Let's Off Road....to those Wedding Bells
G'day
My last email from Australia, though have no fear, I will try to summarise my time here in the way I summarised NZ...I'm sure my conclusions will generate 'discussion'!
I last emailed you from Brisbane. It was a bit of shock to the system being back in a major city, after being in the outback or smaller places for the previous two weeks. Brisbane has a lot of Chinese and Korean students. (Indeed, many times during my time in Australia I have been asked whether I was a student - a sign that I need a haircut and some new clothes I guess!) I was also refused entry to a Brisbane bar/restaurant for wearing shorts - metropolitan ponseyness has spread to Australia it seems!
My last big trip in Oz was to Fraser Island, the world's largest sand island. To travel around the island requires a 4WD, as there are no proper roads. I signed up on a 2 day tour. No Chelsea tractors employed here, my vehicle was a proper 4WD, a Landcruiser Troop Carrier, an 11 seater as used by the Australian Army.
http://uk.pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/mfconway@btinternet.com/detail?.dir=a894&.dnm=feb8.jpg&.src=ph
The downside of this go anywhere ruggedness, was that it was desperately uncomfortable, especially for the 8 of us perched on the thin sideways benches at the back! Especially, as it was a FOUR hour journey fro Brisbane to Fraser Island....
Incidentally, the driver guides bore a striking resemblance to the "Let's Off Road" characters from The Fast Show...but with a bit more success thankfully!
Once on the island, the main highway, 75 mile beach, ran along the east of the island, we sped along at 100km/h plus, popping blue bottle jellyfish along the way. The highlight of the first day was Lake Wabby. To get there involved climbing a giant sand dune.
http://uk.pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/mfconway@btinternet.com/detail?.dir=a894&.dnm=94b7.jpg&.src=ph
Once there we were greeted with a lovely lake, with the sand dune on one side, and thick forest on the other.
http://uk.pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/mfconway@btinternet.com/detail?.dir=a894&.dnm=d73a.jpg&.src=ph
On the way back along the beach we saw wild dingoes. I also saw a dingo rooting around later that evening near the 'resort' bar.
http://uk.pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/mfconway@btinternet.com/detail?.dir=a894&.dnm=5f63.jpg&.src=ph
The next day we headed inland, into the thick forest at the heart of the island, being thrown around in the back as the driver ponced around at the wheel. It was worth it though, when we arrived at Lake McKensie. White sand, beautiful clear freshwater, a lovely place to hang around. With such beautiful surroundings, it is common to have a lovely model posing for the camera. Sadly, you will have to make do with me
http://uk.pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/mfconway@btinternet.com/detail?.dir=a894&.dnm=f03a.jpg&.src=ph
From there, after a walk through the forest, it was back on the long and painful journey back to Brisbane. Ouch!
From Brisbane, the next evening I flew to Sydney, but stayed the night in one of those dull airport hotels, as the next morning I flew back to Auckland. It was nice to be back (absence makes the heart grow stronger I guess). I was back in my usual guesthouse in Parnell, so it was nice to catch up - I've now stayed in 3 of the 12 rooms! Parnell is definitely my favourite part of Auckland, attractive and convenient for the centre. I was a bit under the weather and feverish around this time, adrenalin and alcohol got me through!
I was back for Tim and April's wedding, held high in the scenic Waitakere Ranges. Being the true traveller, I had managed to work out how to get there by public transport (not easy in NZ I assure you), so the next day I boarded a train for Swanson where I got a taxi for the final journey to the venue.
The wedding was a lovely, informal occasion. I won't steal Tim and April's thunder by showing my photos yet, suffice to say the dress was simple and stylish, though I had expected April to wear it rather than Tim! Seriously, Tim was wearing something far more shocking, a suit and tie!!! I think he should be made to come to work like that, what do you think Pitt? Tim's brother Andrew is a winemaker, and he provided the wines. Naturally I had to give them a thorough testing (I'm not into snap judgements), and I'm happy to conclude that after a comprehensive evaluation, they're very good!
The next day, I visited the Auckland museum again to see the bits I missed back in January. The highlight was a realistic simulation of Auckland being destroyed by a dramatic volcanic eruption - created by a South Islander no doubt! From there I strolled down to Mink bar, to meet up with the wedding party again for the post wedding rendezvous, then coincidentally later met up again in the same venue with another of my kiwi relatives, Emily.
