Australia

Australia November-December 2002

Sailing to Green Island
Snorkeling the coral reefs
'Pretty Face' Wallaby at Undara

We arrived in Australia on 21 October and started our exploration of this huge country in Cairns, Queensland. Here in Cairns we had our first snorkleing trip to the Great Barrer Reef and our first journey into the native rainforest; just an appetizer for the rest of our stay. From here we then traveled inland through the Atherton Tablelands to Undara National Park and got to experience a taste of the bush including kangaroos, wallabies, cackatoos and parrots. We camped under the star-flecked sky at night and enjoyed the wildlife around us during the day. We also took a tour into the famous Undara Lava tubes, striking monuments to a volcanic eruption over 190 thousand years ago.

Koala at Port Douglas Habitat Center
Rainforest Lizard
Swimming at Mossman Gorge

Further north in Port Douglas and on up into Daintree National Park we learned and experienced so much of the rainforest. We visited excellent habitat centers that made the homeschooling easy and experienced the rainforest first hand by camping out. Walking near our tent we saw five-foot cassowaries, bandicoots and lizards. Unfortunately in our tent we saw bush rats (big) and melany mice (small, but destructive). We also took a fantastic snorkeling trip out to the outer reef where we saw the most wonderful coral and fish. On another day we took a boatride down the Daintree River where we saw crocodiles while motoring through rainforest mangroves. We had the chance to taste many native rainforest fruits like chocolate pudding fruit, snake fruit, soursop and ice cream bean and learned that their names can be misleading.

Walking along "1 foot island"
Cooking aboard the boat
Returning from shore exploration

Our boat near Whitehaven Beach
Swimming right off the boat
or diving...

The highlight though was a week spent bareboating around the Whitsunday Islands. We snorkled and swam, zipped around in our dingy visiting the white sand beaches and learned a bit about sailing. Scott was our captain, Benjamin the first mate and the rest of us clueless. But we learned much, didn't kill each other and after a few days settled down to a relaxing routine. In fact relax is about the only thing you can do when you're not actually sailing. There just isn't that much to do aboard a boat. We read a lot, played cards and generally took it slower than is typical for us......it didn't take too long to get used to it though. It was tough putting our shoes back on at the end of the week.

Sydney from our balcony
Overlooking the Sydney Opera House
Sydney Botanical Gardens

Candy at 'The Rocks'
Australia Museum
Manly Beach

After the adventure of Queensland we were looking forward to the concept of an entire month in one location. We found a great two bedroon apartment on Oxford Street with a fantastic view north towards the harbor. We quickly settled into a routine of school days, shopping, laundry, cooking and visits to the library and gym. It was relaxing and allowed time to fit in our Christmas shopping while still leaving lots of opportunities to see the local sites. Sydney is a lovely city, with nice people and loads to do. We made the traditional stops at the Opera House and the Harbor Bridge, walked through The Rocks and the Botanical Garden, and took trips to both Manly and Bondi Beach. We visited many of the museums working them into the school curriculum and shoped the local markets. We also caught up on loads of movies including the opening of Harry Potter on Thanksgiving Day.

Blue Moutains
Wentworth Falls
The Three Sisters

Australia is three years into a killer drought and while we were in Sydney we could see and smell the numerous bush fires raging on the outskirts of the city. These unfortunately curtailed most of our plans to wonder outside the city limits, but after a blessed burst of rain the fires subsided and we ended our stay with a couple days in the Blue Mountains. Just 90 minutes ouside the city center and the hills rise up and the gorges drop off at the base of steep cliffs. We enjoyed gorgeous hikes through the eucalyptus trees, along the escarpments and by trickeling waterfalls. We felt very lucky that we were able to fit this in before leaving for New Zealand.

Sailing to Green Island	Snorkeling the coral reefs	'Pretty Face' Wallaby at Undara
We arrived in Australia on 21 October and started our exploration of this huge country in Cairns, Queensland. Here in Cairns we had our first snorkleing trip to the Great Barrer Reef and our first journey into the native rainforest; just an appetizer for the rest of our stay. From here we then traveled inland through the Atherton Tablelands to Undara National Park and got to experience a taste of the bush including kangaroos, wallabies, cackatoos and parrots. We camped under the star-flecked sky at night and enjoyed the wildlife around us during the day. We also took a tour into the famous Undara Lava tubes, striking monuments to a volcanic eruption over 190 thousand years ago.
Koala at Port Douglas Habitat Center	Rainforest Lizard	Swimming at Mossman Gorge
Further north in Port Douglas and on up into Daintree National Park we learned and experienced so much of the rainforest. We visited excellent habitat centers that made the homeschooling easy and experienced the rainforest first hand by camping out. Walking near our tent we saw five-foot cassowaries, bandicoots and lizards. Unfortunately in our tent we saw bush rats (big) and melany mice (small, but destructive). We also took a fantastic snorkeling trip out to the outer reef where we saw the most wonderful coral and fish. On another day we took a boatride down the Daintree River where we saw crocodiles while motoring through rainforest mangroves. We had the chance to taste many native rainforest fruits like chocolate pudding fruit, snake fruit, soursop and ice cream bean and learned that their names can be misleading.
Walking along "1 foot island"	Cooking aboard the boat	Returning from shore exploration
Our boat near Whitehaven Beach	Swimming right off the boat	or diving...
The highlight though was a week spent bareboating around the Whitsunday Islands. We snorkled and swam, zipped around in our dingy visiting the white sand beaches and learned a bit about sailing. Scott was our captain, Benjamin the first mate and the rest of us clueless. But we learned much, didn't kill each other and after a few days settled down to a relaxing routine. In fact relax is about the only thing you can do when you're not actually sailing. There just isn't that much to do aboard a boat. We read a lot, played cards and generally took it slower than is typical for us......it didn't take too long to get used to it though. It was tough putting our shoes back on at the end of the week.
Sydney from our balcony	Overlooking the Sydney Opera House	Sydney Botanical Gardens
Candy at 'The Rocks'	Australia Museum	Manly Beach
After the adventure of Queensland we were looking forward to the concept of an entire month in one location. We found a great two bedroon apartment on Oxford Street with a fantastic view north towards the harbor. We quickly settled into a routine of school days, shopping, laundry, cooking and visits to the library and gym. It was relaxing and allowed time to fit in our Christmas shopping while still leaving lots of opportunities to see the local sites. Sydney is a lovely city, with nice people and loads to do. We made the traditional stops at the Opera House and the Harbor Bridge, walked through The Rocks and the Botanical Garden, and took trips to both Manly and Bondi Beach. We visited many of the museums working them into the school curriculum and shoped the local markets. We also caught up on loads of movies including the opening of Harry Potter on Thanksgiving Day.
Blue Moutains	Wentworth Falls	The Three Sisters
Australia is three years into a killer drought and while we were in Sydney we could see and smell the numerous bush fires raging on the outskirts of the city. These unfortunately curtailed most of our plans to wonder outside the city limits, but after a blessed burst of rain the fires subsided and we ended our stay with a couple days in the Blue Mountains. Just 90 minutes ouside the city center and the hills rise up and the gorges drop off at the base of steep cliffs. We enjoyed gorgeous hikes through the eucalyptus trees, along the escarpments and by trickeling waterfalls. We felt very lucky that we were able to fit this in before leaving for New Zealand.