Australia is a very large country. Land wise, it’s roughly the same size as the U.S. (if you don’t include Alaska). We were used to New Zealand, where nothing is more than a few hours drive. In Australia, you have to fly just about everywhere. And there’s far too much to see even with a month. We regretted having to cut out the west coast, but there was just no way to fit it in. Here are our overall impressions.

Highs/Best Moments: Fresh seafood plate @ Sydney Fish Market, topless women at Bondi beach, getting to the top of the Harbour bridge, meeting up with so many friends, sailing the Whitsundays, swimming around the pool at the Sea Temple Resort, man-made lagoons, swimming in lake McKenzie, swimming holes

Lows/Worst Moments: Sitting in the back of the jeep for the Fraser Island tour, most of the other parts of the Fraser Island tour, losing my wallet in Port Douglas, mosquitoes in the Daintree Rain Forest, getting busted by the tram police in Melbourne, getting a parking ticket that totally wasn’t our fault in Cairns, jellyfish everywhere so you can’t swim in the ocean without a stinger suit

Sights: Bats, kangaroos (occasionally), bars, vastness

Food & Drink: Kangaroo is delicious but many Aussies prefer not to eat their national symbol. “Bugs” which are like little lobsters. Lots and lots of beer.

Favorites:

Towns: Sydney, Port Douglas

Accommodations: Sea Temple Resort

Food: Street sushi

Restaurants: Movida, Ginger, Tamarind

Drink: Everything at Ginger

Activities: Sailing the Whitsundays, climbing the Harbour Bridge, touring the Daintree Rain Forest

Internet Connections: Emirates lounge @ Sydney airport

Least Favorites:

Towns: Townsville – what a wasteland!

Food: Buffet at Fraser Island

Activities: Fraser Island tour

Internet Connections: Just about everywhere

Currency & Exchange Rate: $1 US Dollar = $0.77 Australian Dollars