Anyone Been To Australia?

Did R&R in Sydney, Melbourne, AU. and Auckland NZ. for the celebration of the Battle of the Coral Sea

Very High on Bucket list, is to return !

Hi Doug,

I've never been to WA, just QLD and NSW.

Ouch, was Sydney expensive last year? Considered moving there in '99 - would have done really well on property if we had. Eating anywhere in Sydney other than Pie Face now is painful on your wallet.

It was good to have a pint with Robert Ryan while down there :)

Seen Brisbane, Cairns, Swam on the Barrier Reef, took a 4x4 up to Cape Trib, did the Undara lava tubes.

I used to love the Hogan Show when I was a teenager.

Cheers,

Steve.

I've been to Australia twice, and loved it.

My son and I did the Sydney-Hobart Yacht Race in 1996, after also doing the Telsta Offshore Series. We spent a month racing in Sydney Harbor while staying at Rushcutter's Bay. We were treated like rock stars as part of the only US crew that year, with interviews and photographs in the papers and magazines, and special treatment in clubs and restaurants. We were introduced aloud to the passengers on the Qantas flight, but my only discomfort was at customs and immigration when the interviewer asked: Are you here to take our trophy from us? Fortunately there was no additional investigation.

We also loved Tasmania, that is much like the San Juan Islands here. Great food, beaches, and people. Not a bad place to spend New Year's Eve with 100,000 new friends for a "quiet little drink".

My wife and I with another couple from our crew returned a few years later to visit the only Australian on our crew (we needed an interpreter) in Queensland. It is a truly beautiful area. It's truly tragic to hear about the fires there now.

We would love to return to experience more of your great country.

Like a couple of others I went there on R&R in 1968 for seven days and again for 28 days when I extended my tour in Viet-Nam. Some of the nicest memories I have.
I am still in touch with the girl I met there after all the these years. She took me to many of the tourist type sites and to Pubs and eateries away from the tourist areas. She now lives in Queensland.
There was a goodly amount of drinking involved so many of my memories are a bit blurred but I do remember how nice the people were and how well they treated me.

I have been to Australia several times, but the last time was 13 years ago. My daughter, son-in-law, and 2 grandchildren live in the Sydney area. And, before that, they lived in the Brisbane area. I really love your country and had a great time touring the cities and the "Blue Mountain" areas. Australia reminded me of the US in the 1950's when I was last there - people were friendly and smiled all the time, no one locked their doors at night, or locked their cars. Very little criminal activity.

When I was in Nam I did my R&R in Sidney. Viewed the opera house when it was being built. The shells were just about all that was done at that time and they allowed people to walk through it even though it was in the construction stages. Very interesting concept. I enjoyed the people of down under and had a great week there being a tourists and having some great meals after the Army chow. Had some of the best steaks while I was there.

Couldn't believe it as we were coming in from the airport the taxi driver said that he would sure be glad when the street cleaners came back off of strike and went back to work. I looked out the window of the cab and didn't see any trash around so I asked him how long they had been on strike and he responded that it was about a month. Then as we walked around down town I could understand why it was clean there was a trash can on every corner and if someone was walking down the sidewalk and saw some paper on the street they would pick it up and put it in the trash can. Left a lasting impression on me even after over 40 years ago and I still remember it.

Beautiful in Sidney and surrounding area that we visited.

I got a great deal on a two week tour to Australia in the 80's. Added another week for a three week jaunt. Landed in Cairns for a two day stay including snorkeling the great barrier reef. Absolutely beautiful, both land and sea.

Made our way to Brisbane for a smashing time with visits to the wild animal parks, farms with boomerang lessons (didn't work for me!). Had Morton Bay Bugs - boy I wish we had them here - delish!

Went to dinner at a Chinese restaurant and met a retired newspaper photographer. He invited us back to his home where he had a roomful collection of Australian artifacts - lots of aboriginal art and artifacts.

Headed to the Gold Coast and sampled the casino. Then our two weeks were up - I am sure I left out bits :-)- and we rented a car and drove to the coast near Frasier Island. Hired a small plane to fly us over and stayed in a resort for a week. What an incredible island! Only one like it in the world - made of sand with a jungle on it. 75 miles of pristine beach. Accessible only by air or 4 wheel drive. It has a salt lake on it to rival the US Salt Lake in buoyancy. Lots of dingos, wild birds, kangaroos.

We met a couple there that owned a bar and restaurant in a small farming area. They invited us stop on our way back. Had a smashing time - lots of local color in the bar ;-)
DH and I want to go back for three months...but can't leave or take our dogs. So it may be a few years.

I LOVE Australia!!!

I went for 3 months last year, Sept - Dec.

Flew on Airmiles.

Rented vehicle

Camped

Found lots of types of eating places have stronger knowledge and offerings of balanced nutrition meals. Also portion size is larger than N. Am. Thus, often, I being female, could buy lunch, eat 1/2, take 1/2 with me for supper.

Inspite of reading regularly for 10 years my eyes were not good at spotting good places to dry camp.

& certainly there were campgrounds with folks squeezed in to the point of ouch.

Where: Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia.

Interests rural, NOT city or beach or coast, though saw some of both. Sydney, more than others. Generally, worked east to west, then zigged back working south. Find ways to avoid toll roads. There are some where they charge you without booths and it's easiest to pay online, but needed help to get that done.

Worked down west of Port Philip Bay to ferry over to end of the bay, then back and over to the Murray River basin.

Scared to point of avoidance to go too far west in QLD, and NSW when I saw a sign about road trains. Why. Well, yes, you're supposed to pull off the roads when one of those comes along, but the shoulders are rather rough, thank you.

All told, Australia does more to support infrastructure in small towns. Having and supporting a population spread out as much as can be seems essential to Australian economy. Postage is valued as important to the economy. Fewer chains stores. Keep it that way.

Vistors Centres are municipal, though some can talk regional. Many of those have showers. Pretty well all towns, have 'public toilets'.

Gas stations aren't always service stations. That is, if you want a pit stop, ask.

Most Aussies, would say: "Canadian, eh".

Camps Australia Wide essential.

Pics almost ready to post, when our climate has me inside more.

:B
& can't get tiny pic to work this AM.

I spent a week in Sydney while on R&R in Nam. I had a wonderful visit.I found the local folks great, great sense of humor, and very proud of their country. I never heard a harsh word or felt threatened walking all over Sydney.I never got the chance to go back and still regret that I didn't

On our last cruse, we met up with a couple from down under. Very interesting conversations. We had planned to go there this January, but family matters are still up in the air after our son's death. As they liver on a farm, there is just so much to do now.