Leaving Sydney
We have had a fab few days whilst staying with Jodie and her funny housemates - big thanks for letting us stay, guys! We've walked over Harbour bridge, seen the opera house (that is celebrating 40 years this year!), stayed at a horrible hostel (Dury House Backpackers in Kings Cross) and then moved to Chippendale to stay for a few days. I made meatballs and Daniel made mash and treated the house. We've been to Manly and Bondi beach , Darling Harbour, North Sydney and China Town. Yesterday we went to a fantastic bar where talented musicians jammed together and freestyled and solo'd. SO COOL!
Tonight we're leaving, another 12,5h night bus trip to Byron Bay. We're heading up towards big spider country...... Haha.
Laters!
- Nastasja
Animals - Djur
Vi har sett en hel del djur pa de 4 veckor vi har varit i Australien, vi kommer antagligen se annu fler men har kommer en bildbomb med blandade bilder fran olika stallen, i det fria eller instangda
// Daniel
Great Ocean Road
Picture bomb from our tour along the Great Ocean Road between Adelaide and Melbourne! It took us three days and two nights. We had some great views and a good time except that it rained two out of three days
MacKenzie falls - The Grampians
Jaws of death - The Grampians lookout place thing
After a 1 hour morning walk we arrived at the top of a moutain in Hall's Gap
Then we finally arrived to the coast
London Bridge
12 Apostles (But really it's only 7 of them left)
We made a stop at Koala Cove and made friends with all the birds
We made a stop in a rainforest and made a short walk
There was a chance to spot the Platypus here, but unfortunately we didn't, if you see them it's suppose to give luck. Probably because they are so rare to see.
// Daniel
Alice Springs and Coober Pedy
We had a day to kill in Alice Springs after the tour. We had free entry to the Reptile Center with our tour voucher so we went there first. We saw loads of snakes and a few other crawlies.
Meet Terry, the freshwater crocodile.
After lunch we asked the information center how long it'd take us to walk to the old telegraph station (that was the reason they built Alice Springs in the first place). She said half an hour so we started walking. We saw wild kangaroos on the way which was cool. After half an hour we saw a sign saying it was another half an hour to our destination. When we finally got there it was $9 each to get in. So we drank loads of water in the shade, got bitten by mosquitos and then walked back instead.
The next morning we got on a Greyhound bus with our German friend, Rene, who we'd met at the hostel. It took us eight hours to get to Coober Pedy and I don't think anyone of us could believe our eyes when we got there. We knew many places were underground because it is so hot there, but the town was so quiet we felt quite disconcerted. We had arrived in the opal capital of the world.
Daniel beside our bunks - 6,5m under the ground in our hostel, Radeka.
So weird.
Then we had a day to kill in Coober Pedy. Completely deserted.
At the Old Timers Mine we did a self-guided tour in the old mines. It was cool to see how it all had worked and still works.
After that very long day of nothingness really, we hopped on a Greyhound bus taking us to Adelaide during the night. It was nice to go back to the city.
The Rock Tour - day 3
Day three started at about 4.30am because we had to get ready quickly and leave for the sunrise at Uluru. It was so cold in shorts! We put out the breakfast on the table with our cameras hanging off our shoulders. We made tea and toast and watched the sun rise next to the mighty rock.
After that we did the remaining 8km of the base walk around Uluru. It started to get hot and as soon as the flies felt us breaking sweat, they were in our eyes, noses and mouths, haha. Horrible creatures. We saw an elefant on the way though, can you spot it?
This is where you could start the climb if the conditions were right. They close it if it is too windy, too hot or if there is a risk for rain within three hours.
After this it was time to head back towards Alice Springs. On the way we stopped at a camel farm.
I asked Nate to take photos of us, so he took a few selfies as a nice reminder of himself too, ha!
It was more painful for the guys than us girls, haha.
THE GANG!
TIPS FOR YOU WHO ARE GOING TO THE OUTBACK
- a pair of long pants is not a bad idea, even if it is summer. It does get chilly in the evening.
- a torch or headlight is going to be one of your best friends, especially going to the toilette in the complete darkness.
- hand cream, if you are like me and hate having dry hands.
- a fly net to go over your face is the ugliest thing ever but atleast it does keep the flies out of your mouth.
- a good hat.
- the obvious WATER and sunscreen.
- don't wear stuff you might be worried won't get completely cleanl; my socks and trainers are still a bit red from the sand, and things get covered in sot!
Places to stay in Adelaide + a few tips
We stayed at four different places in Adelaide as it was our base between all of our tours. We decided to change every time to get to see as much of the city as possible.
1. Shakespeare International Backpackers
- central, close to the market and China Town.
