Our first  trip to Australia 1998-1999

After many years off thinking and dreaming " I want to visit my family Down under" we finally decided to go.

in January we booked our tickets with Singapore airlines. after reading, making plans, changing plans, looking for things to do and what to see. we made up our first journey.

Flying/ Brussels - Zurich - Singapore( stop 15 hours) - Cairns.

We rented a camper  from NQ rentals. ( this company does not longer exist. since this year( 2005)

Queensland

For the first 2 nights we booked a campsite from home.

Our camper from NQ rentals ( a complete disaster old 300000km's fuel consumption 32 liter for 120 km, and also the car was stinking from every corner, but we get an other one)

Trip to the Great Barrier reef,  with Ocean Spirit.

We made the reservation via email from home. The people from Ocean Spirit promised to pick us up at the campsite's gate at 0720,on Monday. And yes there was a big touring car for us 3. Soon as everyone was onboard we left to the Reef. Ocean Spirit don't go as far as the fast motor catamarans, but was not so full, and relax. once at the reef we could go to a sand island. we about 10000 birds are nesting. also there was possibility to take a dive. or go with a glassbottom boat. that's what I did, stay dry on the outside. The lunch was great , and on the way back there was life music and a glass off champagne.

We also made a visit to Kurranda.

The day we visited Kurranda there was NO market. What we did was going to the Butterfly park. and had lunch with view over the rainforest.

I can strongly recommend that you take the train for going up to Kurranda and the Sky rail on the way down. The train runs faster on the way down so taking pictures is more difficult.  

 Kuranda train station   

 Atherton table lands  fig three

 On the way to the Table lands our motor was running hot. so it was or using airco and overheating the engine or no airco, we already lost a day by changing cars so we decided to move on.                  

That night we had our dinner in a "real outback" pub including the Gecko's on the wall and ceilings.

Someone pointed us in the direction off " The Millaa Millaa" falls. A beautiful spot.

Here we spotted 2 Tree kangaroos.

On the way to the Paronella park( see link list)  we stopped to buy a pineapple and some paw paws, I forgot the name off it, but the pinapple was fantastic, that's something you can't find in our part off the world.

There was also a possibility to take part off a night walk in the rainforest. This a was scarring thing in the middle off the night in the rainforest , especially "The  tunnel off love " now it is more the tunnel off spiders. But a fantastic thing. And we got the whole history  how the park was build.

After the Paronella park we were driving further south planned a visit to the Witsunday islands. after arriving on the local camping we got our first tropical rain shower, now we can say what that means.

But that gave us more camper problems "water " leaking thru the 240 volt switch on the roof, and we were connected to the  power. DANGEROUS. after looking for a phone number I found the complain letter from previous renter, and yes complaining about water thru the roof.

After our telephone call to NQ rentals, they suggest to sleep in cabins they will refund the costs off it ( only till we got in Brisbane) were we got another camper ( again).

Eating that night was in the the Poky pub/ restaurant in front off the camping. I've had  a faboulus T-bone.

 Next morning we had to leave for Brisbane because off the car problems, the Whitsundays will be for another time.

In Brisbane we visited my cousin Brendan. And The Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary ( see link list)

The Lone pine Koala sanctuary is one off the few places were you can take a Koala in your arms,.

Holding a Koala is something unique.

 after leaving Brissie we passed the Gold Coast and Surfers paradise. in Surfers we bought a Didgeridoo, getting noise out that thing was something else.

New South Wales

After the troubles with the camper, we decided to sleep in cabins from now on. Having still a campervan was easy, so the clothes could stay in the car ( unpacked) and we had a fridge and water.

Sleeping in the cabins was more easy. but we also lost another day. and the next appointment was on.

Due to the problems we only had one day left for Sydney.

From Sydney the tour went thru the Blue Mountains, the weather was bad and the visibility was very poor, so bad luck.

 Via Goulburn were we stayed overnight,

To Canberra  

  were we visited the parliament. we drove to.....

VICTORIA

in the Snowy mountains the next car problem was there, a flat tyre not the biggest problem wit a good jack, but that was the problem, it was not possible to lift up the car to change the wheel with the tools in the car. No phone coverage there and every 20 minutes or so a car passing. It could be a long day . Lucky the locals are helping each other ( and us tourists) in case off problems and with  2 jacks and the tools from the Aussie we were able to change the wheel. Lakes Entrance we arived complete on the wrong moment to have lunch. Or closed or not what we wanted, so Mc Donalds, for the first time in the holidays.

 That evening we stayed in Inverloch, in a small English styled cabin. Next morning we went to Phillip Island. where we pre booked a cabin at

 for the night we had also a booking for the  Fairy Penguins

From Phillip Island, we drove to Gisborne and Healesville to meet the family, this was for the rest off our holidays our base.

Great ocean road

A 2 day visit to the Great ocean road starting from Warnambool, to Geelong.

All the 12 apostles ( only 10 left) in one view, its only possible from airside.

The one on the leftfront side collapsed in 2005. So one less. Lucky we we visited the Great Ocean road this year, before the disaster. 

