Trippin' over Oz

Following the quasi-hostile blog comment requesting an update we have written this post for your reading pleasure. The somewhat frustrated reader shall remain nameless but let it be known that her name rhymes with mindsay!

After indulging in the luxuries that come with living in a house, we have hit the road again. Learning from past experience and many a story told, we packed all the essentials for a proper outback adventure. Spare tire, tool kit, duct tape, 45 litres of water, 20 litres of petrol, 6 litres of sun screen, more duct tape, roo bar set up on the 4x4, esky and tent in the boot and last but not least, the fly hood.

Our first stop was Kosciuszko (koz-ee-oz-ko) National Park. Covering 6,500 square Kms of unspoiled natural habitat, this region allows you to camp for free among the wildlife, watch the birds while you hike and swat the flies while you cook. It's a little known fact that this park has more flies than anywhere else on earth. Fortunately we had our handy dandy fly hoods. It's important to remember to lift the hood before putting things in your mouth... a lesson I learned early through experience. When we set up camp on our first night, a momma wallaby and her joey supervised us from 10 feet away while cooling in the shade from the incredible Aussie heat. After Jo smeared her now melted lip balm on to her face, we took a tip from the wildlife and stuck to the shade.

We couldn't pass up the opportunity to see the view from Australia's highest peak, Mt Kosciuszko, at 2,228 m. We braved high UV rays, strong winds and somewhat scary heights on the exausting 12- minute chairlift up, only to hike another 4 kms to the summit. It was challenging but worth it. The drive to our campsite took us through forests which had been ravaged by bushfire giving it a creepy haunted look.

Part of the fun of having your own car is that you get to stop for the really important things wherever you please. For instance, we got to experience first hand Australia's love of big things. Like the world's largest trout, appropriately located in Adaminaby (population 260... including the trout). We soon stopped again to capture a photo of the well known, world's largest red boot. Not ten minutes later, we stopped again for the world's scariest, green polk-a-dot, paper mache dinosaur. You may think I was out of my mind to get this close to such a dangerous beast, but if you look closely, there's a fence holding him back. Plus I used the zoom. I'm not THAT crazy!

Along the route south from Sydney, we hit Jervis Bay. This park has white sandy beaches and snorkelling just minutes from your campsite. The number of birds flying overhead makes you feel like you're in an aviary. Packs of rainbow lorikeets dart through the trees overhead, parrots and rosellas patrol the ground around the tent and the incredible sound of the laughing cookaburra is the last thing you hear when you go to sleep and the first thing you hear when you wake up. Best of all, this park hasn't got a single fly or mosquito. For those looking to spend their energy exploring beaches and lagoons instead of swatting at bugs, this is the place to be.

There were so many places to see along the coast that interested us we couldn't resist. We saw Montague Island with it's huge seal colony and impressive lighthouse, we camped by the beach in Narooma and saw Wilson's Promontory with its serene forested walks and rare south coast australian sunsets behind Norman Island. We even spotted a wombat in the middle of the day (they're nocturnal). The park also had this helpful sign about waves on the beach. We made sure to keep an eye out for large waves attacking unsuspecting levitators floating 2 feet above the water.

We rolled into Melbourne and immediately felt the pulse of a city alive with music, art and culture. To give you an idea, the local police have a rock band and the fire brigade have a pipe band. Thanks to our gracious friend Veronica, we had, once again, a home to live in instead of a hostel or tent. We were quickly befriended by Alana (friend of the family), and subsequently adopted by her friends Kate, Leana, Corinna and many more. We were treated to a true local's tour of the town.

We ate dinner at an Indian restaurant, took in the irresistable sounds of Rolly and the Soul Contention at Manchester Lane and spent an evening under the stars listening to live music at the Royal Melbourne Zoo. Alana and Kate also timed it perfectly for us to sprint to a bridge to watch giant
flames spew out from the pillars at the Crown Casino.

Of course I would be seriously remiss if I neglected to mention the outings with our ever playful flatmates Andrew and Paige (see picture left). The only way I could get her on film was if I used the high speed action setting. Thanks to all the gang who put us up, invited us out and treated us like their best mates. It's people like you who make the trip more memorable.


PS: Jeanne, could you please email us at richgrego@yahoo.ca to give us your email? Also any of the Melbourne gang that wants to keep in touch, email us and you'll have friends in Canada waiting for your next visit.