12 months of wonderful experiences – a rundown on what we have done and seen so far!

Wow can‘t believe we have been away for 12 months already, time has really flown by.  Here is a rundown of some of our wonderful experiences over the last six months

• Wading in knee deep water through a tunnel gorge with only a torch to guide the way, Tunnel Creek, Kimberley WA.
• Boat cruising while watching the sun set on the biggest man made lake in Australia, Lake Argyle equivalent to 22 Sydney Harbours, what a feat!  Kimberley, WA.
• Swam in the coolest, clearest water and being amazed at the beauty of waterfall plunge pools in NT.  Edith Falls one of our favourites.
• Stared in horror at all the lazy people squeezed into Buley Rockpools at Litchfield National Park, NT.  Such a pity they are gorgeous pools. 
• Lucky enough to have had Tjaetaba Falls plunge pool at the top of the waterfall all to ourselves, Litchfield National Park, NT.
• After a beautiful cool dip, we stared in awe at the spectacular Emma Gorge, El Questro, WA – no wonder it is voted the best in the Kimberley.
• Drove on the Gibb River Road (OK only 50kms twice!)
• Spent the best day ever on the beautiful Fraser Island, Qld the largest sandbar in the world.  What a wonderful day thanks Wendy and Rob. 
• Had a great time observing an elephant keeper’s daily duties keeping his charges healthy and beautiful, Thanks Scotty. Taronga Western Plains Zoo, Dubbo, NSW
• Cruised the Geike Gorge, Kimberley WA.  Beautiful gorge walls of white, pink, oranges and browns against the backdrop of a vivid blue sky and blue water.
• Sat on Mindil Beach, Darwin, NT watching the breathtaking sunsets indulging in the wide choice of food and drinks.  Thanks to the Ellis’ for having us stay.
• Walked many kilometres and climbed many rocks in the heat to get to some great spots all to ourselves, Kings Canyon, NT and numerous other locations!
• Toured Bundaberg Rum distillery in Bundaberg, QLD.  And we don’t drink rum but it was good.  The samples were full sized!
• Enjoyed Townsville immensely with our own private tour guides.  Enjoyed it very much Sue and Fred.  Hope to see you soon.
• Had the pleasure of spending Easter with two very excited children, thanks Briette and Alec for reminding us what a joy chocolate can be.
• Enjoyed the walks along Southbank looking across at Brisbane City.
• Spent too much money in Victoria Markets in Melbourne, well how can you not!
• Swam with the current in 32 degree crystal clear water at Bitter Springs thermal pools, Mataranka NT.
• Walked amongst the majestic Grampians mountains, Vic.  They are very majestic and the colours of the snow gums are just lovely.
• Slowly slowly climbed the Alpine Highway via Mt Hotham and slowly crawled down the other side to Porepunkah, Vic.  Only one of the steepest roads in the country!
• Witnessed autumn leaves on trees in Bright Vic.  They really do change colour!
• Ran the length and breadth and perimeter of Healesville Sanctuary in Victoria so as not to miss a keeper presentation or exhibit.  The animal hospital there is better than some people hospitals I reckon.
• Walked and walked the tracks of Mt Buffalo – possibly our favourite national park in Victoria.
• Looked on in sadness and awe at the recovering bushland surrounding the Yarra Valley towns in Victoria  that were devastated by fire in 2009.  How terrifying that fire would have been for the residents and animals.
• Picked up some history lessons in Ballarat, Victoria.  Eureka!
• Visited a ‘real’ haunted house in Junee, NSW.
• Did our first licorice factory tour in Junee, NSW.
• 90 Mile Beach at Lakes Entrance, Victoria is a wonderful expanse of beautiful sand and waves after no real beaches for a while.
• Nothing like buying fresh fresh fish and prawns direct from the fishing boats at Lakes Entrance, Victoria and cheap too!
• Agreed that Wilsons Promontory in Victoria rivals Duke of Orleans National Park in Esperance for its beauty and beaches.
• Wandered around hanging rock and yep, reckon someone could go missing here.  Macedon Ranges, Vic.
• Watching the sun set and then rise over Uluru (Ayres Rock), NT is a absolutely magical experience.
• Freezing our butts off whilst walking to the Valley of the Winds at Kuta Tjuta (Olgas) NT but the views were breathtaking.
• Walking the base of Uluru, NT is awe inspiring.  Wow it is big!
• Had a wonderful time discovering the beautiful billabongs, chasms and gorges at the West McDonnell Ranges, NT.
• Ate the best pizza ever in Alice Springs, NT.
• Wallowing in the exposed rockpools at low tide at Barn Hill Station, WA.
• John caught his first Giant threadfin salmon at Barn Hill Station, WA and it was delicious.  Nothing like fresh fish.
• Had a new clutch and shockies fitted in Darwin at $99/hour for labour!
• Had some wonderful walks at Mirima National Park – the mini bungle bungles – Kununurra, WA.