Australia 1999-2000.

Victoria

For the big turn we normally wanted to go to the Canary Islands. I needed a foot operation and it was not possible to make greater walks. After checking prices, what it would cost for going  1 week to a good all inclusive hotel. I made a call to my cousin and yes the room was free, the only problem was finding tickets for the plane. End off the story we went 3 weeks Down under for less, than 1 week at the Grand Canary Islands.

From Gisborne. We made just a few short 2 day tours.

We visited

Echuca -

 Bendigo -

Grampians -

Melbourne -

Puffing Billy

For the turn 1999-2000, we had a great BBQ with family and friends. Later we went to other people , everyone with his/her bottle and while sitting under a big three and a camp fire, chatting  about everything,  the Big bang came. It was 2000. And like everyone said before. our watches phones and all the computer things were .................. no wrong, no problem at all

Puffing Billy  Old steam train from Belgrave to Gembrook( Vic)

 On days off total fire ban the Steam engine is replaced by a diesel train.   

 Our tirth trip

South Australia -Victoria

Kangaroo Island.

Kangaroo Island about 150 km from east to West, and 57 km South to North.

In my opinion minimum stay off 3 day's.

Rental cars: if you rent on mainland Australia you must hire a 4WD car, because not all the roads are sealed. You are not allowed to drive a regular car on "dirt roads" if you do so, you are not covered by insurance. take care windows and tires are not always covered. If you rent on the island there are normal cars available.

We pre booked a small holiday house, spectacular view over the ocean.

The Hideaway( see link list)

The little house, had 3 bedrooms, fully equipped kitchen living room, even a washing machine. BUT most important the view, and at night even penguins at the front door.

Places to visit

Remarkable rocks: strange nature

Seal bay: 

 I could stay here the whole day looking at the seals.

Walking between those seals is great, it is only allowed with a ranger. But you come less than 5 meter away.

Also worth a visit

Stokes Bay and going too a  "secret" beach, thru a natural very small tunnel. Only at ebb tide you can reach the beach with dry feet.

Flinders Ranges

On the way to the Flinders we visited two Wine yards

The Rosemount estate south off Adelaide ,and Grand Burge in the Barossa valley. At home we always drink wines from those estates. There are better ones but these wines we get here in Belgium, and are not to expensive.

On the way to the Flinders ranges we drove a remote road 96 km off nothing from Burra to Hawker, one hotel annex pub, 43° hot, and a big mistake, we ran almost out off fuel. The guy in the hotel sold us 20 liter and at normal price. The only extra was, I had to pay him a beer. About 20km before Hawker there was a sign, telling us we came back in Cell telephone area.

For the Flinders we stayed in Hawker, at the local caravan park were we took a De Luxe cabin. in the village was at that time only one restaurant open. price and food were good.

From The Flinders we were driving to Brooken Hill and so to Mildura .We got a room with spa, at the Boulevard Moter inn and  had a fine dinner, I've had the best steak  ever! A good bottle off red wine" Wolf Blass yellow label" and a glass of very old Australian port from the owners private cellar.( for free, the Port )

4th visit December 21 - 2004 till January 15 - 2005                             

 On Thuesday we left Kapellen at 6 am, for the 11 am flght with BMI to Londen.we started with a delay off 1h30 because off weather conditions in London. same story in London delay off 90 mins. From London uber Penag nach Kuala Lumpur, and yes again delays.

After celebrating cristmas with the family, we went to Phillip Island to an holiday house from friends.

The weather here was not what we wanted, storm winds and cold for the time off the year.

And more bad luck for me, my digicam fell on the ground, now i am a qualfied camera fixer, gummiband, carboard and toothpick, saved our holiday pîctures, now i am saving for a new photo camera.

We visited Cape Woolamai were we saw our first snake,

Red Belly Black

Next visit was The Nobbles national park near the Penguin parade, again a walk now between the seagulls and little penguins in there burrows.

Swan lake with black Swans was also nearby.

On Wednesday a visit too Wilson's prom was planned, and yes the sun was there too. firts a short visit at the beach, before a short walk (45 mins) to squeeky beach, and our second snake, this one was faster than the first, and it should be a Common Western Brown the second most poisened snakes, and because off the numbers who lives near people the snake with the most human victims in Australia.( sorry no picture off our snake).

Thursday back to Gisborne, and on Friday a visit to the Queen Victoria market.

Sunday we started our trip via the Great Ocean road via the

Twelve Apostles.and London Bridge    over Warnamboool,

The Grampians ( in Halls gap we stayed in a beautiful wooden chalet with Kangaroos everywhere ) back to Gisborne.

Friday the 7th our daughter had to leave because off school on Monday, so we toke here to the airport, and send her home, we had another week.

Next tour  from GISBORNE  to

LAKE EILDON

further to WANGARRATA,via Ned Kelly country

 BRIGHT,over Mount Hottam

and LAKES ENTRANCE

to HEALESVILLE

 and back to GISBORNE cleaning the car

on Friday January 14-2005 we went back home;

         I want to go Back D.U.

This site was last updated 23-feb-2007