AUSTRALIA: Cape Leeuwin - Where Two Oceans Collide

Cape Leeuwin is the most south western (but not the most southern) mainland point of the Australian continent, located in Western Australia.

From the tip of Cape Leeuwin you can watch the waters of the Indian Ocean and Southern Ocean meet. 

AUSTRALIA: Perth - Back Home in Our Old Stomping Grounds

We called Perth, in Western Australia, home from 2008 to 2010.

We thought we had won the lottery.

With a Mediterranean climate, (dry, hot summers and temperate winters) an abundance of sunshine everyday, beautiful sandy beaches on 2 rivers and the Indian Ocean, it was an awesome place to call home.

We were super excited to return and walk down memory lane after 13 years. 

AUSTRALIA: Brisbane

Brisbane, capital of Queensland, is on the Brisbane River, also known as the Brown Snake.

It is the third-most populous city in Australia and Oceania

Brisbane also serves as a gateway to the Gold Coast, which is an hour south, and the Sunshine Coast, an hour north of the city.

Brisbane averages 283 sunny days per year. 

 

AUSTRALIA: The Gold Coast vs the Sunshine Coast

The Gold Coast and the Sunshine Coast are two of Australia’s most famous and most popular holiday destinations. 

The Gold Coast is located about an hour south of Brisbane while the Sunshine Coast is located about an hour north of the city. 

Apparently they have been battling for years to be named the ‘best coast’. 

AUSTRALIA: Sydney Street Scenes

Sydney has a rich history dating back to prehistoric times when Aboriginal Australians inhabited the region for at least 30,000 years. 

The modern European history of the city began with the arrival of the First Fleet of British ships in 1788 when 1,000 settlers (most of whom were convicts) docked on Australia’s shores and began the foundation of a penal colony for Britain. 

A little background and historical trivia for your next cocktail party: 

AUSTRALIA: Climbing the Sydney Harbour Bridge

Sydney Harbour Bridge, or, as the locals call it, "The Coat Hanger", is another iconic symbol of Sydney.

The bridge opened in 1932 and serves as the primary transportation link between Sydney's Central Business District (CBD) and its suburbs on the northern side of the harbour. 

It took 8 years to build and spans 500 metres (1,650 feet), making it one of the longest steel-arch bridges in the world. 

It is over 18 metres (60 feet) wide - enough to carry eight lanes of automobile traffic, two sets of train tracks, a bicycle path, and 2 pedestrian walkways. 

We chose to climb it. 

AUSTRALIA: Sydney Opera House

The iconic Sydney Opera House's unique white sail-shaped shells is considered a masterpiece of 20th-century architecture. 

It is one of the most-photographed buildings in the world. 

In 2007 the Opera House was designated a UNESCO World Heritage site.  

The design and construction of the building is a long and complicated story. 

As all good stories go, there were unforeseen plot twists, including technical difficulties, delays, budget overruns, political agendas plus oversized and bruised egos. 

AUSTRALIA: The Blue Mountains

The Blue Mountains consist of steep sandstone ridges covered in native bushland. They are said to be millions of years old.

They are called the Blue Mountains because when the sun is hot the oil in the eucalyptus trees is released from the leaves, creating a hazy oil mist. From a distance the light reflecting on the mist gives off a blue haze, making the mountains look blue.

The Blue Mountains were listed as a World Heritage Area by UNESCO in 2000 to protect and preserve the bio diversity and history of the area. 

JK: Pearls of Wisdom After One Year On the Road

One Year of wandering….

It's been ONE YEAR since Linda and I sold all our possessions and hit the road. We've been "houseless" travellers wandering around from country to country. It's been fun and more importantly we're still keen to continue this nomadic lifestyle. In case some of you wonder how we do it, here are a few things we use to help us on this journey......

AUSTRALIA: The Yarrangobilly Caves in the Snowy Mountains

The Yarrangobilly Caves are located in the Snowy Mountains, Australia’s highest mountain range. 

The caves were formed in a belt of limestone that dates back 440 million years. It is around 1.5 kilometres (1 mile) wide and 14 kilometres (8.7 miles) long. 

There are an estimated 60 caves in the area and four are open to the public. 

The name "Yarrangobilly" is a combination of the Wiradjuri words "yirra" meaning teeth and "bila" meaning river. 

The teeth is a reference to the stalactites and stalagmites in the caves and the bila refers to the rivers and creeks in the area.