After this frenetic kiwi interlude, back to Oz again (a horrible flight over the Tasman, very turbulent, though the Air NZ plastic cutlery was very good, so I kept it for future use). In Sydney again, I visited the brilliant aquarium - probably the best I've been to (and there've been many).
The next day I headed out of town to the Blue Mountains on the train. There I based myself in Katoomba in a charismatic B&B (i.e. old and run down, but in a nice way!), and enjoyed the stunning scenery.
http://uk.pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/mfconway@btinternet.com/detail?.dir=10dascd&.dnm=6f93scd.jpg&.src=ph
As this was ANZAC day, a public holiday, everywhere was crowded, with lots of families everywhere. Near Katoomba is Scenicworld, with a the world's steepest incline railway down into the valley (this used to be used for coal), a cable car up and down and one over the top with a see through floor in the middle! All good fun, but it was nice to get away from this commercialism and see some of the stunning beauty for myself. These are the famous Three Sisters.
http://uk.pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/mfconway@btinternet.com/detail?.dir=10dascd&.dnm=26efscd.jpg&.src=ph
http://uk.pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/mfconway@btinternet.com/detail?.dir=10dascd&.dnm=5c5fscd.jpg&.src=ph
There are lots of beautiful walks in the area, away from the 'coach stops' the crowds quickly disperse. The following day (today) I visited Wentworth falls, walking along the Charles Darwin Walk (he walked along this path in 1836, albeit in somewhat harder conditions!) to get there, then taking various walks around (and partially under) the cliffs. Quite strenous at times, but stunning vistas.
http://uk.pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/mfconway@btinternet.com/detail?.dir=10dascd&.dnm=6c4dscd.jpg&.src=ph
http://uk.pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/mfconway@btinternet.com/detail?.dir=10dascd&.dnm=37f9scd.jpg&.src=ph
http://uk.pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/mfconway@btinternet.com/detail?.dir=10dascd&.dnm=8275scd.jpg&.src=ph
Anyway, that's more than enough from me. I fly to Asia (Singapore) tomorrow (Thursday) to start the next phase of my adventure. The weather in the Blue Mountains was pretty cold at night, but I can safely say I won't be needing my fleece for a few weeks now!
Mike
My last email from Australia, though have no fear, I will try to summarise my time here in the way I summarised NZ...I'm sure my conclusions will generate 'discussion'!
I last emailed you from Brisbane. It was a bit of shock to the system being back in a major city, after being in the outback or smaller places for the previous two weeks. Brisbane has a lot of Chinese and Korean students. (Indeed, many times during my time in Australia I have been asked whether I was a student - a sign that I need a haircut and some new clothes I guess!) I was also refused entry to a Brisbane bar/restaurant for wearing shorts - metropolitan ponseyness has spread to Australia it seems!
My last big trip in Oz was to Fraser Island, the world's largest sand island. To travel around the island requires a 4WD, as there are no proper roads. I signed up on a 2 day tour. No Chelsea tractors employed here, my vehicle was a proper 4WD, a Landcruiser Troop Carrier, an 11 seater as used by the Australian Army.
http://uk.pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/mfconway@btinternet.com/detail?.dir=a894&.dnm=feb8.jpg&.src=ph
The downside of this go anywhere ruggedness, was that it was desperately uncomfortable, especially for the 8 of us perched on the thin sideways benches at the back! Especially, as it was a FOUR hour journey fro Brisbane to Fraser Island....
Incidentally, the driver guides bore a striking resemblance to the "Let's Off Road" characters from The Fast Show...but with a bit more success thankfully!
Once on the island, the main highway, 75 mile beach, ran along the east of the island, we sped along at 100km/h plus, popping blue bottle jellyfish along the way. The highlight of the first day was Lake Wabby. To get there involved climbing a giant sand dune.
http://uk.pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/mfconway@btinternet.com/detail?.dir=a894&.dnm=94b7.jpg&.src=ph
Once there we were greeted with a lovely lake, with the sand dune on one side, and thick forest on the other.
http://uk.pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/mfconway@btinternet.com/detail?.dir=a894&.dnm=d73a.jpg&.src=ph
On the way back along the beach we saw wild dingoes. I also saw a dingo rooting around later that evening near the 'resort' bar.
http://uk.pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/mfconway@btinternet.com/detail?.dir=a894&.dnm=5f63.jpg&.src=ph
The next day we headed inland, into the thick forest at the heart of the island, being thrown around in the back as the driver ponced around at the wheel. It was worth it though, when we arrived at Lake McKensie. White sand, beautiful clear freshwater, a lovely place to hang around. With such beautiful surroundings, it is common to have a lovely model posing for the camera. Sadly, you will have to make do with me
http://uk.pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/mfconway@btinternet.com/detail?.dir=a894&.dnm=f03a.jpg&.src=ph
From there, after a walk through the forest, it was back on the long and painful journey back to Brisbane. Ouch!
