Grampians – Adelaide Roadtrip

We had clocked a fair bit of mileage in our van and we weren’t even half way. On the plus side we have seen some of the most amazing sights and experienced life on the road by ourselves and there would be plenty more to see.
After leaving our campsite we drove in to the Halls Gap town, it is meant to be the biggest town in the Grampians but there just didn’t seem to be much to see or do at the time of our visiting.
We decided to do one of the driving routes to see some of Hall’s Gap lookout points, the route we chose was the Central Grampians Drive.

We drove along Mt Victory Road and took a turning towards the Boroka Lookout, the road being named Mt Difficult Road was a little worrying and it was very windy but Sean did fine driving the van. We parked up and from there it was a short and fairly easy walk to the lookout point. Once we were there we had a really great view of Hall’s Gap and Wonderland Range. In the distance we could see heavy showers from the black clouds and a large lake in between mountains.

Moving onwards we got back on the Mt Victory Road and stopped off at Reed Lookout and walked about half an hour towards the Balconies, a famous rock formation. On the way we saw some strange rock piles which looked like they had been purposely placed there for Aboriginal purposes maybe but the time it must have taken them to do all of that is crazy and it reminded me of a scene from The Blair Witch Project. The Balconies was another picturesque view, the Balconies were rock formations perched on the edge of a mountain side allowing the public to take a step out into them for the best seat in the house. Our friend we had met in Sydney had a photo taken sitting on one of the ledges but I wouldn’t recommend doing it due to the instability of some of these rocks plus there were plenty of warning signs to put me off.

Our next stop was MacKenzie Falls, unfortunately though due to a recent bush fire in the Grampians it was closed off to the public. We had noticed a lot of fire damage along the way and its shocking to see how much and how big they can get, most of the trees were now dead wood and it would take a long time for things to get back to the way they were again.
We passed through a town called Keith before getting to Adelaide and we just had to stop off for a cheeky photo opportunity for our mate back home called Keith, made us giggle. So farewell from Keith and onwards to Adelaide where we were staying at Christies Beach campsite, the site had a nice view of the beach where we watched the sun setting although it was a bit cloudy to really see much and it was pretty cold anyway so we headed back to the van to relax (after doing the van ritual – sorting van, making up the bed, securing all the curtains and trying to get comfy). Next port of call Adelaide CBD.

Interviews & house hunting

We finally had some good news though as Topshop had called both both me and Sean in for an interview…hooray. We were advised to come dressed to show our own style which wasn’t too hard if we kept very simple. The interview process was long 4 hours in fact, we had to split up in to groups and in to teams of 3 and describe a perfect Topshop employee, next you were given a garment and you had to pick it’s best selling points and last you were all interviewed individually for a minute and you had to sell yourself. It wasn’t a tough interview but we were in need of work so badly we felt like we had not done great at all but fingers crossed.

Next interview was with Merlin Entertainment , I was actually really excited about this interview and was keen to be placed in the Sea Life Aquarium if I got to choose. My interview day had approached and had arrived at the hotel nice and early seeing quite a few people waiting for the same interview, scary. We were all seated in a room together and had previously been told to bring something in that best describes you, I brought my Polaroid camera as I love it and I love have unique moments captured in an instant.

We individually had to stand, introduce ourselves, why we want to work for merlin and what our product was, it was so nerve racking and my heart was pumping so hard I thought it might burst and I could see everyone else was the same too, it was not good. When it came to me I was ok but had noticed how so many others had brought cameras too, I hoped my Polaroid would stand out from the crowd.

Next we were sent out of the rooms for a break and I had luckily made a few friends while having lunch and by the time we settled again in the room we could sit with our friends and had to promote a certain attraction, we had the wildlife zoo and did a talk show to promote it.

Finally it was just a one to one interview and I was able to relax, I had a good interviewer and he made it very easy to answer questions and I was sure it went ok at the end too. This would be a very interesting job to have instead of retail. My other interview was with Luna Park but that was too embarrassing to talk about as they make you perform like a performing seal and I mean literally, I would not recommend going for it unless you enjoy that type of thing but it was an experience none the less.

