Wendy's Great Australian Adventure: Part 2

DAY 4 - Sydney to Darwin

We woke up to a cool, crisp morning in Sydney! Steve and I were on a mission to get back to La Renaissance Patisserie for another almond croissant, but found that The Rocks district in Sydney is a little slower to wake up than the main business district (CBD)…so we settled on a different café for a quick bite and coffee. No almond croissants, but they made a delicious cappuccino and ham/cheese croissant.

Today we’re off to the Northern Territory! We were picked up in a nice mini-van by our Royale Limousines driver, who whisked us off to the Sydney domestic airport. I always enjoy chatting with the drivers about their lives in Sydney, and experiences driving tourists like us around. They are so friendly!

We flew on Virgin Australia to Darwin, which is a 4-5 hour flight from Sydney. The Virgin crew couldn’t be nicer, but their food selection was pretty limited (not included, extra cost on this flight)…by the time they got to us, it was egg sandwiches or egg sandwiches. Good thing we’re not picky eaters!

On arrival in Darwin, we took a taxi to our hotel, the DoubleTree by Hilton Esplanade…only about a 15-minute drive, and under AUD$30. It’s MUCH warmer here in Darwin! Temps are in the 80s, and it’s their dry season, so it’s perfectly comfortable. We checked in, and then met a friend who showed us around the city. Kerrie took us to the Museum & Art Gallery of the Northern Territory, a free museum that showcased several excellent exhibits, including one about Cyclone Tracy, which destroyed the city on Christmas in 1974. Other exhibits are on aboriginal art, local wildlife, and history; they even have a huge crocodile named Sweetheart on display...the most famous croc of the NT. We also went on a nice walk in search of wild wallabies, and saw close to a dozen racing around the fields…so cute!

Kerrie and her husband Barry (or “Baz” as the Aussies say), took us to a phenomenal seafood restaurant called Pee Wee’s at the Point. I had the traditional local seafood dish of wild caught saltwater Barramundi, and it just melted in my mouth! Steve and Sky absolutely loved their meals as well…braised pork belly and roasted duckling.

Another fantastic day…we’re excited to see more of Darwin tomorrow!

Interested in having your own Australian Adventure?  Visit our site to view sample itineraries or call us at 1-800-554-9059 to get started!

Wendy's Great Australian Adventure: Part 1

Follow along with our very own Wendy as she explores Australia and packs as much adventure as she can into her time down under!

Day 1:

Down Under, here we come! We (Wendy, Steve, and Skylar) departed LAX at 10:30pm, and enjoyed the friendly Kiwi service aboard Air New Zealand to Auckland (approx. 12 hours) followed by a connection to Sydney (approx. 3.5 hours). I personally enjoyed watching the movie Australia on board the plane, since it featured Darwin in the 1930s, and we’ll be there in just a matter of days. Got me in the mood for some Aussie accents and stunning scenery!

By the end of the lesson, Skylar was a pro.

We're determined to make the most of our time in Australia, so we hit the ground running! We were met on arrival by a friendly driver with Royale Limousines, who transferred us to our hotel, the Travelodge Wynyard. Great location, walking distance to many of the major sites! We have a large apartment style room, with a Queen bed, a rollaway, and a small kitchen area…perfect for 3 of us.

Can't beat the meat pies from Harry's Cafe de Wheels

After freshening up, we headed to Circular Quay on foot. Within 15 minutes, we were on board the Sydney Explorer hop-on/hop-off double decker bus. Of course we sat up top for the best views and fresh/chilly air (it is winter, after all!). We connected out to Bondi Beach, and had Skylar join Let’s Go Surfing for a 1-hour private surf session. They have a great office location at the north end of beautiful Bondi Beach, and Sky was standing up within about 30 minutes. Great instruction by Shannon, friendly service, and a fun time at the beach!

Yum!!

We had heard about Harry’s Café de Wheels through Anthony Bourdain, and had to try their meat pies “Tiger” style, topped with mashed potatoes, mushy peas, and gravy. Hit the spot!

Back on the Sydney Explorer bus (bundled up for the top deck, of course), for a sunset/night drive back to central Sydney. What a fantastic first day in Sydney! Tomorrow…Blue Mountains…can’t wait!

A little chilly on the upper deck, but worth it for the views.

Day 2:

Early morning, up and at ‘em! We had planned to go and grab a quick coffee shop / café breakfast, but quickly learned that Sydney likes to sleep in on Sundays. I hate to even admit that we ended up at a McCafe, but what are you going to do? The ham & cheese croissant actually turned out to be a good start to our day.

