Australia

First Class to Australia

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When we were booking our flights to Sydney, we looked at a lot of different options; reserving several different award tickets until we found the ‘right’ one.  We knew the trip to Australia was going to be a long one, and we basically had 2 criteria – 1) that the ticket be as close to free as possible using miles, and 2) that we travel in relative comfort. A trip to Australia, depending on the routing can be at least 21 hours of flying, plus layovers since there are no direct flights to Australia from NYC.

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On the Road: Day 16 in Melbourne

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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.

On the Road: Day 14 on the Great Ocean Road

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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.

On the Road: Day 13 at Ayer’s Rock

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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.

On the Road: Day 12 in Uluru

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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.

On the Road: Day 11 in the Great Barrier Reef

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Today we finally made it out to the Great Barrier Reef for some scuba diving and snorkeling.  The Great Barrier Reef is massive, stretching almost the entire East coast of Australia. We only visited a few sites near Port Douglas.  The day was beautiful and the water was calm; it was the perfect condition for diving.  Even if you don’t dive, there is plenty to see as you snorkel around the shallower reefs.

On the Road: Day 10 in Daintree Rainforest

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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. 

On the Road: Day 9 in Hamilton Island

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We woke up excited this morning ready to go out to the Great Barrier Reef to do some scuba diving, but unfortunately our trip was rained out.  The sky was dark and ominous as thunderstorms rolled in. We spent the whole morning indoors, wallowing in the fact that we came all the way across the world, not able to see the reef.  In the afternoon the clouds cleared up and we made it to the beach for some snorkeling instead. Here is a GoPro video that Fausto recorded of the fish and coral around Hamilton Island. 

 

On the Road: Day 8 in Whitehaven

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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.