Do Some Background Research

The best place to start is to truly get to know the country. Find out what cruises are available, which destinations you don’t want to miss, and what the climate is like in all of these places. Researching your trip allows you to plan a cruise that exceeds up to your expectations and gives you a truly unforgettable cruising experience. For more information on cruising to Australia, make sure you check out http://www.cruiseabout.com.au/destinations/region/australia. Preparation is truly the key to ensuring that your cruising experience is the trip of a lifetime.

Research the Best Time to Travel

Finding out when to travel will depend on your personal preferences. Keep in mind that weather isn’t the only factor here, you can also choose to travel during on or off peak cruising seasons. If you like a quieter cruise and don’t mind missing out on some of the warmer weather, cruising during the off peak season could be perfect for you. Conversely, you might not mind travelling during peak season if it means you get the very best climate to enjoy your cruise.

Plan Your Destinations

Australia is a vast country, and your top destinations could be further away from one another than you might think. Make sure you have a good understanding of where your favorite attractions are so that you can choose the cruise that encompasses the majority of them. For the chance to truly experience Australia at its finest and most diverse, consider a ‘round the country’ cruise that will take you through the most notable destinations as you circumnavigate the country; after all most of the country’s attractions are by the sea.

Follow Top Travel Blogs for Cruise Holidays in Australia

Travel blogs provide the perfect way to get an insider’s view on the cruise that you intend to take. You’ll be able to find in depth descriptions and opinions on different cruise lines, top destinations, weather, and even tips on how to pack for your cruise. You can read reviews of on board restaurants, the best places to do your gift shopping, and the port excursions that are simply not to be missed. If you want to know everything about Australia from a fellow cruiser’s perspective, start searching through the travel blogs today.

With these top tips in mind, you can get started on planning your cruise for a truly enjoyable trip to Australia. Cruising is one of the best ways to explore this spectacular nation, and with a bit of preparation, you can ensure that you are getting the most out of your time here. Experience the trip of a lifetime with a quality cruise of coastal Australia.

Do you have any other tips? A favorite cruise itinerary in Australia or elsewhere? Share them with us in the comments section below!

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The capital of western Australia, Perth has made a name for itself as a land of beautiful stretches of beach, year-round sunshine and an astonishingly diverse culture. Polynesian, Asian and European influences abound, making this one of the most cosmopolitan cities in the region. Despite recent modernizations, it retains its old town, community charm, mixing old buildings with newer developments, splitting the skyline between traditional and contemporary styles. Even the name of the river upon which it sits – Swan River- has an undeniable fairy tale allure. Yet somehow, Perth has until a recent tourist marketing push been overlooked in favor of its more urban, exciting counterparts: Sydney, Melbourne, Canberra. With cheap flights to Perth now available, it’s time to bring this laid back city to the fore, and show that this old gold rush capital still has a shine, and that now’s a better time than ever to visit.

Perth, along with the whole of western Australia, has a long history with strong Aboriginal ties. Archaeological evidence shows that the area was inhabited by the Noongar tribe for 40,000 years before European settlement. A trip to the Western Australian Museum gives a comprehensive history of the area through the ages, from prehistoric times to contemporary cosmopolitan living, via Aboriginal settlements (the Katta Djinoong exhibition is a highlight) as well as featuring interesting mammal, bird and butterfly galleries. It’s a great introduction to the city, and is suitable for single travelers and families alike. For history buffs, the trip is well supplemented with a visit to the Art Gallery of Western Australia, which continues the focus on Aboriginal art with a stunning collection of works by Indigenous artists.

In Perth, a holiday should be about more than just sightseeing. After all, its founder Captain James Stirling famously declared it to be “as beautiful as anything of this kind I have ever experienced”. So, by all means, take in the sights, hop on the tour bus and visit the hotly tipped spots on the top ten lists in the guide book. But don’t forget to wander down the backs streets, explore the various districts and their distinct cultures, and wander a little off the beaten track to experience the warmth and hospitality of local living. This city doesn’t rush, so take the time to experience its beautiful atmosphere and scenery. It’s what the Australians do best; they take their time. For a little down time to relax and unwind, look no further than Cottesloe Beach. Lined with pines and boasting sandy and grassy shores, this is the perfect spot for swimming, surfing and soaking up the glorious Perth sunshine. Or, get yourself to Fremantle just outside of Perth- well worth a visit in itself – and from there hop on a boat to Rottnest Island for a few blissful hours amongst the dolphins, the small sandy beaches and the sound of the waves crashing gently against the shore.