We met our driver from AEA Luxury, Scott, at the lobby of our hotel at 7:15am and boarded our comfy van that would be our home for the day. On board was a mother/son pair from Alabama, who were at the end of their trip, after visiting their daughter/sister, who is studying abroad on the Gold Coast. We made one more stop at the InterContinental to pick up a mother with her twin daughters, one of whom was studying abroad in Sydney and at the end of her term…poor thing, I’m not sure she was ready to leave Australia!

The Blue Mountains experience was really enjoyable. Although there is a lot of time in the vehicle, it’s very comfortable, and we made a number of stops that were well spaced out, and gave us plenty of time out in nature.

Our first stop was Featherdale Wildlife Park…a MUST, in my opinion! They have several animal enclosures throughout the park, but there are also wallabies and kangaroos wandering freely about, so you can get up close and personal! And of course the koala encounter is always a hit. In this part of Australia, you can take photos with the koalas and pet them, but not actually hold them like you can in the state of Queensland. The number of animals and birds in this small park was fantastic…well worth a visit.

From there, we made several stops to see the majestic, sweeping views from lookout points; walk to a waterfall, and enjoy a nice lunch at a golf club. The afternoon highlights were champagne and OJ at a rocky point, followed by a stop at a botanical garden. We were back in the city by 5:00pm, and bade farewell to our companions for the day.

Back on our own, we walked over to Darling Harbour for some exploration and dinner. Darling Harbour is a lively waterfront area with a number of day cruise boats, Madame Tussaud’s, an IMAX theatre, Sealife Aquarium, Wildlife Sydney, etc. A bit touristy, but still worth the visit.

We came back to our hotel tuckered out from our big day out of the city. Tomorrow will be a busy one, starting with the Sydney Opera House, bike tour, and Bridge Climb. We're making the most out of our time here, that’s for sure!

Day 3:

A great way to see the sights.

Today was packed full! We did more than I would normally recommend for travelers in one day…starting with the first Sydney Opera House tour at 9:00am. What a fantastic hour of information and insight. Our guide, Steve, was our perfect ambassador as he guided us through the various theatres, and gave us the full history of how the Opera House came to be as it is today.

We then raced over to the Bonza Bike center in the Rocks area for our 10:30am Classic Sydney 4-hour tour. Our guide was Matt, a Sydney-sider bike tour guide / actor with a vast knowledge of Sydney factoids and recommendations. This tour is a great way to explore a large area of the city (17km in total)…including the Rocks area, out to Dawes Point,  Sydney Observatory, part of the Sydney Harbour Bridge, Darling Harbour, Chinatown, Hyde Park, the Botanical Gardens, the Opera House, and Circular Quay…with a stop at the Lord Nelson Pub partway through (for an optional bite to eat and a beverage). It certainly didn’t hurt that it was a stunningly beautiful day!

We stopped at the Renaissance Patisserie, just around the corner from the Bonza Bike office, for a cappuccino and almond croissant that just melted in our mouths.

The view from the top on a beautiful evening.

Next stop…the Sydney Harbour Bridge Climb. We joined the first night tour of the day, which commenced at 3:55pm. After some prep time to get into the jumpsuit and don the gear, we joined our guide for nearly 3 hours on the bridge. The views are absolutely spectacular! We lucked out with a clear, crisp winter day, so we could see as far out as the Blue Mountains. But…it was windy as heck (or “blowy” in Aussie-speak), and pretty darn chilly. Of course we were prepared with fleece jackets and beanies, supplied by the Bridge Climb staff.

We finished up our climb at about 7:30pm, and were ready for a warm and cozy spot for dinner, so we chose The Australian, a pub-style restaurant and hotel. We put on our brave pants, and got a 2-sided pizza:

Side one: Pepper Kangaroo (marinated in native pepper with roasted capsicum & cranberries)

Side two: Saltwater Crocodile (marinated in spicy coconut cream & fresh Thai herbs with spinach)

We were really impressed…the two types of pizza were very different, but both incredibly delicious! Pair that with an Aussie brew and a local Shiraz, and it was pretty much a perfect meal. Skylar went for the not-so-exotic Caesar Salad, but sampled a bit of kangaroo, which she said tasted like pizza. Huh!

Needless to say, we are exhausted from our very full day of walking and biking, and ready to get some shut-eye. Tomorrow we head to Darwin to start our Northern Territory adventure.  Stay tuned!

A few action packed days in Sydney and we're off to a completely different world in the Northern Territory.

Interested in having your own Australian Adventure?  Visit our site to view sample itineraries or call us at 1-800-554-9059 to get started!

