Author: Maria Clemens 

Location: Newcastle, Australia

My study abroad travels began with a CISabroad orientation in Cairns, Australia. This is a city much farther north than my current home of Newcastle. Cairns is a beautiful city is nestled on the coast between rainforests and the Great Barrier Reef. Of course this was an amazing place to start my Australian journey.

An overview of the City of Cairns and the Pacific Ocean.

My first full day in this country was spent snorkeling and scuba diving in the Great Barrier Reef. Being an environmental science major, I was living out my dream of seeing one of the great wonders of the world. There was a great deal of noticeable damage done to the reef, which was unfortunate to see, but it was reassuring to know that efforts are being made to rehabilitate this natural phenomenon.

After a long day spent rocking away on the deck of the boat and gazing through goggles at anemones and sea cucumbers, my fellow world travelers and I retired to an evening of relaxation and kebabs. For those who do not know, kebabs are about as common in Australia as a burrito bowl from Chipotle in America. A kebab is essentially a tortilla with chicken or pork with other toppings like lettuce and sauces. Like pretty much every meal I’ve had here so far, the kebab is delicious.

Forwarding to the next day, we took a bus up into the mountains and spent the afternoon in the rainforest. The other CIS students and I were given the opportunity to try kangaroo meat. Not having the strength myself to try the meat since I would be petting and feeding the cute little creatures later that day, I heard that the kangaroo tasted similarly to steak. That being said, the day was filled with fun activities such as throwing boomerangs, listening to the tunes of the digeridoo, and taking tours into the rainforest itself.

A picture taken in the Rainforest inland of Cairns.

The following day I headed back to the airport for my flight down to Newcastle where I will be doing my studies for the semester. My time spent in Cairns was brief, but incredibly memorable and a great way to be introduced to this country’s wonderful nature and history.