So what now, well heading home to sort out our house.  We are not sure how long we will be at home, all we know is that we will spend summer at home and think about life and what to do.  So many options and decisions to make.  We know we don’t want this to end and this trip has just whetted our appetite for more and there is so much we haven’t seen and our ‘spots to visit’ and ‘spots to revisit’ list keeps on growing. We have had some fantastic experiences and met some amazing new friends, and we don’t want it to end - so who knows????? we don’t yet.  The only thing I know is that I want to get a really good haircut when we get to Perth – I’ve had some doozies!

For those who want a recap on what we did the first six months, Click here

6 months of wonderful experiences – a rundown on what we have seen so far!

Copy of an email sent to family and friends 20 Feb 2010

Hi everyone

We we are now going into our 6th month travelling and it seems like only yesterday that we left home.  Can't believe how quickly the time has gone!  Must be a sign of having too good a time.  In case you aren't all looking at our blog on a regular basis (yes we know) thought we would jot down some of our experiences and things we have seen so far.   You'll have to look at our blog for further details of our adventures - here it is http://hansensaroundoz.blogspot.com/ (feel free to leave comments, nice ones).

• Kayaked with turtles in Exmouth, WA
• Stood at the bottom of a dormant volcano in Mount Gambier, SA
• Gorged our faces with exotic tropical fruit in Carnarvon, WA
• Dived the Navy Pier in Exmouth, WA (reputed to be one of the best dive sites in the world!)
• Came face to face with a Grey Nurse shark whilst diving the Navy Pier
• Dived and snorkelled the Ningaloo Reef (we still reckon it beats the Barrier Reef and yes we have done the Barrier Reef)
• Ran for our lives out of a farmstay in Port Lincoln on a forecast catastrophic fire day (OK slight exaggeration)
• Experience 45 degree heat one day to 22 the next - work that out!
• Stuffed our faces with the best freshest prawns ever in Exmouth, WA
• Watched a 12m underground blast at the Super Pit in Kalgoorlie
• Saw our first wild koala in Adelaide hills
• Went for a boat ride along the mighty Murray River in Mannum, SA
• Feel sad for the dire water situation in SA, still in drought conditions
• Great White Shark cage dive at Port Lincoln, SA
• Free camped with road trains on the Nullabor (not our choice)
• Had a tyre blowout on the longest straight stretch of the Nullabor
• Still in awe at the magic of the Pilbara - nowhere else can you see colours and a landscape quite like it (everybody should experience it)
• Wiped our feet as we left Port Hedland, WA
• Took at bite at the spectacular Australian Bight
• The Sturt Pea must be one of natures most beautiful flowers and how it grows in dry red dust is beyond us
• Saw many many minesites in north WA -  hmm wonder about the rehabilitation in such remote areas
• Can now appreciate why the miners get paid so well - living in the isolated, remote, hot dusty environments they deserve lots of money
• Walked atop dry riverbeds in Carnarvon WA - unbelievable but water sits 17m below the surface!
• Got saturated by blowholes in Quobba, WA
• Bought delicious wood fired bread from the roadside in Colton, SA
• Watched with dismay the ocean disappearing before our eyes at Streaky Bay when we were experiencing days over 40 degrees and we couldn't go for a dip because of the huge tides
• Stood under London Bridge at Sandstone, WA
• Found the whitest beaches in Esperance, WA - we think they are the best beaches anywhere so far.
• Watched the new year fireworks 250m in front of us on the foreshore at Streaky Bay, SA
• Rescued a pelican with a broken beak at Streaky Bay, SA
• Went to the only cow race in Australia at Mt Compass in SA
• Swam in the Southern Ocean, brrrr
• Seen the bluest lake at Mount Gambier, SA
• Loving daylight saving - WA big mistake not voting it in!
• Lost count of the numerous kms we have walked including through botanic gardens
• Had our fair share of mishaps with the car, radiator, water pump, replaced 6 out of 8 tyres but she still goes and goes, she just goes!
• Overheated going up the hill to Trevor and Margy's place in Adelaide Hills - never seen so many hills and windy roads and bends - after flat WA shock to the system
• Went horse riding in Adelaide hills - thanks Jazz and Margy for being patient
• Visited Hahndorf a lovely German influenced town in the Adelaide Hills and had the best hot Belgian chocolate
• Traumatised by the nuddies at Maslin Beach, SA - please old men cover up!
• Kayaked around the Ships Graveyard at Port Adelaide
• Toured the Royal Flying Doctor depot in Kalgoorlie, a must do so very interesting
• Saw our first woylie, rufus bettong and potoroos at Warrawong Sanctuary in Adelaide
• Toured the best tasting chocolate ever at Haig's Chocolates in Adelaide and got good sized samples.
• Looked at the 'stick figures' at Lake Ballard in WA, hohum
• Watched the best lightning display at Sandstone WA - combined with the colours of the Pilbara - just magic
• Went to the furthest tip of the Fleurieu Peninsula in SA and watched the ferry cross to Kangaroo Island
• Met some great people along the way and yes we're coming to stay and rekindled some great old friendships

