This picture was taken from inside the Atrium in Federation Square. Today is our last day in Australia before we head back to a snowy New York. It is very hard to say goodbye to this beautiful country and all the friendly people we’ve met along the way. Our trip was full of great food and amazing memories that we won’t soon forget.
Three words: epic road trip. This morning we picked up our tiny car and made our way south on the Great Ocean Road. This scenic route zigzags along the shore providing spectacular views of the coast. The Australian coast line is full of jagged cliffs towering over the deep blue ocean. After a long drive, we ended our day at Port Campbell just in time to see the sunset over the Twelve Apostles.
We woke up early today to go to the base of Ayer’s rock for a short hike before heading to Melbourne for the final leg of our trip. Every time we approach Uluru, we are still awestruck by how massive it is looming in the horizon. Up close at the base, the rock rises up like a red mountain. Surprisingly, there is a lot of green vegetation around for what is referred to as a desert. Walking the path along the base of the rock, we learned about the history of the Aboriginal tribes that used to live in this area. Uluru was their sacred site, their livelihood and their shelter.
We arrived in Uluru today and it’s sweltering hot here in the desert. I mean sweat pouring off your face, hide in your room, 45 degrees Celsius hot. In the late afternoon, we finally ventured out to watch the Wakagetti cultural dancers. The dancers performed authentic Aboriginal dances passed down through the generations.
Today we left the Whitsundays behind and headed up north to Cairns. Upon leaving the airport, the first thing we noticed is how unbearably hot it is with the sun beating down on you relentlessly. Driving towards Port Douglas, the landscape was a mix of rainforest and sandy beaches, separated by a road in the middle. With the mountain ranges in the distance, it made me feel like I was in Hawaii again.
We spent the afternoon hiking around the Daintree rainforest. This is my favorite picture of the day because of the soft glow created by the afternoon sun filtering through the forest canopy. The ferns growing on the vine almost looks like hairs standing on end.
Blue sky, white sand, clear water. Paradise is the perfect word to describe Whitehaven, one of the most beautiful beaches I’ve ever been to. The clear water reflects the blue sky, creating varying shades of turquoise. The sand is so fine and white, it feels like baby powder on your feet. This place might have ruined all other beaches for me.
Today was the first relaxing day of the vacation where we spent most of the day lounging around the island going from the beach to the pool. We were hanging out by the pool during the sunset and we saw the sky light up with colors. Perfect time to try out a bunch of cheesy poses.This is the resulting photo showing my reflection against the vibrant background.
We left Sydney early this morning and headed to the Whitsunday Islands in Queensland. These tiny islands are right next to the Great Barrier Reef and surrounded by impossibly blue water as far as the eye can see. It’s truly paradise on Earth. We are blessed to be able to wake up to this view for the next few days.
If you’ve ever watched Masterchef Australia then you should be familiar with the ‘Snow Egg’ created by Peter Gilmore. On our last day in Sydney, we splurged and went to Quay to experience this signature dish first hand. The meal built crescendo as each course out-performed the last, ending with this memorable dessert.
Today we headed out of the city to Bondi, famous for it’s crystal blue water and white sand beach. We spent the morning soaking up the sun and jumping waves. Bondi is also the perfect place to people watch. The beach is filled with surfers, sunbathers, and people frolicking in the water taking advantage of the beautiful Australian weather.
life after 9to5 