A 3.5 week trip to Australia and New Zealand - Part 1
- Snow Nymph
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A 3.5 week trip to Australia and New Zealand - Part 1
Wednesday July 30 - Saturday August 2
LAX to Australia, first stop Kangaroo Island
PHOTOS: http://snownymph.smugmug.com/gallery/56 ... 9997_Mifw4
I left California on July 30th, and arrived in Australia on Aug 1st, 23.5 hrs later. The flight was the nightmare I was afraid it might be. I got an aisle seat instead of my window seat. The seats were tight, and I kept rubbing elbows with the woman in the middle seat. She knew this was new to me when the steward handed me headphones and I asked what it was for. After that she helped when ever I had that confused look on my face. I moved into the middle aisle where a woman had 4 seats to herself. I was squished in the one seat, and she laid out and occasionally rubbed her feet on me during the night. I finally gave up trying to sleep when the pain in my neck and shoulders kept me up. We got off the plane in Auckland, NZ and got back on an hour later and flew to Melbourne. We were a little late landing, and after going thru customs and trying to find the right place to take my luggage, I found out I missed the flight. I didn't have any Australian cash and my cell didn't work. I finally found the currency exchange booth so I could get cash and a phone card so I could let Snowdude know the new flight would be 2 hrs later. I was so happy to see him at the airport!! We headed for the ferry that would take us to Kangaroo Island for the weekend. I got sick on the ferry and SnowDude said it was the most civilized vomiting he had ever seen. I slept a little, then we had a great dinner at Penneshaw after landing, then checked out the Blue Penguins after. The 2nd highlight of my day was the Koala Bear that crossed the road on our way to the Hanson Bay Cabin! Very Cool! We got in late, 6:30am my body time, and I fell asleep pretty quick. Saturday we attempted a hike, and checked out Koalas and Seals, and drove around Kangaroo Island.
I'm on a Mac here with slow internet connection so I'll add pix to this thread later. It took 2 days to get pix uploaded to SmugMug! Having a great time! Will post more later.
LAX to Australia, first stop Kangaroo Island
PHOTOS: http://snownymph.smugmug.com/gallery/56 ... 9997_Mifw4
I left California on July 30th, and arrived in Australia on Aug 1st, 23.5 hrs later. The flight was the nightmare I was afraid it might be. I got an aisle seat instead of my window seat. The seats were tight, and I kept rubbing elbows with the woman in the middle seat. She knew this was new to me when the steward handed me headphones and I asked what it was for. After that she helped when ever I had that confused look on my face. I moved into the middle aisle where a woman had 4 seats to herself. I was squished in the one seat, and she laid out and occasionally rubbed her feet on me during the night. I finally gave up trying to sleep when the pain in my neck and shoulders kept me up. We got off the plane in Auckland, NZ and got back on an hour later and flew to Melbourne. We were a little late landing, and after going thru customs and trying to find the right place to take my luggage, I found out I missed the flight. I didn't have any Australian cash and my cell didn't work. I finally found the currency exchange booth so I could get cash and a phone card so I could let Snowdude know the new flight would be 2 hrs later. I was so happy to see him at the airport!! We headed for the ferry that would take us to Kangaroo Island for the weekend. I got sick on the ferry and SnowDude said it was the most civilized vomiting he had ever seen. I slept a little, then we had a great dinner at Penneshaw after landing, then checked out the Blue Penguins after. The 2nd highlight of my day was the Koala Bear that crossed the road on our way to the Hanson Bay Cabin! Very Cool! We got in late, 6:30am my body time, and I fell asleep pretty quick. Saturday we attempted a hike, and checked out Koalas and Seals, and drove around Kangaroo Island.
I'm on a Mac here with slow internet connection so I'll add pix to this thread later. It took 2 days to get pix uploaded to SmugMug! Having a great time! Will post more later.
Expose yourself to your deepest fear; after that, fear has no power, and the fear of freedom shrinks and vanishes. You are free . . . . Jim Morrison
http://snownymph.smugmug.com/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
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- ridgeline
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Re: A 3.5 week trip to Australia and New Zealand
Beautiful place! Enjoy.
- Snow Nymph
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Re: A 3.5 week trip to Australia and New Zealand
Sunday, 3 August 2008
Kelly Hill to Hanson Bay Hike
PHOTOS: http://snownymph.smugmug.com/gallery/56 ... 7128_GhbbW
After breakfast we went for a short drive to check out the burn area from last fall. Our destination was a bushwalk from Kelly Hill to Hanson Bay. We originally tried Hanson Bay to Kelly Hill on Saturday, but couldn't get across the river. I was feeling jetlag, and the first hour kicked my butt. After some Emergen-C and some food, I felt better. We got there at our turnaround time and made it back as planned. I saw my first Echidna near the Lagoon. I got to drive the longer distance back to prepare me for the city, on the wrong side of the road sitting on the wrong side of the car. SnowDude drove after the ferry ride while I slept. First night in his apartment.
Echidna
Kelly Hill to Hanson Bay Hike
PHOTOS: http://snownymph.smugmug.com/gallery/56 ... 7128_GhbbW
After breakfast we went for a short drive to check out the burn area from last fall. Our destination was a bushwalk from Kelly Hill to Hanson Bay. We originally tried Hanson Bay to Kelly Hill on Saturday, but couldn't get across the river. I was feeling jetlag, and the first hour kicked my butt. After some Emergen-C and some food, I felt better. We got there at our turnaround time and made it back as planned. I saw my first Echidna near the Lagoon. I got to drive the longer distance back to prepare me for the city, on the wrong side of the road sitting on the wrong side of the car. SnowDude drove after the ferry ride while I slept. First night in his apartment.
Echidna
Expose yourself to your deepest fear; after that, fear has no power, and the fear of freedom shrinks and vanishes. You are free . . . . Jim Morrison
http://snownymph.smugmug.com/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
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- Snow Nymph
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Re: A 3.5 week trip to Australia and New Zealand
first night at Kangaroo Island
first day out on Kangaroo Island
rainbow over our cabin
first day out on Kangaroo Island
rainbow over our cabin
Expose yourself to your deepest fear; after that, fear has no power, and the fear of freedom shrinks and vanishes. You are free . . . . Jim Morrison
http://snownymph.smugmug.com/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
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- copeg
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Re: A 3.5 week trip to Australia and New Zealand
Looks like an awesome place, and looks like you're enjoying every minute of it! Some beautiful pics
- Snow Nymph
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Re: A 3.5 week trip to Australia and New Zealand
Thanks, Greg! Sounds like your plane ride was worse than mine.
Internet connection sux here, only posting day 4, and its day 20 here! We were in New Zealand for 10 days, so I'll catch up as the internet lets me.
Monday, Aug 4, 2008
Torrens Lake in the rain (Adelaide, Australia)
PHOTOS: http://snownymph.smugmug.com/gallery/56 ... 1332_dK5fb
Day 4: I was still adjusting to the time change, so I went to downtown Adelaide to see the birds at Lake Torrens. Not many out, probably due to rain.
Lorikeets are all over
The pigeons are kinda different
Internet connection sux here, only posting day 4, and its day 20 here! We were in New Zealand for 10 days, so I'll catch up as the internet lets me.
Monday, Aug 4, 2008
Torrens Lake in the rain (Adelaide, Australia)
PHOTOS: http://snownymph.smugmug.com/gallery/56 ... 1332_dK5fb
Day 4: I was still adjusting to the time change, so I went to downtown Adelaide to see the birds at Lake Torrens. Not many out, probably due to rain.
