WhyNotFoto Around the World: Aussie Aussie Aussie, Go Go Go

I've now been to Australia twice and I'd have no problem going back again. It's an easy vacation. Seriously. It would certainly be a long flight to get there, and potentially cause a bit of jet lag, but that would be the only inconvenience once on the ground. When you consider that you could fly just as long to get to Africa or Asia, not speak the same language and have loads of other logistical nightmares, Australia is easy, and just as beautiful as any place in the world. Even though they don't finish their words (ending quite a few of them with -ie), they do speak the same language, the food is familiar, driving is easy (though on the left side of the road), and the scenery is amazing.

I've spent a bit of time trying to mentally construct a 1 week itinerary for those lacking sufficient vacation time to truly explore that continent/country. First off, many people aren't aware, but Australia is basically the same size as the USA. All of the cities are around the perimeter and the Outback occupies the entire middle of the continent. So, just as thoroughly exploring the USA is impossible to do in 1 week, so too is Australia. You could easily spend a week just about anywhere I describe below, but if you've flown so far to get there, I wouldn't necessarily spend your entire vacation in just 1 place. Splitting a week between Sydney and Melbourne is an option. This would include time spent exploring Sydney Harbor and surrounding beaches as well as the stunningly beautiful Great Ocean Road in Melbourne. If you're ultra ambitious, you could also include the extremely picturesque east coast of Tasmania to your time spent in Sydney and Melbourne, and be quite content with your Australian experience. Flights between Sydney, Melbourne, and Tasmania are cheap and of short duration, so you could feasibly combine all 3 if you really traveled fast. Having at least 10 days would be ideal though.

If those areas don't pique your interest, you could also tailor a vacation to include time exploring the Outback, soaking in the sun on the many beautiful beaches of the Gold Coast, or plunge beneath the sea to experience the dizzying array of colors and wildlife of the Great Barrier Reef. (You can reference this post from 2012 for Great Ocean Road, Gold Coast, and Great Barrier Reef images). No matter how you decide to split your time in Australia, it won't be cheap, but it's a vacation definitely worth taking.

Our 2015 trip to Australia was somewhat impromptu. We had no 2015 travel plans when we began our travels in 2014. However, during our trip to Morocco, we met a couple from Tasmania, and a solo female traveler from Perth. When we assessed our finances, travel fatigue, and continued lack of employment desire at the end of 2014, we decided a trip to Australia made the most sense for us. Airfare wasn't cheap from London, but we were able to visit friends in Sydney, Melbourne, Perth, and Tasmania. This meant lodging would be extremely cheap, food costs would be slightly cheaper, and most importantly, we'd get to visit friends.

We spent our first few days in Sydney. We climbed the Sydney Harbor Bridge, experienced the iconic Sydney Opera House, and swam at the famous Bondi Beach. We were also able to spend an evening with a friend whom we'd met during our travels through India.

Our next 2 weeks were spent in Melbourne working on an organic farm owned by the family of a friend of mine I'd met in Switzerland almost 8 years ago during my first backpacking adventure. We were able to live for free, and eat all the organic produce we desired in exchange for working on the farm. It was an ideal way to spend 2 weeks for many reasons. During our days off, I was able to show Sara the Great Ocean Road, and I got to tick off a bucket list item by going to the Australian Open. After working one of our many farmers markets, I even got to meet up with another buddy of mine who was my roommate during the Inca Trail hike.

Once we left Melbourne, we headed to Tasmania for 2 weeks in order to spend time with the couple we'd met in Morocco. When we first made our intentions to visit Australia known, they sent us a pdf brochure outlining why we should visit Tasmania along with various potential itineraries. How could we say no? They drove us around the island for 2 weeks, the scenery was amazing, their families were generous hosts, and we solidified our friendship. Sara and I were blown away with their generosity and hospitality. We can only hope to repay them someday if they make it to the east coast.

We finished our trip through Australia with a visit to Perth. We stayed there for a week while catching up with another friend made during our trip to Morocco. We were quite lazy during our visit to Perth, but when we did get out, Perth had some beautiful beaches, a vibrant city scene, and an amazingly quirky art festival. It was the perfect way to conclude the international portion of our travels.

We've since been to Kauai, Hawaii, to visit our wedding photographer, and most recently, Washington state visiting family and friends. We spent a few days in Seattle with my cousin and her husband, and got to meet up with some travel PT friends of mine as well. We have spent the last 10 days in Yelm with Sara's brother and fiancee, and while on a weekend trip to Portland, I got to spend time with a friend made during my adventure to Ankgor Wat and my roommate on the Antarctica cruise. Without even realizing it before typing this post, in these last 2 months, I've gotten the chance to spend time with friends I've made during my travels to all 7 continents. In a nutshell, that is the best part about world travel.

We certainly haven't missed the horrendous east coast winter this year, but in another couple of days we get even closer to home. Sara will fly to New York to visit her parents, and I will fly to New Orleans to start a 1 week southern road trip, where I will also be visiting family and friends before heading up to New York to spend time with Sara and the in-laws. My return to the work force is rapidly approaching as I start on April 6th. It will be nice to have income again but I will always look forward to that next adventure and the next opportunity to get together with friends made during all of these adventures. Cheers.

Sydney Opera House and Bridge. We climbed to the apex of the bridge and had amazing views the day before when the skies were bluer than blue.

This was an interactive art exhibit in Sydney.

These are the remains of the prison at Port Arthur, Tasmania. Great Britain sent all of their convicts here as they were settling on the continent.

She looks good in prison stripes as well.

Tasmanian coastline.

More coastline.

Tessellated Pavement in Tasmania. It's too complicated to explain how the rocks formed in this manner, but it is completely done by nature.

Russell Falls

Horseshoe Falls

Baby Echidna

Views during our hike around Lake St. Clair.

Cape Sorrell lighthouse in Macquarie Harbor.

Scenic reflection standing upon Sara Island, which was another British prisoner camp. Ironically, I'm also currently living on Sara Island.

Some of the flora in the temperate rainforest.

The sand was a bit soft for really good sledding, but Sara gave it a go anyway until she tired of walking up the dunes.

Sunset in Strahan, Tasmania.

Same sunset

This shack is a common beach home in the town of Strahan. It's an eclectic mish mosh of materials to both make and furnish the house. It was quite cozy, and our home for 2 nights.

Tons of amazing hikes around this lake with amazing views of Cradle Mountain.

Murals covered the buildings in the town of Sheffield.

Old school gas pump.

Emu

Tasmanian Devils

Sunrise at Binalong Bay in the Bay of Fires. The orange color comes from a lichen and is an amazing photographic addition to every photo in the region.