Christmas in Adelaide

A sensational few days with Batman and the family in Adelaide

Dinner with the neighbours, Ziah, Trudi and Kim (23 December):

Christmas day festivities:

Melbourne

Hmm...we didn't seem to accomplish an awful lot in Melbourne on this trip. Thanks to the wonderful hospitality of Frazier and Kelly we kicked back in Bamfield Road and managed to catch up on some admin, as well as keeping an eye on the lettuces and tomatoes while F&K went back to Aotearoa to beautify themselves for their big day.

We'll be returning to Melbourne in January for the Australian Open, and just possibly, finding somewhere to live - so there will no doubt be more photos to view at that stage.

Canberra

We conquered an impressive list of tourist attractions in the capital: Parliaments old and new, the National War memorial, the Australian Institute of Sport, the High Court of Australia, the National Gallery, the National Library and the National McDonalds.  True to it's reputation, Canberra appears to lack a punchy personality but we did find the city extremely interesting and tourist friendly. The displays answered some of our questions about the many layers of the over-engineered Australian political system.  The lawmaking here is awful: in the last two months the federal government has passed retro-active legislation, a ridiculous tax on the countries most productive industry and a half baked carbon tax. It seems crazy that a country with such an enterprising history and people needs so many rules and so many rule-makers.  

View from National War Memorial toward Parliament

Senator Elliott

Sydney & The Blue Mountains

We had a lot of rain in the Blue Mountains which did not improve the suntan but did give life to the many waterfalls.  The National Pass rates as one of the better day walks we have had the pleasure of doing - a great deal of credit must go to the brave chaps who had the foresight to build tracks in such precarious locations in the early 1900's.

Rain prevented any decent photos from our short stay in Sydney but we did enjoy soaking up the atmosphere of the inner suburbs with Susan and Jim.  We saw the northern beaches at their best in some rare sunlight and having a swim in the ocean pool at Collaroy was an invigorating way to end our time in Sydney.

Blue Mountains - the Three Sisters

Blue Mountains - national pass

Blue Mountains - national pass

Bondi - Bronte walk

Collaroy beach

Swimming in Collaroy beach's fantastic ocean pool

Surfers and Brisbane

We engineered our itinerary to be in Brisbane for the first NZ v Australia cricket test.  While rain and - inexcusably - light cut short the days play, it was quite exciting to see the next generations from both teams in the early stages of their careers.  We spent some good times with friends and family in Brisbane and Surfers and also squeezed in day trips to Sea World and to Lamington National Park.

Burleigh Heads

Burleigh Heads

Sea World

Sea World

Tourists feeding (and tormenting) the Rays at Sea World

Shark World!

The Gabba

Images of Byron Bay

Queensland

We turned east at Three Way and headed for the civilisation of Queensland.  We were sad to cut short the Northern Territory section of our trip but the brewing rain and our desire to check out the east coast meant it best to return another time. 

Queensland has been great. The highlights of our first stint here have been:

• Getting to grips with mining in Mt Isa
• Catching up with family in Dalby
• Swimming and walking in perfect weather in Noosa
• A day trip to the Irwin's Australia Zoo
• A day trip in a 4wd through Fraser island.

Goodbye to the 50m roadtrains

Mt Isa - city on a mine

Walking in the Bunya mountains with Aunty Shirley

Noosa main beach

Sunshine beach Noosa

Australia Zoo

Rainbow beach

Lake Mackenzie, Fraser Island

Alice Springs

We spent a really good week in Alice.  Geographically, it sits in the middle of the country but it also plays a central role in much of the history of explorers, transport and communications. The main highlights of our trip were:

• The Desert Park showcasing different desert environments, reptiles, birds and mammals
• Sleeping under the southern cross in our swags in Ormiston gorge
• Checking out all the spectacular spots along the Macdonnell ranges
• Cycling to the Alice Springs Telegraph station
• Checking out the Cultural precinct including the Araleun gallery and the Aviation history of the town
• A great cafe in Todd mall

Royal Flying Doctors Service

Thorny devil!

Simpson's gap

Stanley's Chasm

Ellery Creek big hole

Kipping down in our swags - Ormiston gorge

Ormiston gorge

Ormiston gorge

Cooling off in Ormiston Gorge

Devil's Marbles