In the end we both managed to secure jobs and we even had to make a choice too, we both got Topshop but realised it was only a 6 week contract and no longer so I went for Madame Tussauds (Merlin Entertainment) and Sean went with retail giant Zara which paid better and had a longer contract.

Next task was to find a home, not an easy task I assure you. We had looked online for houses, flatshares and even student accommodation during holidays but we weren’t getting anywhere. We checked all websites flatmates, gumtree, real estate and furnished property but everything was above our price range or not suitable for less than 6 months contract and we had a budget of $250-300 with a 3 month contract….We had many laugh in our faces.

We had hit a low and I thought this has got to end so on flatmates I just took the plunge and paid $20 to get access to all property’s, I could actually message New property’s and get access to their numbers and this cut through so much crap and waiting. I got quite a few responses within minutes, some saying no but the majority saying yes and come view property.

We now had a good selection to check out and went out for a day’s hunt. We had 3 houses to view quite close together too so it made it easier. First two were in kingsford, a decent enough area shops very close and coffee beach about 20minutes away. The first was an apartment that looked decent on the outside and don’t get me wrong had a lot of potential inside but it was covered in rubbish and had a bed in the living area and a bed in what looked like a study and we saw about 50 odd pars of shoes in the hall so how many people were living there exactly I don’t know. I need my privacy and cleanliness and this place had none.

Next property was about 10 minutes away and looked really nice and light in the pictures so we were quite eager to see this home. On first approach the gate was covered in weeds and the house looked quite dirty, Sean squeezes my hand in displeasure. We had to enter at the back and found the kitchen area from the photos was no longer white, bright and airy but dirty, dark and dingy even the beautiful garden was now overgrown and dried out looking worse for ware.

We tried not to let this affect our decision as long as the house was liveable and cheap we could live here. The room was decent and the previous tenant, a German guy seemed to really look after the place but we were gonna see the next place and decide.

South coogee was the next location and was a 20minute walk, we got near and the place looked like a shop front (I remembered jess from Melbourne’s apartment and was worried), we entered and a young lady opened, she seemed ok and I remember she was quite sweet in her texts. We went up some stairs and wow a big difference, open space, clean/tidy and light!! The photos online were the same, unlike the previous two. We were shown around and were taken out on to the balcony which had such a beautiful view and we were happy with this place and it was even within our price range. We left her with our interest and had a walk to the beach 2 minutes from the house and what a beautiful beach Coogee is.

We were so keen on this property and being back in the hostel that night made us want it even more, so within a couple of days waiting we were accepted and could move out of hostels what a relief.

If anyone has any questions regarding work and house hunting feel free to drop us a comment.

Our big decision

Melbourne weather is very erratic and some say it has four season in one day but today was not the case, we found ourselves walking along the Yarra river in the intense heat. The day was beautiful and the sun was highlighting all of Melbourne’s amazing architecture, there is a real European vibe with the buildings and the vegetation as well as the people walking around and I think that’s why a lot of travellers love it as its a bit of home far away.

Along the river were some great views and as we reached south bank there was a tall ship and historical notes about what the area used to be. We succumbed to the heat and took a seat at a place called ‘Padlocks Ships’, we grabbed a couple of drinks and enjoyed the scenery of people gasping walking past us, wanting our tasty beverages. We sat talking for a while and it was here that we decided however much we love Melbourne we need to leave for Sydney as job opportunities here were not great and we needed work if we were going to stay in Australia till May.

We had decided that the weekend would be the best time, which may sound like a fast decision but if we were going to job hunt in Sydney we needed to be there now. So with that decision made we headed away from the cool shade and back in the heat.

We stopped off later for lunch and wisecracking our brains over what we fancied, every where we looked it was too factor too expensive but then it hit me….I want PANCAKES!!!!!! Sean agreed. We went to Pancake Parlour and the menu made my mouth water. They had basic buttermilk pancakes to double chocolate pancakes with cheer us and ice cream (drool). Once we had ordered we sat back and stuffed ourselves full until we couldn’t move again, this would be our last supper in Melbourne.

