Nick’s world tour

Dunedin, I learned, is Scottish for Edinburgh. In tune with it’s namesake, it suddenly got cool and windy, and then rained a lot. It was supposed to be a copy of the original, but they realised the terrain is different, and the river is in a different place so it didn’t quite workout as planned. As close as they got are similar street names. Dunedin is a university city, but as it’s the summer holiday is relatively quiet. Read the rest of this entry »

Although it sounds like something from science fiction, or possibly Lord of the Rings (apparently that was filmed here, so I’m told, repeatedly), it is infact the original and appropriate name for Mt Cook. Named after everyone’s favourite 18th century explorer, at 3574m it’s the biggest in NZ. Oh and beats anything in Australia too, so the locals proudly proclaim. Read the rest of this entry »

I arrived in Australia, possibly unwisely, wearing flip-flops, shorts and a faded t-shirt emblazoned with SLACKER. Not the best choice I admit. Still this beats my arrival in New Zealand, where after a late night in Kings Cross, 2 hours sleep and an uncomfotable flight across the Tasman, I arrived in Christchurch …  Read the rest of this entry »

After a welcome night away from any sociable establishments, the coach pulled into Sydney remarkably early, disturbing my nice sleep. As with last time I was here, it was grey and pretty chilly. The main reason for being here is for New Year’s eve, though the reason I’m here so long is because of the ridiculous minimum stays every where has this time of year. And don’t get me started on the prices! Read the rest of this entry »

So I left you as I’d arrived in Byron Bay for the Christmas week. The Bay is a little town, with a few streets of smart shops, cafe’s, bars and restaurants for the “beautful people”. They also let the riff raff in, and we’re catered for by such salubrious venues as Cheeky Monkeys. If you’ve been, you’ll know; for the others, anyone who went to the Raz in Liverpool will recognise the same sticky floors and dancing on any raised object, tables, chairs…. Throw in the resident hippy population and it was quite an interesting place! Read the rest of this entry »

To the tune of Jingle Bells: 

Dashing through the bush,
in a rusty Holden Ute,
Kicking up the dust,
esky in the boot,
Kelpie by my side,
singing Christmas songs,
It’s Summer time and I am in
my singlet, shorts and thongs

Oh! Jingle bells, jingle bells, jingle all the way,
Christmas in Australia
on a scorching summers day, Hey!
Jingle bells, jingle bells, Christmas time is beaut!,
Oh what fun it is to ride in a rusty Holden Ute.

Engine’s getting hot;
we dodge the kangaroos,
The swaggie climbs aboard,
he is welcome too.
All the family’s there,
sitting by the pool,
Christmas Day the Aussie way,
by the barbecue.

Oh! Jingle bells, jingle bells, jingle all the way,
Christmas in Australia
on a scorching summers day, Hey!
Jingle bells, jingle bells, Christmas time is beaut!,
Oh what fun it is to ride in a rusty Holden Ute.

Come the afternoon,
Grandpa has a doze,
The kids and Uncle Bruce,
are swimming in their clothes.
The time comes ’round to go,
we take the family snap,
Pack the car and all shoot through,
before the washing up.

Oh! Jingle bells, jingle bells, jingle all the way,
Christmas in Australia
on a scorching summers day, Hey!
Jingle bells, jingle bells, Christmas time is beaut!,
Oh what fun it is to ride in a rusty Holden Ute.

For a translation into English see:

http://users.tpg.com.au/sharenet/c/jinglebells.html

Read the rest of this entry »

A short ride down from Rainbow is the city of Brisbane. Read the rest of this entry »

14 hours south is Rainbow Beach, so called because of the multicoloured sand in it’s cliffs. It’s a tiny little village, and is the closest and nicest base to explore Fraser Island from. Read the rest of this entry »

Airlie Beach is a one street town, only popular as a gateway to the Whitsunday Islands. Discovered by Cook in 1770, and imaginatively named as it was Whit Sunday. On everyone’s “to do” list here is to get on some sort of sailing tub and spend a few days cruising around some of the 74 islands out in the crystal clear ocean. Read the rest of this entry »