About 2 months have passed since I wrote on the blog last time. Much has happened since then, I'll try and tell you as much as I can.
Leaving Melbourne
We had bought the car and we loaded it full with camping gear that Aaran already had laying about in his mom's garage. We knew that we would not have any very long drives, we would take our time and stop in places along the way all the way up. The trip would go along the east coast, finish in Cairns where we would sell the car and then fly to New Zealand. Not much more planned.
First Aaran and I had to say goodbye to his family and friends. It was not easy, but inevitable. His mom decided to come to Sweden next summer which gave us all something to look forward to.
First Aaran and I had to say goodbye to his family and friends. It was not easy, but inevitable. His mom decided to come to Sweden next summer which gave us all something to look forward to.
The first stop on the road eastward was at Aaran's aunt's place in Inverlock. Just 2 hrs east of Melb, it was an easy drive. We spent a few days there, it's a little cosy beach town. From there we drove to Wilson's promonotory, a national park on a peninsula. It was beautiful, but it rained quite a bit. It turned out that this rain weather was going to follow us for some time. We visited some beachtowns on the way up towards sydney. When we were in Merimbula, a great place in nice weather according to Aaran, our tent got flushed away and it was impossible for us to sleep in it, we slept in the car but decided to go inald and seek better weather. Aaran's friend Bec and her bf Ed lives in Canberra so we visited them for 3 days. We got our own room in their house and had many evenings just eating good food and drinking wine. Canberra turned out to be a nice city. Maybe because everyone had made sure to tell us that it wasn't beforehand it made a good impression on us. And of course after a week in the rain we finally got sunshine. The art gallery had a special exhibition with french impressionists, the biggest thing in Canberra that year it seemed. We visited almost all galleries and museums. The war memorial was beautiful. The whole city was constructed in almost one go. Reading a map over canberra is like looking at some inexplicable artwork made by aliens. It is all circles within circles.
To be honest, Aaran drove most of the time on the trip. I drove the car in Melbourne and it scared me. It is better on the country roads, but that first time on the left hand side in peak traffic and a lot of lanes and exits coming up on you from nowhere. It just wasn't enjoyable. So instead I became the map reader.
To be honest, Aaran drove most of the time on the trip. I drove the car in Melbourne and it scared me. It is better on the country roads, but that first time on the left hand side in peak traffic and a lot of lanes and exits coming up on you from nowhere. It just wasn't enjoyable. So instead I became the map reader.
Toward Sydney
We were going to climb Mt Koziusco, but because of the rain it was pretty much closed. We headed to the coast again instead to Batemans bay, which was an alright place, but not that great.
On our way to the Blue mountains, we went through many gorgeous coastal towns. The coast just south of Sydney is really nice. There are lots of wineries along the way and dramatic nature. We were driving on winding roads up on cliffs looking down on clear blue waters and white beaches.
The Blue mountains lay just west of Sydney and we planned to stay there for some days before going to the city. It was beautiful in the mountains. There were many lookouts where we could see over the mountain tops and down into the valley. We stopped at a big waterfall, the wentworth falls, which was incredible. Half way down the waterfall there was a natural pool where we swam. We went for a hike down one of the valleys. We went down the mountain side where water dripped from different waterfalls and trees were clingning on for their lifes. Down the valley was dense gum forest. We followed a creek to our camp and took swimming breaks every now and then to cope with the heat. When swimming we had company by a big Water dragon, a lizard, sitting oin a rock next to us. We camped one night at the bottom of the valley and climbed up the mountain the day after.
Camping in nature is one of the great experiences we've had in Australia. The climate is good for it and it is available in almost all the national parks. The best is when you get a spot near a swimming hole and when you can light a camp fire at night. In some of the places we've camped we've been almost alone and in some places we've been surprised of how many others there'd been. There's almost always some kind of interaction with animals. Brush turkeys or possums coming near you, smelling your food. In some places you can absolutely not have any food in the tent or the dingoes or wombats will rip it open to get to it. When not hiking we always put the food in the car.
On our way to the Blue mountains, we went through many gorgeous coastal towns. The coast just south of Sydney is really nice. There are lots of wineries along the way and dramatic nature. We were driving on winding roads up on cliffs looking down on clear blue waters and white beaches.
The Blue mountains lay just west of Sydney and we planned to stay there for some days before going to the city. It was beautiful in the mountains. There were many lookouts where we could see over the mountain tops and down into the valley. We stopped at a big waterfall, the wentworth falls, which was incredible. Half way down the waterfall there was a natural pool where we swam. We went for a hike down one of the valleys. We went down the mountain side where water dripped from different waterfalls and trees were clingning on for their lifes. Down the valley was dense gum forest. We followed a creek to our camp and took swimming breaks every now and then to cope with the heat. When swimming we had company by a big Water dragon, a lizard, sitting oin a rock next to us. We camped one night at the bottom of the valley and climbed up the mountain the day after.
Camping in nature is one of the great experiences we've had in Australia. The climate is good for it and it is available in almost all the national parks. The best is when you get a spot near a swimming hole and when you can light a camp fire at night. In some of the places we've camped we've been almost alone and in some places we've been surprised of how many others there'd been. There's almost always some kind of interaction with animals. Brush turkeys or possums coming near you, smelling your food. In some places you can absolutely not have any food in the tent or the dingoes or wombats will rip it open to get to it. When not hiking we always put the food in the car.
