Dias 15 e 16 Ago’12 – Lisboa->Londres->Abu Dhabi->Sydney
Os horários dos sonos e das refeições estão completamente trocados. Acho que em duas noites dormimos o sono de meia noite e que comemos o dobro das refeições por entre os varios voos, os árabes não nos deixam passar fome!
Assistimos 2 nascer do sol e sobrevoámos grande parte do meio oriente, onde só se vê deserto e poços de petroleo…
Com 2+6+13 horas de voo é impossivel não ficar com jetleg!
Dia 17 Ago’12 – Sydney
Chegámos a Sydney, bem cedinho e um bocado zombies, fomos visitar a cidade a pé! Para começar bem, comemos o mais famoso cachorro de sydney, cheio de chili bem picante, no “Harry’s café de wheels”!
Está um sol maravilhoso, 18ºC, mas está vento forte e gelado “that feels like 9ºC”… não se percebe muito bem, metade do pessoal anda de chinelos e t-shirt, a outra metade de botas e sobretudo!
Palmeamos todos os highlights da cidade: o porto (woolloomooloo finger wharf), o jardim botanico, a Sydney opera house, a circular quay, o bairro “the rocks”, o business district center, hyde park… às 8 da noite estávamos a dormir!
Aug, 18 – Melbourne
After a short flight, we arrived Melbourne where Cidália, Sonia, Mark and the lovely Cruz and Sierra were waiting for us. I finally met them and for all it was a very happy meting.
They arranged our day in Melbourne and took us to the top of the great Rialto Tower, with 253m tall, where we had great views of all Melbourne City. After that we had dinner in an amazing restaurant on the casino. At night we walked by the river and saw some of the main attractions of the city.
Our special thanks for all your kindness. We loved to be with you, it was really very special. We will never forget it.
They arranged our day in Melbourne and took us to the top of the great Rialto Tower, with 253m tall, where we had great views of all Melbourne City. After that we had dinner in an amazing restaurant on the casino. At night we walked by the river and saw some of the main attractions of the city.
Our special thanks for all your kindness. We loved to be with you, it was really very special. We will never forget it.
Aug, 19 – Great Ocean Road
Mark gave us a ride to Melbourne where we started our day tour through the famous great ocean road, the road that surrounds the beautiful south coast of Aus.
(Yeah! We saw “accidentally” big kangaroos in the wild, they jump very high!)
Along the great ocean road we visited one of the most famous surfing beach, Bells beach; Anglesea; Apollo bay; Lorne; and Otway NP, where we saw a lot of Koalas in the wild… they are as cute as they seam on TV. In the end, we visited "Twelve Apostles" that is the main attractios of the day (great pinnacles on the sea, made by erosion).
Back to Melbourne, we had a delicious Cidália’s dinner at Sonia&Mark’s house… we talked… watched some photos… we really loved being with you!
(Yeah! We saw “accidentally” big kangaroos in the wild, they jump very high!)
Along the great ocean road we visited one of the most famous surfing beach, Bells beach; Anglesea; Apollo bay; Lorne; and Otway NP, where we saw a lot of Koalas in the wild… they are as cute as they seam on TV. In the end, we visited "Twelve Apostles" that is the main attractios of the day (great pinnacles on the sea, made by erosion).
Back to Melbourne, we had a delicious Cidália’s dinner at Sonia&Mark’s house… we talked… watched some photos… we really loved being with you!
Aug 20, Bus Melbourne -> Adelaide
1000km, all day in bus through farms and farms and farms, with cows, lambs and corn. Now we understand why Australia is a great exporter of wool and corn.
In the middle, just some ghost villages… with almost no one!
Aug 21, Kangaroo Island
Once again we had to be ready to go on tour at 6am! Yes, in holydays it is easier to wake up early!
Kangaroo Island has 4000 people and much more animals such as kangaroos, koalas and sea-lions (the ones we saw). It is amazing to see the animals in their natural environment. It is quite a beautiful island!
We came back evening late...
Aug 22, Adelaide city ride
Today it was suppose to be a day to rest! Instead of it, we decided to go for a bike ride in the city and out of it… we went to the nearest beach that is 15 Km distance… riding a bike… which means we spend all day riding… but worth it!
We had a good lunch in a restaurant by the beach, where we only saw retired ladies and very good houses with great view to the beach.
Adelaide it is a very good city to live, it has everything… we really liked it!
The dinner was for free at the hostel… grilled lamb sausages and chicken with vegetables AGAIN, we have been eaten this every day!
Aug 23, Red Center Rock tour - Ayers Rock (Uluru)
We woke up at 4:30am (yeah!), our flight Adeliade-Sydney-Uluru was at 6:30am!
At lunch time we were already in red center desert to join our tour “mates” (English, German, French and Japaneses) and embrace one of the most memorable experiences of our lives!
After a short brief about the Anangu aboriginal traditions (that doesn´t want us to climb the Uluru), we made a walking trip around Uluru. At sunset we enjoy a viewing point to Uluru! Amazing!
