The Land Down Under
Travelling to Australia was something that I always wanted to do, but realistically was never 100% sure that I would. I always had it in the back of my mind, but always kind of thought that 'I'll go there one day', without actually making any plans to go. During some slow days at work, I found some flights that enabled this dream to become a reality. Seoul to Perth for about $275 (£168) and the flight back, 3 weeks later for $345 ( £211). I couldn't say no. So we booked the flights before we'd even been granted the time off by our schools! :)
Landing back to a cold Korea (well, it was 18 degrees when we landed, but back down to -7 today), I feel writing this blog will warm me back up! I had the most wonderful time. Before I went I made a post on Waygook.org (a website we English Teachers in Korea use for advice and help) and got some really good advice from users. I took a lot of the advice and recommendations into account and it was worth every second of the planning.The beginning of the trip was wonderful. Flight to Perth was fine and I really did like the city, though I was there for 1.5 days so couldn't get bored (I did get burned though). Checked out the CBD and Kings Park, as well as Caversham Wildlife Park in that time. All lovely places. Kings Park was a big open space with lovely flowers, plants and water features, as well as boasting amazing views over the water. In the wildlife park, a train and bus ride outside the city (well worth it), we saw Kangaroos, Wallabies, Koalas, Wombats, Possums... you name it. The owner was also very nice, even giving us a lift to the bus stop as we had missed the last shuttle bus. The 2nd day was spent taking the train to Fremantle, a place where the settlers first arrived, and spet the morning walking around there. We enjoyed having some proper Fish and Chips on the front. A Brit like me needs his fix!!
The next day we flew to Adelaide and stayed there overnight (landed at 10:30pm) then picked up a Wicked Camper for 5 days to drive the Great Ocean Road. When we were in Adelaide it was 47 degrees and was the world's hottest city on that day. Thankfully the lady at Wicked knew this and upgraded our camper from the cheapest one, to a 'premium' one that was brand new and came with air con. Life-saver! We drove the GOR for the next 4 days, taking in the Grampians (which we couldn't actually go into as it was ON FIRE!!!), Mt. Gambier and the Blue Lagoon, Port Fairy, Apollo Bay, 12 Apostles, Lorne, and all those lovely places along the way, The Great Ocean Road lives up to it's name, as it's truly stunning at each turn. Driving the windy roads becomes a pleasure for the views you're treated to.
The next day, we spent exploring Melbourne. We rode some of the city bikes beside the canal and decided, impulsively, to visit the Australian Open (tennis) and pay for a ground pass. There we soaked up the atmosphere, as well as the sun, and watched some up-and-coming youngsters play. Then we took a walk and sat on a grass bank whilst watching Andy Murry's game on the big screen. I'd been attempting to meet another friend from the UK, Tom, all day but wifi in Australia is hard to come by so our messages to each other were always received 3-4 hours late. We were flying out of Melbourne at 6am the next day, so we'd not booked any accommodation. We had aimed to hang about in Melbourne until around midnight, then get the bus to the airport. However, everything closed around 8pm, which surprised me. It was like a ghost town by 8:10. We found some food and went to the airport at 9:30-10, sleeping on the cold, hard ground until our flight.
We then flew to Tassie (Tasmania, spelled with an 's' not a 'z') and spent 4 days with another friend, Hannah, from the UK who is living just outside Hobart. Yet again, we were made to feel part of the family at the house and were overwhelmed by their kindness and hospitality. She took us places and for days when she worked, she lent us her car. Using/hiring a car in Tassie is a MUST btw! It was beautiful. We were taken to Port Arthur, an old British settlement/prison type thing and saw some natural cobblestones made by the sea, and some natural coves (devils kitchen, the blow hole etc) in the Tasman National Park. We drove up Mt Wellington for spectacular views, visited MONA (Museum of Old and New Art) and to Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary to see the Tasmanian Devils. We also were taken to Wine Glass bay and for a hike around that area.
After Tassie, we flew to Brisbane. The Greyhound bus to Hervey Bay, one way was $80 each (2 x $80 over 2 ways $320). So we decided that's a rip off and hired a car for 5 days (which was $222 from Avis, deffo recommended). We drove ourselves to Hervey Bay that night, staying at Aussie Woolshed Backpackers (recommended), then left the car there. The next morning we were doing a 3 day/2 night stop in Fraser Island with Cool Dingoes. It was a group of about 25 people, no drunken idiots, great group of people and a fantastic, wonderful and beautiful trip. One more night in the Woolshed and then a day trip to Lady Elliot Island. Expensive, but worth it just to see the seclusion and beauty. Then swam on the bottom of the Great Barrier Reef, seeing turtles, fish and the odd stingray.
Fraser:
Lady Elliot:
We then drove to Brisbane, stayed the night and explored the South Bank Park in the morning which was beautiful and relaxed and spacious. We had to laugh though, as the only place in South Bank that was crowded and not-relaxing, was at the Nepalese Temple, which was unsurprisingly swarming with Asians taking pictures and getting in each-other's way. haha. They leave Asia, to visit Australia and spend time taking pictures of Asian things!
We then flew to Sydney, and stayed in the YHA Sydney Harbour which was immaculate and well positioned. Their terrace has an amazing view of the Harbour Bridge and Opera House. We walked around that area then the next day went to Wollongong for a 9:30am skydive... as ya do!! That was an amazing experience and was #1 thing checked off my bucket list. We did it with Skydive The Beach and they were excellent! That afternoon we explored Sydney a bit more, visiting the Rocks and the Opera House up close.
The next 2 nights we stayed with a friend, Tim, who we'd met in Taipei. He showed us around. We visited Bondi Beach the next day for some sunbathing and relaxation then in the evening went to Chinatown (as it was CNY) and then to Darling Harbour. The next day the 3 of us met Mary, a friend who was an EPIK teacher in Korea last year but didn't re-sign. Went for pancakes, took a ferry to get the good views of HB and OH, then went for some beer, then went to a climbing wall before saying our goodbyes.
After that, we showered and headed to the airport. It had been a pretty short trip of only 19 days, but geographically speaking we'd done amazingly well to fit it all in. We'd visited every Australian state apart from North Australia and met up with friends, seen wildlife, explored cities, hiked, drove, camped, went skydiving, snorkeled the Great Barrier Reef, taken 11 flights (or 10.5 if you think of skydiving), cycled and met some great people along the way. We have some wonderful memories and fantastic photos as a result.
Now to live like a hermit for 3 months to pay for it all...
Our route:
