegemite to really appreciate it! Don't let anyone tell you to eat it by the spoonful or to spread it thick on your bread. A very thin layer and lots of butter and it's perfect! That's the way I have always eaten it, anyway. You can even make 'Vegemite Soup' by putting a heaped teaspoon in a mug and pouring boiling water over it. Mix till dissolved and add salt to taste. I dip fingers of buttered bread into it. Just yummy!
That was quite poor of that guide not to give them margarine or butter with it. I can eat it on toast without butter (having grown up with it), but vegemite only on bread, blah. Or put cheese.
@@MaddieRyles another one: Vegemite (butter/marg first of course) then cheese on top, & put under the grill briefly. Of course have to lightly grill the bread first, but not to toast stage of course. The 'cheesy vegemite' in jars (instead of standard vegemite) is even better if do that
First of all, glad you’re enjoying your stay, always nice to see how Australia changes people. I can relate to the feeling out of place, I left for Europe on my 20th. Been over here for going on two months and it was rough for the first bit. The feeling was kind of opposite to me, going from somewhere like Brissy where it’s still quite laidback and open to the compact and bustling streets of Europe was pretty daunting. But we adjust, that’s what humans do. Have you considered WWOOFing? I’ve met a few people while they were doing it in Australia.
Coffs harbor is the best place in Australia, we have beaches and forests and amazing waterfalls and things to do.plus we have work for back packers.come and have a ball.
Hi Maddie.. Welcome, just subscribed.. Say hi if you are ever in Adelaide!! I packed up everything and moved to Melbourne years ago.. lived there for 7 years until I came back home to Adelaide. My bro and his GF live in Melbz.. I used to live in Melbz.. Let me know if you get stuck!! Great collab btw..
Welcome to the land of Oz and may your stay here be some of the best times of your life. I, too are going over seas solo in a few months. Like you I will have a few days before the tour starts. At least for you there is for the most part no language issues. Another great place to see wild life is Healesville Sanctuary and the area it is located is wine country. Another bit of Aussie wild life to look out for is bin chickens. Once seen, not easily forgotten.
Wallabies!? Lol! Kangaroos!!!! I live in Melbourne Maddie and it rocks! There so much to do every day of the week!. You should take all your friends to Drum n Bass Mondays! The best underground electronic music party to have a dance at every week. Its on at Radio Bar, 357 Brunswick st in fitzroy. Free entry! (im the one that started it 8 years ago and its still kicking every Monday!).
i havve travellled and moved to new cities alone quite a few times, i think the very hardest thing you can do is leave your home town. That is by far the scariest bit, once you do that, you suddenly realise you can go anywhere and do anything! The world is your oyster! Each time its always hard for a few weeks getting things sorted like bank accounts and phones and accomoadation etc, trying to make new friends etc, but once you get your vibe on, omggggg you will wonder why you didnt leave your home town years ago! Im currently packing up my stuff and about to travel north too! Not sure hwere yet but will end up around townsville cairns, might see you on the way somewhere! Good Luck!
i’m strongly thinking of doing this but as someone who doesn’t have a career, i’m afraid i won’t be able to afford to live there. getting there isn’t a problem but finding a job that will pay enough for me to stay is probably going to be impossible
Welcome to Australia. Oh, and coffee in Australia is amazing everywhere. Stay safe and enjoy the experience. You may want to stay after the 6 months, once you work out how good Australia is to live in compared to the US. No guns, low crime, excellent weather, beautiful beaches, nice people mostly, better work life balance as in you actually have rights here when you work..low homelessness and lastly, the medical system won't put you in early financial ruin and actually works😳 good luck, I look forward to following your stay😁
At the age of 20 I went to Europe on a one way ticket with AUD$500 in my pocket. Ended up being there for 13 years. You've got this. Make your lifetime memories girl!
Hey Maddie - if you make your way to Perth and need a room, help, or a free feed and tour, hit me and my family up. We live in Mindarie with two daughters, 19 and 16. Glad to help you out on your travels whilst in Oz.
