I'm on a 12 month (minimum) shoe-string backpacking adventure with my German girlfriend Julia! We're tackling Central America down to Patagonia in 2017, New Zealand over next summer and Nepal and South East Asia in 2018 (that's the plan).

I am a civil engineer and recently quit my job after 2 years of work in my hometown Newcastle NSW. Out of uni in 2012 I donned the backpack and cruised around Europe and North America for 6 months before 5 months working and snowboarding in Canada and 12 months bartending and living with Julia in Munich. I am far too open minded, intrigued, adventurous and fun loving to commit to a professional life behind a desk or in some dirty industry and there's so much beauty in the world that I need to experience.

We're on an eye-opening mission, looking for diversity, adventure, genuine connections, sustainability, happiness and whatever the very best and real experiences are wherever we find ourselves. Give me snow-capped peaks on multi-day treks, give me a hammock on a beach, give me a market crowded with locals, give me pulling home-grown veggies from the ground and I will be happy. We are also looking for different lifestyles to help us shape our own and want to give back where we can with some volunteering (real work not "volunteer tourism") planned for Central America and Nepal.

A newbie to CouchSurfing I am hoping for some takers and am ready for whatever comes :).

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

Well, money and people. Money I don't have and people I want to share with. I'm on the hunt for locals who love where they live, interesting people who want to meet other passionate and interesting people (like me!) and can generously provide the floor space so I can experience whatever their city/town/farm/cave has to offer. Nothing beats getting the inside tips and tricks from locals and I want real experiences of the places I'm going, not the crusty tour guided "9 best things to see in..." version.

It's not just a one-way street though. I may be the one vagabonding around but it ain't all about me. I want to give back to you wonderful people who give me the place to rest my head. Let me tell you stories, cook you dinner, give you a chance to meet someone new or experience something new in your own city.

Can't wait to meet you!

Interests

Living in Newcastle I am into road cycling around the coast, mountain biking in our local nature reserves and hiking and camping up and down the beautiful eastern Australian coast.

I love photography, travel photography especially. No professional but very passionate and wanting to learn.

I am shooting for a more sustainable and less city dependant lifestyle. I like rural areas, growing your own, giving back direct to your community, clean air and a natural surrounding.

I really enjoy the mountains. And the snow, I love snow and snowboarding. Something about hiking does it for me.

I am interested. Full stop.

• gardening
• cycling
• hiking
• camping
• languages
• eating
• mountain biking
• roadtrips
• travel photography

Music, Movies, and Books

There is not a form of music that I cannot enjoy! Some favourites: Jack Johnson, Xavier Rudd, Milky Chance, Angus & Julia Stone, Eric Clapton, The Bee Gees, Metallica, Pantera, Mozart, Flume etc...

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

I wouldn't say this one is amazing in the traditional sense but exhilarating nonetheless. When in Banff in Canada in the summer I hiked with some mates from town up to the top of Mt Rundle, a fairly gruelling 25km day hike with some seriously precarious terrain. After summiting and finding ourselves on top of the world we plucked the gold club, 5 balls and a patch of moss picked from half way up to tee off the top. Standing literally on the edge of a 2000ft vertical face with wild trying to throw me over the edge, summer snow being blown from nearby peaks and wearing socks as makeshift gloves, I had a perfect swing and pinged the ball off into a lot of thin air. With all those on top of the mountain cooing and yahooing it was just one of those unique happy moments I won't forget!

Countries I’ve Visited

Austria, Canada, Croatia, Czech Republic, Finland, Germany, Japan, New Zealand, Russian Federation, Scotland, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom, United States, Vanuatu

Countries I’ve Lived In

Australia, Canada, Germany