Australia - Going Downunder

Mummy and daddy decided to travel to the other side of the world to Australia. This was in 1999 before PJ the Puppy came to live with us. I wasn't allowed to go as no puppies were allowed on this holiday...

The plane was delayed, not by much, but long enough to mean that we would miss our connection in Singapore. Damn, we would have to spend 12 hours in a five star hotel and have lunch and an evening meal there, and rest in a wonderful hotel room courtesy of the Airline. After 36 hours we finally arrived in Sydney, Australia feeling totally zonked! Our first purchase in this wonderful country was an umbrella, it was pouring down just like in dear old blighty. At least it only lasted one day, then the sun came out...

Sydney

After the first day we didn't see the rain again so we went off exploring. I loved Sydney. It is a busy city but very picturesque and the harbour was beautiful. First we stopped off at the Botanical Gardens where we were encouraged to "hug the tree's" - so I did just that.

Then just around the bend stood Sydney Opera House.

Just a short ferry ride from Circular Quay across the harbour was Taronga Zoo where we met some of the natives (and not so native) of Australia.

One of the highlights in Sydney for us was climbing Sydney Harbour Bridge. I wasn't looking forward to it at all but once we were kitted up in our trendy grey suits and we'd passed the breathalyser tests (no dutch courage allowed!) we were off and I was having the time of my life. The Bridgeclimb took 3 hours and we went right to the top of the bridge which is 130 metres above sea level. Bridgeclimb

We also decided to take a helicopter ride over Sydney. It was my second time in a helicopter and it was still a little bit scarey but it was well worth it.

We flew over Sydney and got our first glimpse of the Olympic stadium and village which was still being built. We went along the coastline and saw Bondi Beach, Coogee and Manley. We got some fantastic views of the harbour, Opera House, Sydney Harbour Bridge and Darling Harbour. All in all it took about 35 minutes.

During our 8 day stay in Sydney we also went to the Sydney Aquarium where we got to see a duck-billed platypus and quite a few sharks. We also went to the Art Gallery for a bit of culture, the Revolving Sydney Tower Restaurant, Jenolan Caves and the Blue Mountains.

After spending a fantastic week in Sydney we began a six day tour called Barrier Reef and Red Centre Discovery. We began by flying from Sydney to Ayers Rock Airport in Central Australia.

Ayers Rock or Uluru

We had chosen a tour for this part of our holiday and the tour guides were really friendly and jolly. Day one saw us visiting Kata Tjuta, the massive series of conglomerate domes commonly known as The Olgas. We got a running commentary travelling around central Australia, including a good explanation of conglomerate rocks being described as 'fruit cake' and Ayers Rock as a 'sponge cake'. I think sponge cake is a bit of an understatement for Ayers Rock but we understood what he was getting at! We spent some time exploring the rock formations then headed for sunset strip, a short distance from Uluru to watch the effects of the setting sun on the colours of Uluru.

Day two and we had to get up very early for our trip to Ayers Rock or Uluru as it is also known, so that we could watch the rock change colour as the sun rose. It was very cold as we all stood in rows watching a large lump of rock. The tour guide assured us that if we took photo's a different times we would see the different colours when we had the film developed back home and guess what...he was right!

The next part of the tour involved climbing Ayers rock. The first thing that was pointed out to us as we approached the rock was the plaques commemorating those that had died climbing the rock! Then there were the warnings about heart attacks and general health problems. It wasn't very comforting as we started to climb. I think this was one of the scariest points in my life. On the way up I had to stop and rest as it felt like my heart and lungs were going to leap out of my chest and I felt extremely unfit (unlike Adam!). It was also scarey resting as you realised how steep the slope was in places and that you had nothing to hold on to. Eventually I caught up with Adam who had raced ahead and we headed for the top. When we got close to the top it suddenly became extremely windy. It was very strange. We made it to the top! The climb had been worth it. You could see miles upon miles of nothingness and you realised what a vast country this was.

Climbing down was much easier especially when you use your bottom!

From Ayers rock we headed off to the Uluru-KataCultural Centre before returning back to the hotel for a much needed rest after our climb. In the afternoon we set off for Kings Canyon where we went on a guided tour (and rocky climb). The tour guide was excellent as ever and the views were fantastic. It wasn't as hard work as climbing Ayers rock and not half as stressful even if there was some climbing to do! Next we were on a coach to Alice Springs for an over night stop and then the next day we set off for Cairns. The tour guide did say it would be a bit of a bumpy ride but I didn't realise how bumpy. We set off into the Australian Outback and at one point the coach broke down. The driver didn't seem concerned at all and just went to the engine replaced a belt that had come off with all the shaking and we were off again. I think that's one of the great thin about Australians, they are so laid back and nothing seems to fluster them.

Cairns

When we arrived in Cairns we had just one day of our tour left and that was on Quicksilver to The Great Barrier Reef. We went to Agincourt Reef where we say tropical fish from a semi-submersible boat (or vessel I guess is the correct term!). It was a memorable place and not just because of how amazing the reef was it was also memorable for me as I was a little bit seasick!

Our six day tour had ended so we booked a few trips of our own. First we booked a day trip to Undara Lava Tubes however when we booked it we hadn't the faintest idea how far away it was. I guess we forgot that we come from a very small country and we were now in a very large country where the concept of distance is very different. We travalled by coach for more than 4 hours and for the whole journey we had a running commentary. The coach driver knew absolutely everything, about every place, ant hill, plant, agricultural tips, he just never stopped talking. Eventually we were there and we had a fantastic lunch outdoors with Kookaburra's watching our every move and swooping on our uncovered lunch. Next we had a tour of the Tubes which had been formed by volcanic lava. It was something totally different and we really enjoyed it.

It was late as we started to back in our coach and we didn't expect a commentary on the way home as we were travelling back the way we had come. How wrong we were. We got a full 4 hour commentary going home too. He certainly knew how to talk!

Our next trip was a 'rainforest experience' to Kuranda. We headed up through the mountains by coach and then changed our transport for a 'Duck' that could travel on land and water, it was great fun! We also met some more of the natives.

We headed back down by the Skyrail. (Technical Details of the Skyrail.)The trip took us above the Wet Tropics Heritage Centre.

All to soon it was time to go home but we couldn't resist taking a few friends home with us.

Patrick the Puppy was a little curious at first...

and then...it was the Attack of the Koala's.

Humph, very funny mummy.

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