A trip to Northbridge will drive home just how cosmopolitan a city Perth is. A hotpot of cultures, this is a great place to grab a bite to eat, with the streets teeming with restaurants serving up gastronomical delights from all of Perth’s cultural influences, from Chinese fare to locally farmed lamb, fresh seafood taken straight from the balmy waters around the coast (try some barramundi or snapper fish), and perfectly sweetened fruit from the market stalls. This is also a great place to go in the evening as there are plenty of bars offering open-air drinks as part of a pavement cafe culture (head to Leederville near the city center for all the trendy bars) that makes the city pleasant well into the night.

Have you visited Perth? There is much to see in Australia’s western coast, but distances are long. Where did you make it to? What highlights would you recommend? Share your tips with us in the comments section below, and this post too if you think it can help other travelerss!

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New Zealand’s North Island is full of wine growing regions producing terrific wines. We chose to start in the Northland and take the coastal route past Auckland down through Waikato (Bay of Plenty) to Gisborne, onto Hawkes Bay and ending up in Wellington. There was no timescale to this plan. We’d take as long as we wanted to enjoy all the sights and sounds, park near some fabulous beaches maybe treat ourselves to a few nights away from the old camper in a delightful little guest house or two and get stuck into those delicious wines.  Here are the details of our New Zealand North Island wine adventures.

The Northland

We’d heard the Northland is one of the new kids on the block of gourmet destinations so not only were the wines ready for our delectation but there was a big expectation of some brilliant food to accompany them. Choosing wineries right on the coast for stunning restaurant views is definitely the name of the game. We started right up in Karikari Peninsula and made our way down through Kerikeri, Paihia and finished this particular leg in Mangawhai

The Northland also brings a new meaning to Farmer’s Markets. The ones back home are a pale imitation of those found at Paparoa and Dargaville. If ever the Greek Gods were to define ambrosia and nectar in earthly terms they’d be looking down here on stalls pile high with the freshest produce which are so brightly coloured you just know Mother Nature has painted them herself. Ok, so I couldn’t resist the bacon butties on offer but the smoked mussels and oysters we took back to the camper van were wolfed down in minutes one evening together with lashings of an award winning chardonnay. We also visited the Saturday market at Kerikeri and found some terrific if a little rough organic reds and some very welcome artisan coffees. A big shout out has to go the Only Seafood restaurant on the bay in Paihia – the best seafood platter ever – and I’ve enjoyed a few.

The Auckland Area

Henderson Valley is probably somewhere familiar to wine lovers but the Matakana Coast is equally worthy. There’s a fabulous little village called Leigh where the fish and chips are sublime. Good job too because for some reason the stove in the camper van just wasn’t behaving (It actually broke down next day and we had to replace the gasket).  At the Ascension Wine Estate we tried a very satisfying selection and for me I’d pick the Steep Bit, The Passion and the Benediction. There was also a very palatable sparkling rosé, The Flamenco.

Matakana is also another great destination for a Farmer’s Market. Every Saturday you can have your senses titillated by homemade preserves, chutneys and pickles to accompany artisan breads and meats. As well as the wines, the locally produced honey is exceptional.

Waikato (The Bay of Plenty)

Let’s get the waxing lyrical about the food out of the way first. If you love fish and chips, there’s only one place to go – Tauranga’s Fresh Fish Market – it’s a local legend and deservedly so. Leave the sea behind to try a whole different food experience at Kiwifruit 360, in Te Puke. Here you can taste wines, liqueurs and all manner of concoctions made from fresh kiwi fruit. I found another of my weaknesses at Comvita Visitor Centre – Jess had to pull me away from the scrumptious native honeys on offer.