X

[Travellers tip: if you haven’t found work move on elsewhere, time is a big factor with working holiday visas so contact the company find out if they received your resume and if you have a chance…be honest about your visa situation too]

Meeting the icons of Sydney

So we were in Sydney, it hardly seemed real as one minute we were in Perth The next in Melbourne and then boom…straight to Sydney with only a second thought.
This city is busy, streets filled with every culture you could imagine. It’s the first port of call for most travellers so expect a lot of backpackers which means expect hostels to be $$$ and fully booked. New year’s was pretty much impossible to get accommodation and we were concerned, had we made the right choice to come to Sydney at such a busy time?

To take the stress off that question we gathered ourselves and decided to jump headfirst in to Sydney life by checking out the harbours. We approached the busy metropolitan and squeezed through the crowds, of which were many.

We had arrived and what we saw can only be described in one word, wow. The harbour bridge is only a bridge I know but we were taken aback by its sheer size and structure, it is such an icon of Sydney’s skyline and to be stood in front looking up at it was such a great feeling and I think it was then that I realised how far we had come and now we were here together.

I couldn’t wait to get up close to her and take a zillion photographs although we had both decided I needed my own camera as Sean had his SLR and I only had my phone I really wanted this bridge all to myself and my HTC just wasn’t going to do the job.

Camera shopping = stressful

I had a few cameras to compare, Nikon, Canon and Lumix.

I looked around at a few shops in sydney and online, ending up at Ted’s Camera’s. To cut to the chase I ended up buying the Canon IXUS as it had WiFi, had a great range of effects for photography creativity, the picture quality and my mother who is a keen photographer uses Canon so like mother like daughter. The lumix apparently does not ha great results I was told and if your travelling you do not want to risk all these great memories. I ended up getting a good deal on my camera too paying $140 with a camera by thrown in.

I now was snappy happy, taking photos of the bridge and of course the opera house. She was quite an impressive building and it looks quite different up close, from tv she just looks a plain white colour but up close you see her thousands of tiles and the iridescent/pearly colouring which was great to see. Her peculiar shape meant photographs came out very nicely with the sharp lines and arches. I couldn’t wait to see her at night and all lit up for new year.

Settling into Melbourne life

So now we were in Melbourne it was time to try getting a job until we were ready to move on to Sydney. We were finding lots of jobs were going and lots were looking for casual Christmas staff so it was just a case of printing a tonne of resumes out and scattering them throughout the city like mad men.

Printing isn’t really that cheap but we found the library in Melbourne to be an easy place to do it and 15¢ wasn’t too bad but later we found a cheaper alternative was office works at 8¢ a page. We planned out where we were going to hand our resumes, like a strategic plan of attack. We tried the obvious shopping centers due to amount of stores they have inside. Westfield is a good one and Melbourne central, a glass dome building built in the 90s which has encased an old shot tower from the 1800s we got a few great pictures of this unique contrast in construction (to be added). Check out Melbourne central

With our resumes we stuck to retail areas but I did try a few cafes and bars due to my experience in hospitality but a lot of the time they want minimum experience of 2-3 years and if the company sells alcohol or has any gambling machines then you need an RSA/RCG (responsible service of alcohol/responsible conduct of gambling) license and for this you have to have it within the state you work so if you had an RSA in WA you would need to get a new license in NSW and they vary in price but aren’t cheap being around the $80-100+ mark.

A lot of employer’s seemed ok with working holiday visa travellers but you should ways check before handing your CV in as it’s just a waste, we did bend the truth slightly to help us get more of a chance by saying we were staying for the 6 months but we really needed work for 2 months and then it’s Sydney for Christmas and New Year. This isn’t great and it probably does effect travellers reputations when looking for work as they are more likely to not hire but we were in need of work.

