I have had the opportunity to go on multiple excursions while abroad in Australia. The first stop me and my study abroad group arrived to was Cairns, Australia. While in Cairns, we went to the Great Barrier Reef and snorkeled with the sea animals. I saw sharks, pufferfish, giant clams, and so much more. It was awesome to see the nature in the Great Barrier Reef. Another excursion that me and my study abroad group took, was a full day bus ride around rural Cairns. It was special, because I feel like a lot of people had never seen what we saw. We went to boulders, waterfalls, and lakes that had rich Australian history in them. It was very interesting to learn the history of the landmarks we went to. After Cairns, we flew to Sydney, Australia. While in Sydney, we got an in-person tour of the Sydney Opera House. It was amazing to learn the history of the Opera House as well, because it felt like I was learning to be a local instead of a tourist. We also went to a Wilderness Park and saw all the native animals of Australia, and a local winery and tried all the native wines in the area. Overall, Australia has been an amazing experience, and I feel like I learned about the history and culture. I recommend taking the most out of any excursions you get while abroad. Take in the culture and try your best to be one of the locals instead of a tourist. It will help when exploring all the new places.
