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Australia 2020
  • Nick Stretton
  • Alison Stretton

Australia 2020

A 38-day adventure by Nick & Alison Read more
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  • Trip start
    February 1, 2020
    Australia 2020

    Outbound

    February 1, 2020 in England ⋅ ⛅ 9 °C

    So...here we are at Heathrow waiting to board our flight to Aus. Ahead of us a 38 day trip starting in Perth in the west and finishing in Tasmania in the South. In between we have trips planned to Canberra and a road trip down the south east coast from Bermagui to Melbourne. The start and finish of the trip should be largely unaffected by the bushfires but we will need to keep an eye on the situation in Canberra and the coast road which is currently closed. Whilst I don't want to seem like a car crash voyeur it will be interesting to see the effects of the fires and to support the communities by helping to bring some sort of normality back to their lives.

    Stayed at the Hilton Garden Hotel in Terminal 2 last night. Really excellent and very quiet given its proximity to both roads and runways. Spent a nice couple of hours watching the planes land every 40 to 60 seconds from the Runway bar on the 14th floor. Check in was quick, the only slight delay was in security as the guy in front of us "forgot" to take his Swiss Army Knife out of his hand luggage.

    Looking forward to some sunshine. Not long to go now so as David Gray said " see you on the other side..."    Read more

  • Australia 2020

    Arrival in Fremantle

    February 2, 2020 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 28 °C

    Good flight, took 16.5 hrs but with the help of a few good movies, a box set and regular food, time passed pretty quickly and we arrived in Perth to blue skies, sun and temperatures of 35 degrees. Immigration and baggage was very efficient and as soon as I turned my phone on I had a message to say our taxi driver was waiting outside, so in less than an hour from landing we were off to Fremantle.
    Fremantle is an historic port and dock area built in the Colonial style and was one of the first ports of call for the convict ships in the 1850s. We checked in and showered and went straight out to suss out the local area with the idea of staying up as long as possible to try and beat the jet lag (+8 hrs). Within 5 minutes we had found Bathers Beach, a small stretch of sand sandwiched between the docks and the Marina. It had a nice atmosphere and was surrounded by numerous bars and restaurants with seafood very much to the fore. Had a walk round and found a small statue to Bon Scott the lead singer of rock band AC/DC who came over to Fremantle with his family from Scotland in the 1950s. We settled in at the Bathers Beach Bar and celebrated our arrival with some sparkling Aussie wine. Then back to the hotel to crash. A great start to the holiday.    Read more

  • Australia 2020

    Acclimatisation

    February 3, 2020 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 30 °C

    Lazy morning as I didn't get to sleep until the early hours following the ups and downs of the sporting weekend. Spurs win over Man City just about making up for Englands loss to France . Another beautiful day. We had a walk around the town and saw the Market (only open Friday to Sunday) and a Scottish Presbyterian Church, there must be a Scottish connection here going back to the 1950s.

    Spent some time on the beach and had a visit from a ladybird who seemed very interested in Alis drink, which was surprising as it was only Soda!!!

    Finished the day off with some nice fresh fish Snapper and Mackerel and picked up an ice cream on the way back.    Read more

  • Australia 2020

    Hot Day, Strange Company

    February 4, 2020 in Australia ⋅ ⛅ 33 °C

    Woke at sensible hour and went and got some breakfast. Had a mooch around the shops and got a hat as I had forgotten to pack mine, not good when temperatures today set to reach 40 degrees!! Spent the afternoon on Bathers Beach which, whilst hot was helped by the afternoon cooling breeze known as the Fremantle Doctor.

    In the evening we found an excellent restaurant, Strange Company. Tucked away in a side street it had a very contemporary look and a relaxed atmosphere. A great selection of beer, wine and cocktails and an interesting menu of sharing plates. The food was excellent and the barman suggested a great wine to go with it, a Riesling called Rieslingfeak No. 4. The Brocolli special was amazing. Best meal so far.    Read more

  • Australia 2020

    Fremantle Tour

    February 5, 2020 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 29 °C

    Had brunch in a little cafe across from the hotel then picked up the tram for a guided tour of Fremantle. Our very lively guide explained how the first convicts arrived in 1850 and much of the town was built using convict labour. The Scottish connection was also explained. The guards who came across with them were retired soldiers from the Crimea. They were essentially in poverty in the UK as their war pension was not enough to live on. They were given the chance to reform their old units and come across as prison guards for double the wage. These Pensioner Guards were mainly from Scotland. In the early 1900s the town boomed off the back of mineral and gold finds and much of the infrastructure, hotels and public buildings are from that time. Fremantle is also a major port. Initially as the centre of the Australian wool trade, then as a major submarine base in WW2. Only Pearl Harbour had more submarines than Fremantle. The war memorial commemorates American submariners as well as those from Australia.Read more