We slept in swags and slipping bags around the fire, looking to the beautiful sky full of so many star we can´t see at home… It was freezing!
Aug 24, Red Center Rock tour – Kata Tjuta (Olgas)
Michelle (our tour guide) woke up us in the middle of the night, it was a terrible freezing cold, and we had to be ready in 40 minutes, so we could see the sunrise at Uluru… yes, it really worth it!
Next we went to a 3 hours walking trip around Kata Tjuta. These rocks are a masterwork of the nature… and we also saw a lot of kangaroos “having breakfast” (they only walk by, in the morning, sunset and night).
After lunch we have been on road going to Kings Canyon (our next attraction and where we were going to sleep)… just a few short breaks. In one of them we stopped at a dry salt lake in the middle of the desert! In another break the guide taught us how to catch worms… to eat! And yes, the couple of Japanese’s that was with us in the tour ate the worms, without being cooked!
At camp, the dinner was delicious (again), Michelle is a very good cooker. We had diner around the fire, talked with each other, watched the stars, and got to sleep…
Aug 25, Red Center Rock tour – Kings Canyon
Once again, Michelle woke up us in the middle of the night! This time we were going to see the sunrise at the top of Kings Canyon, it was beautiful! After that we went for a 3 hours walking trip in the top and inside the canyon…
Unfortunately it is time to return to Alice Springs… we stopped at a Camel Farm (since we hadn´t the opportunity to watch them in the wild) and we went to for a short ride in Camel, we loved it. We also “play” with a Dingo (that was being threat in the farm).
We dinned in a bar in Alice Springs with our tour “mates”.
Aug 26, Alice Springs
After 12 hours sleep we were woke up by the receptionist of YHA Hostel, because we overtake the check out time…
The night bus it is only at 7:15pm, so we walked around the city. The aboriginal people are seat down in the floor of the streets just waiting for nothing. The government paid them a fee (for the rental of the lands they own), so they spend all day in the streets…
We went to a 17 hours night bus…
Aug 27, Katherine
After a long journey, we arrived Katherine, a faraway city! It is so so warm, a mixed of desert and tropical weather!
The city is also full of aboriginal people, drinking beer and playing cards (playing for money) in the streets…
We washed our clothes (we are exactly in the middle of our journey) and we went to Mcdonald’s to update the blog.
Aug 28, Nitmiluk National Park (Katherine Gorge) 'N' Kakadu National Park
It was a very full and amazing day! We joined our tour “mates”, a lovely English couple that lives in Aus, one Australian, three Germans and Jesu, our guide! Today we saw so many different wild animals, that I’m going to announce only the main ones...
Early morning we went on a cruise in the Katherine River thought the Gorge, where fresh water crocodiles lives (they are small and just eat fish). In the way to Katherine Gorge we saw two Dingoes and Wallabies (little Kangarros).
All around Katherine and Kakadu is full of termites, that are ants nests, and they are so big and resistant that some of them have 6 meters high! It is called “cathedrals”!
In the afternoon we went on a cruise by the Yellow River in Kakadu NP, we just loved so much! The cruise was on calm waters, full of salt crocodiles (the big ones). By the riverside we could saw Jabirus (name given by the Portuguese colons, because of the Brazilian bird), Eagles, Kookaburras (color lithe bird, typical in Australia), wild pigs, wild horses, wild ducks, lotus-flowers…
We took so many photos that they speak for themselves!
Aug 29, Kakadu National Park & Darwin
After a good camping night in the wild, we went to see one of the main attractions of Kakadu NP, aboriginal caves painting that is said to have thousands of years. We also went to a hill with great views 360º around the park.
At sunset we arrived Darwin. This city was bombed by the Japs in the II World War, and now is full of Asiatic people (including Japs)! Is also near by the ocean, has tropical weather and is full of rests and bars…
Aug 30, Cairns 'N' Trinity Beach
Third part of our trip, beach party!
We arrived Cairns, the capital of tourism in Australia, just because is one of the best places to visit the Great Barrier Reef!
We had the afternoon free so we went to Trinity Beach, the nearest beach. It is beautiful (but it seams like we are in Brazil!). You only were allowed to swim by the lifeguard because of the stingers (jellyfish). After a good pizza lunch we just fall into sleep on the sand, so we miss the opportunity of a bath with the stingers…
Back to Cairns, it was the city festival, so besides the great city night life, there are animation by the Esplanade (street by the sea).
Aug 31, Cairns 'N' Great Barrier Reef
Today we went on a cruise, on a big Catamaran, to go snorkeling in the Great Barrier Reef. Our first stop was at Michaelmas Cay island (just like in the films, a sand island in the middle of the ocean with a coconut tree), we snorkel around. The second snorkel stop was at Hastings Reef, which is an incredible reef site where we saw many colorful different reefs and fishes (including “Nemo”). We took many pictures, with an underwater photo machine…
By night we waited for the night bus to Airlie Beach... it is Friday night and Cairns it is plenty of life in the street…
Sep 1, Airlie Beach
Airlie Beach, the gateway to the islands where is one of the most beautiful beaches of the world (whitehaven beach). Airlie it is just a little tourist village, one main street by the sea, with beach, stores and local markets. In the afternoon we went to the beach/lagoon. Our hostel is in the middle of the jungle, the first time we went to the room, we saw a big Iguana just crossing by (our room is on the first floor) and at night I just saw a big mouse/rabbit/squeeze (I don´t know) running by… otherwise the hostel is the most animated place of the village, with restaurants, bars, disco and live music!
