Sydney or Bust

Thursday 13 Feb- Sunday 16 Feb

We have been all over!!

We left the Sunshine Coast and picked up our car in Brisbane. After a tiny mishap (we got on the motorway (as they say here) and realized we’d left half our bags in the rental car parking lot!! :P), we were on our way.

We drove to Byron Bay—a little bohemian town on the coast, well known for surfing and its hip atmosphere. We lucked out with a beautiful campsite right by the beach. The sand here is squeaky!! I’ve never experienced squeaky sand!! The sand is so fine that a little squeak squeak is emitted as you walk. The moon was nearly full and we greeted its rising on the beach. We could hear the waves at night and it was beautiful and warm. The campground was also overrun with turkeys!!

Byron Bay

This fascinates me

Camp Beach

Jerk

When we woke in the morning, we saw people putting tarps over their tents and we realized the forecast must be for rain.

And rain it did!! It poured!! We drove and drove through sweeping rain all along the coastal waterway. Again with the comparisons---but it reminded us SO much of the Gulf Coast of America. The towns were a bit worn and weather beaten. The land was swampy and wet. Prawns (shrimp) were for sale along roadside stands. Shrimp kabob, shrimp gumbo, cocktail shrimp, BBQ shrimp, shrimp salad… ;)

Our destination was Coff’s Harbour and a campground recommended by our friend Matt (who we met in Fiji). Matt had actually given us a terrific itinerary for our trip to Sydney.

The Coff’s Harbour campsite was very modern and comfortable with the beach just across the road. We walked in the rain to see the waves crashing. Luckily, the campground had an enclosed and lit common area; we were able to access the internet and cook dinner.

Modern bounce pad :D

I taught Preston to play Yahtzee in the tent and we slept to the pitter patter of rain.

The next day we drove to Halliday Point, another beachside campground. It was quite deserted. Our tent was nestled under the trees that lined the beach. The rain continued to mist all around us. Preston braved surfing, while I spent time reading in the tent.

Deserted

Birds in our campsite

A short break in the rain allowed us to take a walk on the beach. The rain came back and we continued our yahtzee game and enjoyed our cheap boxed wine under the shelter of the tent.

We drove into Sydney in the pouring rain. We had a moment of panic, because there was no way to enter the city without going through a toll…but we didn’t have a toll pass and there was nowhere to pay cash. Fortunately, I discovered you can buy a temporary virtual pass online, which can be backdated 3 days. Visitor tip for Sydney, that is.

We headed directly for Bondi (BON-DIE) Beach. We arrived to incredible wind and rain. I could hardly walk to the toilet!! I was being blown sideways. Umbrellas all around were turning inside out. Preston was determined to surf this famous spot…so he was off into the churning ocean and I huddled in the car to stay dry. Amazingly, the beach had free wifi :D

Doin it

We found our hotel in the neighborhood of Wooloomooloo. That’s a lot of o’s ;) It was a cozy little place near the water. We took a stroll through the rain to the Botanical Gardens and down to Circular Quay to see the iconic Opera House.

Jacque and Matt, our friends from Fiji, kindly met us for dinner in North Sydney. We had a feast of amazing Thai food and it was wonderful after so many camp dinners!!

Lazy in Australia

Monday 10 Feburary-Wednesday 12 February 2014

We were up at 3am on Monday...sad to leave New Zealand. Will anywhere compare? Should we move here and start a sheep farm?? California seems soooo far from home (Maryland), so I guess New Zealand would be a bit ridiculous.

Here's a great quote I found online about Lord of the Rings, but I think it applies to New Zealand too.

“...the landscape inside Lord of the Rings was so stunning and so stupendous that it could be absorbed as a form of nourishment.” 
― Jasper Fforde

I agree Jasper Fforde. New Zealand is like nourishment.

Sad Facin New Zealand

I started the sad facin thing on trips some time ago...it still makes me laugh.

We flew Virgin Australia, which we were pretty excited about since Virgin America is so awesome. Turns out...Virgin Australia...not so much. It's kind of like a budget airline down here. WEIRD!!

We arrived in Australia to such different temperatures!! It's hot and humid here. We are staying at a little apartment in the beach town of Maroochydore (trying saying that out loud. Ma-roo-Chee-door). I found the apartment on Air bnb. My first time using this site, but it's great. Regular people rent out their apartments for a cheaper price than a hotel (in most cases). 

We've arrived. With the bag :P

It's been a great reprieve from all our running around. We've been sooooo lazy...spending our days watching hours of Olympic coverage, enjoying the wireless, cooking yummy dinners in the kitchen, catching up on American TV (The Walking Dead!! I hate Carl!!) We had to walk 3 miles to and from the grocery store, but so worth it to cook something in an OVEN!! We are feasting!!

Preston bought a second-hand surfboard yesterday for our Australian adventures. Cheaper than renting one every day. 

Tomorrow we head back to the airport in Brisbane via shuttle bus and then have to find our way to downtown, where we will pick up our tent car!! 

We are renting this car from a crazy company called Wicked Campers.(<--click there to see what I mean) Apparently, you get some kind of discount if you show up NAKED to pick up the car. We will probably not be doing that...but it does give me pause about the cleanliness of the car seats :P

The car comes with the roof tent, a camp stove, utencils, and an esky!! I had to google what the heck an esky is. It's a cooler!!

After that, we have 2 weeks and about 2000 miles on the open road. We plan to drive down the coast, surfing (Preston), and camping as we go. We have some stops planned in Sydney, Melbourne, and Adelaide before flying west to Perth to see my friend David.

We are excited to meet up again with our friends Jacqui and Matt from Fiji in Sydney. Matt has given us an awesome itinerary for our trip from Brisbane-Sydney. It should be great!!

