Chapter 8 – Australia

Walkabout Map 7

 

“How ya going mates”!!!!

 

Aussies love a good yarn – we learned very quickly they also love to abbreviate words and many have the “e sound” – like “footy.” Every type of ball game in Australia is called “footy.” Conversations were animated, light hearted and full of laughter!  They even laughed at Steve’s jokes!! Ha ha

 

Australia easily blew our expectations out of the water – we loved it, wish we had stayed longer, and definitely want to go back! A spectacular and diverse country (at least what we saw). Apparently, 80 percent of the population live on the coastal areas. Australia is huge!

 

Our month encompassed journeys to Melbourne, Apollo Bay on the Great Ocean Road, Noosa, Tasmania (Hobart, Cradle Mountain, Freycinet, Launceston), and Sydney – we barely touched the country.  We did a pub crawl (surprise surprise!!) in Melbourne with a great couple we met from Toronto, Canada (those Canadians are a bad influence), ate multiple fish and chips suppers; as well as a lobster type seafood called Morten Bay Bugs (really that’s what they’re called – they were outstanding!), went on multiple hikes (3 or more hours thinking they were 1 hour routes), one where we carried a bottle of wine, glasses, food, a beach umbrella, towels, music speaker, and a change of clothes – only to find out too late that it was a true 3.5 hour hike over a steep hill to reach a beautiful white sandy beach called – appropriately – Wine Glass Bay).  Fran was initiated to Australian waters by being stung by a blue bottle jelly fish (and no I did not pee on it – even though they tell you too!).  We toured a must see Museum in Tasmania call the MONA (Museum of Old and New Art) which was not only incredibly funky it also included a wine tour, we kayaked on the ocean thru good sized waves, visited multiple wineries, fed kangaroos, saw more roadkill than we thought was possible, watched a Tasmania Devil devour a dead possum including the bones (they are viscous little creatures), and among many other adventures swam of the back of a cruiser in Sidney Harbour with the famous Opera House in the background…oh and did we mention we also visited multiple wineries and pubs!

 

Perspectives:

 

  • Everyone should go to Australia – Tasmania is a must!  We will be back!
  • Australia is one of the most ethnically diverse societies in the world and the people are friendly, engaging, funny, positive – it is truly a culture that is chilled and social
  • It is a healthy environment – the terrain helps with all the amazing beaches and sporting events they participate in – other than the animal kingdom – most of their animals are deadly!!
  • Unfortunately, it’s as expensive as everyone said it would be

 

Please see below for our perspective ratings

 

New Ratings Blog8

 

GALLERY – MELBOURNE

 

GALLERY – SUNSHINE COAST

 

GALLERY – NOOSA

 

 

 

GALLERY – SYDNEY

GALLERY – TASMANIA

 

 

Onwards to New Zealand

 

Making it so,

 

Fran and Steve

11 Comments
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11 Comments
  • Neslihan Akin
    Reply

    Woww pic are wonderful. You look great. Now I say to myself I have to see Australia.

    February 28, 2017 at 8:17 am
  • Nik Healy
    Reply

    Noosa was one of our hang outs when we lived in Brisbane. Great place
    Make sure you take a trip to the Doubtful and Milford Sounds on the NZ south island…….quite extraordinary.

    Enjoy………very jealous!

    February 28, 2017 at 9:33 am
  • Sandy K
    Reply

    Amazing. I can’t believe you swam in Sydney Harbour. I had been led to believe there might be sharks in that area. Two “wild and crazy” people enjoying a trip of five lifetimes, I would say. Enjoy NZ – I look forward to your comparisons to Australia.

    February 28, 2017 at 3:13 pm
  • BEVERLEY WILSON
    Reply

    Hey there you two hooligans, I must admit you both look really really relaxed and happy, I hope that the pictures are a true reflection of your trip and not just smiley pics to fool us here in our miserable little worlds….I’m thinking Steve that the beard was quite hot….hmmm, is that inappropriate ??? Ah well, I thought so anyway.

    I’m in Toronto right now and was telling Kevin about your daughter, now that he has moved on and is dating again (thank heavens.) So email me her details and lets get these kids together !!!

    I know it’s pretty selfish of me, but I really wish your trip would end now, I am so looking forward to seeing you both and cycling around and having the odd glass or two….so you travel safely and come back in one piece.

    Clearly our mutual friend has healed and moved on as I haven’t heard from him at all since he returned to work, so I guess my job is done there !!!

    All the best my friends, enjoy New Zealand and the rain there !!!

    Spring has sprung somewhat in Victoria, with the occasional surprise snow storm, like yesterday apparently. Toronto was 18c on Thursday, was crazy hot….now it’s back to normal (8c)

    Goodbye to you both, and looking forward to your next blog…thanks so much for sharing ! You look so great….

    Bev

    February 28, 2017 at 3:36 pm
  • Lisa Kaercher
    Reply

    Wow! Amazing adventure you two. You look so happy?

    February 28, 2017 at 3:39 pm
  • BEVERLEY WILSON
    Reply

    Me again, what are the two really cute little “mice” type animals and what is the brown blob hairy job next to the walkway, these are not creatures I’m familiar with…..

    February 28, 2017 at 3:50 pm
  • BEVERLEY WILSON
    Reply

    Oh, and is Annie Sheilds part of the family ???

    February 28, 2017 at 3:51 pm
  • Jill Schlender
    Reply

    Great to see you relaxing and having fun! Wonderful photos – brings back many memories of my time there so long ago. Fortunately I am on my way there again soon. Greg, Ada and I leave March 4 for New Zealand for two weeks – it’s amazing there, you will love it – then to Australia for six weeks. New Zealand has so much to offer – scenic wonder after scenic wonder, all stuffed into two little islands, and the people are great. Enjoy New Zealand to its fullest!

    March 1, 2017 at 5:24 pm
  • Donna Shields
    Reply

    Hey you two! Great beach and sky pics; love the shadow one of you kissing. Glad you are having such a great adventure. Can’t wait to see you when you get back. Enjoy New Zealand! Give the Ents a hug for us!

    Love B&D

    March 1, 2017 at 7:50 pm
  • Lyndel Delahunty
    Reply

    G’day Fran and Steve. Remember us, we sailed the High seas on our canoes in Coles Bay then climbed a mountain (you described it well) to Wineglass Bay.
    We never took any bottles of wine to the beach though. We saved them as part as our rehydration process at the end of the day.. Don’t think we’ll forget that beautul Freycinet National Park in South East Tassie.. Lovely to meet you and don’t forget we plan to visit Canada so you might have to put a photo of us on your fridge so you don’t forget us..
    We plan to go back to Tassie next year but its easy for us we only live in Mainland Aus.. Enjoy the rest of your trip.. Andy Lyndel and Conor from Murtoa, Victoria, Australia..PS We are one of the few Aussies that really do have Kangaroos in our backyard. Ha

    March 2, 2017 at 11:52 pm
  • You guys are going to have a tough time coming back to Canada after this great adventure. Lots of great pictures. Loved the facial you two got. No wonder you two look so young!

    April 10, 2017 at 2:06 pm

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