Lorikeets are all over
The pigeons are kinda different
Expose yourself to your deepest fear; after that, fear has no power, and the fear of freedom shrinks and vanishes. You are free . . . . Jim Morrison
http://snownymph.smugmug.com/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://snownymph.smugmug.com/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
- Snow Nymph
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Re: A 3.5 week trip to Australia and New Zealand
Tuesday, 5 August 2008 (Day 5)
PHOTOS: http://snownymph.smugmug.com/gallery/56 ... 8578_gKyLe
Day 5: My first time driving on the opposite side of the road. I drove to Cleland Wildlife Park and only got honked at once. Those 'roundabouts' are confusing! Got to pet a Koala, and got close to the kangaroos and wallabies. The Tasmanian Devil was a crackup! It ran the same path over and over, and the third time saw me watching and stopped for a photo. Just like the cartoon!
Kangaroo and Joey (that's an arm and foot on his head)
Rusty and me
Dingo
Wallaby and Joey
Joey and me
Tasmanian Devil
PHOTOS: http://snownymph.smugmug.com/gallery/56 ... 8578_gKyLe
Day 5: My first time driving on the opposite side of the road. I drove to Cleland Wildlife Park and only got honked at once. Those 'roundabouts' are confusing! Got to pet a Koala, and got close to the kangaroos and wallabies. The Tasmanian Devil was a crackup! It ran the same path over and over, and the third time saw me watching and stopped for a photo. Just like the cartoon!
Kangaroo and Joey (that's an arm and foot on his head)
Rusty and me
Dingo
Wallaby and Joey
Joey and me
Tasmanian Devil
Expose yourself to your deepest fear; after that, fear has no power, and the fear of freedom shrinks and vanishes. You are free . . . . Jim Morrison
http://snownymph.smugmug.com/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://snownymph.smugmug.com/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
- madeintahoe
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Re: A 3.5 week trip to Australia and New Zealand
I am just in awe of all the different wildlife you are seeing I can't even imagine what that would be like to be so close to them..all I know is I would love it and would not want to leave them
How special it must be to see them all......Looks like you two are having a wonderful time..thats awesome!
Enjoy Cori
How special it must be to see them all......Looks like you two are having a wonderful time..thats awesome!
Enjoy Cori
- Trekker
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Re: A 3.5 week trip to Australia and New Zealand
Seems a little quiet on the Peakbagging site without Cori's weekly posts!!! I'm waiting for those New Zealand pics!
- Snow Nymph
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Re: A 3.5 week trip to Australia and New Zealand
I'm back! I left Australia Tues 8/26 at 9:40am, and arrived LAX Tues 8/26 at 10:15am. :retard: 17.5 hrs of flying, with 1.5 hrs between flights in Sydney AUS, no walking around or stretching, and not much sleep sitting up with people in the next seat is tough! 2 glasses of wine and I still couldn't sleep, it only made me go to the bathroom. It was nice to lay down and sleep in my own bed (3 hr nap)
Got a lot of catching up to do.
Wednesday, August 6, 2008
Waterfall Gully to Mt Lofty, and Platypus Noctornal Tour, Adelaide, Australia
PHOTOS: http://snownymph.smugmug.com/gallery/56 ... 4157_fFfeG
Day 5: My first 'walk' in Australia. I hiked to a summit, but its different from the hiking I do in CA. After the hike I drove to a Platypus Tour (I was the only one besides the guide).
Sulfer Crested Cockatoos along the trail
Platypus in a protected area
Got a lot of catching up to do.
Wednesday, August 6, 2008
Waterfall Gully to Mt Lofty, and Platypus Noctornal Tour, Adelaide, Australia
PHOTOS: http://snownymph.smugmug.com/gallery/56 ... 4157_fFfeG
Day 5: My first 'walk' in Australia. I hiked to a summit, but its different from the hiking I do in CA. After the hike I drove to a Platypus Tour (I was the only one besides the guide).
Sulfer Crested Cockatoos along the trail
Platypus in a protected area
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