Comments on: Itchy Feet

By: theprofessionalhobo

theprofessionalhobo — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 23:58:54 +0000

@Niamh – Thanks for the awesome suggestions! Just had a peek at your blog, and you’re doing all sorts of great things! Cheers.

By: niamh

niamh — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 12:35:37 +0000

Sounds like some exciting travelling ahead! I’m Irish but did two amazing years in Australia. Kangaroo Island definitly – another world experience! The Northern Territory is beautiful – I only did a little around Darwin and can’t wait to go back. Down in NSW – the Royal National Park is well worth a few days, the Blue Mountains are really blue! The trails all start in very touristy places but if you keep walking you get out into kangaroo country And some beautiful ferry rides: from Sydney Harbour up the river to Parramatta or (my favourite!) the Riverboat Postman leaves from Brooklyn and delivers mail all up the Hawkesbury River. You meet some great people on this one!

By: theprofessionalhobo

theprofessionalhobo — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 21:32:01 +0000

@Tanya – WOW! Thanks for the perfect guide to the South Island! I’m certainly excited about the beautiful mountains and awesome scenery of the South Island….now I know where to go and what to do as well! Cheers…

By: Tanya

Tanya — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 06:01:06 +0000

If you end up in NZ the south island is an absolute must do. The scenery is incredible and diverse. Try the trip up Farewell Spit at the top of the South Island in a bedford (Takaka is one of my favourite places in NZ), Kayaking part of the Abel Tasman track http://www.sealswim.com(the Queen Charlotte is awesome scenery wise too and you can do some of it by mountain bike during some of the year too), the beautiful wild and rugged coast of Kaikoura http://www.kaikoura.co.nz(even if you dont stop for the whale watching), walk Franz Joseph glacier before it melts away http://www.franzjosefglacier.com . Drive into beautiful Central Otago (or at least hire a car for a day)so you get the full effect of wild lupins growing on the side of the road near glacial fed Lake Tekapo http://www.laketekapountouched.co.nz/, Lake Wanaka, Cromwell/ Alex and Clyde (still hoping to cycle the RailTrail someday)and of course Queenstown, Lake Hayes and Arrowtown. Glenorchy (not far from Queenstown) is incredible if you have a car- the dart river sits right underneath the southern alps. Not many get all the way down to Stewart Island (Im a kiwi and its still on my list) but I hear there plenty there too.
Hope you make it.

By: theprofessionalhobo

theprofessionalhobo — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 23:16:37 +0000

@Craig – AWESOME advice – thanks! I was wondering what the Red day-nighter seats were like…I’ve done the sleeping in a seat thing before on the train, and as long as the train isn’t too crowded it’s doable. I also understand that you can upgrade certain segments of the journey to a berth if you wish….I’ll have to see how much it costs and how desperate I am to get horizontal for the night.
Sydney to Istanbul, huh? What a journey! I love overland travel.

By: Craig

Craig — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 20:26:45 +0000

Last summer I journeyed from Sydney to Istanbul – overland (okay there was one plane flight). Australia by train included a Countrylink service from Sydney (my hometown) to Melbourne. The Overlander day train from Melbourne to Adelaide where I caught the epic Ghan to Darwin (via Alice Springs and Katherine). I also did the Indian Pacific from Sydney to Perth in 2008.

I think pass on the Overlander train. The scenery through Victoria isn’t that variable so its not the most scenic train journey on the planet. The Countrylink day services through New South wales are just some pastoral scenes really.

Ohh but the Indian Pacific and the Ghan are legend: Red deserts and the rock strewn wastes of the Nullabor!

On both trans-continental trips I was in Red Kangaroo day seater class. Two nights in a reclining chair sounds rough buts its not really. One you settle in for the trip it can be very comfortable. There are showers at both ends of carriage and an adjoining dinning car – the chow is nothing as flashy as what the baby-boomers are snacking on up front in Gold and Platinum Service – but its okay.

You could do Red Kangaroo sleeper service for about twice the price of a seater but the compartments are about the size of cryogenic freezers so if you’re a little claustrophobic pass on those.

Red Kangaroo seater service was just great for meeting people – other travelers and some quirky but always friendly Australians.

I booked my tickets here: http://www.gsr.com.au

Enjoy the Outback – its huge!

By: curiousjessica

curiousjessica — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 22:34:52 +0000

Sounds great, and how exciting for you to be planning this huge trip! All the best

By: theprofessionalhobo

theprofessionalhobo — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 22:08:09 +0000

@Jessica – Awesome! I’m super excited for my trip to WA….which I figure I’ll do in April/May. From my reading, it seems to be the best time to experience a lot of what WA has to offer….
I have friends who used to live in Margaret River, and I’m hoping see do a lot of what’s in the region south of Perth, as well as up north.
And I’ve made a note of your email address….I’ll let you know when I’m coming, and let’s connect! Cheers.

By: curiousjessica

curiousjessica — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 05:40:00 +0000

Hi Nora
I live in perth and can definitely say it is one of the nicest places in Australia. The beaches are awesome and uncrowded, life moves at a slower pace than in the east and WA has some of the most diverse environments on earth – from arid desert to lush forests, we are pretty lucky really. I would recommend spending a week in our southern wine region, especially Margaret River, and visiting the many great cafes, restaurants and pubs dotted along the Perth coast. Fremantle harbour is great too!

I’d love to meet up as well so let me know if/when you’re in perth and I’ll show you some sights!

By: theprofessionalhobo

theprofessionalhobo — Mon, 18 Jan 2010 02:53:20 +0000

@Evealyn – Thanks for the resources! I’ve bookmarked them, and taken your suggestions to heart. I love country scenery and characters (that’s probably why I live in the countryside right now!), and am interested in places to hike, and otherwise experience the nature and adventure that New Zealand seems to abound with. I’m also interested in the Maori culture and its presence and practices.
And I’ll be in touch if and when I make it to Wellington! Cheers!