Phew and we still have 3 states and 2 territories to go and we haven't seen all that we want to see in WA yet.  

Are we ready to go home - no way not yet.  Still too much to do and see and we're having fun!

The one thing we would love to do and won't be doing is Tassie.  Unfortunately once we got the final quote (over $2000) on the ferry Spirit of Tasmania and this coupled with the fact that most of the sights we want to see are in National Parks and hard to do with the dog, decided we wouldn't do it this trip.  That will be our next trip when we can do it in a little more luxury, fly with our ff points, hire a car, chalets and no dog!

So for anyone who is looking at this email thinking they would like to do a trip like this, then we say JUST DO IT!  Life is too short and all the reasons/excuses why you aren't/can't will always be there.    Hope to see you on the open road.

Love

John, Karen and Coco

6 months of wonderful experiences – a rundown on what we have seen so far!

Copy of an email sent to family and friends 20 Feb 2010

Hi everyone

We we are now going into our 6th month travelling and it seems like only yesterday that we left home.  Can't believe how quickly the time has gone!  Must be a sign of having too good a time.  In case you aren't all looking at our blog on a regular basis (yes we know) thought we would jot down some of our experiences and things we have seen so far.   You'll have to look at our blog for further details of our adventures - here it is http://hansensaroundoz.blogspot.com/ (feel free to leave comments, nice ones).