  • Australia 2020

    Little Creatures

    February 5, 2020 in Australia ⋅ ⛅ 26 °C

    After the tour we had a walk down to South Beach and stayed for an hour or so before going back to the hotel. In the evening we went to The Little Creatures Brewing Company . This brewery incorporates a large space with restaurant and bar backing on to the harbour. Sharing plates and Pizza were their main offering the latter cooked in a wood fired oven. Enjoyed Piri Piri Chichen, Halloumi and a green salad followed by a cheese board all washed down with a few pints of Little Creatures IPA. Great atmosphere again, very relaxed and family friendly. Another great experience.Read more

  • Australia 2020

    Swan River to Perth

    February 6, 2020 in Australia ⋅ ☁️ 24 °C

    Had an amazing breakfast at Duck Duck Bruce. Smashed Avo, minted peas with lemon dressing on sourdough toast with poached eggs and a side of bacon. Ali had a fruity, pineapple muesli thing. All very delicious. Picked up the ferry to Perth along the Swan River. We passed some amazing homes, yacht clubs and even saw a pod of dolphins. Arrived at Elizabeth Quay, a new development not quite finished with the back drop of some impressive Corporate HQs. We took the sightseeing tour around the city. Like many cities Perth is better viewed from the water, once you are in to the city proper you could be anywhere. Despite some well preserved colonial buildings it fails to impress either with its architecture or history. The highlight was Kings Park the biggest City park in the world bigger than New Yorks Central Park and contains the Botanical Gardens. We had a walkabout and got some great views of the city. We got back onto the bus and went to the station deciding to spend the evening back in Fremantle. One thing the Aussies do well is public transport. Good quality regular connections reasonably priced and in the case of some bus services, free. Went out for a final fling in Freo and had a nice meal in Char Char Bull with an excellent bottle of Tasmanian red and a creme Brulee in honour of the old man. I'm sure he would have approved.The end of the first leg of our journey and very good it was too.Read more

  • Australia 2020

    Fremantle Market and Scarborough

    February 7, 2020 in Australia ⋅ ⛅ 24 °C

    We packed up and checked out and booked a taxi for 1.30 and made our way to the market. The market was busy with numerous craft and food stalls. Went to a cafe for brunch and then back to the hotel for our taxi. Our driver Cliff took us past Cottesloe Beach to Scarborough about a 30 minute drive. Our hotel was visible some way off as it is the only high rise building in the area. We checked in to our room on the 20th floor. The hotel is close to the beach and we have a great view from our balcony.

    Scarborough is a typical beach resort with a main strip of bars and restaurants all very convenient. Had some drinks and Tacos and a few more nightcaps in the hotel bar than we intended. Slept well though !!    Read more

  • Australia 2020

    Rendezvous Hotel Scarborough

    February 8, 2020 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 24 °C

    So, the hotel is big. Our room is great with a balcony overlooking the beach. The hotel itself is rather impersonal with large redundant spaces reminiscent of a corporate head office. Had eggs and bacon in a nearby cafe and spent the rest of the day around the pool which is situated on the 10th floor and is well protected from the wind. There were a few people about but we managed to get sun beds OK and I settled down with some music and Ali read a book. In the evening we had a great Rib Eye steak on the bone with some tempura prawns. Didn't stay out too long as the breeze was getting up so we came back and played cards and watched a movie.Read more

  • Australia 2020

    Sea, Surf and Sunset

    February 9, 2020 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 22 °C

    Woke up to faultless blue skies. Went out for breakfast and then down to the beach where there was a life guard club competition. Lots of activity with the wind whipping up the surf. Stayed for a while but decided to opt for the relative shelter of the hotel pool. In the evening we had a walk along the seafront. There was a large group dancing by the beach and we settled down for our meal and watched the sun set over the Indian Ocean. Stunning.Read more

  • Australia 2020

    Hillary's Harbour

    February 10, 2020 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 25 °C

    Usual late breakfast at the Sandbar. Caught up on some boring stuff like washing and then took an Uber out to Hillary's Harbour about a 15 minute drive from Scarborough. This is a Marina and Leisure complex with bars restaurants and boutiques. There is a small beach and water park and moorings for some impressive boats. The complex is completed by waterside apartments. We had a couple of drinks and a walk round but to be honest it was all a bit soulless and artificial so we came back to Scarborough for our final meal. Heading off to Canberra tomorrow to see Lisa and Dave and to start the next part of our trip. This takes us down the east coast that was badly effected by the recent bushfires and now coping with heavy rain and floods. We will end up in Melbourne before crossing the Tasman Sea to Hobart. Looking forward to it.Read more