Enough of the job stress we took a break and headed over to Carlton Park where we went to Melbourne museum, they had outdoor rain forest area which was cool but very humid and a Skeleton of a blue whale – standing next to that made me realise just how small we are and especially me. I got in free for concession which was great as it wasn’t really worth the money Sean paid ($10) however they do have exhibitions on regular and I think they are (or have done by the time I write this) having a James Bond exhibition. Check out Melbourne museum.

After a long depressing day of job hunting we packed it in and snapped back in to holiday mode, we booked another 3 nights at space hotel since it was so good and we didn’t want to be moving just yet. We checked out the blue moon bar connected and they had a good vibe, cheap drinks and good food so we chilled out watching surfing on the big screen to further our taste for Australian life before heading back upstairs to our dorm to enjoy a great nights sleep..zzzzzzz

Goodbye Perth, it’s been awesome!

So here we are, an end to our adventures in WA. This post was one we were sad to make. We had enjoyed our time spent here in WA and have some treasured memories that we will not forget. Here’s how it ended.

Our last weekend in Perth and we had planned to have a goodbye meal with Sean’s relatives. Marie and Drew had put on a nice spread for us. It was good to catch up and see everyone but sad to leave not knowing when we would see each other again. We want to thank them for all their help, advise, visits and will stay in touch. Same goes for our housemates Kylee and Ian, good friends couldn’t have expected any better. We had leaving drinks in town, going from a chilled out bar and ending up in a few clubs. It was nice to let our hair down after a jam packed week. We must have danced all night cause I was aching all over the next morning.
Early start too at 7am we had a trip planned to York, about an hour away from Perth. There wasn’t much to see and do especially since it was a Sunday but we made our own fun. Stopping off at a cafe to soak up the alcohol and regain human life, I opted for spaghetti on toast, which tickled kylee and Ian.

Soon after we left and checked out a few shops, found a sweet shop as Ian wanted some ice cream. We all had a selection including bubble gums with a tattoo just for old times sake. The shop keeper kinda freaked us out a bit with her hairy top lip and boggled eyes, I think it was time to get out of there. We then found a cool vantage point up in the hills where we sat over looking the town, a graveyard and vast amounts of nothing but it was a sight none the less.
Later we paid a visit to Ian’s family home where he showed us around, checked out his family photos, his figurine Dragon and even saw our first wild snake out in the garden – not sure what snake it was, Brown with yellow stripe along its side but it was a fast one.

Perth has been a great city to start our trip, we have adjusted to the weather easily, it was not over run with backpackers during our stay in winter, beaches are beautiful and there are plenty of them to choose from, lots of events going on but at the same time if you just want to relax, surf or enjoy the scenery it’s a nice laid back city. Employment was an issue and only I managed to find work and that was a telemarketing job but I can see summer being a better time for work as the tourism industry will probably pick up.
We have bumped into a lot of people that seem to have chosen not to go to WA and many just stay in one state for the majority of their stay in Australia, we can’t understand why you wouldn’t want to explore and see what the rest of the country has to offer. From our 4.5 months in WA we have truly lived as Australians, staying with family, getting a paid job, living with a couple of down to earth Aussies that have become friends and exploring both sides of the state – from the dry lands of the out back up north, city life and the beautiful wine region down south.

Sadly we didn’t get to do everything during our stay. We missed out on visiting Rottsnest Island due to winter weather we were told its much better to visit in summer, it’s a must see place to spend the whole day or even a weekend in the accommodation provided on the island and I’m sure it’s amazing this time of year now since Perth has temperatures of 30°+.

Penguin island in Rockingham was another we didn’t get to visit although we got close, viewing it from the beach.
Exmouth and the Ningaloo Reef was one place we were gutted not to see as it has some of Australia’s beautiful coral reefs attracting a lot of sea life. The cost was a bit too much and we want to see the great barrier reef in Queensland most of all.