Gisborne

Gisborne is definitely a place to visit the beach even if it is to just view the sunrise and know you’re waking up with the world.  The waterfront is a very picturesque place with some very tasty restaurants. For drink of a different kind, check out New Zealand’s largest cider producer- Bulmers, down on the wharf.

Hawkes Bay

Due to the close proximity of over 40 vineyards in the Hawkes Bay area we decided to park the camper van up for a few days to head off on a scripted cycling tour. If you want to take a leisurely vacation viewing the wine growing regions on the North Island cycling is a special way to do it. Just remember you’ve got to get back on your bike after those tasting sessions to get to your next stop or back to your accommodation – talking from experience!

The food element of the trail lived up to its gourmet billing: uber fresh produce prepared with attention and care; restaurants that prompt wines into their best food matching performances; restaurant’s representing the best of local and fusion food and Farmer’s Markets to bewilder in their array and invitation to treat (especially the one in Napier).

Martinborough

Before we head into Wellington proper, I just have to indulge in a special tribute to what turned out to be my most favourite of all the areas we visited – Martinborough. Handily located right on the route from Auckland to Wellington, if you’re pushed for time on the North Island it’s easy to pull off for a short sojourn here.

Making a welcome return to the trusty van after all that biking I was as excited about Martinborough as Jess had been about the Chardonnay capital (Gisborne) because the speciality grape of this region is the pinot noir. The dry river beds around the town provide ideal viticulture conditions and I was already familiar with production from the Schubert winery and very much looked forward to sampling more. Ata Rangi’s Célèbre certainly didn’t disappoint neither did the Blue Rock Vineyard’s McIntyre and I have to give a great big thumbs up to Pencarrow’s Great Dogs.

Martinborough is also a gorgeous town. There are plenty of places to stay with some very unique exclusive-use holiday homes in the mix. There’s a golf course if you fancy a round or two while your adrenaline levels can be pushed sky high at Pole to Pole with a chasm walkway, rope walks and the gentler horse trekking.  Plus, there’s the whole of the Wairarapa region to discover too.

Wellington

According to Lonely Planet, Wellington is the “coolest little capital in the world” but as we were going to be spending a few days in the city we thought we’d see some of the immediate area first and after all there are no vineyards in the city. The closest vineyards to Wellington are in the Wairarapa region, including my favourite place, Martinborough.  I’ve already made mention of some of my wine selections from this region so I will just add in that this area is not only home to delicious wines but is also extremely scenic. The backdrop of many of the vineyards is soaring mountains and this is a very pretty part of North Island. If you want to be on the doorstep of Wellington but stay in a rural locale, Wairarapa is plethoric in rusticity; tons of farms for bed and breakfast, charming boutique hotels and a whole mass of excellent restaurants. Do you really need anything more?

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One great way to explore the coasts and Outback of Australia is to take a road trip.

Whether you’re planning on taking an extended road trip involving long distances through the desert regions in the center of the country or just want a short jaunt lasting only a couple of hours, planning ahead is critical.

No matter what kind of road trip you plan, you will definitely visit some beautiful places.

The first thing you need to do is decide on what places you would like to visit in Australia and how much time you have to spend on your road trip. With 16,000 miles of coastline and five million square miles of land, there are plenty of choices.

You can choose to explore deserts, tropical rain forests, beaches, or even alpine regions.

You also need to decide on the time of year you want to plan your road trip. Weather conditions can make or break your condition. For example, Northern Australia is a tropical region, and when the wet season begins, rivers have been known to flood and roads have been washed away.

If you’re traveling across the Outback, in the summer season temperatures have been known to hit over 100 degrees Fahrenheit, which can be a real killer if your air conditioning fails in the middle of the trip.

If you don’t want to create a road trip route from scratch, there are several popular options to choose from. One popular road trip route is the Great Ocean Road. This 150 mile long road in the state of Victoria extends all the way from Torquay to Warrnambool.

The road not only provides access to many landmarks in the area but is itself a landmark – built by soldiers in 1919 and 1932 to memorialize the casualties of World War I, it is the world’s largest war memorial.

As the name implies, the Great Ocean Road follows the coastline, providing breathtaking views of the ocean and beaches- make sure you don’t miss the Twelve Apostoles.

