Melbourne

Melbourne 

Melbourne in the Evening

  

After a few days in the outback of Alice Spring we took a plane to Melbourne. Our first Backpackers was near the Crown Casino and next to DFO. The first afternoon we spent for shopping at DFO ( a big factory outlet),by the way Melbourne has really aggressive driving taxi drivers.

On the Bridge to the Crown Casino

Melbourne is a big city with a lot nice places like little Italia, China Town and some parks. During our time in Melbourne we visited IMAX, Game Master (Exhibition of old Game station to newest 3D game playing), Chadstone (biggest shopping mall southern Hemisphere), Queen Victoria Market (Fresh Food, Clothes, Souvenirs almost everything you can imagine), Skydeck (biggest tower in Melbourne), visiting an AFL Game (Goo Cats, biggest Stadium I’ve ever been), gamble at the Crown Casino and visiting the great Ocean Road.

View Skydeck 

The Great Ocean Road

12 Apostles 

Parrot Feeding

We could hand feed parrots that was amazing and there were so many. It was also the first time a saw wild koalas and not just one. Our tour guide told us that they are overpopulated on this area.

Koala Damage

Wild Koala

This tree is dead because of Koala damage, they eat so much that the tree is no more able to keep him alive (15 per area, double of the normal population).

And of course we saw the twins, 12 Apostles and the Gipson Steps.

Alice Spring

Road to Alice Spring

We arrived in Alice Spring, it was sunny and 25 degrees much warmer than in Sydney.  The first night we slept in a Hotel and we had to use the aircon. Not because it was too hot, because it was freezing cold, just 1 or 2 degrees at night. However, the next morning at 5 o’clock we had to be ready for the 3 day Rock tour. 

favourite lookout

On the first day we drove via some short stops to the famous Ayers Rock also known as Uluru. Uluru is Aborigine language. There we get some interesting information about the culture of the Aborigines and why we aren’t allowed to make photos of every place.

After this we went for a walk around Uluru, it took us about two hours, fortunately it wasn’t summer and 45 degrees.

Panorama Ayers Rock 

Our “accommodation “ was just a fireplace, we slept in a sleeping bag  under the stars. It was really cold, under zero degrees I would suggest.  The next day we had to get up early to catch a view of the rising sun next to Uluru.

Later we reached my favourite lookout. Red sand, blue sky, green trees and light brown grass.

favourite lookout (2)

On our last day in the desert of N.T. we climbed up to the Kings Canyon.

Guided walk trough Kings Canyon with Tour guide Mat

 An amazing view and an impressive sunrise followed by the beautiful garden of Eden.

The Garden of Eden 

 A place surrounded by Rocks, full of life and mystic. After a stop at the camel farm we went back to Alice Spring. In the evening we met the other travelers from the tour for a few drinks and get some good advises what we could do in Melbourne. 

King Canyon

3 Day journey from Byron Bay to Sydney

It was a rainy day and we had enough time left to spend some hours in a shopping centre and in a coffee  shop. Our first night we stayed in Hat Head, a big camping ground but it was totally off season just a few other camper vans were there.

After Breakfast, Hat Head 

On the next day we drove to Batonga, the last stop before Sydney. Batonga is hidden behind a mountain. We thought this will be our last camping.

Batonga Beach

In Sydney we had some trouble with our luggage and with the domestic airport. We wanted to stay a night at  the airport but we found out that it is closed from 12pm to 5am. Because of this we had to go back to the jucy car rental and as luck would have it we had to stay one more night in our jucy. The most beautiful place we ever had;)

Last "Camping Ground" , Sydney 

Byron Bay

It was the first time we saw an Aldi in Australia, wicked ;). Our Accomodation was really cheap just 5 dollars p.P. We slept in our campervan and could use the kitchen , toilet and the living room.

We decided to spend our first evening with watching State of Origin at the Beach Hotel. Queensland won the game to my joyfulness .  After the game we went to the club next to it.

Lighthouse Byron Bay

Early in the morning, Sandra and i went to a coffe shop like almost every day.  We enjoyed our coffe in front of the sea. A bit laiter we met  Silvan and drove to the lighthouse. The view was just amazing, we could look down to Byron Bay and we reached the most east point of Australia.

Brisbane

The Mount Coot is a mountain near Brisbane with a beautiful view to Brisbane. I would recommend everyone to spend an hours on the summit. We had a Hostel 2km from Brisbane city, it was called Aussi Way . Sandra didn't like the bath because it was really small altogether it wasn't bad.
It was Monday and we decided to went out. It was not the best decision, everything was closed just one small bar. The day after we explored Brisbane City. First lovely walk along the river to South Bank after that we arrived at the Shopping Place, after a few hours we bought enough clothes and souvenirs and went to a big Park next to our Hostel.

After a relaxed last evening/night in Brisbane we checked out and drove further.

lookout Brisbane

Skyline Brisbane

Sunshine Beach

Our first time of camping on a normal carpark instead of a camping ground. In the evining  Silvan and i went to the beach and were listening to the waves while drinking some „broo“ (an australian beer with a Kangouru slogan). After some hours of sleep, i had with sandra a breakfast at the beach.  

Lake Cooroibah

 Borren Point

Lake Cooroibah is a relaxing place near Noosa/Rainbowbeach. In the late afternoon we went to Borren Point Camping Ground. Borren Point is a small village and the lake looks quite similar to Cooroibah. 

Fraser Island

After 20 min on a ferry, we arrived at Frazer Island.  It was a funny experiance to drive at a beach, it like driving on snow.

In the picture below, you can see other special things. The Beach is also a shared place for planes wich are landing on the sand. On the left side is a wreck  from worldwar 2 wich shipwrecked because of a strong windstorm some years ago.  

This was our car after a dangerous race trough Frazer Island. The « streets » were really small and covered with holes everywhere,  sometimes with little „lakes“ and trees next tot he road.

Driving this car was really cool and exhausting. At the last day we had a big problem with the car, everything wich needed electricity didn’t work. It was a bit annoying because of this, we couldnt go to lake macanssy. A lake with white sand, like at Whitsunday.