As I mentioned in the paragraph on my ‘Travel’ page, these travel posts will be combined with places that I’ve been to myself or that my close network of girlfriends have been to who’s recommendations and suggestions I trust. So, a shout out to my mother on this post! She and my father visited Australia and New Zealand last winter (summertime for the Aussies and Kiwis), and they had the absolute time of their lives. In her opinion, if you are heading to Australia and New Zealand from the States, she recommends going to Australia first as it’s further away. So, if you decide to pop over to New Zealand after a visit to Australia (which she highly suggests doing if you can work it in), then the flight back home won’t be as long…always a bonus when traveling long distances. She also mentions how beautiful and fun both countries are, especially for the younger generation because there are so many activities that are geared to that age-group!
Best time of year to go visit? She recommends January because it is their summer, and it’s perfect timing if you’re in Melbourne because the Australian Open falls during that time for all you tennis fans out there! Melbourne has so many architectural looks to it, it’s definitely a city you want to venture around in! The Botanical Gardens are breathtaking, and she definitely suggests heading to Federation Square right in the heart of Melbourne, as you can visit the Shrine of Remembrance which houses buildings that talk about the wars Australia (Anzac Day) has been in–a great place to learn their history and get a little background on what they’ve been through as a country. And for those of you with a good sweet tooth, Haigh’s Chocolates is a must!
Now if you happen to be over in Sydney in January, one of the benefits of being there on Jan. 26th is that it’s Australia Day, which is like our 4th of July here in the United States. One of the funnest days to be out on the harbor, on the Sydney Harbour Cruise in front of the Sydney Opera House. There you can jump onto a private boat called the Captain Cook Vessel. And of course when you’re back on land, you have to take a tour of the Sydney Opera House–even better if you can catch a show while you’re in town (no pictures allowed in the theater ;-)). The Sydney Harbour Bridge Climb is another great activity to try–but bear in mind, it can be quite expensive. Another hot spot and famous place to visit in Sydney is Bondi Beach–a must see, says my mom, and Olympic Park is fun to check out as well! If you’re an animal lover, you can then venture to the Featherdale Wildlife Park where you get to see and feed koala bears and kangaroos up close! Lots of exotic animals in this wildlife park including many of the venomous insects that live in Australia (yikes! Those would NOT be my favorite to see…). If you’re up for checking out the aquatic wildlife while you’re there, the Darling Harbour has a wonderful aquarium, and for food, the Sydney Fish Market is one of the biggest fish markets out there! Harry’s Cafe d’ Wheels is also a landmark spot for one of their famous Tiger Meat Pies (veggie options also available here). For dessert, make sure to hit up Guylian–a famous chocolate/coffee bar/restaurant in town. Last, if you’re up for a little shopping on your visit, Queen Victoria Building (QVB) has got lots of it at this unique mall, and Altmann and Cherny have the largest opal in the world–that must be a sight to see!
In Cairns, you can see the Rain Forest and the Great Barrier Reef so this is a definite hot spot to add to your list of places to see! The SkyRail, a gondola holding about 6 people at a time, makes stops at Barron Falls and Red Peak Stations, and will take you into the rain forest–one of the few left in the world where you can hear the cicadas chirp and take in the breathtaking beauty Mother Nature has to offer. To see the Great Barrier Reef, you’ll want to head to the Port Douglas Marina and board the catamaran for Outer Isles. It takes about an hour to get to the island, so you might want to bring some playing cards along with you or something to read during your trip, and there’s lots to do on the catamaran when you’re out there like taking a little submarine ride or scuba diving….a few friendly tips for this trip…don’t bring a lot of cash as credit cards are welcome, and definitely bring a change of clothes for the ride back to port. If you’re up for waking up early one morning during your time in Cairns, you can book a ride in a hot air balloon and then go visit Hartley’s Crocodile Farm–a must see before you leave Cairns!
Now over to the Outback! Uluru (Ayers Rock) is in the Outback. Ayers Rock was the subject of a movie and true story starring Meryl Streep and Sam Neill called, A Cry in the Dark. It is just awesome to see, I’m told! The color of the rock changes as the sun goes down. Absolutely breathtaking!
Well, that’s all I’ve got for today on Australia, but if you’re reading this and you get to make it out that way at some point–or have already been, please feel free to post other “must see’s or do’s” in the comment box below!
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