My Experience
After leaving Airlie Beach, I made my way over to Brisbane, where I would spend the next three days. By the time I actually landed, I was exhausted and desperate to get some sleep. I arrived at the hostel, and quickly learned that not every hostel will be as pleasant (or clean) as the one I had just left. After I checked in at the front desk and made my way to the room, I was horrified by what I saw. The carpets were old and mouldy, and you could practically smell the dampness in the air. There was no light or ventilation, and everything about this particular hostel made me feel uneasy. I checked out within the hour and set out with my bags on my back to find a new place to stay. Any hostel I could find nearby was fully booked, but I found a small hotel instead. The manager at this hotel could tell that I was upset and overwhelmed, and offered me room at a reduced price. Even with his discount, the room was way more than I was able to pay for this trip, but for my own peace of mind I needed to stay somewhere in which I felt safe and comfortable, especially travelling on my own. All of this to say, when you're on exchange and traveling, either on your own or with friends, there are times where there will be setbacks. The key, however, is not to let these setbacks dictate the rest of your travels. Instead, use these setbacks to grow: be proactive, get creative and try to find the best possible solution to the problem so that the rest of your travels will be full of positive experiences.
I spent my time in Brisbane exploring the city, mostly by foot. I saw the Wheel of Brisbane, the Brisbane River, the Museum of Queensland and the Queensland Cultural Centre, and climbed to the lookout point of Mount Coot-Tha. However, my absolute favourite part of Brisbane was visiting the Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary, where I not only got to hold a koala, but I also got to play with kangaroos in an open reserve.