Camping doesn't often come with internet or electricity, so this is likely the last you'll be hearing from us for a while :) 

Our Journey Into Middle Earth Part VI: Farewell

Saturday Feb 8, 2014

We spent the morning reading on the deck again…absorbing the last views of The Remarkables.

We headed into town to buy some packing cubes for our new bag (things are loose and sliding around in its cavernous belly, so we thought some packing cubes (on sale!!) might help).  While there, I realized that we’d left our precious water bottles back in the fridge, so I took the car to go get them while Preston ran to the pharmacy. 

Suddenly I’ve reverted to a 1950s housewife!! What the heck? I was super nervous to take the car and venture out on my own!! I’ve driven on the left side in England, so I don’t know what I was worried about. I think I’ve just gotten comfortable with Preston ever present by my side (scary!!). I did really well and was super proud of myself till I pulled in to pick up Pres and hit the windshield washers instead of the turn signal. Since I’ve been laughing at him doing this for the last 2 weeks…it was pretty funny and he took great satisfaction from my mistake ;) Dang.

Our drive to the eastern coastal town of Timaru was about 4 hours. We drove, again, through crystal clear lakes bordering the foothills and beautiful farmland.

Preston was seriously craving Burger King, but we couldn’t find one. I felt like such typical Americans as we drove past every charming Mom and Pop shop scowling that they weren’t something cheap and recognizable. I don’t even know myself!! Haha. I am not much of a fast food person, but a craving is a craving, I guess…even when it’s not your own :P

We arrived in Timaru. The town was totally dead. It was breezy and cool. We walked around the port town, but nearly everything was closed. The town seems to shut down between 2 and 5:30. And this is a Saturday!! Our two options for lunch were a plate of random fried foods at our hotel or a basket of bread and a beer at the place down the way. We settled for the fried food. Since there wasn’t much to do…we spent the afternoon updating the blog, adding pics online, and reading.

Preston was excited to find a store with the nickname he gave one of his best friends

The people in these photographs were the ONLY people

Sailor Monument (kind of like Long Beach!!)

Timaru…not too exciting ;)

Sunday 9 Feb 2014

Today was the first day we’ve woken up to rain!! The air was chilly and the rain was misty. We took advantage of the excellent internet to call our families on skype before setting off to Christchurch.

The 2 hour drive to Christchurch was appropriately gloomy and gray as we say goodbye to New Zealand.

At 10am, we found a Burger King and we found ourselves in the drive thru ordering burgers (at 10am!!).  We thought the woman said the total was $30 (about 5 times). The menu was kind of confusing, but I couldn’t understand how it could be so much. Nonetheless, we turned over the money…much to her confusion, b/c she had repeatedly been saying THIRTEEN. Ha. Stupid Americans :P

We got to Christchurch a bit early, so we drove through the town to check it out. There are some sweeping and inviting green parks throughout the city. It’s very English.

We needed to return the car, so we headed to our hotel to clean the car out and organize our bags. We had the address (as always) from Booking.com’s handy email summary, so we headed over to 234 Ilam Rd.

I’d booked this hotel a few days ago based on its cheap price and proximity to the rental car return and airport. When we arrived…it was a run-down house.  There wasn’t even a front door!! There was just a glass sliding door with the curtains drawn, underwear on the clothesline, and muddy boots outside.

Not my pic (from Kayak.com), but just so you get a visual

We had no idea what to do. We walked by a few times on the street. We double checked the address. We double checked the GPS. It seemed we were in the right place. Preston decided to just go up and tap on the glass, but then he chickened out. I was laughing so hard I was crying. I re-checked my summary email and started to worry. Did I book at someone’s HOUSE?! Some UNFRIENDLY person’s house?! I mean, there were no signs or ANYTHING!! Just underwear, dirty boots, and a closed door. It didn’t even look like anyone was home.

Since we had no internet access, we decided to drive to find some free wireless and MAKE SURE that we were in the right place.

After some time, we found wireless and sure enough!! We had been to the right place. It seemed it was a hotel of sorts…mostly just bedrooms with nothing but a bed and a door with no lock. I had mistakenly taken it for a hostel when I’d booked it…but I’m not sure WHAT it was.  The reviews weren’t bad, necessarily. Most people said it was tidy and cozy. A lot of people said it was awkward and confusing—that some weird guy let you into your room with just a bed and access to a bathroom in the hall. Haha. My mistake, I guess.

We decided it was just too awkward!! Luckily, there was no penalty to cancel, so Preston found us another NORMAL hotel ($50 more, but worth it, I think!!) and we checked in before returning the car.

Luxury

We’ve spent the afternoon organizing our bags and verifying online the next parts of our trip. Sad to leave New Zealand (we were jealous to hear that someone is leaving tonight to drive our car back to Auckland), but excited for what our adventures will bring in Australia!!

Thoughts on New Zealand:
Clean, beautiful!! Let's all move here!!

More sheep than people

Before we came we heard that the South Island is the better, but we think North and South are equally awesome!!

The only beans you can buy are baked beans. In about 100 varieties. 

Many campaigns against drinking

The nicest people I've ever met

Overuse of the word 'wee' (as in small)

The locals have no concept of a 'moderate' hike :P

Roads are good, but mostly one lane

Wifi is scarce

The outdoors are plentiful ;) (not a bad exchange)

So much in common with America, while being completely different at the same time

Crystal clear, surreal blue waters

Good summer weather

Farms!!

Not many bugs, animals

It seems to be perfectly acceptable to not wear shoes...walking in town, on a boat, in stores, etc. No shoes.