Another road trip option is crossing the Nullarbor Plain. Nullarbor means ‘no tree,’ which describes this area very well – it is a flat, almost treeless piece of land in southern Australia.

The most interesting thing about the Nullarbor is that it is largest single piece of limestone in the world, measuring in at 77,000 square miles.

Perhaps the most popular of all road trips in Australia is the drive along Highway 1 (Pacific Highway) in Australia’s East coast. There are many things to see and do along the way including superb camping, trekking, sun worshiping, city visiting and partying too (read Brisbane to Sydney and Sydney to Melbourne for tips and ideas).

What other things should you consider? A map of Australia, travel insurance if you don’t have it, a good pram if you’re traveling with kids packing appropriate clothes depending on the season you’ll be traveling in, food, water and a first aid kit if you’re heading into the outback, interesting road podcasts to listen to and making sure you camper van or car is well maintained for your trip ahead.  So get your checklist, poise your camera, and hit the road because Australia road trips are some of the most exciting in the world!

[photo credits from Flickr: Outback (Casadequeso) , rest (lind_rOm)]

Have you done any road trips in Australia? Where to? How did you plan it? Please share this post if you liked!

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Our first stop during our east coast road trip in Australia would be Surfers Paradise, knowing it’s not a cheap town at all and that the surf isn’t really that good either. It is though one of those places that you at least have to check out: its superb skyline can be seen in the distance and I have to admit that the city is well planned and easy to drive through, as long as there’s no Indy car race being organized. Despite the traffic jams we eventually found a nice area toward the southern end of the city were there was plenty of parking space right in front of the beach- I recommend you head here directly with your campervan and then walk around because Surfers Paradise is not very big. It was the first time too that we stepped squeeky sand- it is so fine that it actually squeeks because of the friction created when you tread on it.

We did not spend a night in Surfers Paradise but continued further South stopping in Coolangatta with a planned overnight stay. I was looking forward to checking the different surfing spots in the area and hopefully rent a board to surf world famous Snapper Rocks. Unfortunately there was no swell when we were there, but the beaches are spectacular and the town has a great vibe too. Atop a small hill right in front of Snapper Rocks there are several electrical barbecues where you can cook your food for free ( like everywhere in the country) while enjoying great views. This said do not spend the night anywhere close to the ocean If you’re traveling with a campervan because these spots are heavily patrolled by the police and you’ll get a ticket before your bed is ready. Instead just drive a couple of streets inland and park in any of the residential areas.Besides great beaches and occasional whales and dolphins that swim near the shore in Coolangatta you’ll find a few bars, plenty of surf shops and all the grocery stores you’ll need for your trip.

Our next destination when traveling from Brisbane to Sydney was world famous Byron Bay. This small town has been a major backpacking destination for decades and has somehow managed to avoid over development, with not a single high rise building in sight. There are plenty of hostels where to sleep in, a good deal of bars too, restaurants, a Woolworth’s, free internet cafes and, above all, the beach. Again stay away from the parking areas close to the ocean because they are timed and strictly controlled by cops, giving tickets at will (not the 2 for 1 drink coupons if that’s what you’re thinking of) to those who forget to move the van after the allowed parking time has passed. The beach is wide and long, with plenty of space for everyone and occasional surf in the southern rocky peak. Byron Bay is a preferred destination for backpackers from around the world who come here to enjoy the sun, join whale watching tours, relax, surf, party, and hopefully enjoy a photo shoot of  Wicked Weasel bikini models- these world famous skimpy bikinis are manufactured here. Don’t know what wicked weasel bikinis are? Then check the Wicked Weasel bikini website!

Just a little bit further South Ballina is a lovely small beach town with great views from the cliffs overlooking the ocean. Evans Head is popular among campervan travelers but certainly isn’t the only place where you can pitch a tent. There are many campsites along the way but if you don’t feel like paying for an overnight stay just park in the residential area of any town and you’ll be fine. If you feel like taking a shower most camping site will let you take one for a small fee, sometimes even for free. Coffs Harbour and Port Macquarie are relatively large towns that don’t offer anything exciting, but are more manageable than Newcastle. Most of the time you will not be able to see the ocean while driving, and if doing so at night watch out for the speeding trucks which will overtake you in the blink of an eye. We eventually reached Sydney and had no problems crossing it, however finding the Wicked Camper depot proved to be so hard that not even 2 GPS of helpful locals could find it.