Why You Should Know About the Cook Islands

If you’ve been following us for a while, you probably already know - and if you’re a newbie, you will soon find out:  we LOVE the Cook Islands.

When we travel, we want to be enriched.  We want to experience something new that changes our perspective.  We don’t want just another postcard worthy location – we want it all.  We really think the Cook Islands are the gem of the South Pacific, offering a luxurious, exotic escape that’s closer than you think.  Here are just a few reasons why:

Incredible beauty

• The Cook Islands are filled with amazing sights – not the least of which happens to be Aitutaki Lagoon.   Renowned as the most beautiful lagoon in the world, it has garnered praise from many journalists, including the Senior Editor of the Sports Illustrated swimsuit edition, MJ Day, who says “…hands down Aitutaki is the most beautiful place I’ve ever seen in my life.”  When you get tired of lounging by the azure waters (ha! Yeah right!) you can head inland and explore the lush peaks and ridges of the once almighty volcanic pyramid that formed the islands.

Accessibility

• It’s a 9-hour direct flight from LAX.  I don’t know about you, but I’ve been on family road trips that exceed that amount of travel time – and feel infinitely longer.  Unlike most locations in the South Pacific, you won’t cross the international date line on your way to the Cooks.  Sleep on the overnight flight and you’ll be ready to go when you arrive on the ground in the morning.  You won’t feel trapped in one spot in Rarotonga, the whole island is essentially your resort.   With easy access to transportation and a welcoming environment, you’ll have the freedom to roam, eat in a different restaurant every night, and truly experience the culture.

Warm culture and hospitality

• Speaking of culture, the Cook Islands most certainly will not disappoint.  Being surrounded by a vibrant, contemporary Polynesian culture, you’ll have no problem interacting with the locals.  You can hop on board any of the many cultural tours and learn more about how these wonderful people came to be.

Boutique paradise

• The Cook Islands offer the most bang for your buck in the South Pacific.  Everywhere you look, you’ll see boutique family owned and operated resorts, restaurants, and tours.  From “live like a local” holiday homes to full-service 5 star resorts, there is an accommodation for every desired experience. But don’t expect to find any highrise hotels – you won’t see any buildings higher than a coconut palm.  There are a plethora of food choices, tipping is not expected and tax is included in meal prices.  You’ll be excited by how rich your experience becomes when it’s steeped in authenticity.

Good people, natural beauty, vibrant culture, unique and luxurious accommodations, and endless opportunities for fun.  That’s the Cook Islands in a nutshell.  But don’t just take our word for it – see for yourself.  You won’t regret it!

P.S. The only way to make a trip to the Cook Islands better is to add on a stopover in New Zealand.  You’ll get two bucket list trips in one at two diverse destinations that will cover any landscape or activity you could want.  Win-win!  Call one of our travel agents today to start planning your own custom trip!

Dive Wakatobi #3: The Diving

SPLASH!!! I have just taken a giant stride off the side of the dive boat at a site called Table Coral City in the Banda Sea. I am diving with Wakatobi Dive Resort in the southeastern side of Sulawesi, Indonesia.  Table Coral City is a sea mount and we are going to circumnavigate it over the next 70 minutes.  This was a special dive as most of the dive sites at Wakatobi Dive Resort are wall/drift dives with just a couple seamounts/coral terraced areas.

Five divers (the dive guide, 3 other divers, and I) descend to about 60 feet.  The site is an assault on the senses in that hundreds of square feet are covered with table coral and literally hundreds, no – make that thousands – of fish are busy being fish. Enormous schools of black triggerfish, yellowtail fusilier, black snapper, chromis, and other fish blanket the reef.  I don’t know where to look first. Luckily, our fantastic dive guide leads us through a saddle in the coral.  Within minutes we come upon a seemingly motionless school of barracuda hovering just below the surface of the water. We watch and photograph them for several minutes before getting distracted by a Denise pygmy seahorse. 

On this dive and other dives this past week I have seen three species of pygmy seahorse (Bargibant, denise, and Pontoh), ghost pipe fish, winged pipefish, various species of leaf fish, frog fish, turtles, sea snakes, a solar-powered nudibranch along with several other species of flat worms and nudibranchs, several species of anemone shrimp, coral crabs, orangutan crabs, Zanzibar shrimp, a sea spider, large schools of puffer fish, squat lobsters, and so much more!  In addition, there are hundreds of species of soft and hard coral, sea squirts, sponges that support reef life.  I did observe a few larger marine animals such as eagle rays, blue spotted rays, and black tip reef sharks, however, Wakatobi is known for its macro marine animals.  