  • Australia 2020

    Scarborough to Canberra

    February 11, 2020 in Australia ⋅ ⛅ 24 °C

    Got up and packed, checked out and had breakfast. Cliff the taxi driver picked us up at 12.15 and we had a pleasant journey to the airport. Cliff didn't stop talking. Quick check in and then over to the Qantas desk. I wanted to see if we could change our return flight. We are due back from Sydney via Singapore and I wondered if it would be better to go direct from Perth as we did on the way out. Interestingly the non stop flight is having difficulty at the moment as it is on an altered route which is longer than usual to avoid flying over hot spots in the middle east. Because of this 80 to 90 passengers a day are being moved on to other flights as the plane cant take a full load and the fuel needed to do the flight. So Singapore it is. Had a beer at the airport and then a good 3.5 hour flight to Canberra where we were met by Lisa and Dave - nice to see them after so long. Dave drove us back to their apartment and we sat on the balcony with beer and nibbles.Read more

  • Australia 2020

    Canberra - a change of scene

    February 12, 2020 in Australia ⋅ ⛅ 24 °C

    Despite the 3hr time difference we were up quite early. Lisa and Dave's apartment is in a trendy waterside development close to bars and restaurants. The weather is not as bad as I expected, definitely cooler and slightly overcast but dry so we took a short walk first thing around the development. Had a cup of coffee and looked over some local information on what we might like to do over the next couple of days. Lisa and Dave got back about 12.30 and we went for a quick tour. We stopped initially at the National Museum and had some lunch and then on to the Botanical Gardens. We had a walk around. Much of the area had been damaged during a recent severe hailstorm. Trees shrubs and greenhouses took a battering so it wasn't looking at it's best. Staff were still clearing up. It was interesting to see the Eucalyptus trees which shed their bark throughout their lifetime. The bark is rich in oil and is easy to burn. This is one reason why the bushfires can spread so quickly and over such distances. The Eucalyptus bark acts like an oil lamp or torch blown by strong winds and landing on tinder dry grass and twigs in bushland which has not seen rain for nearly two years. The good news is that the recent rains have extinguished the majority of fires, we have seen no sign on our trip so far, however there are still some smouldering hot spots with fire fighters being dropped by helicopter into remote areas to put them out.
    We finished up at a local bar for a couple of beers and then on to an Italian for Pasta and Pizza and some nice red wine. Had nightcap and earlyish night as L&D at work next morning.    Read more

  • Australia 2020

    Mount Majura Vineyard

    February 13, 2020 in Australia ⋅ 🌧 22 °C

    Slept in this morning, not sure why !! L&D came back from work and we went off to Braddon. Initially to find some wine but also to go to Avis so that I could upgrade my car for our upcoming road trip. We had some lunch in a bakery called Sonoma. Everything is made onsite and I had the most amazing Chicken & Tarragon toasted sandwich. From there we went out to the Mount Majura Winery for a tasting. We started off outside but the weather came in and it started raining so we moved inside. We tasted 12 wines all made on the Estate. In a good year they will produce 60000 bottles specialising in Riesling and Shiraz. All the wine produced is for local consumption, nothing is exported. We bought 3 bottles Chardonnay, Temperanillo and Shiraz. A nice way to spend the afternoon. Back to the flat via the food market to pick up some fish and prawns. Then a relaxing night in with L&D producing an excellent meal of marinaded prawns , chicken skewers and roasted veg on the bbq.Read more

  • Australia 2020

    Canberra to Bermagui

    February 14, 2020 in Australia ⋅ ⛅ 24 °C

    This is the start of our road trip - a two night stay in The Beach House in Bermagui about a 3.5 hour drive east from Canberra on the Pacific coast. We stopped after about an hour for a pie in Braidwood, a typical Aussie country town, then continued to Bermagui. To date we have seen nothing of the bushfires, this was about to change. The area is mainly National Park forestry and in places you could see the lush green vegetation, how it should be. This is in massive contrast to vast areas where there are only charred trunks and brown leaves of burned trees, as if someone had turned off the colour leaving only a brown sepia image of what used to be. So far the damage was mainly to vegetation and eerily a total lack of animal life. The impact on humans seemed limited. This was not the case In Mogo. This small town had a number of buildings turned to rubble protected by metal fencing. It was very moving and I couldn't bring myself to take any photos - it didn't seem right and would not have been respectful to those who had lost their homes, livelihood and even their lives.