With our flight booked to Melbourne (pre paid through STA) we had a 3.5 hour journey, flying with quantas. The flight was long enough for us to watch a film but Sean did have technical issues with his headphones so after speaking to 2 flight attendants who frankly didn’t seem to know what to do, we had to make the lady in front of us switch seats which was very embarrassing but we finally could watch something. I watched the hilarious animation The Croods, a great family film about a family of Neanderthals in the stone age and Sean watched a film starring Sam Rockwell. After a few mediocre bites to eat and refreshments we had finally landed in Melbourne and on to our next adventure…

If there are any questions you would like to ask us, maybe about Perth or maybe just about travelling in general then leave us a comment : ) We are sorry for lack of photos, Sean will be uploading a load so if you haven’t subscribed to our blog already then do so now to receive our updates.

X x

Hostel reviews

Brittania William Street – Perth
Twin Room
perthbritannia.com

Room/Room Size: Pretty tiny for 2 people but beings as we are a couple it didn’t bother us too much. Only had 1 small side cupboard for storage so you pretty much will be living from your suitcase, the 2 beds were ok, comfy enough, only 1 small window with a piece of cloth covering.

Cleanliness: Room needed cleaning Aggy & Kym style, very dark and dingy, beds had slight stains – don’t think i want to know what of. Fan in room was broken and windows were dirty, no view at all and when I tried shutting the window it nearly took my hand off – so safety not great.Showers/toilets were quite clean though.

Showers/Toilets: Toilets mostly blocked but showers were good, water was slightly hot at one point so my hair went through a tough time but apart from that ok and the shower head is adjustable but mine seemed to be very loose and kept falling. Mens toilets were bit odd though as when public walk past they can literally watch you using the urinals which put Sean off a bit.

Kitchen/Dining: Kitchens were OK, bit cramped as people seem to want to cook at same time. Only got a quick peek as we didn’t really use them for our one night but kitchen storage seemed none existent with only having a little shelf for food, pretty sure your food would be gone by the next morning.

Social area: Not great, TV area was abandoned with just a couple in there, Sean tried saying hey with the result being a few mindless stares. Room looked unappealing to spend more than a few minutes in let alone a whole film/show worth. Dining areas were pretty empty too, didn’t seem to be anyone wanting to socialise in this hostel. Outdoor area but looked shabby and was raining so no one was using it at the time.

Extras: Internet room downstairs in the entrance area, $3 1hr net and pay for print outs. They do tours and car hires and say they beat any other deals which sounds good. Campervan hire $25 a day. At the time they had an advert in hostel for staff which is good if you need a job or paid accommodation while your travelling. Not sure about laundry rooms. BBQ facilities.

Price: $68 a night for a twin room if booking a week in advance it works out at $61 a night. Same for bunk bed room. Extra for a double bedroom and if your sharing up to 12 in a dorm its a cheap $24 a night. We had to leave a key deposit of $20 which we got back.

Location: Brilliant location, right in Northbridge and close to bars, restaurants, train, shops etc. Liked the idea of being right in the centre of things. Great for when we just fancied popping out to go perth or go museum etc.

Overall: I would only give 2 out of 5 only because location and price. Everything else was a let down but for cheapness you shouldn’t expect a lot and it’s just a room at the end of the day and I’m sure if you’re not fussed about the details it is fine for most.

The Old Swan Barracks Hostel – Perth
Double Room
theoldswanbarracks.com

Room/Room Size: Good size, desk, wardrobe and fridge in room plus room to move around. Flat screen TV that has Foxtell. Female only dorms available.

Cleanliness: Pretty clean apart from the dead spider left on our desk – thanks. Nice and light room with 2 big windows, view of street below. Rooms cleaned daily as well as toilets.

Showers/toilets: Decent enough, clean although girls had make up everywhere. Shower head not adjustable but ok size for me, Sean struggled. Toilets working.

Extras: Managed to get upgraded to deluxe room which came with fridge and TV not bad. Internet same at $3 1hr. DVD hire at reception. Lots of leaflets on tours/guides plus a wall in communal hall selling cars & jobs etc. Laundry out back $4/5 a wash and purchase own powder. Tours available and taxi to airport available for $15 too. Full size lockers & secure storage for bags. Free breakfast but bit poor, few bits of cheap bread, cereal, condiments.