- very noisy because the TV was always on loud even when nobody was watching it, and the walls were very thin.
- the kitchen was okay, clean-ish but not very well equipped.
- there were a few lockers in the room.
- the cleaned the rooms by vaccuuming the areas with nothing on the floor, changing the bin and spraying some air freshener.
- $2 breakfast and $4/h wifi.
2. Backpack Oz
- about 10 minutes from the centre.
- pretty clean.
- the kitchen was equipped with a kind of tap for boiling water - golden star.
- the showers were pretty clean and there was one downstairs that was massive with a toilette as well.
- FREE wifi and FREE breakfast!
3. The Wright Lodge
- a 2-star hotel where we payed to stay in a private room with an ensuite bathroom.
- no real luggage storing.
- no breakfast but there was a fridge in our room and there was free tea and coffee with milk and sugar.
- FREE wifi.
- close to the centre.
- when we turned our lights of the lights from the room above shone through the ceiling so it was difficult to sleep until they'd turned theirs off.
4. Adelaide Backpackers Inn
- quite close to the centre.
- FREE washing powder to the $4 washing machine.
- FREE milk with the tea and coffee all day but it was almost always finished, no breakfast included.
- reception was across the road so there was nobody there to check that the kitchen was cleaned properly, which it wasn't. SO MESSY!
- Good showers.
- FREE wifi.
- the 6-share mixed room was so tiny that there wasn't really room for our bag
THINGS TO DO
- Take the tram from Victoria Square to the beach in Glenelg. It's $5 each way and you can pay onboard in coins or with your card.
THINGS TO DO
- Take the tram from Victoria Square to the beach in Glenelg. It's $5 each way and you can pay onboard in coins or with your card.
- If you have a car - visit Gorge Wildlife park in Cuddlee Creek.
- If you don't have a car - take the bus from the centre (pay on board) to the small village of Crafers, change buses and go to Cleland Wildlife Park. Make sure you find out when the buses go from Crafers as there are only two that go a day!
- Visit the Central Market and eat cheap food and buy cheaper vegetables than in Coles and Woolworths. Eat breakfast at Lamb spit BBQ!
- Go on a free tour at Haigh's chocolate factory.
- Share a coffee outside and use the free wifi that is available in most places.
21 oktober
We're at Melbourne's State Library using the internet and just making time pass as we don't leave with our Greyhound bus until tonight at 8pm. It'll take us about 12,5h but we'll be asleep most of it (hopefully) and it'll save us a night at a hostel. We're staying somewhere on Darlinghurst Road, wherever that is, and then we probably will be crashing at my cousin Jodie's for a few days. Can not wait to see her! We've been reading up a bit on the bush fires that are close to Sydney and are making sure we're not in danger.
- Nastasja
The Rock Tour - day 2
We had an early wakeup call at 5am were we had to roll up our swags and load them onto the trailer. We had breakfast in the dark and then went to have showers and use flushing toilettes.
Our first stop of the day were the Olgas, also known as Kata Tjuta.
Our first stop of the day were the Olgas, also known as Kata Tjuta.
We did a walk through the Valley of the Winds were our guide, Nate, told us about the different gum trees and their uses. It was overwhelming walking between the massive rocks and round every bend the view was different.
DAVID!
It was just as hot here as it was at Kings Canyon and the flies came out to join us straight away. A fly net around our faces would have been ideal.
We walked up what Nate called "Hernia Hill". It was worse than "Heartattack Hill" at Kings Canyon as it was after two hours of trekking straight up. He told us not to turn around until we'd made it to the top. He was right about it, because the view was uh-mazing. David, 76, made it up all the way as well and he was given a round of applause at the top - incredible man!
When we were done at Kata Tjuta, we made our way to Uluru. We went to an information center where we read about bush tucker (food from the bush), the aboriginal traditions and ways and also about the meaning of the rock. There were stories about people who had taken things from around Uluru (in the Kata Tjuta national park) and had suffered from bad luck ever since, and sent things back. There was also a book where you could sign your name saying you wouldn't climb it.
Nate told us that 26% of the visitors climb the rock, and the Austarlian government won't ban it until it goes under 20% OR that another 4 people die on the rock and make it a total of 40 people. (You have to die on it for it to count, if you bounce off and die you're not in the statistics). Japan is the only coutry in the world that actually promotes it.
We did the first 2km of the base walk around Uluru where Nate told us stories and showed us what different aboriginal symbols mean.
Then we went off to see the sun set over Uluru. The rock changed colour the further the sun set.
We had tea and then headed back to set up camp for the night, exhausted as ever.