    Bermagui was thankfully unaffected and the Beach House commands an amazing view over Bermagui Beach. The effects of the cyclone were agitating the sea and producing white breakers and higher than usual tides. We sat on the balcony and watched the local bird life and then Lisa, Dave and Ali went for a walk while I prepared dinner. Bruschetta with tomato,onion, lime and corriander followed by Barramundi fillet with a creamy curry sauce. Finished off with a chocolate dessert from Woolies.

    Also today was the 20th anniversary of when we got engaged. Happy anniversary to my wonderful wife.    Read more

  • Australia 2020

    Bermagui

    February 15, 2020 in Australia ⋅ ⛅ 24 °C

    Weather a bit overcast but still had breakfast on the balcony and then did a tour around Bermagui. We started at Camel Beach so called because of the shape of one of the rocks. From there we went to one of the Lakes and watched some birds. Not sure what they were but recognised Pelicans. We could see the sea crashing on rocks in the distance and so made our way to take a closer look. Took a walk around the headland to Horsehead Beach with panoramic views out to sea and across to Gulaga, Mother Mountain so called because it resembles a pregnant woman laying on her back which you can just make out despite the hanging cloud. We had a quick look at the salt water swimming pool in the rocks but it was too rough for a dip so we went back to town and had a couple of beers in the Bermagui Beach House Hotel. Then back to the house for some food and a graze. Finished off with some local sausages and found a very apt movie - Crocodile Dundee !!Read more

  • Australia 2020

    Bermagui to Lakes Entrance

    February 16, 2020 in Australia ⋅ ☁️ 20 °C

    We packed up and had breakfast overlooking the marina and then went our separate ways - Lisa and Dave to Canberra and us to Lakes Entrance, the first stop on our 650km road trip to Melbourne. This was the part of the trip that had caused us concern as the route had been closed for several weeks because of the bushfires. The route takes us past Malacoota which was the place where the Navy evacuated people from the beach. Thankfully the road is fully opened but the devastation was clear to see. We drove for about 300km from Bermagui to Orbost. Virtually the whole way we were driving through burned forest. In places a 40m area had been cleared both sides of the highway quite incredible given the short time available. From time to time we came across the remains of houses, the brick fireplace and chimney the only sign of what had once been a home. We stopped at a rest area and I took a few pictures but these can only give a rough idea and goes nowhere near showing the extent of the damage, burned vegetation in some places as far as you can see. Yet strangely the recent rains had created several green areas. The verges with buttercups next to dead trees, life and death side by side. The closer we got to our destination the less distressed the landscape until we found ourselves once more surrounded by lush green countryside.Read more

  • Australia 2020

    Lakes Entrance

    February 16, 2020 in Australia ⋅ ☁️ 19 °C

    We arrived at our destination, Waverley House Cottages, a small development of self catering cottages. We went straight into the town. Lakes Entrance was very quiet, perhaps it was because it was Sunday but also because of the lack of tourists as a result of the bushfires and the closure of the only road The Princes Highway. It had a slightly 70s feel, a little run down with Tourist shops selling tee shirts, camping and fishing stuff. We found a Hotel and had a few beers and some fish and chips which were very good. Ali had beer battered Gummy Shark and breaded Whiting, I had Flat Head tails. Watched Queen perform on the Firefighter Concert and had an early night, another 3 hour drive tomorrow.Read more

  • Australia 2020

    Lakes Entrance to Wilson's Promontory

    February 17, 2020 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 20 °C

    Checked out by 10am and had a chat with the owner. She explained that the fires came within 30km of the property and on 31st December they evacuated all of their guests. Luckily the wind changed direction and they were not directly effected but the next paying guest did not arrive until 14th January and this in high season. We went back in to town and walked out over the bridge onto 90 mile beach - the clue is in the title. Then back in the car and on to Wilson's Prom National Park. The journey took us through lush green farm land and rolling hills and familiar places like Stratford which happened to be on the river Avon. We picked up supplies in Toora and some Fuel in Foster as we were not too sure what facilities existed in the Park.
    All of the camping and hostel style accomodation is within a central area. Our Tent was in a secluded area with a shared Kitchen and BBQ. The tent was large with proper ensuite facilities so whilst we were at one with nature we were not exactly roughing it !! We went for a short walk and came across a Wombat and a Wallaby. The park is massive with only one full day we will only scratch the surface but looking forward to getting out and about tomorrow.    Read more