The water temperature consistently stayed at 82 degrees. However, even with a 7 millimeter wetsuit, booties, and a hood I was shivering at the end of most of the dives.  Granted, the dives are generally 70 minutes and I was making three to four dives per day so my ability to maintain normal body heat was challenged.  

At the end of the dive at Coral Table City eight giant trevally swaggered (yes, swaggered, just like John Wayne coming into town) through the water column seizing up the thousands of fish in their realm. Wakatobi is world class diving.

If you would like more information on Wakatobi Dive Resort please contact Outdoor Travel  Adventures at 800-554-9059 / info@otadventures.com.

Dive Wakatobi #2: Food

Eat. Sleep. Dive. This dive-trip mantra holds true at Wakatobi Dive Resort, a luxury eco-resort located on a small island in the Banda Sea southeast of Sulawesi, Indonesia.

It's 6:30 a.m. and time for breakfast. I leave my bungalow and walk the quite shell-lined sandy path to the resort's open-air restaurant. As I walk up the steps I am greeted by name by staff and am escorted to a table. Within moments, my usual order of hot ginger tea has arrived at the table. The meals at Wakatobi Dive Resort, although technically considered buffet in that guests help themselves, are not set up in the typical buffet style of lukewarm food in large, ugly, tin chafing dishes.  This buffet is set out elegantly with attractively plated dishes appetizers, colorful ceramic bowls for the entrees where the Bunsen burner is hidden, individually decorated desserts, and other food items on lovely platters and bowls.  

The food options are plentiful! Breakfast options include homemade granola, fresh fruit, yogurt, eggs to order, bacon or sausage (including turkey sausage), French toast/waffles/pancakes, freshly squeezed juice, homemade pastries, and more.

After the first dive we have snacks on board the dive boat that include muffins, cookies, fruit, fresh coconut, and slider-sized sandwiches along with hot and cold drinks. After the second morning dive we head back to the resort for a hot lunch.

Ayo makan! Bahasa (the local language) for “let's eat.”

I am starving after my second 70-minute dive of the day as I walk to the restaurant for the second time today. Today, the lunch menu consists of vegetable pakoras, wahoo ceviche, and mini chicken wraps for the appetizers. The entree options were sweet and sour fish, beef rouladen, rice, pasta, two hot vegetable dishes, two soup options (one hot and one cold), along with a salad bar and bread. Don't forget dessert! Three plated desserts (i.e., chocolate ganouche cake, key lime tarts, or similar) are offered each lunch in addition to fresh fruit, ice cream, and sorbet. I could have imbibed in every dish offered, however, there is a wetsuit hanging up on the boat that I will still need to fit in at the end of the week.

In the late afternoon, following the third dive of the day, appetizers are served in the Longhouse – the Resort's equivalent of a reception area –­ or on the jetty bar and typically consists of fresh fruit, pastries, prawn chips, and something akin to fried wontons or spring rolls along with drinks while sharing stories of the day's dives. 

Dinner is similar to lunch with the addition of a carving station of roasted chicken breasts, beef, or lamb and more appetizer and dessert options.

All food items are freshly made at the resort, including the bread, pastries, salad dressings, ice cream, sorbet, and desserts. And all are delicious!

Terima kasih (thank-you in Bahasa) to the chefs at Wakatobi Dive Resort! You make our bellies happy so that we can enjoy the diving.

If you would like more information on Wakatobi Dive Resort please contact Outdoor Travel Adventures at 800-554-9059 / info@otadventures.com.

Dive Wakatobi #1: The Service

by our Outdoor Travel Adventures Consultant and Dive Guru

I surfaced from a fantastic night dive on the Wakatobi Dive Resort house reef to a cloudy sky and occasional bolts of lightning cutting through the darkness. As I swam to the exit point and began climbing the stairs to the jetty I heard peals of laughter from the bar a mere 30 feet away. Staff waited for me at the top of the stairs, helped me shrug out of my gear, and then carried my gear to the dive center for me.  It was my fourth dive of the day and if I hadn’t been starving I would have done a fifth dive. 

The name “Wakatobi” is an acronym taken from the first two letters of four nearby islands (Wangiwangi, Kaledupe, Tomia, and Binongko).  Wakatobi, a luxury dive resort, is located just southeast of Sulawesi, Indonesia.  

My trip has been smooth sailing thanks to the amazing Wakatobi staff located in Bali, Tomia, and at the resort itself. Upon arrival at the Bali airport I was met by staff (as are all guests) who proceeded to escort me effortlessly through immigration and customs. Check-in for the chartered domestic flight from Bali to Tomia also went smoothly.