Five days is enough time to travel the distance from Brisbane to Sydney (1020km) and enjoy some sightseeing, yet we wish we would have had more time to enjoy Byron Bay further and explore the many coastal villages that deserve your time. We cannot complain thouhh because we had no problems with our free Wicked Camper van eventhough at a McDonald’s we learned that the company was under investigation for safety reasons (this reminds me the most McDonald’s in Australia have free wireless internet). If you do run into trouble your travel insurance might cover these expenses (make sure you’re aware of this), as well as those typically related to health or personal safety problems. My conclusion? Brisbane to Sydney is one wicked Australia road trip to enjoy, and I highly recommend you do so with a campervan to truly exploit all the possibilities. Don’t miss Coolangatta ( one of my favourite towns- if not the), Ballina and, above all, the superb vibe you’ll feel all along the way.

Have you traveled across Australia’s East coast?  Which town did you like best? Which beach? Share your experiences with us, and this post with others if you liked it!

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The Tongariro Alpine Crossing is claimed to be the best trek in New Zealand. This 4 day journey takes you accross 2 volcanoes, several lakes and picture perfect sceneries, but if four days is too much walking for you no problem: there are shorter alternatives as well. This time I have posted my article as a guest author in www.adventuregirl.com, the blog featured by TV personality and Travel Show host in the US Stefanie Michaels. Stefanie is the travel expert for Travel + Escape Channel’s UberGuide series, as well as an eco-travel expert for Hollywood Green for Discovery’s Planet Green. Other television appearances include being the a regular expert for travel and social media for E! Entertnainment’s That Morning’s Show.

Time to enjoy the read and get some tips on this incredible hike! Enjoy the pictures below and then click on this link (doing so will take you straight to the article in her blog):  The Best Trek in New Zealand: Tongariro National Park

Have you been in New Zealand? Did you do this trek? Which others do you recommend? Please remember to share this article if you liked it!

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It has always been known that New Zealand has an extravagant nature and is one of the those traveler friendly countries in the world. This was emphasized right after the Lord of the Rings saga which was the ultimate free advertising could have gotten and rightfully so. Today Aotearoa (the Maori name for New Zealand)  is a hot spot with attractions that cater to anyone’s need, although those who prefer natural wonders or are adrenaline junkies will find themselves in their own paradise.

New Zealand’s South Island is perhaps the most popular one, yet North Island has just as much sightseeing to do and is not difficult to find. At all. However, one of the most interesting places that is missed way to often is Taranaki volcano in Egmont National Park, in SW New Zealand. This picture perfect volcano located very close to the ocean is also a landmark to be seen from many surf and windsurf spots to be found in the area.

We explored Taranaki during our recent trip to New Zealand, and this time

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There are several excellent beaches and good trekking to be enjoyed, but since we didn’t have too much time (we had to return the van 9 days later) and were heading to colder weather we decided to enjoy the beach only until sunset and the continue further south. As we were driving out of the park we did see some wild kangaroos right besides our van, managing to shoot some short video.

Less than an hour later we drove into a small viallge where we sould spend the night. It was our 5th wedding anniversary and enjoyed it a different way, cooking a great BBQ and drinking the sparkling wine given by TAB (Traveller’s Auto Barn). Simple, yet fun, and certainly an anniversary we will not forget because of both location and style.

While driving Highway 1 it is relatively easy to spot whales swimming in the ocean; the road menaders between hills and through valleys and capes many of which call for a brief stop to take a picture.

Another town you should not miss is Pambula. It has a great super-long beach but even better is a garden where about 60 kangaroos are free to hop around- you can get very close to them and pics are easy to take.

