Peanut Butter and Jelly

Wow, what a fortnight it has been! The days are long but boy do the weeks fly by! As I write this blog post I can't help but look up every few moments at the beautiful scenery before me. At the moment we are between surf sessions at Surfaris surf camp in Crescent Head, about two thirds of the way down the east coast of Australia. The majesty of the palm trees and the warmth from the glorious Australian sun makes it hard to imagine a place in the world we would rather be.

Surf camp is just the crest of this incredible wave we are riding as a group. Working backwards, we arrived at surf camp refreshed and energized from relaxing free days in Byron Bay, where our group eagerly flocked to activities such as snorkeling, scuba diving, preliminary surf lessons, and Byron Bay's most talented street performers.

Luckily, we were already experienced swimmers from a few days prior, taking on the rapid currents of Fraser Island's fresh water streams and basking in the serene lakes and reservoirs.

After our days of surfing and volunteer service work with the National Parks Service in Crescent head, we will head to the Blue Mountains. Here, our wilderness experience and instincts will be put to the test - canyoning.

In the not too distant future, our Australian component of the trip will be coming to an end, and we will swap the comfort of communal youth hostels, working kitchens, mattresses, and (most importantly) bathrooms for tents and the pristine New Zealand wilderness. Not to worry though, as this writer feels as if our group has bonded together better than peanut butter and jelly (which we are lucky to have 24/7 access to here at surf camp). Now back to the scintillating sounds of surfers scattering the surrounding sand searching for some sweet and synergetic smiles.