Moneysupermarket.com are currently running a competition where bloggers can create a Budget Bucket List, containing one budget/low cost bucketlist item and one extravagent bucketlist item. You must also describe what is preventing you from doing them and what it would mean to complete them.
The winner will receive £1000 and 4 runner ups will win £50 each, a perfect start to anyone's bucketlist items!
Full details on this simple yet brilliant competition can be found
here. Full terms and conditions can be found
here.
I have a very long bucketlist but my decision on my budget choice is very simple.
I want to learn how to swim!
It sounds kind of sad but I've pretty much been petrified of pools and open water all my life, crazy considering I lived by the sea pretty much all my life. The thought of being in the ocean or a deep pool would be make feel physically sick. I slowly overcame the obstacle of the sea by simply walking beside it along the beach and harbour but I never managed to learn to swim despite having lessons during Primary School, I was literally the only one left in the kids pool by the end of term.
Swimming opens up so many opportunities both at home and abroad/on holidays. Swimming for exercise, scuba diving or cage diving, even simple things like swimming in the sea! I feel I have missed out on a lot throughout my childhood and teenage years due to being unable to swim and I'd love to just dive in and get over this sad experience!
My extravagent choice is a big deal for me.
I would love to travel across Australia!This is something I have wanted to do since I was a child. My next door neighbour and best friend during my early childhood moved to Australia in 1996 with his family and since then I have wanted to go to Australia to catch up with him and see the beautiful sights of the country.
I have researched it many times over the past few years, deciding which places I would like to go to and there are so many, where do I even begin?
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| Map of some of the places I want to visit in Australia |
A) Ningaloo, Ningaloo Reef, Western Australia - One of the largest fringing reefs stretching for 260km off coast. Home to 200 species of hard coral, 50 soft coral and 500 species of fish. Perfect for kayaking, snorkelling, whale watching, camping at Cape Range National Park.
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| Ningaloo Reef |
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| Whale Shark in Ningaloo |
B) Perth, Western Australia - The fourth largest city in Australia, with hundreds of shops and al fresco dining specialising in local and fresh seafood. Home to Perth Zoo, Fremantle Prison, Shoalwater Islands Marine Park, Beelu National Park for walks and cycling to name but a few.
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| Cottesloe Beach, Perth |
C) Kangaroo Island, South Australia - Offers protection to substantial populations of native Australian animals with soaring cliffs, dense bushland, sand dunes, wetlands and white beaches. Perfect for walks, treks, horse riding, tours, Parndana Wildlife Park.
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| Kangaroo Island |
D) Melbourne, Victoria Australia - Full of culture, street culture and architecture. Perfect for shopping, theatre, dining, Melbourne Aquarium.
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| Melbourne |
E) Tasmania - The Island Of Inspiration with over 45% of the island in reserves, national parks and world heritage sites this is the perfect place for any outdoorsy adventurer like myself! There's also plenty of adventure activities including caving, abseiling, white-water rafting and rock climbing to name but a few.
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| Wineglass Bay, Freycinet National Park, Tasmania |
F) Canberra, Australia Capital Territory - The Capital of Australia. Discover the essence of Australia's culture and history within the many museums, galleries and historic towns. Explore life in the great outdoors on cycle paths, mountain biking and city walking trails.
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| Canberra |
G) Sydney, New South Wales Australia - The most popular city in Australia. Full of internationally known museums, art spaces and galleries. Plenty of greenery and national parks surround Sydney, perfect for walks and enjoying the great outdoors.
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| Sydney Harbour |
H) Blue Mountains, New South Wales Australia - Perfect for rock climbers, mountain bikers and hikers. Wolgan Valley is a 4000 acre nature reserve and one of the most popular natural landscapes in Australia. If money was no object I would have to stay at
Wolgan Valley Emirates Resort & Spa.
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| Walgon Valley Nature Reserve |
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| Giant Stairway, Blue Mountains - over 800 steps and runways providing entry to Jamison Valley, descending approx 1000ft. |
I) Byron Bay, New South Wales Australia - A beachside town, with several beaches popular for surfing, snorkelling and scuba diving. Also great for sky diving and hot air ballooning. Perfect for back-packers and adventurers!
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| Byron Bay Lighthouse |
J) Brisbane, Queensland - Home of Australia Zoo, Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary; the first and largest koala sanctuary in the world with over 130 koalas as well as plenty of other animals! There are many parks and gardens and national parks surrounding Brisbane, aswell as bike and walk ways.
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| Gold Coast, Brisbane |
K) The Great Barrier Reef - The World's largest coral reef, with over 2,900 individual reefs and over 900 islands stretching for over 1,600 miles! Home to over 1,500 fish species, 30 species of whale and dolphin and 6 species of sea turtles. This is the perfect place for scuba diving, boat tours, kayaking and more!
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| The Great Barrier Reef from above |
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| Beneath the Great Barrier Reef with turtle swimming |
L) Lizard Island, Queensland Australia - Located on The Great Barrier Reef, it is a National Park covering 1,013 hectares with 24 sandy beaches and a lagoon! Perfect for soaking up the sun and enjoying all types of water sports!
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| Lizard Island National Park |
M) Darwin, Northern Territory Australia - Perfect for foodies with plenty of food festivals and markets. It's the hub for aboriginal and contemporary art with many galleries and art spaces.
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| Darwin |
N) Red Centre, Northen Territory - Home to iconic natural wonders such as Kings Canyon and Uluru. Explore the outback by motorcycle, camel or scenic helicopter flight.
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| The Red Centre |
The only thing preventing me from going is the travel cost, flight tickes are just so expensive! However to eventually have the money to do it would mean so much. I am a naturally outdoorsy person, having grown up within the countryside and next to the sea. I love adventure and what better place to find adventure than in sunny Australia!
I'm tagging three people to share their bucketlists on their blog!
Kirsty at
Rose & Arrow, Emma at
The Brunette Beauty Blogger and Hannah at
Baileycakes Blog.
Go for it ladies and good luck!
