Australia 2023

February 2023

20 Pinewood Jr. High students and 3 teachers bead to Australia for an adventure of a lifetime! Internet connection is poor where we will be traveling. I’ll post when I can. 🙂 Read more

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Bill Bates Australia 2023
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- Feb 15, 2023, 11:20pm
- Altitude: 115 ft
- United States California San Mateo County Lomita Park San Francisco Airport station 37.615925, -122.39009137°36’57” N 122°23’24” W
Day 1
Gathering at SFO!
February 15, 2023 in the United States
Our flight was at 11:20pm and we needed to arrive at SFO at 7:30. We got a good group shot before checking in, grabbing dinner, and boarding the flight. We got off on time and were brimming with excitement!Read more
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Bill Bates Australia 2023
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- Feb 16, 2023, 9:06am
- Altitude: 36 ft
- United States California San Mateo County Lomita Park Marina Vista Park 37.61298, -122.39829337°36’47” N 122°23’54” W
Day 2
In the air
February 16, 2023 in the United States
The flight was a good one. Pretty uneventful. Some turbulence around Hawaii, but nothing we couldn’t handle.

The kids were really well behaved, which is not surprising, but still appreciated! The flight attendants were very happy with us! 🙂Read more
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Bill Bates Australia 2023
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- Feb 17, 2023, 8:19am
- Altitude: 52 ft
- Australia Queensland Brisbane Brisbane Airport -27.402813, 153.11122127°24’10” S 153°6’40” E
Day 3
We made it to Brisbane!
February 17, 2023 in Australia
We made it to Brisbane without incident. Everyone even got plenty of sleep, even if it was broken sleep.

Not many great pictures yet. As I collect more from the kids, I’ll add to the posts.

Why the picture of the sign? They thought it was funny and looked like the person was being attacked. They wanted me to post it. 🤣Read more
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Bill Bates Australia 2023
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- Feb 17, 2023, 12:32pm
- Altitude: 804 ft
- Australia Queensland Sunshine Coast Crohamhurst Candle Mountain -26.816196, 152.85168526°48’58” S 152°51’6” E
Day 3
Arrival at Base Camp
February 17, 2023 in Australia
The ride from the airport (BNE) to the Rustic Pathways Base Camp was about 90 min, with traffic. The kids are rockstars and didn’t blink at having to sit again for an hour and a half.

Base Camp is on the Sunshine Coast. The weather is beautiful! In the mid 80’s and sunny. We are going to power up and then head to a cultural tour of the Aboriginal people.

Our two guides for the trip, Alycia and Charlie are super nice and have already connected well with the kids. I look forward to our time with them.Read more
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Bill Bates Australia 2023
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- Feb 17, 2023, 2:31pm
- Altitude: 804 ft
- Australia Queensland Sunshine Coast Crohamhurst Candle Mountain -26.816214, 152.85171526°48’58” S 152°51’6” E
Day 3
Cultural Tour with Travel Link
February 17, 2023 in Australia
The first stop on our adventure was to learn about the native Australian people, the Aborigines. We went to a cultural center where we met Bailey, a 19 year old Aboriginal man who told is stories of his history and culture. His people have been in the land that is now Australia for 75,000 years.

He showed us traditional paint, by mixing up crushed rock and water, called Ochre. Many if the kids and adults had fun letting Bailey paint us.

We then went on a walk through the local bush (wilderness) and he let us try many edible plants. The berries and plums we had were flavorful, but sour. We also saw the homes of trapdoor and funnel spiders. Dangerous critters, but we were safe! 🙂

We ended the nature walk with a sampling of alligator, emu, and kangaroo. The kids were surprised by the kangaroo, but our guides told us they are like deer in the US.

We had a great time and it was wonderful to be moving around and stretching our legs after a long flight and car ride.Read more
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Bill Bates Australia 2023
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- Feb 17, 2023, 4:48pm
- Altitude: 1,434 ft
- Australia Queensland Sunshine Coast North Maleny Walker Hill -26.781805, 152.88069226°46’54” S 152°52’50” E
Day 3
Glass House Mountains
February 17, 2023 in Australia
The Glass House Mountains were named by Captain James Cook, however the area has been significant for the Aboriginal people for tens of thousands if years. The area is considered spiritually significant with many ceremonial sites protected today.

There are eleven peaks, but the three we saw are called mouther, father, and child by the native Australians. They are in an area called The Hinterlands. We stopped at a good vista point on the way back to base camp.Read more
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Bill Bates Australia 2023
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- Feb 18, 2023, 10:47am
- Altitude: 118 ft
- Australia Queensland Sunshine Coast Eumundi -26.477409, 152.9534226°28’39” S 152°57’12” E
Day 4
Back at Base Camp for the Night
February 18, 2023 in Australia
We came back to base camp and our guides made us a wonderful dinner! We hung out together for a shot bit and went to bed early. In bed by 9pm and lights out by 9:30pm. I am sure some stayed up and talked for a bit, but our guides said it didn’t take long for everyone to fall asleep! 💤

Wake up call is 7am!Read more
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Bill Bates Australia 2023
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- Feb 18, 2023, 1:08pm
- Altitude: 141 ft
- Australia Queensland Sunshine Coast Eumundi Eumundi Markets -26.477288, 152.95280526°28’38” S 152°57’10” E
Day 4
Eumundi Markets
February 18, 2023 in Australia
We started the day with a pancake breakfast and Vegemite toast made by our wonderful guides!

We then packed up our stuff and headed off to the Eumundi Markets. It is an open air market with over 600 stalls of food, crafts, and other specialty items. It reminded me a lot of the various art and wine festivals in our area. It was super cute and we shopped and had lunch there.

Mr. Riches and I got the potato slinky. It was AMAZING! Basically, a spiral cut potato on a stick fried to crispy awesomeness! 😁

We were treated to some live music while we ate. The gentleman playing said he has been to San Francisco a few times and loves the area.

It was a lot of fun! Shopping and food, the kids were in heaven. 😉Read more
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Bill Bates Australia 2023
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- Feb 18, 2023, 3:08pm
- Altitude: 26 ft
- Australia Queensland Sunshine Coast Noosa Little Cove -26.386362, 153.09188826°23’11” S 153°5’31” E
Day 4
Noosa Heads Main Beach
February 18, 2023 in Australia
We made it to our first beach and it did not disappoint! Before we got there, we spent time walking around the town of Noosa’s famous Hastings Street. It is an area of high end shops, food places, and lodging. We didn’t spend very long there, because the main attraction was the beach. 🙂

The sand was soft, the water amazingly warm and calm, and the sunshine was tremendous! Everyone went into the water and it was hard to get them out!

It was one of the most beautiful beaches I have ever been to! We spent a good amount of time there, but we could have easily spent a few hours more! ☀️

A note regarding our guides, Alycia and Charlie. The are spectacular! I have been on a lot of trips and they are the best guides I have worked with. Their patients and understanding are epic, as Alicia would say. 😁 Your kids are in very good hands.Read more
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Bill Bates Australia 2023
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- Feb 19, 2023, 7:11am
- Altitude: 72 ft
- Australia Queensland Sunshine Coast Cootharaba -26.272367, 152.94584726°16’21” S 152°56’45” E
Day 5
G’Day from The Bush
February 19, 2023 in Australia
Mr. Riches found some friends this morning!
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