Trip of a lifetime

March - May 2016
  • ctkeefe
A 54-day adventure by ctkeefe Read more
  • ctkeefe

List of countries

  • New Zealand New Zealand
  • Australia Australia
  • Thailand Thailand
  • United Arab Emirates United Arab Emirates
  • United States United States
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  • 36.6kkilometers traveled
Means of transport
  • Flight32.2kkilometers
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  • 71footprints
  • 54days
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  • Surprise honeymoon

    April 11, 2016 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 25 °C

    Our surprise from Dov and Judite was amazing. It was a rental apartment, 4 bedrooms, 2 living rooms, 4 balconies, 2 overlooking probably one of the best views of Sydney that included the Harbour bridge, downtown and the Opera House. After a drink with Judite, they left us to our own. Some wine, some pizza, a jet tub bath and finally Alladin the movie. We had an amazing night.Read more

  • Luna Park with the kids

    April 12, 2016 in Australia ⋅ ⛅ 20 °C

    The kids got dropped off at our fancy spot then we head to Luna Park. Its a small amusement park right on the water with views of Harbour bridge. I thought the rides would be dinky but it would be fun to hang with kids. To my amazement I quite enjoyed almost all of the rides and had an absolute blast with them.

    We head out and had some lunch then came home. Tom and I went to get groceries fir dinner and cook some tacos for the family. Great evening and what a great time with Dov and the family. Wish we lived closer!
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  • Canberra, my home of 6 years as a little

    April 13, 2016 in Australia ⋅ ⛅ 19 °C

    Drove through Canberra. We moved there when I wad 18 months and left when I was 7. Strange town. Planned and built simply to be the Capital of Australia. Not very diverse and full of government type people and diplomats.

    But a beautiful city with lots of museums, parks and centered around a large lake. Oh and apparently 340,000+ kangaroos.

    Went passed my elementary school and old home. Weird and cool to see where I learnt how to walk, talk, read and write, among other things!

    From there we made our way to Merimbula but unfortunately got there after dark. We came down a pretty long mountain and I'm sure it was beautiful.

    Got to the Airbnb which was nice but it was full on holiday flat. No supplies at all. So we cooked our gluten free pasta sans oil, added canned tomato sauce and frozen green beans sans salt and pepper. Thank goodness I took some snacks from the plane that included peri peri and red pepper spreads that I added for some flavor. Slumming it we were! Ended the night with drinks and cards. Not bad at all.
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  • Rays, dolphins and goannas

    April 14, 2016 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 22 °C

    Took our coffee down to the lake. We were sitting on a dock and Tom yells to me. I look down and a sting ray swam right below our feet. After a little research we think it was actually a electric ray.

    From there head to a suggestion by the owner of our place, Shore Beach in Merimbula. She told us to walk over the grassy area to the rocks. We did. It was gorgeous. We set up our picnic breakfast and as we were eating a school of dolphins decided to grace us with their presence.

    We bumped into a guy walking his dog. Traveling on his own with his dog. Made us miss Brady. :-(
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  • Car damaging dirt roads

    April 14, 2016 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 21 °C

    From Merimbula we head south to the Pinnacles in Ben Boyd National Park. On our walk back from the coast we bumped into a very active but cute goanna.

    We drive through sleepy Pambula Beach and Eden that apparently has the second deepest harbour in the world.

    Then we took a fairly long dirt road to Green Cape Light station. They were grating the road and had left dirt in the middle. Freaking drove over it and at one point hit a large hidden rock! Now something is rattling under the car! Urgh, I have no luck.

    Anywho, the long drive was worth an amazing view and another lovely picnic.

    Finally we made our way to Mallacoota, our next stop. On our way we encountered a kangaroo hopping in front of us down the road. Zigzagging strangely. Cool though.

    Mallacoota is a small beach town 20km off the main highway on a wide inlet. Our place was absolutely gorgeous. Our deck overlooked the bay. Great way to end an amazing day with a g and t, beautiful view and finally a delicious steak dinner.
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  • Secret beaches

    April 15, 2016 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 26 °C

    We drive south if Mallacoota to Quarry beach suggested by our host, Margaret. The rocks on the beach were beautiful, layers of petrofied wood and apparently studied often by students from Melbourne.

    We walked along the beach and bumped into the same man with his dog from the other day. What are the chances!

    At the end if the beach we either turned back or huffed it over a rock to a secluded beach. We huffed. It ended up being 'Secret beach' and we were able to get onto the coastal 'walk' back to our car which was lovely.

    One bad thing though. As we walked from the beach to the walk we ran into a logging area. Our previous host had mentioned the issues with logging vs conservation and this was a sad sight. This wasn't selective sustainable logging like we're used to in Vermont. This was straight out annihilation. Sad to see.

    So we walked back to our car. Then drove onto Shipwreck beach, a good 20 minutes on dirt road (with a rattling thingy under the car) anf it wasn't much. Beautiful but just as beautiful as we had seen. Not woth the drive.
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  • Boating on the lake, I mean inlet

    April 15, 2016 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 26 °C

    After exploring the coast we came home and packed up lunch. Head just down the road and did a 'boat hire'. Basically we rented a motorized boat that wouldn't go fast enough for us to do any damage. And besides the lake is so vast and empty, it was hard to find anyone.

    But it was lovely. We stopped in the middle and had lunch. Then explored some of the inlets and stopped again to have a glass of wine in the quiet and peaceful surroundings.

    We got home and enjoyed our deck and view. Then Tom cooked me an amazing roast to conclude our wonderful stay in Mallacoota.
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  • Wine with the kangaroos

    April 16, 2016 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 17 °C

    Said goodbye to our lovely hosts and drove to Cape Conran on the coast. We had our breakfast at Salmon rocks. Yet another pretty beach.

    We then head through Marlo and inland to the Buchan caves. We were early so we decided to have a glass of wine in the picnic area with the kangaroos. Did quite an interesting tour except for the huge family of about 30 with babies, toddlers and young kids.

    From there we head to our next place in Bairnsdale. Nice studio, again with everything you would need. Cooked a lovely veggie meal (after 4 consecutive meals of beef!) and then I proceeded to annihilate Tom in Spite and Malice!
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  • Sea level to 5400 feet

    April 17, 2016 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 11 °C

    Today was going to be a little colder and overcast so we decided to head up the Snowy Mountains and go for a hike. These are the mountains where I learnt how to ski at 4 years old.

    We stopped at a gorgeous spot for breakfast. Apparently these mountains used to be overrun by cattle and sheep farmers destroying the land.

    We carried on going, pretty much constantly winding up hill and ended up in Omeo. At the tourist office we found a good hike a little further up in Dinner Plain ski area.

    The hike took us to an old hut similar to the ones that these cattle herders would live in. Very basic bunks, fireplace and simple kitchen area. People can still stay in this one today as unappetising as it looks.

    Then we head through an area that had a brush fire in 2003. The flora and fauna are coming back but through these interesting dead tree limbs. Here we got to a bench overlooking an amazing view of Mt. Hotham and the sun tried to peak out for us.
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  • Found our dive bar

    April 18, 2016 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 19 °C

    After the hike we stopped at Oriental Claims and had our well deserved lunch. Then did a 45 minute loop around this old gold mine.

    Then drove home, again absolutely gorgeous going down the mountains.

    When we got into town we felt like grabbing a drink and found this awesome local bar, The Imperial Hotel. All the bars seem to be called hotels. There were only a few people there but got to chatting with about our trip and of course sports. Couple of the patrons were a little (ok a lot) sauced. Great dive bar experience. Then home for a delicious chicken dinner.
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