Unless you have plenty of time don’t bother going to 90 mile beach cause there’s nothing there, and south of Eden the highway shifts inland and views are not that great until you reach Wilson’s Promontory, but if you have to spend a night along the way try to do so in Port Albert; it is legal to camp at the parking lot right by the ocean and it offers splendid views in a peaceful environment.

Unfortunately a forrest fire has left most of Wilson’s Promontory unattractive, but the beaches are superb and there are good surfing spots as well. There is an entrance fee to the Park by the way, around 10 AUD/ person, which is a shame because you don’t seem to get your money’s worth considering the dry, burnt hills you see the first 40 minutes.

Reaching Melbourne from here is a breeze, taking about 2.5-3 hours once you leave the park. We arrived there at around noon and easily found the ATB depot where we left our ride and headed to Itzel’s house.

OVERVIEW

9 days might not seem enough time to see all there is between Sydney and Melbourne, and… it isn’t. However it is enough to see many of the best spots along the way although we would have loved to spend more time in many of them. The road South of Eden is quite boring and unappealing, with no views or nice towns anywhere. Of all the great places there are North of Eden I recommend you don’t miss Pambula Beach, Jervis Bay and at least make a quick stop in Kiama for some nice pictures.



Have you driven along this area of Australia? How did you like it? Are there any spots I missed I should have mentioned? Please share this post if you liked it!

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I used to call Melbourne home back in 2003-04 during grad school but had not been back since, and thus was looking forward to coming again for two reasons: one, showing Liza where I had lived during our dating days, and two catching up with friends, some of which I had not seen since I left. The city hadn’t changed much, and was happy to see that some things were still as convenient as they used to be , like the Merlbourne Skybus and the city trams.

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This time we would not need to find a hostel or couchsurf as we were going to stay with Itzel , my friend from Mexico who had recently visited us in Spain and has chosen to call Melbourne home ever since finishing grad school. It was good to see her, having time to catch up with our lives and tell her about our travels while calling common friends for a rendezvous soon. Staying at her place also gave us the opportunity to recover our health because I was having a strong case of hay fever while Liza was just beginning to leave a flu behind.

A few days later we visited the city starting with Flinders Station, probably the most emblematic building of the city with Federation Square and the CBD and shopping area nearby.

It is here that Base hostel is located, probably your best accommodation choice in Melbourne because of facilities and location.

The beach at St Kilda is a great place to chill out when the weather is good, and the botanical gardens will keep you in the shade during the unusual extremely hot days Melbourne has been suffering in the past few summers.

If it is clothes you are after find your way to Bridge road and Smith street where many outlets are located, and finally, no trip to Melbourne is complete without hitting the bar scene, perhaps the city’s greatest attraction- we obliged by checking out a few.

While doing the tourist thing we caught up with Cong, my good friend from Vietnam who would shortly prove how much of a riot he is.

We began with an awesome lunch at a Thai restaurant he knew of, where the flavors were as good as they are back in Thailand and quantity a challenge for all.

Once done we went to his place where we were supposed to have a coffee, but as soon as we got there a few of his friends showed up as well as his wife, having picked up his daughters earlier on. All I can say is that we ate for four more hours and had an excellent time, with plenty of stories and life anecdotes that kept us laughing all evening.

Some days later we would repeat the party, only that this time most of the eating was done in his place and Vietnamese food was the call of the day.

This was superb because I had discovered during our recent trip to Vietnam that their cuisine is among the finest in South East Asia, only that this time a different dish was in the menu: duck fetus  eaten straight from the egg. To know what it is check out the video, but make sure your stomach is not too sensible!

I must admit that the best part of visiting Melbourne again was seeing my friends who live there. The city itself is one that still doesn’t attract me too much, and perhaps now even less than what it did in 2004.

Only the CBD is nice and trendy, St Kilda is OK and sure, there are many bars, but just like in any other big city. Outside the CBD Melbourne doesn’t have many attractions for tourists, houses are plain and simple and getting anywhere is very time consuming.

Melbourne can be extremely hot in summer (watch out if you have any allergies) and chilly in winter. However many people (residents and visitors alike) consider it the best city in Australia, so only you can decide if it is your cup of tea or not.

My take? Melbourne is overrated, as simple as that. This said at the end of the day I cannot deny that I had fun while there, so who knows when I’ll be back?