• Kayaked with turtles in Exmouth, WA
• Stood at the bottom of a dormant volcano in Mount Gambier, SA
• Gorged our faces with exotic tropical fruit in Carnarvon, WA
• Dived the Navy Pier in Exmouth, WA (reputed to be one of the best dive sites in the world!)
• Came face to face with a Grey Nurse shark whilst diving the Navy Pier
• Dived and snorkelled the Ningaloo Reef (we still reckon it beats the Barrier Reef and yes we have done the Barrier Reef)
• Ran for our lives out of a farmstay in Port Lincoln on a forecast catastrophic fire day (OK slight exaggeration)
• Experience 45 degree heat one day to 22 the next - work that out!
• Stuffed our faces with the best freshest prawns ever in Exmouth, WA
• Watched a 12m underground blast at the Super Pit in Kalgoorlie
• Saw our first wild koala in Adelaide hills
• Went for a boat ride along the mighty Murray River in Mannum, SA
• Feel sad for the dire water situation in SA, still in drought conditions
• Great White Shark cage dive at Port Lincoln, SA
• Free camped with road trains on the Nullabor (not our choice)
• Had a tyre blowout on the longest straight stretch of the Nullabor
• Still in awe at the magic of the Pilbara - nowhere else can you see colours and a landscape quite like it (everybody should experience it)
• Wiped our feet as we left Port Hedland, WA
• Took at bite at the spectacular Australian Bight
• The Sturt Pea must be one of natures most beautiful flowers and how it grows in dry red dust is beyond us
• Saw many many minesites in north WA -  hmm wonder about the rehabilitation in such remote areas
• Can now appreciate why the miners get paid so well - living in the isolated, remote, hot dusty environments they deserve lots of money
• Walked atop dry riverbeds in Carnarvon WA - unbelievable but water sits 17m below the surface!
• Got saturated by blowholes in Quobba, WA
• Bought delicious wood fired bread from the roadside in Colton, SA
• Watched with dismay the ocean disappearing before our eyes at Streaky Bay when we were experiencing days over 40 degrees and we couldn't go for a dip because of the huge tides
• Stood under London Bridge at Sandstone, WA
• Found the whitest beaches in Esperance, WA - we think they are the best beaches anywhere so far.
• Watched the new year fireworks 250m in front of us on the foreshore at Streaky Bay, SA
• Rescued a pelican with a broken beak at Streaky Bay, SA
• Went to the only cow race in Australia at Mt Compass in SA
• Swam in the Southern Ocean, brrrr
• Seen the bluest lake at Mount Gambier, SA
• Loving daylight saving - WA big mistake not voting it in!
• Lost count of the numerous kms we have walked including through botanic gardens
• Had our fair share of mishaps with the car, radiator, water pump, replaced 6 out of 8 tyres but she still goes and goes, she just goes!
• Overheated going up the hill to Trevor and Margy's place in Adelaide Hills - never seen so many hills and windy roads and bends - after flat WA shock to the system
• Went horse riding in Adelaide hills - thanks Jazz and Margy for being patient
• Visited Hahndorf a lovely German influenced town in the Adelaide Hills and had the best hot Belgian chocolate
• Traumatised by the nuddies at Maslin Beach, SA - please old men cover up!
• Kayaked around the Ships Graveyard at Port Adelaide
• Toured the Royal Flying Doctor depot in Kalgoorlie, a must do so very interesting
• Saw our first woylie, rufus bettong and potoroos at Warrawong Sanctuary in Adelaide
• Toured the best tasting chocolate ever at Haig's Chocolates in Adelaide and got good sized samples.
• Looked at the 'stick figures' at Lake Ballard in WA, hohum
• Watched the best lightning display at Sandstone WA - combined with the colours of the Pilbara - just magic
• Went to the furthest tip of the Fleurieu Peninsula in SA and watched the ferry cross to Kangaroo Island
• Met some great people along the way and yes we're coming to stay and rekindled some great old friendships

Phew and we still have 3 states and 2 territories to go and we haven't seen all that we want to see in WA yet.  

Are we ready to go home - no way not yet.  Still too much to do and see and we're having fun!

The one thing we would love to do and won't be doing is Tassie.  Unfortunately once we got the final quote (over $2000) on the ferry Spirit of Tasmania and this coupled with the fact that most of the sights we want to see are in National Parks and hard to do with the dog, decided we wouldn't do it this trip.  That will be our next trip when we can do it in a little more luxury, fly with our ff points, hire a car, chalets and no dog!

So for anyone who is looking at this email thinking they would like to do a trip like this, then we say JUST DO IT!  Life is too short and all the reasons/excuses why you aren't/can't will always be there.    Hope to see you on the open road.

Love

John, Karen and Coco