Australia
August/September 2007

A new experience: the fifth continent.

We had planned to see much from Australia. Therefore 6.000km with a campervan and still some flight kilometers laid in front of us. One thing I had to point out: Australia is huge, very huge. It is not like that I had underestimated the continent, but based on the Infrastrukur the distances are really enormously. Australia is twice as large as Europe and only 30 million people live there.

We started in Sydney. The flight had a short stopover in Singapore, then we headed to the eastcoast of the continent. Sydney is located wonderful and combined with the good climate, it's a really wonderful city. The port, the opera and the Harbour Bridge give a face to Sydney. Unfortunately it is that Sydney is somewhat pulled apart. In the north is the port with the opera. Between the Financial District, where life ends at 5pm and more south the shopping area. It has no real city center. While tourists stroll at Circular Quay and in the old town "The Rocks" or in Darling Harbour, the clubs are located at Kings Cross in the city center. There is nearly no possibility to stroll in any shops in the early evening and enjoy the night breaking in, because all of the shops close in the late afternoon. An excursion to Manly and Bondi Beach should not be missing in each case. Coole boys and girls in bikinis wait at the beach. Furthermore there are a lot of surfers in the water.

After three days we left Sydney with direction Uluru. Former called "Ayers Rock" it is genuinly an impressing stone. In the middle iof the desert rises up this red stone. Particularly in the sunrise and sunset, there is a color change to admire. The disadvantage is travveling in a group, so that hundreds of other tourists are there. If you forget those, the whole gets a mystische tendency. The Uluru was closed because of heavy winds on the top. So we decided to circle the stone by feet. 12km with approximately 35°C - exhausting, anyway it ws worth it! Not far away are the Kata Tjuta (The Olgas). Likewise a holy place for the aboriginals. On a hike into a gorge, one occurs suddenly very small and looks up admiringly - the red stone is impressive. The Outback is a must on each journey.

Back on the coastline, we got our camper in Brisbane and drove slowly north. Who wants to see many Koalas, have to go to Lone Pine Sanctury. Large and small Koalas in any ages.and even to hold on your arms. Brisbane is considered as a very sunny place. That absolutely true. In the city center is a quantity of old houses from colonial age and shops invite strolling. More north we reached Hervey Bay and unfortunately the clouds came. First of all a fascinating whale watch was on our itinerary. It was absolutely impressing, the embossment whales, only three metres beside the boat. We spent nearly three hours with the giants of the seas and the dolphins. This was a great time!

Arrived at the largest sand island in the world, Fraser Island, unfortunately rain expected us. Sad, because this world heritage shelters a tropical rain forest and numerous animals. We saw dingos, but had not many opportunities to get dry off the bus. The 80km long sand island is absolutely unique and has wunderful long sand beaches.

The coast up, we reached Bundaberg (tasty rum) and later on the Town of 1770, where James Cook entered Queenslands for the first time. The good weather came slowly back and we made stop in Mackay, Airlie Beach and Rockhampton at the Capricorn Caves. Airlie Beach is touristic, but a good possibility to go out and have a beer. The backpapcker scene is alive and you can hang loose in a bar in the evening (after 5pm) and stroll the esplanade. Not far away from the coast are the Whitsunday islands with its white sand beach , but we only admired it from the Mount Roper Lookout. A sailing trip is a must for the next time!

Next stop: Townsville. It was departure point ffor a trip to Magnetic Iceland. It is called the capital of Koalas. However, the forest was meagerly and easily burned, so that we only saw two Koalas. Summing up, this island was more disappointing. Only the beaches were very nice.

Cairns was a highlight. We explored the Great Barrier Reef. Once again Cairns is a very routistic city. it offers a lot of boat trip agencys and many souvenir shops. We started to explore the reef on a diving boat. You can't describe it with words, the reef is amazing. To see the underwater world you don't really need to dive. But you see it much closer, when you go on a underwater trip. It's simply a world of its own. The variety of fish is incomprehensible. I even met Nemo.

The reef was followed by two days of driving. 2.300km through the Outback. We started on a paved road and went direction south. After a few hundred kilometers the road became more badly and ended in a gravel road. 220km of pure gravel road with stones and bumps. A flat tire was pre-programmed. Another problem were the roadtrains: 50 meters long and driving 100km per hour fast on these bad roads. The only chance is to stop the car and hope that no stone flies into the windshield. We reached the Flinders Highway and it changed to a "normal" street. We headed west. Most travelers fly to Darwin, know I know why. The Outback offers not much. The largest city is Mount Isa, a mine city. Grey sky and an unpleasant smell in air, are not inviting.

The Nitmiluk Nationalpark (Katherine Gorge) expected us with 40°C. 13 gorges expects the visitor, we made a canoe-tour in the 3,6km first Gorge. Unfortunately we hadn't enough time for the second gorge, although it should be it the nicest. Incredible rock art was to see but no "Freshie" (fresh water crocodil). The Kakadu is a very large Nationalpark. A real paradise for birds. Anyway, you have to rent a 4WD. Then you can admire the real beauty of the Kakadu. On the paved roads you have to pull off the roads and hike the trails, to see animals and wonderful landscape.  At East Alligator River we started our crocodile tour, and we needed only a short time to see them. On a stop in Arnhemland, the traditional aboriginal territory, we learned a lot about the culture of the Aboriginals. Afterwards we explored the Nourlangie Rock. The rock art is absolute impressing and a view over the wetlands fascinating.

Spontaneously we decided to visit the Litchfield National Park. It was a relaxing day with bathing in transparent waters. Many waterfalls and a relaxing atmosphere was exactly what we needed. We said good-bye from Australia in Darwin. A city with 97.000 inhabitants. I expected a larger town. You'll need not very much longer than two hours to see all the points of ineterst and the city center shuts down at exactly 5pm. A pitty!

The Stopover in Singapore invited to shop. With 35°C and a humidity of 90% the air-conditioned shopping centres at Orchard Road were very welcome! Beside the good shopping-possibilities we had a good look around: the Merlion, the Botanical Garden, Little India, Arab Street and Chinatown. Very nice are also the "Street Hawker" with their extremely cheap and tasty offer of chinese meals.

This was the trip across the fifth continent. We saw many extremely fascinating places. It was a lot to drive, but we have a good overview about this country. It's worth a trip. Next time, I'll make shorter distances to travel and need a 4WD!

Down Under, I'll come back!

Harbour Bridge - Sydney	Opera - Sydney	Kata Tjuta (The Olgas)
Uluru (Ayers Rock)	Koala	Glass House Mountains
Whale Watching Hervey Bay	Mission Beach	Great Barrier Reef
Diving	Kangaroo with Joey	Road Train
Nitmiluk (Katherine Gorge)	Rock Art at Kakadu Nationalpark	Litchfield Nationalpark

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