- Nastasja
Established in Melboune
Hey hey heeey!
We got here two days ago and have done no hard work, except maybe fighting our way through the kitchen to cook our food. We're staying at a big hostel called Urban Central in the southern part of Melbourne's city area, just across the Yarra River. We're sharing a room with another couple and it's more private and nice. Breakfast is free and the hostel organizes loads of stuff. Yesterday, for example, we ended up last in a trivia quiz, haha.
Had a poke about the city, gone on the free tram and discovered China Town. We've eaten sushi for hardly any money at all and almost blown away by the story warm winds. Had our first pollen shock today and it probably won't get easier from here, ha. We also stood and listened to two brothers with amazing voices sing and play Mumford&Sons-inspired music.
We're going to Philip Island tomorrow on a day tour to see penguins. Unluckily the forecast is 12 degrees and rain. Fingers crossed it changes!
Left our touch pads with all our pictures on at the hostel, hopefully we'll find more free wifi soon. The hostel charges $4 an hour!
Seeeee yaaas
- Nastasja
Almost in Melbourne
It is our last day on the Great Ocean Road and we stopped off in Koala Cove for lunch. The birds there were more fun than the koalas - we even saw the guy from the café feed a kookaburra into its beak! It's been so bloody cold, windy and rainy yesterday and today that I can't wait to get to Melbourne and just have a shower and a cup of tea. Atleast most of the people in the group are a real laugh.
- Nastasja
Great ocean road
Nu har vi hoppat på bussen som på 3 dagar och 2 nätter ska ta oss längs Great ocean road till Melbourne från Adelaide. Än så länge har vi bara stannat för lunch och det roligaste vi sett på vägen var en sjö av något slag som var helt rosa!?! Fräckt, men vi fick tyvärr ingen chans att ta bild..
- DD
- DD
Amazing experience at K.I.
We went to Kangaroo Island yesterday and really had no idea what the intinerary was. But we soon found out we were going to be seeing Australien sea lions up close from the beach. Our sea lion guide, Ron, told us that the pups (babies) were just starting to enter the beach and sometimes, though very rarely, they'll be curious enough to come up to humans. If so, we had to stand completely still.
And then it happened. A little pup came hopping/crawling/walking up to us and then got onto mine and Daniel's feet. It sniffed our shoes for a bit and then moved on.
Ron said we were two of maybe twenty-something people it happens two ever year (out of over 100 000 visitors). We were definitely the first this year.
We named him Toby Ron!
- Nastasja
The Rock Tour - day 1
Last Tuesday we flew to Alice Springs and checked into our 6-share dorm at Toddy's Backpackers. We met another Swedish girl, Emelie from Stockholm, and walked up to "town" to confirm our places and to have lunch. The guys at the booking place told me what meals we'd be having and then said they'd give me the money back if I bought my own glutenfree options - golden star, guys!
At 6am we were picked up by our guide Nate (from NZ, drove like a madman, loved beer and was sarcastic most of the time, haha). We were a mixture of people from Sweden, England, Hong Kong, South Korea, Germany, Italy and France. The coolest person was easily 76-year-old ex-teacher David from Cornwall - the oldest Rock Tour participant in history!
So we headed towards Kings Canyon, our first big sight. We covered ourselves in sunscreen and then made sure we all had 3 litres of water EACH for our walk up and around the canyon.
Group photo at the top of Heartattack Hill!
The king and queen of the canyon!
Looking down into the canyon.
After our three our walk in 35 degrees we all fell asleep on the bus until Nate told us to run outside and gather firewood for the two bush camp nights. After we were done we were covered in sut (sot?) and cuts. He then took us to see the sun set and then off to use flushing toilettes for the last time in 12 hours.
Nate and the other guide made a fire.
We helped unload the swags (= a kind of extra-padded, windproof sleeping bag that you put your normal sleeping bag in and then sleep in both). We made chili con carne with rice, vegetables and bread on the hot coals of the fire.
I was dreading goin to the "toilette" because of the spiders and snakes. Nate told us there was a 'bush toilette' in complete darkness for number 2, and number 1 was done out in the free. Everyone had to do the walk of shame and throw their toilette paper in the fire afterwards....
Double bed and a day off
Hi peeps!
We're arrived back in Alice Springs yesterday after 3 days and 2 nights in the outback. When Daniel and I checked in at Toddy's Backpackers again we were first to our room and grabbed the double bed! Not long after our fellow tour friends - Emelie, Thibault, Alex and Victor - opened the door and filled the bunks. We had a meal with live music and a bar up town and then walked back home and fell asleep.
Will update you more later with pictures and stuff like that!
- Nastasja
