When a couple of my former colleagues told me they were headed to Brisbane for work, I immediately exclaimed “Go to Lone Pine! Say hi to the koalas and kangaroos, for me!” I’m what you might call an Australophile (I swear it’s a thing!), and their trip made me realize I’d never shared my many Aussie escapades here on this blog.
Sydney Beginnings
The first visit was so long ago I won’t even admit to the year, but it was around my middle school days. My father had moved to Sydney for a marketing job at Luna Park, living in a suburb called Vaucluse.
For about a month, my brother and I spent our days wandering around Bondi Beach, eating fish & chips, and checking out the city, taking public transportation while dad was at the office. On weekends, we were at the amusement park (of course). We even ventured out to “the bush” – not quite the Outback, but still filled with unique sightings that made us realize how far we were from home.
Cut to 2016: The Love Affair Reignites
Fast forward several years. After vacationing regularly to Europe, I suddenly wondered why Australia hadn’t made its way back on my radar.
As I mentioned in this earlier post, that trip was when Boomerang (my trusty travel marsupial) and I first journeyed abroad together. I was looking for adventure and a re-connection to old experiences, he was looking for always-available eucalyptus leaves and a re-connection to his ancestors’ homeland.
Detour to New Zealand
First stop: Wellington. I’d never been, so why not start with the capital (located on the southern tip of the North Island)? Didja know Wellington is the world’s southernmost capital of a sovereign state? Me either until researching for this blog post. Feel free to use that factoid at your next dinner party.
Looking at a map, I saw how close I was to the South island – how could I be that near and not lay claim to having set foot there?
Answer: I couldn’t.
After a bit of research, I landed on the tiny town of Picton (pop. 5,000) and booked at a B&B called Kippalaw House, run by Margaret and Bill.
I’d read that Margaret was a trained chef who offered culinary classes. I wasn’t about to cook, but I was very ready to eat.
Turned out I was the only guest that night, so they upgraded me to a much larger room. I’d paid for dinner and ordered the fish, but since Margaret had prepped ingredients for multiple options, she just decided I should sample everything. It was so amazing there wasn’t even have belly-space for dessert (a rarity for me), though she sent me off to bed with a bowl of just-picked strawberries that tasted like sugar.
Breakfast the next morning was equally indulgent – omelet, honey, fruits, and vegetables all from their own property. It was worth the 3½-hour ferry just for the meals.
Reuniting With Sydney
Sydney brought back fond recollections and quickly created new ones. I strolled around Circular Quay, the Opera House, the Royal Botanic Garden, the Harbour Bridge, and crossed Pyrmont Bridge to Darling Harbour – plus a day trip to the Blue Mountains.
If you’re planning your own vacation, a few not-to-miss stops:
- Opera House – You can stare from the steps or take the tour with stories of design drama, and engineering miracles
- Bondi Beach – Hop some on-land transportation and head east to this iconic stretch to strut, swim and sunburn in style
- Manly Beach – Grab a ferry from Circular Quay – this area often rivals Bondi for top-beach-billing – check out some great skyline views en route
- Darling Harbour – Restaurants, an aquarium, weekend fireworks and home to Parisi which had some delicious and unusual chocolate-dipped fruit worth every calorie (healthy because…it’s fruit!)
- Harbour Bridge – you can do the BridgeClimb (not for those with acrophobia) or just walk across (free & photo opps aplenty plus less vertigo)
- Sydney Tower Eye/Westfield Eye (formerly Centrepointe when I was a kid) – ride to the top of the tallest structure in Sydney – views abound
- Royal Botanic Gardens – no entry fee, take a book, relax and let the Opera House photobomb your selfies
- Blue Mountains – 1 to 2 hours west of Sydney (driving or train), consider reserving a tour – go for hikes, waterfalls, and the Three Sisters rock formation
Noosa Heads
From Sydney, I flew to the Sunshine Coast and took a shuttle to Noosa Heads – a hidden gem (thanks Fodor’s!). Gorgeous beaches, a small relaxed coastal town and great food – my old emails referenced “incredibly soft sand” and wandering Hastings Street, which runs parallel to the beach and borders Noosa National Park. There are both posh and casual restaurants, shops selling locally-made items (locally-made = Jill is buying something(s) and places to rent surf gear.
Brisbane
Next up, Brissie – and my must-see recommendation, Lone Pine Sanctuary. Back in 2016, it was one of two places in the world where you could hold a koala (they no longer allow it). I bought a pricey-but-worth-it half day behind-the-scenes tour and it turned out I was the solo participant. The guide and I peeked in on the cockatoos, saw some dingoes and went to a birds-of-prey show where I was given a thick glove and some food to place on top – which incented an owl with the sweetest heart-shaped face to come graze. I also was introduced to a rather large snake that gave me a rather snug hug.
Next to the koalas where I held Barney. I learned that male koalas have brown chest patches that emit scent, which they rub on trees to mark territory. Let’s just say I smelled somewhat musky until I could hop in the shower… Feeding the platypuses (worms) was fine, the Tasmanian devils’ diets well…my old email from that day reads “don’t even ask me what they eat”. But offering treats to the friendly kangaroos? Absolute highlight.
Melbourne
On to Melbourne (or Mel-bin if you want to sound local). I stayed at the Adelphi hotel, the world’s first dessert-themed hotel (clearly designed with me in mind).
Be sure to check out Hosier Lane – a pedestrian alley famous for ever-changing vibrant street art and graffiti.
Kangaroo Island & Beyond
After landing at LAX, I called my mom to say I was back in the States. Her immediate responses were to comment on how much fun my trip sounded, as well as “whatever you do, don’t move there” which planted the seed of “wait… I could move there!”.
Several return trips and job interviews later, I learned Australian sponsorship rules are no joke, But in between it all, I managed to squeeze in a few more spots:
- Gold Coast Broadbeach – surf, sand and sunshine, repeat
- Adelaide – I happened to be there during the February Fringe Festival (light installations galore) and stumbled across The Spheres at Rundle Mall (aka Mall’s Balls – they call it like they see it!)
- Kangaroo Island – a quick 20-minutes (once in the air) from Adelaide – the flight attendant still served water and mints (take note U.S. carriers…). Wildlife galore including a sojourn to a sea lion beach (illegal, in many other places, to get so close) and a brush with the rare echidna (no rhinoplasty for these guys)… endless photo opps.
Australia definitely grabbed part of my heart. I might not have dual citizenship (yet!), but in the meantime, Boomerang and I have special memories (and clippy koalas) in abundance.
Dreaming about owning a ‘roo? They’re super cute, but your couch might be transformed into a trampoline.