Sep 2, Whitsundays Islands (Whitehaven beach)
Yeah! Let’s go to one of the most beautiful beaches in the world, Whitehaven beach! It is located in one of the 74 islands of the Whitsundays Islands. We went on a very fast boat, the big fury… It was really fast! In morning we went on snorkeling, and we swam with a big and beautiful turtle, so cute, eating poison jellyfish (yes, we saw jellyfish, the little ones, but we had the safe suites, no worries).
We had lunch by the Whitehaven beach and stay there for the afternoon.
On the return we saw whales doing acrobatic jumps for us!
Sep 3, Fraser Island
After another 12 hours night bus to Hervey Bay (the third and last one), we took a taxi directly to the port to go on tour to Fraser Island. We made it on time, if we had arrived one minute late we would had missed the boat and the tour! But we did it!
Fraser Island is the only island in the world just made by beach sand, it is a world heritage site! To move around the island we went on a truck that has attached a bus! It is quite understandable, if you saw the sand roads!
Although the island in only made by beach sand, it has big and diverse vegetation. On the center of the island is the rain forest (our first stop) with big, old amazing trees. The island has big lakes and rivers only made by the rain water, which makes them crystalline! We stopped at Lake McKenzie.
After lunch, we went to the 75 mile beach, that is the highway of the island (it has also speed limit!). Amazing! We made two stops, one at the Maheno shipwreck, other by the multicolored sand cliffs. It is not allow swimming because of the sharks! Unfortunately we didn´t saw any Dingo, it is their site (but we had already seen them near Alice Springs and near Katherine).
Sep 4, Hervey Bay 'N' Brisbane
We stayed at a motel by the beach of Hervey Bay, so in the morning we went to the beach! It was really warm weather, the water was blue, calm and warmer, but we didn´t went into (it´s Australia, never know what creatures could be into the water!)
At afternoon we took a bus to Brisbane.
We did a quick ride in the city by night...
Sep 5, Brisbane ‘N’ Surfers Paradise Beach
Since we are near from the famous Golden Coast we decided to catch a train to Surfers Paradise!
It is not just a simply city beach, it has big sky scrapers, business center, and of course lots of hotels, beach bars and restaurants.
The beach is a very long, light blue warmer waters with small waves, very windy, much better for kite-surfers then to board-surfers. We walked a lot along the beach…
At sunset and night we made a walk by the streets of Brisbane.
Sep 6, Brisbane ‘N’ Sydney
Our flight Brisbane->Sydney was at lunch time, so in the morning we did a circular ride that had been suggested at the hotel: crossing bridges, botanic gardens, street beach (an artificial lagoon with beach sand, in the middle of the city), and so on. We really enjoy Brisbane; it is a good place to live…
At afternoon we were already in Sydney, where it was really a hot weather. We went to visit the parts of the city we didn´t visit in the first day (of trip). We went on the Central Sydney, Botanic gardens, Wharf…; and The Rocks, Bridge and Opera by night (has different glow).
Sep7 must be holiday, there was too many people going out at night…
Sep7, Katoomba (Blue Mountains)
Two hours train from Sydney and we were in Katoomba, the village near by the Blue Mountains. As soon as we left the train doors, it seems like we were stepping into a fridge! Imagine you are in shorts and t-shirt in a very cold and windy winter day: that was what happenedto us! It seems like it is like this everyday, even in summer, but no one warned us! So the options were: return immediately to Sydney or buy winter clothes…we bought winter jackets and we went to visit the Blue Mountains. We made a trekking by the main attraction points: scenic world and three sisters.
Sep 8 ‘N’ 9, Sydney -> Abu Dhabi-> Frankfurt-> Lisbon
Unfortunately was our last trip day. It was time to say goodbye. Our flight was at 3pm, so we had time to enjoy two sunny hours of a beautiful ride by the botanic garden, near to the hotel… and the same way we started, the same way we ended, eating the best hot-dog of Sydney…
Byyye, see you mates.
It was a very tiring flight trip, almost 48 hours! We spent 9 hours in Abu Dhabi and 5 hours in Frankfurt. We had time to visit Frankfurt on Sunday afternoon; it is a very pleasant city! Once again our TAP flight from Frankfurt to Portugal got late, so we arrived home at almost mid night completely grog!
It was a very tiring flight trip, almost 48 hours! We spent 9 hours in Abu Dhabi and 5 hours in Frankfurt. We had time to visit Frankfurt on Sunday afternoon; it is a very pleasant city! Once again our TAP flight from Frankfurt to Portugal got late, so we arrived home at almost mid night completely grog!
