From Kings Canyon, we made our way to our final stop in the Northern Territory, Uluṟu-Kata Tjuṯa National Park. About an hour from Uluru (Ayers Rock), is Mount Conner which we originally thought was Uluru. Alex and I couldn’t figure out why it was located so far from our hotel until we realized we did not have the right rock – oops! Apparently, locals call Mount Conner "Fool-uru" as many people mistake it for Uluru!
Read MoreSaturday, we left Glen Helen Gorge and made our way to Kings Canyon. On the way, we made a stop at Tnorala (Gosse Bluff), a 12-mile crater created 140 million years ago from a comet. The area is a sacred site for the Aboriginal people who believe the crater was formed when a woman dropped a baby while dancing across the Milky Way.
Read MoreWe arrived in the Northern Territory of Australia where we have been for the past five days driving along the Red Center Way. The route starts in Alice Springs and runs through the Australian outback, linking the MacDonnell Ranges and Watarrka National Park (Kings Canyon) with Uluru and Kata Tjuta (The Olgas).
Read MoreOn our last full day in Sydney, we decided to walk the Federation Cliff Walk. The walk starts in Watsons Bay and follows along the coast providing beautiful views of the South Pacific Ocean.
Read MoreAlex and I decided to wake early Sunday morning in order to catch one of the first trains to the Blue Mountains. The train ride takes a little over two hours and we arrived around 9:30am. The slate-blue haze that gives the Blue Mountains its name comes from a fine mist of oil emitted by the huge eucalyptus trees covering the park. This World Heritage region is known for its beautiful scenery and rich Aboriginal history.
Read MoreWednesday morning we boarded the ferry from Circular Quay to go to Manly Beach. The ferry passes by the Opera House, Harbour Bridge, and downtown skyscrapers. It was great being able to see the view from the water and I took lots of pictures of the cityscape! Here are just a few of my favorites:
Read MoreYesterday, Alex and I took the bus to Nielsen Park to hike the Hermitage Foreshore Walk. The track is short, a little over a mile, but offers beautiful views of the city skyline, Opera House, and Harbour Bridge. The path follows along the coastline and there were several small, secluded beaches along the way.
Read MoreFriday, Alex and I hiked the Coogee Beach to Bondi Beach Walk. This 3.5-mile walk stretches along the Pacific Ocean coastline and made for a perfect morning activity. The trail extends along several other beaches including: Clovelly Beach, Bronte Beach and Tamarama Beach. There is also a large cemetery, Waverly Cemetery, which we passed as well. After arriving to Bondi Beach, we grabbed lunch at the Porch and Parlour.
Read MoreWe made it back to mainland Australia Wednesday night! We left Hobart at 4:30pm and by 6:30pm, we had landed in Sydney. I studied abroad in Sydney 14 years ago and have been looking forward to returning. It has been exciting to be back in a city again for a change of scenery and excellent food choices! On Thursday, we checked out the Royal Botanical Gardens, Sydney Opera House, Luna Park and walked across the Harbour Bridge. It was a busy day and we walked a total of 8 miles before 3:00pm!
Read MoreWe left Lake St. Clair for New Norfolk on Monday. On the way, we stopped at Mt. Field National Park, to hike the waterfalls + tall trees circuit. The waterfalls included: Russell Falls, Horseshoe Falls and Lady Barron Falls. It took about two hours and was a nice, leisurely walk through the rainforest.
Read MoreOn Saturday, we drove to Lake St. Clair, a place we have been anticipating since we first started planning our trip to Tasmania. When researching things to do in Lake St. Clair back in June, we came across the hotel, Pumphouse Point, and knew immediately we wanted to stay there.
Read MoreWe left Cradle Mountain for Strahan this past Thursday morning. On the drive to Strahan, we stopped in Williamsford to hike the Montezuma Falls track. This three-hour trek takes you to Tasmania’s highest waterfall, Montezuma Falls, standing at 340-feet. It was an easy walk through the rainforest to reach the falls.
Read MoreWe arrived in Cradle Mountain on Tuesday after leaving Stanley. The drive takes around 2 ½ hours and before entering the park, we stopped at the Cradle Mountain Lookout. The park is part of the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area, diverse in both vegetation and wildlife.
Read MoreSunday morning, we left Launceston and made our way towards Stanley. While driving, we made several stops along the way. We passed through the town of Penguin, a pretty seaside village. The town is known for its multiple statues of penguins and even the trashcans are in the shape of their namesake. We did not spend too much time here, but wanted to make sure to get a obligatory photo of the 10-foot penguin in the center of town!
Read MoreTuesday, we left for Launceston, the second largest city in Tasmania with 68,000 residents. On the way to Launceston, we made a detour to the Low Head Lighthouse which was built in 1888 and a great location to watch the Tamar River flowing into the Bass Straight.
Read MoreMonday, we left Coles Bay and headed to Bridport where we stayed for one night. On our way to Bridport we stopped at Bridestowe Lavender Estate. The estate boasts over 260 acres of lavender fields, landscaped gardens and native forests.
Read MoreFriday morning, we left Coles Bay for St. Helens. In Portugal, we started listening to podcasts since we spent so much time in the car and found it helps make the drive more interesting. Most of our podcasts centered around murder mysteries (“Someone Knows Something”, “Dirty John”, and “Up and Vanished") and have been looking to branch out a bit.
Read MoreWe woke early and hit the road towards Coles Bay on Monday. We made a pit stop in Swansea, a pretty seaside village which overlooks Great Oyster Bay and Freycinet National Park. On the way to Swansea we stopped at Spiky Bridge. Built by convicts in 1843, the bridge was made from stones without mortar or cement. It is unclear why the spikes were designed, but the belief is the spikes were added to prevent cattle from falling over the sides of the bridge.
Read MoreFrom Port Arthur, we drove to Orford on Saturday, where we stayed for two nights. The first day, we took the ferry from Triabunna to Maria Island (pronounced “Mariah” Island). The mountainous island was once a penal colony for convicts who committed offenses against the French colonists. Today, the entire island and the ocean surrounding it is a national park.
Read MoreOn Tuesday morning, we left Bruny Island for Port Arthur. On the way, we stopped at Coal River Farm, where we picked our own plums and strawberries. In addition to growing fruits, they also make their own cheese and chocolate which we sampled. We enjoyed the pit-stop and even got to pet a couple of goats!
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