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Marina and I have had a blast this year having already traveled through 35 countries since January, but the gold at the end of the rainbow was always Australia! Unfortunately, while we’ve made it most of the way around the world, it doesn’t look like we’ll be able to make it to the gold coast before New Years, and that is why we’ve added Australia as a this weeks dream destination!
I was able to visit Australia and New Zealand about 15 years ago and have been dying to go back and explore more since. While the country is absolutely massive, there is little in the majority of the country, with all major cities spotting the outlines of this beautiful country. Marina and I have been lucky enough to meet some amazing friends in our travels, and among our favorites are our Aussie friends! (yes, they know how to party). I think us Americans feel a kinship with Aussies, we are both loud and know how to party, however I’m not sure how they’d feel about me comparing them to Americans!
So no matter if we get to Australia before the end of this year or sometime in the future, it will always remain a dream destination, and here is why.
1. Epic Road Trips!
Australia can be quite expensive to travel through, especially if you are used to backpacking in South America or South East Asia, however there are some easy ways to cut down on your costs. One of the most fun ways is to rent a camper, grab a couple buddies and drive around, camp and really hit the open road! This has been a dream of ours for a long time, and while it might take us a couple more tries to get a group of friends together in one place (harder than herding cats!), it’ll happen one day. There are endless routes to take, from the west coast cities if Perth to driving up the gold coast from Sydney to Brisbane and up to the beautiful sights of Bondi Beach and the Great Barrier Reef. So make it happen, I know we will!
2. The Beaches
I’ve been telling myself for years that I will learn to surf, and while it has yet to happen, I can’t think of a better place to at least give it a shot than in Australia. Bondi Beach is one of the most beautiful beaches I have ever seen (yes, we did live in Thailand for 2 years) and even failing miserably would be fun. There are no bad experiences, so take the leap!
If the sand isn’t your thing, the Great Barrier Reef is hands down one of the most amazing things on Earth and snorkeling above the reefs will spoil any visit you ever take to another aquarium. I saw full length sharks, the most colorful fish and creatures I had never dreamed of, all while just floating a few feet above it all.
3. Sydney
One of the most beautiful and picturesque cities in the entire world, Sydney is home to some of the most recognizable landmarks on Earth in the Sydney Opera House and the Sydney Harbor Bridge. Stepping inside the opera house is amazing even if music isn’t your thing and no trip to Sydney would be complete without strapping on a harness and climbing your way to the top of the Sydney Harbor Bridge, an experience that is hard to top.
With such an amazing skyline, taking advantage of the top hotels in Sydney is a must, as you’ll be glad you paid for a room with a view in this amazing city. We always dreamed of celebrating New Years in Sydney, as the first major city to celebrate the holiday, but get your room reserved months in advance as they fill up so quick! While a hotel room would give an amazing view of the fireworks from up high, you can also rent a house boat on the harbor for the night, an experience that would last a lifetime!
With so much to explore in Sydney, we’ll need at least a week to get lost and find the hidden gems we know are just waiting for us.
4. The Wildlife
When you think of tigers you think of Asia, giraffes remind you of Africa and without a doubt koala bears and kangaroos will give you visions of the vast Australian outback. Australia has done an amazing job of educating, caring for and preserving the ecology of these two amazing animal species. Steve Irwin probably taught us all everything we know about crocodiles and while we are all sad he is gone, he left behind some of the most amazing animal education programs, preserves and zoos in the entire world. So make sure to plan a trip to learn about and interact with the wildlife in this amazing landscape.
While not wildlife, no true traveler would say their trip to Australia was complete without at least gazing on Ayers Rock, sure its just a huge rock in the middle of nowhere, but when you see pictures of something your entire life and you’re that close, you’ve got to go for it!
Some images provided curtesy of Flickr by Yoann JEZEQUEL, #dailyshoot, Charlie Stinchcomb and Ib Aarmo
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