Planning an Australia Adventure
Wednesday, November 19th, 2008 | Posted in Travel by Vanessa
Great whites, aloof surfers, phenomenal seafood, cheap lobster tail, world class wines, cosmopolitan cities, a true cafe culture, and (to Justin’s delight) little penguins!
Sydney by Michael McDonough
We’re leaving for Sydney, Australia on Friday or Saturday night which probably has us landing on Monday the 24th and returning on Saturday the 6th, though, I am hoping to shift our schedule so we get an extra day or two. Jet lag, I imagine, will be a bitch.
Thanks to helpful people on Yelp!, I got a big head start planning things to do/places to see/foods to try! If I had a car reserved, domestic tickets purchased, and places to stay, we’d be all set. At any rate, I’ve concocted the list below as a result of the lovely suggestions Yelpers have given me. Justin and I also acquired a Fodor’s Australia guidebook today, so things may be added, if at all possible. :)
My rough trip outline, working with the number of days I have, is below:
- 2 days in Sydney
Beaches: Bondi (most famous), Coogee and Manly (start at Coogee then take the trail to Bondi, about 3.5 miles. Enjoy the walk and stop for food & drinks along the way. Get a drink at Icebergs, a surf & lifesaving clubhouse near Bondi.)
Breakfast at the Intercontinental Hotel
Harbor tour: lunch at Doyle’s at Watsons Bay/Taronga Zoo/Aquarium/drink at the Opera
Surry Hills (up and coming foody neighborhood to check out - maybe stay in this area) - 1 day hiking + climbing in the Blue Mountains (climbing if I can find a guide) - overnight at B&B or camp
- 1 day driving/sightseeing southward - overnight camping or in car
- 1 day @ Phillip’s Island - overnight Melbourne
- 2 days in Melbourne
Great Ocean Road
great cafes with Italian coffee - 1 or 2 days Yarra Valley wine tour - overnight in Yarra Valley?
- 2 days Alice Springs - an Oasis in the Outback (flight required)
- 1 day back to Sydney???
(Paddington outdoor market if here on a Saturday) - Depart for home
Melbourne by Andrew Hux
On the way from Sydney to Melbourbe, I’d like to possibly take the Snowy Mountain highway :) …unless it adds a ridiculous amount of time to the trip, and visit Canberra (the capital) if at all possible.
Also, I’d like to visit the Barossa Valley (if any way at all). So yeah, not too much to ask for 2 weeks. haha
Foods to try in Australia (aside from the seafood and Asian food which I hear is great):
Pides - turkish pizzas - try one at the nearest kebab place
Laksa - thai coconut noodle soup
Aussie hamburger - same has here but we like ours with beetroot
Meat pies - savory pies
6 Comments on Planning an Australia Adventure - Add yours!
Hi Vanessa, that sounds great! :-) I’m hoping for lots of pictures…my daughter was down under last spring and is planning to study law in Sydney and work there, so, you see, one fine day I’m going to see this continent too!
Have a safe journey, K
November 19, 2008
And what would Justin like to do? (hehe just kidding)
Take lots and lots of pictures! I have always wanted to go ‘down under’ and I am super jealous.
November 19, 2008
Sounds amazing. Have fun! Be sure to report back on beet burgers.
November 19, 2008
Kurt - that is so cool that your daughter is going to study law in Sydney! It seems exciting but also kind of scary/lonely. It’s so far from Poland. Why does she want to move there? Why there vs. the states? That’s great that she is pursuing such a lucrative career!
Sheila - Justin wants to go to the Outback, see the penguins, see the zoo. :P :) We’ll probably take WAY too many pictures. I am excited about it, but what I am not excited about is 28 straight hours of traveling to get there. yargh!
Alex - thanks for the note. I’ll definitely fill you in on the beet burgers. :)
November 20, 2008
Vanessa, I have no idea why Australia is Anna’s first choice…she’s always been interested in Australia and Aboriginal culture, maybe it started in an exhibition we once saw. When we were in the States she liked it a lot, but nevertheless…Btw, she lives in Bavaria close to Munich (where people speak that strange kind of German).
e.g. “Hoast mi?” = Do you understand me?”…
:-)
December 9, 2008
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November 19, 2008