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After over a month of checking weather, flying and meeting people all over the country, I set out for my final leg of the circumnavigation on the 30th of December.

Before departing Merimbula, I went for breakfast with Laura and Rex. It still didn’t feel real that I was almost, almost home. Throughout the trip, I’ve been expressing gratitude for the Australian Aviation community for welcoming me from state to state, and this really was a part of today’s flying. I was able to meet with a few pilots from the nearby Frog’s Hollow aero club, and whilst departing Merimbula, I was accompanied for the first few miles by two other aircraft- with aeroclub members, Laura and Rex! Whilst overflying Moruya, someone recognised my callsign on the radio and wished me well. There were lots of warm fuzzy feelings as I tracked up along the coast, which was replaced by a strange sense of familiarity as I switched frequencies to Sydney Centre for the first time in a very long while.

I think it was only when I flew in my home state and began to recognise the local waypoints of the Sydney Basin that I truly came to terms with the fact that I was nearly there, as I no longer had to study my map, the terrain below me being the same ground I learnt to fly over!

Whilst I had enough fuel to fly to Cessnock directly, I called into Camden, the airport where I learnt how to fly. I got to meet with some of the students and instructors who have become some of my closest friends since my debut into flight training almost three years ago. I had so many anecdotes to share and could have spent forever chatting with everyone!

But, it was time to go home. I departed Camden and tracked north, flying overhead Richmond before re-setting my course for the last time. It’s hard to describe exactly what I felt as I counted down the last few miles of this epic adventure- in fact, that’s a bundle of emotions that deserves its own post! I joined for runway 35 at Cessnock in gorgeous calm conditions, and poetically, did what I think was the best landing of the whole trip.

Nothing beat the crowd waiting for me on the ground- Janaya, who has been with me every step of the way, my parents and some friends from home! Even my Girl Guide Leader showed up. I felt so loved in that moment and I’m grateful to everyone who braved the traffic to watch me land, and for my welcome party that evening.