From Brisbane, the next evening I flew to Sydney, but stayed the night in one of those dull airport hotels, as the next morning I flew back to Auckland. It was nice to be back (absence makes the heart grow stronger I guess). I was back in my usual guesthouse in Parnell, so it was nice to catch up - I've now stayed in 3 of the 12 rooms! Parnell is definitely my favourite part of Auckland, attractive and convenient for the centre. I was a bit under the weather and feverish around this time, adrenalin and alcohol got me through!
I was back for Tim and April's wedding, held high in the scenic Waitakere Ranges. Being the true traveller, I had managed to work out how to get there by public transport (not easy in NZ I assure you), so the next day I boarded a train for Swanson where I got a taxi for the final journey to the venue.
The wedding was a lovely, informal occasion. I won't steal Tim and April's thunder by showing my photos yet, suffice to say the dress was simple and stylish, though I had expected April to wear it rather than Tim! Seriously, Tim was wearing something far more shocking, a suit and tie!!! I think he should be made to come to work like that, what do you think Pitt? Tim's brother Andrew is a winemaker, and he provided the wines. Naturally I had to give them a thorough testing (I'm not into snap judgements), and I'm happy to conclude that after a comprehensive evaluation, they're very good!
The next day, I visited the Auckland museum again to see the bits I missed back in January. The highlight was a realistic simulation of Auckland being destroyed by a dramatic volcanic eruption - created by a South Islander no doubt! From there I strolled down to Mink bar, to meet up with the wedding party again for the post wedding rendezvous, then coincidentally later met up again in the same venue with another of my kiwi relatives, Emily.
After this frenetic kiwi interlude, back to Oz again (a horrible flight over the Tasman, very turbulent, though the Air NZ plastic cutlery was very good, so I kept it for future use). In Sydney again, I visited the brilliant aquarium - probably the best I've been to (and there've been many).
The next day I headed out of town to the Blue Mountains on the train. There I based myself in Katoomba in a charismatic B&B (i.e. old and run down, but in a nice way!), and enjoyed the stunning scenery.
http://uk.pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/mfconway@btinternet.com/detail?.dir=10dascd&.dnm=6f93scd.jpg&.src=ph
As this was ANZAC day, a public holiday, everywhere was crowded, with lots of families everywhere. Near Katoomba is Scenicworld, with a the world's steepest incline railway down into the valley (this used to be used for coal), a cable car up and down and one over the top with a see through floor in the middle! All good fun, but it was nice to get away from this commercialism and see some of the stunning beauty for myself. These are the famous Three Sisters.
http://uk.pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/mfconway@btinternet.com/detail?.dir=10dascd&.dnm=26efscd.jpg&.src=ph
http://uk.pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/mfconway@btinternet.com/detail?.dir=10dascd&.dnm=5c5fscd.jpg&.src=ph
There are lots of beautiful walks in the area, away from the 'coach stops' the crowds quickly disperse. The following day (today) I visited Wentworth falls, walking along the Charles Darwin Walk (he walked along this path in 1836, albeit in somewhat harder conditions!) to get there, then taking various walks around (and partially under) the cliffs. Quite strenous at times, but stunning vistas.
http://uk.pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/mfconway@btinternet.com/detail?.dir=10dascd&.dnm=6c4dscd.jpg&.src=ph
http://uk.pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/mfconway@btinternet.com/detail?.dir=10dascd&.dnm=37f9scd.jpg&.src=ph
http://uk.pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/mfconway@btinternet.com/detail?.dir=10dascd&.dnm=8275scd.jpg&.src=ph
Anyway, that's more than enough from me. I fly to Asia (Singapore) tomorrow (Thursday) to start the next phase of my adventure. The weather in the Blue Mountains was pretty cold at night, but I can safely say I won't be needing my fleece for a few weeks now!
Mike
posted by Michael Conway at
1:26 pm
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