Have you been in Melbourne? Do you like it? Why or why not? Please share this post if you enjoyed reading it!

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Thus we almost spent our two first days in internet cafes, with an occasional walk not too far. But it proved very usefull. During the second day I leraned that Travellers Auto Barn (one of the large camper van rental companies in Australia) was hosting an open door day nearby and including a free BBQ and a raffle that would give away 7 days worth of camper van rental of a Hi-top campervan. All you had to do was guess how many jelly beans were in a jug and the person who got closest would be the winner.

The day was a complete fiasco weather-wise, with thunder and rain pouring all morning and keeping visitors away. But alas that ended up being good for us because guess who won? We! Not only did we eat great free barbecue food all morning but we also got the free rental for seven days drop off in Melbourne. And if that wasn’t enough when I asked if I could pay for two extra days we got those for free as well. The staff was very kind and entertaining, and I would like to thank them for all their help and support. Final note: when learning that we would spend our 5th anniversary in it they surprised us with a bottle of sparkling wine. Woohoo!

As far as tourism goes we did the mandatory: the Opera House, the Royal Botanical Gardens and walking across Harbour Bridge in one day, Bondi beach on another and the CBD with some shopping on another. There is plenty of walking to be enjoyed, so don’t cut corners if you have the time. As a last tip try visitng the Anzac War Memorial once the night is in- wild yet peacefull possums abound on the trees around it waiting to be portrayed with your camera, providing great entertainment for kids and adults alike.

This leads me to the last surprise of our Sydney visit. For the second time in our trip we contacted somebody through couchsurfing (read more about our couchsurfing experiences and what this is ), and this time our host was Tim. Right off the bat I got the feeling he is a nice person willing to make friends and meet people. But this said, we didn’t expect him to be as kind as he is, picking us up from the hostel on day one, taking us to the city the next…

We cooked a Mexican-Spanish dinner on the first day, and during that evening we all realized we were getting along very well and a good friendship was starting. We also had a chance to meet his daughter Amelia who turned out to be a riot at just 8 y/o, as well as his brother and wife.It was very interesting to listen to his stories and experiences, as well as his brother’s anecdotes (he’s a pilot in the Australian Air Force).

It was like this that a week went by, but what else could we ask for? We had 9 more days of campervan travel for free, had had the chance to visit Sydney (here’s a guide for you to visit Sydney in one day), and made a friend who will visit us in the near future. And with all these memories we started out third roadtrip: Sydney to Melbourne.

Have you visited Sydney? It’s a fantastic city, don’t you think? What do you like best?

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We arrived to Rotorua from the North with our camper van, and were sure we were on the right track when the southern winds brought the sulfur stench up our nostrils (Sulfur smells like rotten eggs. It emanates naturally from volcanoes, an element highly present in the Earth’s core), making Liza and I stare at each other as if asking who had hmm…errrr…farted.. before remembering where we were arriving.

Rotorua is a pleasant town: small, well designed, clean, with a few photographic areas, it is quite manageable  and has many spots near the lake (lake Rotorua) where you can park the camper van or pitch the tent for an overnight stay; of course you can always check for camping sites in New Zealand.

Most visitors come here to gaze at the geothermal activity within the city, but there are more things to do in Rotorua engage in any of the extreme sports that are popular in the area (skydiving stealing the show), and visit any of the Maori cultural shows that abound.

These do not vary too much in content, but do vary a lot in price, some of them costing up to 200 NZD per person for a 4 hour show. Upon asking at a souvenir store what are the best activities in Rotorua  he suggested among other things that we visit one of these shows, but not one of the expensive ones (like Te Puia) but the cheapest instead.

The reason is that where as in the expensive shows everything is staged, Te Whakarewarewa has a small dance show (which I admit is not that great) and also includes a guided visit of Te Whakarewarewa village, and this is what differentiates it from the rest.

In this village people still live as they used to over 400 years ago, right in the middle of a highly geothermal area (some houses have had to be abandoned because of safety reasons), and there is a nice walk to be enjoyed in the nearby woods.