  • Australia 2020

    Squeaky Beach and Lilly Pilly Gully

    February 18, 2020 in Australia ⋅ 🌧 18 °C

    Didn't sleep too well as it was a breezy night and the tent flapped about a bit. Still, we had some breakfast and went off to see some sights. We needed to do as much as we can this morning as the weather is closing in. We drove down to Squeaky Beach where, because of the makeup of the sand it squeaks when you walk on it. We then drove to Lilly Pilly Gully and did a 2 hr circular walk through the interior. Lush forest with bird life and the occasional wallaby. The weather stayed mainly dry but with the clouds threatening we decided to return to the tent for some lunch. Good timing on our part as at about 2pm the heavens opened and for the next 3 hrs we had a torrential downpour with thunder rumbling around the surrounding hills. This cleared by 5pm allowing us time to nip to the central area takeaway for a Lamb Burger and chips. As we are only there for two days it didn't make much sense to use the shared cooking facilities. The wind had dropped and so we hoped for a quieter night.Read more

  • Australia 2020

    Wilson's Prom to Phillip Island

    February 19, 2020 in Australia ⋅ 🌧 16 °C

    Left Wilson's Prom and took a few photos on the way out. Our stay too short to do this beautiful place justice. Drove the 2hr journey to Phillip Island and arrived at our very comfortable B&B. No one there to meet us but instructions had been left for us to let ourselves in and settle in to the room. Had our packed lunch, (last of the cheese and ham thank God!! ). Walked into the small seaside town and sat outside a pub in the sunshine watching HMAS Stuart slowly go up and down the coast. I offered to take a photo for some Dutch tourists but to everyone's glee technology got the better of me and I managed to take a selfie and send it to the guys mother in Holland - she was a bit surprised. We then drove out to the Penguin Parade. The whole thing was on a much bigger scale than I anticipated. A large modern structure containing educational displays and a series of wooden walkways taking us around the areas where the penguins have their burrows. We went down to a seating area at the waters edge and in the gathering gloom the Little Penguins started to come ashore. They go out to sea at dawn and stay out there feeding, coming back at dusk to avoid predators. We watched 243 Penguins come ashore and march back to their burrows, an amazing site. The only downside being we were not able take photos. An excellent experience and we even managed to get a selfie !!!Read more

  • Australia 2020

    Koala Sanctuary

    February 20, 2020 in Australia ⋅ ☁️ 16 °C

    Before leaving for Melbourne we visited a Koala sanctuary. Initially we saw a few up in the trees but when we turned a corner we came across one sitting on the handrail of the walkway. There was also another one eating its lunch. A great photo opportunity.Read more

  • Australia 2020

    Philip Island to Melbourne

    February 20, 2020 in Australia ⋅ ☁️ 17 °C

    Completed the 2hr drive to Melbourne. Our room is on the 19th floor with a great view of the city. Having been travelling for a while we took some time out for washing etc. Before venturing out for our first meal. Took a stroll down to a restaurant called Claypots Barbarossa in one of Melbournes lanes - narrow streets with restaurants on both sides with outdoor seating. The restaurant served mainly seafood and had a great atmosphere with live music - two guys one on double bass and one on keyboards. Great food, Swordfish ceviche and ray followed by a spicy lamb tagine and a citron creme brulee. All washed down with a couple of carafes of house wine. All very delicious. We have set the bar quite high so a lot to live up to tomorrow.Read more

  • Australia 2020

    Melbourne

    February 21, 2020 in Australia ⋅ ⛅ 17 °C

    Slightly overcast today with cooler temperatures. We took the free city tram down to Federation Square, a popular meeting place down by the river. Ali had identified a restaurant called Cumulus Inc a smart restaurant set in a warehouse building. We sat at the bar and ordered some sharing plates which were superb. Tuna on toast, fig and proscutio cracker, gnocchi with ricotta, roasted cucumber and mint salad. Melbourne has a reputation for good food and this place did not disappoint. Having spent a good 1.5 hrs over lunch we walked down to Federation Square and picked up some tips from the local tourist guides. We walked to the river and had a drink and then did a bit of shopping, the cooler weather had caught us out a bit and I bought a pair of Jean's which would come in handy in Tasmania where it is cooler again. In the evening we went to China Town. Ali spotted a restaurant called Flower Drum. We were greeted in a ground floor lobby area and sent up to the first floor restaurant by lift. As soon as we got out the lift my wallet told me to leave but it was too late. Good job we stayed we had an excellent experience. Amazing food and great service. Simple food but fantastic quality with little touches that made it very special. It turns out that this is one of Melbournes longest established restaurants with a pedigree going back over 30 years. You can always count on Ali to sniff out quality food !!Read more

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