Mont couldn't have us longer since he himself was going back to Melb. We moved to a hostel in the middle of the city.
We stayed near to china town and the Hay market. The hostel was Korean run and most guests seemed to come from there. I really liked China town and the market, it was almost as coming back to south east asia. We bought heaps of lovelly vegetables and fresh noodles and made stir fry everyday we were in Sydney, we had missed it from our time in Asia.
We spent our days in Sydney sightseeing, just walking around alot. The highlights of the city is the Anzac park, China town, Bondai and the harbour. It was a nice city, but I think that none of the Australian cities are anything in comparison with the cities in Europe. My friend Annika has a friend in Sydney, Pernilla, so we organized to meet up with her and her boyfriend in Bondi beach. Jamie and Vicky joined us and we all had a barbie on the beach. That night we went to see the mardi gras. It is like the love parade we have in Sweden. It is all about different groups of gay and lesbians in Sydney to parade in skimpy outfits to disco music while promoting equal rights. There were 10.000s of thousands of people everywhere, caotic, but fun. Pernilla and Chris showed us a nice little pub afterwards.
Oh and the Opera house. From a distance it is a cool building, the shape is distinct, like nothing else in the city, breaking all the lines with its wedge shapes. And I really like that it is white and shiny. Close up it is not as stunning. Unfortunately it is a strange compromise of space, the white shapes coming down, merging into something brown and heavy. It is in a great spot, water on 3 sides of it and you see it when coming from the botanical gardens. I just didn't like it that much. It wasn't that exciting. I've seen some documentraies on the design and making of it and I know that the result is not what the architect intended, as in so many cases economy and politics decided the final outcome. Maybe that is a pity.
After the city we went to Manley. It is it's own place altough it counts as a northern suburb. I wouldn't say that it is Sydney. It is a really nice little surf town with a nice marina and a laid back feeling. the only thing that makes you feel close to the city is the view you have on top of a hill over the city skyline. We stayed there for a couple of nights. There was no camping and the hostel was expensive, otherwhise great place.
Traveling in Ausralia is not cheap. Comparing prices you notice that many of them are equivalent to Sweden. Petrol is cheaper in Australia and bread. Produce, all the veges and fruits are same price as Sweden, and everything is locally produced in Australia. I guess in Sweden we buy it from all the less developed countries for really nothing to make it worth selling in Sweden. Acomodation is about the same as Sweden. Camping in Sweden is probably cheaper, also we have the "allemansratten", free camping anywhere in the bush...
The price to eat in restaurants and go to the cinema is similar to Sweden. To buy drinks in a bar is a bit cheaper here in Australia.
The things you look for as a backpacker is cheap accomodation, free parking, a cheap supermarket, free internet. Anything free really :) . And you are always looking for a good time.
Aaran and I, being a couple of years older than the average backpacker, had agreat time staying at remote campsites, and away from the pub crawls and beer stinking hostels. Rather wake up early by the sounds of different exotic birds, looking over the ocean while making morning coffe.
To leave Sydney and go back to life in nature was a relief.
*Next blog will come shortly, then I'll write about the rest of the road trip!*
Oh and the Opera house. From a distance it is a cool building, the shape is distinct, like nothing else in the city, breaking all the lines with its wedge shapes. And I really like that it is white and shiny. Close up it is not as stunning. Unfortunately it is a strange compromise of space, the white shapes coming down, merging into something brown and heavy. It is in a great spot, water on 3 sides of it and you see it when coming from the botanical gardens. I just didn't like it that much. It wasn't that exciting. I've seen some documentraies on the design and making of it and I know that the result is not what the architect intended, as in so many cases economy and politics decided the final outcome. Maybe that is a pity.
After the city we went to Manley. It is it's own place altough it counts as a northern suburb. I wouldn't say that it is Sydney. It is a really nice little surf town with a nice marina and a laid back feeling. the only thing that makes you feel close to the city is the view you have on top of a hill over the city skyline. We stayed there for a couple of nights. There was no camping and the hostel was expensive, otherwhise great place.
Traveling in Ausralia is not cheap. Comparing prices you notice that many of them are equivalent to Sweden. Petrol is cheaper in Australia and bread. Produce, all the veges and fruits are same price as Sweden, and everything is locally produced in Australia. I guess in Sweden we buy it from all the less developed countries for really nothing to make it worth selling in Sweden. Acomodation is about the same as Sweden. Camping in Sweden is probably cheaper, also we have the "allemansratten", free camping anywhere in the bush...
The price to eat in restaurants and go to the cinema is similar to Sweden. To buy drinks in a bar is a bit cheaper here in Australia.
The things you look for as a backpacker is cheap accomodation, free parking, a cheap supermarket, free internet. Anything free really :) . And you are always looking for a good time.
Aaran and I, being a couple of years older than the average backpacker, had agreat time staying at remote campsites, and away from the pub crawls and beer stinking hostels. Rather wake up early by the sounds of different exotic birds, looking over the ocean while making morning coffe.
To leave Sydney and go back to life in nature was a relief.
*Next blog will come shortly, then I'll write about the rest of the road trip!*
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