Wrapping Australia

Wrapping Up Australia: The End of a Chapter

It’s February 1st, and in just under two weeks, I’ll be landing in Auckland, New Zealand, officially closing the book on this Australian adventure. The past few weeks have been about tying up loose ends, revisiting old homes, saying goodbyes, and sitting in the space between what was and what’s about to begin.

Closing the Loop

I left Townsville on January 13th, heading to Sydney to spend time at Anna’s farm in Kurrajong—the place where my Australian journey really started. This was where I bought my van, where I settled for my first taste of life here, and now, where I returned to finish the cycle. It felt right to come back, to work in the garden, mulch trees, remove old gutter guards, share meals, and visit the local market. There was something full-circle about it, a quiet farewell to one of the places that had given me so much.

From there, I flew to Adelaide, where Kieran picked me up and drove me to Carol’s place. Another home from this journey, another anchor point in my experience here. Carol, Kieran, and their family have become more than just people I met—they’ve welcomed me like a son and a brother. Spending time here has meant helping with small tasks: picking and preserving peaches, moving furniture, hanging clothes on the line. Simple things, but meaningful. I even went water skiing with Lewis, Carol’s partner, a fun little bookmark on this final page of my time in Australia.

Saying goodbye to these places and people is a strange experience. It’s like packing up pieces of myself, acknowledging their weight, and leaving them in safe hands before moving on. It’s closure, but also a reminder that some chapters don’t fully close—they stay with you, woven into the bigger story.

Detoxing from Validation

This year started with a shift—I quit Instagram and Facebook. Well, I at least stepped away from them. It’s been a process. I still catch myself picking up my phone, expecting something, only to realize there’s nothing there. It’s made me aware of how much self-worth I subconsciously tied to external validation. Without it, I’ve had to navigate those empty spaces differently. Gratitude, journaling, self-love, meditation—these are the things I’m leaning into instead.

There’s been a strange kind of resistance in this, an internal recalibration. It’s not always easy. But I also know that these rough seas, where I don’t have the easy hits of validation, are an opportunity. They’re an invitation to find a steadier, more intrinsic sense of worth.

The Restlessness of an In-Between Zone

In many ways, this time has been about rest, slowing down, and being present. But at the same time, I’m restless. My mind is already halfway to New Zealand, thinking about bike routes, gear, logistics. I’ve been excited about this adventure for so long that it almost makes the time before it feel like dead space. But I know better. I know that if I don’t consciously engage with the present, I’ll miss it.

I’ve had this lesson over and over again: before stepping fully into the next thing, I have to die to what came before it. I have to let go, fully. The moments when I’ve been able to do this, I’ve found the deepest sense of peace and joy. I remind myself that this, too, is part of the journey. There’s something here for me, even in the waiting.

What Comes Next

So here I am. Sitting in the quiet before the storm of movement, ready but also reminding myself to slow down and take it in. New Zealand will bring a whole new chapter—a bikepacking adventure, an entirely new landscape, fresh challenges, and, no doubt, more lessons to learn.

For now, though, I’m here. In this in-between, in this transition. One adventure ending, another about to begin.