The Land Down Under. My first trip ‘upside down’ (from the UK) happened during my first backpacking adventure in my gap year. Having spent 6 weeks in south-east Asia, my friend and I hit Australia for 5 weeks. We had such a good time (my parents noticed this in the form of reduced number of postcards). After Asia, Australia was a breeze, the language, culture and food were all similar, but it had (and still has for me) an exotic and exciting feel. New and old, wild and sophisticated at the same time. I enjoy every visit and since it’s such a huge country I always see something new. I got married there and as A. is half Australian with family there I know I’ll be going back.
When: July 1994, October 2005, Christmas 2007, April 2009, July 2009 (to get married), March 2011.

Where: 1994: Darwin, Kakadu park, Katherine, Alice Springs (Ayers Rock, The Olgas, Kings Canyon), Cairns, Airlie Beach Whitsundays, Brisbane, Gold Coast, Sydney, Canberra, Melbourne. 2005: Brisbane, Alstonville, 2007: Lennox Head, April 2009: Palm Cove, Port Douglas, July 2009: Palm Cove, March 2011: Lenox Head

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Who: with a friend backpacking, with A, with A’s family, with A & T.

How: 1994: flew into Darwin, overland bus (Greyhound) around til Sydney, then train and domestic flight to Melbourne (flew out of Melbourne). Later trips flew into Brisbane or Cairns and hired a car.

Weather: north has a tropical climate with wet/dry season (June/July are dry), the south has cooler winters (June/July/August) and hot summers. Australia is prone to huge fires and also floods.

Food: western and UK influenced. Beer and wine are popular and very good.

Sights & Activities: Northern territory: Kakadu National Park, Katherine Gorge, Ayers Rock – especially at sunset – it really does change colour!, The Olgas, Kings Canyon. Queensland: The Great Barrier Reef, beaches, Whitsundays, Sydney: Opera House, the harbour, the bridge, aquarium, Melbourne:

Experience to remember: I traveled to Melbourne with a friend whose grandfather had, at one time, been governor of Victoria so we ended up having lunch at Government House (really quite formal). The then governor was lovely and had younger members of the house included at the lunch to make us feel comfortable. The housekeeper (who had served with my friend’s grandfather) told us stories and showed us around the very beautiful, large house.

I slipped off some rocks in Kakadu park (landed in a deep rock pool with an ungainly splash) and came up rather dazed. To this day I’m not comfortable rock climbing.

Seeing Ayres Rock (Uluru) at sunset, then climbing it in the dark to see the sunrise from the top. You’re not allowed to climb it anymore as it is sacred to the Aboriginals.

Surprises: the top of Ayres rock is not flat but full of small dips and rises. It’s also very windy at the top.

Tips: have lots of money – Australia is mega expensive these days!