Kitchen: 2 kitchens which is great. Pretty clean and tidy, spacious, not busy and people seemed nice. Storage seemed better here as you get a fridge section for cold stuff, use of a fridge and personal cupboards too. You can put a $10 deposit down for cutlery and plate too.

Social areas: 2 TV rooms. Spacious and tidy, TV pretty small but people here were really nice and found them easy to socialise with. Main hall was great, pool tables, ping pong, internet area, bar and general chill out zone. Great for socialising if staying for longer. Fun events planned.

Events: During our stay we had burger & chips $3 with any drink. Pool tournaments and think they have bands playing some nights too. They do seem to be eager to keep travellers entertained, this is a big plus especially when you can’t afford the night life outside the Barracks walls.

Price: $88 a night for deluxe double room – try to barter them down as they just want to get the rooms filled. We got it for $80. 12 dorm is $26 a night and for own double would be $82. Key deposit of $20 each key but you get that back on departure.

Location: Great location again right opposite the gallery of perth, walking distance to the shops, trains and bars/restaurants.

Overall: I would give it a 3.5 out of 5 stars due to the impressive social scene, upgrade, location and cleanliness of the place. There is a reason it is one of WAs best hostels. At least check it out once while your here.

Exclusive Backpackers, Hay St – Perth

www.exclusivebackpackers.com/index.html

Didn’t stay here but had a brief look and shown one of the rooms. Seemed a very quant hostel. First impressions very clean and quiet. The double room I was shown was very clean and bright with storage and a TV (all private rooms have TV). Probably the cleanest hostel room I have seen in Perth. Didn’t seem like there was much in the way of social activities. Has a balcony overlooking the front with seating. Would have stayed here only reason we didn’t was the location although good in CBD was a bit of a walk from train station and didn’t fancy dragging suitcase that far. $85 a night for d/r.

Hay Street Backpackers & Motel – Perth

www.haystbackpackers.com

Had a quick tour. Not the best of rooms. Had to walk outside at rear to get to room and felt a bit cold and damp. Private rooms do have en suite shower and sink which is handy. Shared toilet facilitates. Outdoor pool area although looks like hasn’t been used for years. Pricey at $90 a night for double en suite.

Old Firestation – Fremantle

www.oldfirestation.com.au

This place we only had a quick look around and wow the shared dorms were a mess and stank of boy haha not nice. Rooms were spacious though but think i would have to have my own room no sharing. Social aspect looked good, had party nights and looked like a few people were enjoying a film while we were there so would be an ok place to meet other travellers. Kitchen space good and they take on workers for accommodation. At the time of looking the place seemed pricey at $75 a night but looking at it now it comes with a lot of free usage of lockers, job hunting, play stations, videos etc so wasn’t too bad.

Related articles

• Traveling Solo……while you are away. (elleeverafter.com) is a good read too on hostels and what to expect from travelling.

Rollin with the homies + Sean gets the snip

So our first week with the Aussie’s!!! They are so annoying and fluffy lol (Jokes….We love you guys already and guess what, we’re staying mwhahaha ).

We had a jam packed weekend with Kylee & Ian going to La Devilles Pad
[read post ‘we went to he’ll and back]
we took our second trip to the cinema this time in Belmont. We went to watch ‘The is the End’ with Seth Rogen, James Franco and pretty much the rest of the cast from ‘Knocked Up’. It was hilarious and full of boy humour but nothing a girl couldn’t appreciate. Funny one liners and the ending… well let’s say you wouldn’t guess if you tried.

After the movies we went for late night hot chocolate at San Churros (can u believe this coffee shop is open till 1-2am!! We need this in Birmingham) me and sean shared churros with mini chocolates, melted chocolate and strawberries at $20 it was totes worth it.

Also this week:
Me and sean got our hair cut! I needed one badly, being away from my products and straighteners is finally effecting me and I hardly use them back in the UK so if your a grooming goddess and think you’d be ok backpacking without them, think again. My blonde ends went dry and my roots well greasy and flat…time for the chop. Sean needed a spruce up and he had never been to the hairdressers so he wasn’t sure what to ask for awww.

