Leeds biologist escapes to Australia and is now living the dream

Prepare for a serious case of life envy

9 years ago

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An explorer from Leeds has given up everything to move down under after having such a good time on her year abroad.

Biology grad Lauren Rogers left the UK behind and moved to Australia after graduating from Leeds last summer.

Lauren fell in love with the country after spending a year studying on the other side of the world.

Lauren had so much fun in Oz she had to go back

She said: “An exchange year was the perfect opportunity to do some travelling and to experience life in another country.”

She continued her degree in Biology at Monash University in Melbourne.

Lauren said: “After living in Melbourne on my year abroad I fell in love with the city and decided to come back on a year-long working visa.”

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The Grampians, a national park outside of Melbourne

She hired a campervan and drove across Australia.

Lauren said: “We hired a campervan and went on a road trip down the Great Ocean Road.

“We went on an Outback tour from Alice Springs to Ayers Rock and we slept in a SWAG (a canvas sleeping bag) under the stars.

“After arriving at The Twelve Apostles, the most iconic landmark on the Great Ocean Road and after taking a few snaps, we headed back to our van to realise I’d parked it on a muddy slope and it was completely stuck in the mud.

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“In a car park full of tourists four of us girls were trying to push our brightly painted van until we realised our combined strength wasn’t enough and we went in search of some hunky guys.

“After about 30 minutes of manoeuvring and pushing we finally made it free – much to our relief as calling a tow truck would of cost a fortune.”

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Just after visiting The Twelve Apostles on The Great Ocean Road

During her year abroad Lauren had an unreal time as she lived in Melbourne for the year and then travelled down the East Coast from Cairns to Byron Bay.

“I went on a surf camp when I first arrived – I managed to stand on the board for a few seconds and that was good enough for me.”

Living the dream

She then went to Sydney and she backpacked her way through the Outback all the way to one of the world’s best-known spots, Ayers Rock.

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Yes, that is Ayers Rock

Lauren is now at one with the relaxed Australian lifestyle and living over there fulfils her passion for travelling.

“Living in Australia is just the stereotype everyone makes it out to be.

“Everyone is very laid back and they seem to have a public holiday for anything and everything, the footy finals, the Melbourne cup course races and even the Queen’s birthday.”

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Lauren is settling in well but she isn’t letting her new job get in the way of her adventures.

She said: “I’ve now been here for three weeks and have just started in a sales job but I’m probably going to try different things out whilst I’m over here.

“The dream is to work on the Great Barrier Reef and to go diving every day, but I’m pretty sure I share that dream with millions of others too.”

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Byron Bay – you wouldn’t believe this is a hostel

The Leeds grad encourages people planning on exploring Australia to not be put off doing it on their own and that you’ll meet lots of other travellers on your way.

Lauren said: “There are a lot of organised trips/tours where you’ll make friends and pretty much any hostel you stay in will be full of like-minded travellers looking to meet people and have a good time.

“Don’t worry about having too much of plan as that’s often the best way.

“You can make the most of all the opportunities that come your way, whether that’s joining a friend you’ve just met on their road trip or staying in a place you love a bit longer.”