The very entertaining guide explains how they live in harmony with nature and the many uses they make of geothermal energy. This tour costs 28 NZD and is very good value in my opinion. Highly recommended (you can get more info at www.whakarewarewa.com).

Other things to do include a walk along the lake, visiting any of the museums of the city, jumping on a speed boat for a fast race against time, visiting the nearby redwood forrest and as a personal suggestion I recommend you visit Okareka lake which is only a 15 minute drive away, towards lake Okataina. In fact if you’re sleeping in a camper van or a tent, spend a night there. Right besides the dock there is a small parking space with a green area and camping tables. The scenery here is breathtaking, both during sunset and in the morning, making you feel alive as soon as you look close the day or welcome the new one. Plus the ducks that want your food are a geat source of entertainment. Again, if you’re a photography aficionado, have your camera ready. You wont regret it!

Unless you want to experience all of the extreme activities in the area or are a very slow walker two days is enough to see and enjoy what Rotorua and its nearby surroundings has to offer, but not less. It is a must in your North Island tour and one place you will not forget. Now continue reading more New Zealand travel tips!

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35 AUD worth of petrol and a 10AUD map later we merged into the highway and headed north towards Noosa Heaads, but decided to pull out in Maroochidore because … well simply because it seemed like a good idea. And it was. It has a very long beach with clean water and a nice walkway along Morooboora, the town right by. What was even better was that we found out that in OZ (Australia) there are public showers (cold water only), toilets and electric barbecues in almost every town, making our camping gas almost useless. Plus you get to cook outdoors and don’t need to clean up after eating (sometimes you have to do so before though).

Mooroorooba is a somewhat posh town with a nice beach and crystal blue water, and were it not for the strong cool wind it would have felt almost tropical. It was relatively easy to find a place where to sleep, following the well known camper van traveller rule: park the van in a quiet, sleepy neighbourhood where cops don’t drive often and you should be OK. It is so nice to be able to eat and sleep almost anywhere, waking up in the beautiful spot of your choice and having all you need with you. Except the toilet, which was not much fun when needing one in the chilly wee hours of the morning.

We decided to head inland our last night and eventually found ourselves in Kilcoy. Not for any reason in particular, but on the map it appeared to be besides a lake and we guessed it would be nice.

Arriving late in the night we looked for a secluded place where to park the van and slept until early in the morning, waking up to a wonderful day. Following the best route we drove around a few lakes and meandered between gentle hills, enjoying the great views and being on a constant lookaout for a possible kangaroo siteing that never materialized. Making sure we missed as little as possible we made our way back to Brisbane, where we spent one night at a hostel and got our free 5 day wicked camper rental after participating in a discussion group they were holding at the hostel. Go Wicked!

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Most Australians (mainly from Melbourne and Sydney) say that Brisbane is a dull and boring city, not a place where they would choose to live. But we found quite the opposite, and if I could choose where in Australia I could live I would choose Brisbane of the three.

It is a nice, easy city with the best climate of the lot, superb beaches nearby and has cheaper flights to most international flight hub airports.

This said accommodation isn’t cheap anywhere in Australia, and initially this scared us quite a bit because beds in a hostel dorm usually go for around 25 AUD. Add food and transpotation and the cost of travelling in Australia would take a much bigger chunk from our budget than expected. At the end, though, luck was on our side. You will see why as you read my entries, with tips that will be usefull for your travels there as well.

Brisbane is a city small enough to be visited in one day (walking) unless you like to visit museums. You have the CBD with a few churches and the Anzac memorial, the botanical gardens, the Koala Sanctuary (one of the few places where you are guaranteed to see and even hold Koalas and enjoy many other wildlife experiences- a great day trip) and a great sunset view from any of the bridges to wrap up the day. On day number two we figured out our plan for the next three days, time during which we would head North and then back to Brisbane, spnd a night in the city, and join a discussion group with wickedcamper vans the following day because 5 days worth of rental would be given for free to those who showed up, time we would use to make our way South to Sydney.

And so we did. We rented the camper van for three days, purhased a road map and headed north not sure yet about where we’d stop or what we would visit.

Have you visited Brisbane? How did you like it?

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