I had looked at other salons in Perth but the prices were bit much and all the salons charge separately so you pay for wash, cut and a blow dry and costs from $50-120 but I found a cheap salon called Salon Express, which is similar to Supercuts in the UK.

It cost me $40 (for the amount I had cut off) for my long hair to be taken to a short Bob with layers and a fringe and Sean had a short back and sides which looked good and cost $20 but I think my hairdresser went a bit crazy with the layers and when I asked for a blunt fringe she went choppy crazy. It was ok in terms of quickness and price though and you don’t need to book.

X x

Shopping and Culture. Leederville, Mt Lawley, Northbridge and more

Leederville not the biggest suburb but nice place to meet for a coffee or quick mooch. Funky gifts and vintage clothing. Checkout Urban Depot and Atlas Divine.

Harbour Town grab a bargain! Discounted stores and food court. Checkout converse store and Typo. Bought some conserve trainers for $50.

Mt Lawley similar to Leederville but more. Cool boutique shops and cafes. Checkout Daily Planet.

Northbridge take a stroll down William St. Hostels, bars, shops and more. Checkout The Butcher Shop, San Churros, La Cholita, Periscope, The Moon.

From hostel to castle

A lot has gone on since our last blog. So it’s about time to inform family, friends and followers of our goings on.
It’s been a time of change. After spending over a month living with family (thank you for having us) it was time to take this adventure to the next level and experience staying in a hostel and fending for ourselves. From now on we would have to keep an eye on our spending but not let it get in the way of us having fun!
We managed to have a look around some of the hostels around Perth to get an idea of what they were like. This week we’ll post an in depth post about the hostels we visited if you’re interested? Our first night was spent at Britannia on William St. $68 a night for a ‘no frills’ double room. It was basic but we didn’t spend much time in the hostel to have any complaints. That same night we ate at a cool Mexican stlye tapas bar in Northbridge called La Cholita. It was a quirky little place and reasonably priced, we shared 5 dishes and 2 drinks each which cost us $56.

The hostel was fully booked the following day but we fancied a change anyway.

We booked two nights at The Old Swan Barracks Hostel $80 per night for a double room. This time we were lucky enough to have a fridge and TV in our room. The communal areas were a lot better than the Brittania. 3 TV rooms, 2 kitchen areas and a large bar area with table tennis and pool tables.

We already knew that we couldn’t afford to stay in a hostel every night so we went to view a house we had seen on http://www.flatmates.com in Redcliffe. It was a nice new house, clean and fully furnished. We met the two occupants who seemed really down to earth and friendly. It was everthing we were looking for, the only downside was the location. I was still waiting to hear back from the interview I had in Pinjarra, in which case it would be too far to travel. At $250 per week including bills it was not that bad a price.
The following day we had another house to checkout although this time round, our expectations were high. Nice location just south of the Swan river $210 per week partly furnished room. We were in for a shock, I couldn’t make it sound any worse if I made it up. Firstly we got greeted by a neighbour who we were unaware would be showing us around. Her English wasn’t great and she couldn’t even get into the house. We tried the front door, back gate and side door yet within her mass of keys she didn’t have one that fit. Eventually she led us to her back garden and we squeezed through a gap in the fence. There was a lady hanging out her washing in back garden of the house we were viewing who then explained why we couldn’t get through the back gate. The big padlock on the gate rather than being used for its purpose was more of a decorative deterrent . The gate wasn’t locked it was broke! She showed us that they just lift the gate off the hinges. The room itself was no saving grace it was dark, gloomy and grotty. The whole house was basically a mess. It would not surprise me if one of the other tenants who was currently out shopping was a human sized cockroach. As cool as it sounds I firmly squeezed Ash’s hand as if it was code for ‘we’ve seen enough’.
We are now living in Redcliffe with two nice housemates and neither of them are human sized cockroaches, just two onesie wearing Australians.