Upon arrival at the small airport on Tomia I was greeted by more smiling and helpful staff who shuttled all the guests to a nearby dock for a 15-minute boat ride to the resort. It was during this boat ride and subsequent landing at the dock that I noticed much flotsam in the water consisting of plastic bottles, cereal boxes, flip-flops overgrown with algae, and other trash. Disappointed and concerned about the state of the ocean that I was soon to be diving in I asked about the trash in the water. Apparently, a storm had recently come through bringing trash from other islands and towns. Much to my relief, there were about 10 staff members busily picking up trash and seaweed that had blown onto the white sandy beach. Although the beach was kept clean throughout my stay, I did continue to see some trash in the water, but I also continued to see staff picking it up. They are keenly aware that this is an issue.

Upon disembarkation from the shuttle boat more staff greeted the guests by name and all guests were individually escorted to their bungalows.  For the duration of the trip each staff person greeted us by name and made each of us feel at home!

Ayo menyelam! Bahasa (the local language) for “let’s go diving!” 

The Wakatobi system for diving is a well-oiled machine. For the 10 divers on my boat there are three dive guides: two groups of four divers and one group of two divers. The boat drops each group off at 5-minute intervals along the wall so that we all feel that we are the only ones at that dive site.  In addition, there are always three to four crew members to help with gear.

Suited up we take a giant stride into the 82-degree water.  I drop down and begin searching for macro animals while huge schools of pyramid angel fish, black snappers, giant trevally, and other fish swim around me. At the Wakatobi dive sites the visibility typically ranges between 75-150 feet with the best diving no deeper than 60 feet or so.  Five minutes into my dive at around 55 feet deep I spot a pygmy sea horse - on my own and without a magnifying glass! Yes, people were using magnifying glasses. I was so excited that I missed seeing another pygmy sea horse just inches away. That dive was particularly amazing in that our guide found three additional pygmy sea horses along with a minuscule sea spider, two leaf fish, a tiger flat worm, and so much more. The reefs are healthy with large schools of fish circling about. The soft coral is spectacular in various shades of red, purple, and orange. Turtles, sea snakes, eagle rays, black-tipped reef sharks, and tuna occasionally made an appearance during my dives.

As I climb up the ladder after another fantastic the dive crew is always there to help me out of my gear.  Out of the gear I am immediately handed a dry towel and a warm wash cloth. As our boat motors back to the resort we all share the highlights of the dive with the other divers and a sense of camaraderie pervades the air.

If you would like more information on Wakatobi Dive Resort please contact Outdoor Travel Adventures at 800-554-9059 / info@otadventures.com.

The Perfect Carry-On Bag

Winter travel can often mean that delays are the norm versus the exception. Here's a quick list of things to include in your carry-on to make your life a little easier should you get delayed, or worse have a canceled flight.

• Passport/Identification: You're not going anywhere without this. You'll also need it if you have to book a hotel, or get a cocktail at the airport. 

Comfort Items

• Blanket/jacket/sweater:  Airports are often over-chilled with A/C pumping out at all times of the day and in all weather climates. Keep toasty while you wait for your flight. 
• Cash: Everyone should always carry a little cash. At the very least, you can use it for vending machines at those odd hours of the night, or use for tips. 
• Credit card: Credit cards are widely accepted everywhere, and it's the easiest thing to use in an airport for meals, hotels and entertainment to pass the time away. 

Should you get stuck in the airport over night, these things can make the experience a bit more tolerable. 

• Change of clothes: You'll feel better the next morning, and it's probably Murphy's Law that you will inevitably spill on yourself if you don't pack extra clothing. 
• Earplugs or noise canceling headphones: To avoid hearing the PA system all night, crying babies and pretty much the world.
• Inflatable pillow: It's one of those items that are easy to forget, but are so appreciated in a time of need. They don't take up much space and it's nice to have your own soft, clean surface to get a few winks. 
• Cosmetics/Toiletries: Basics like deodorant, toothpaste (under 3 oz in a bag), hand sanitizer (under 3 oz in a bag), toothbrush, wet-wipes and chapstick/lipstick will make you feel like a million bucks after a rough night in the airport.

Snacks

If you are tight on space, you can skip this - but food and drinks in airports can be pricey. A few non-perishable snacks are great to be able to grab - no lines, instant satisfaction and you don't have to lose your seat in the waiting area should space be at a premium for overpacked flights.

Electronics

Electronics, sweet electronics. A smart phone is essential. You can surf the web, rebook flights, and play Candy Crush. A laptop or tablet will be a bit more convenient to use, especially if you find yourself in need of re-booking rooms and changing other travel plans. Don’t forget to pack the chargers!