Although we were originally planning to bypass Sydney (don't ask me why!) we thankfully had a change of heart in NZ and booked a flight Christchurch-Sydney. Our four days in what ought to be the capital were spent mosying around the Botanical gardens, gawping at the Opera House (much better looking at night), wishing that the bridge climb wasn't a total rip-off and getting drunk (seriously a bit of a novelty in the last 6 months). We met up with some of Tom's friends now living like kings and queens in Oz (the exchange rate favouring some more than others at the moment!) and a couple we'd previously met in Argentina but the weather wasn't as hot as we were hoping so we never made it to Bondi!
Sydney harbour by day
...and night
From Sydney we flew to Melbourne, a city that we'd already heard good things about - whenever you mention to an Aussie that you're heading there they always ask whether you're going to Sydney or Melbourne and then proceed to convince you of which city is better. Melbourne definitely felt more cultured than Sydney - theatres, European looking boulevards and a huge sports complex with the equivalent of Wimbledon, Wembley and a music venue all in close proximity of one another (from its 1950s Olympics days). We also managed to arrive in Melbourne in time for the weekend's AFL (Aussie Rules) match which was great fun. A few pies and beers later and we were pretty much converts (although the oval shaped pitch is just odd)!
From Melbourne we picked up a car and headed down the Great Ocean Road (one of the most scenic drives in Oz) towards Adelaide.
Real Aussie wildlife signs!
Stopping off to take snaps en route we were fortunate enough to see wild koalas taking an afternoon nap in the trees but were less lucky with the kangaroo spotting. At one point we were driving on a stretch of road which must have had at least eight dead roos lying along the hard shoulder - road-kill, Aussie style.
It's a hard life!
Anyway on a chirpier note
we arrived in Adelaide with just enough time to head into the Barossa Valley (already having stopped off along the Mornington Peninsula and Coonawarra district on the way down) to sample some of Australia's famous grape juice.
From Adelaide we flew to Alice Springs this morning and having spent the day planning our time here and soaking up the Northern Territory's sun we're all set for a 3 day trip to Uluru/Ayers Rock at 6am tomorrow, hopefully this time with more luck for the kangeroos!
Oooooooooooh looks so nice! I'll have to let Mum now there are new photos up! Glad you are still having fun, never seen Tom look so fresh faced and relaxed! Love x
ReplyDeleteExcellent as ever great to hear all going swimmingly well. Auss & N Zealand not bad places to live esp in comparison with expense damp UK, that is why i am in the sunny Algarve. Lack of culture here, lack of most things at present as economy on its knees. Love Dad xxx
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