Lauren and I left Minneapolis on November 2nd 2005 about 5PM in the afternoon and flew to Los Angeles where we boarded our Quantas flight to Sydney. After 22 hours in the air, we were in Australia!



Flying from LA to Sydney: 1211 miles down, 6277 miles left to go.


http://www.qantas.com.au















Lauren and I on our first day in Sydney. Staying awake our first day down under trying to adjust to the time difference. We went to the Sydney Opera House to see about getting tickets to a performance and going on a tour.


http://www.sydneyoperahouse.com/

















After a quick 2 days in Sydney, Lauren and I started our tour around Australia. The first stop was Hamilton Island in the Great Barrier Reef where we stayed at the Hamilton Island Reef View Hotel, Queensland. While there we went on a glass bottom boat tour and went snorkeling in the Great Barrier Reef .


http://www.hamiltonisland.com.au
















Breakfast with the Koalas at the Hamilton Island Reef View Hotel.
















After two days on Hamilton Island, we flew north into Cains on the coast of the Great Barrier Reef. While in Cains we enjoyed Gelato and took a ride on the Skyrail and the Kuranda Scenic Railway. The railway was built over 100 years ago. This historic train winds its way through the tropical mountain ranges from Cairns to Kuranda, Queensland.


http://www.skyrail.com.au/
















After two days in Cains, we were on our way across the continet to Western Australia. We made a plane change at Uluru (Ayers Rock) where Pat became friends with airport security because they thought his bags contained explosives. After going through screening three times, we were allowed to board our plane to Perth WA.

http://www.environment.gov.au/parks/uluru/









 







Lauren and I made it to Perth to visit our friends Flavia Campos and Bill Hames.  Flavia took us out to Rottnest Island for sight seeing.


http://www.rottnestisland.com


















Flavia and Bill's son, William, and his new playmate,  a Quokka on Rottnest Island.
















Lauren and Flavia at King's Park in Pert WA.


http://www.bgpa.wa.gov.au/




















Lauren and I rented a car and drove (on the wrong side of the road) to Margaret River.  We stayed overnight at the Bridgefield Guest House.  During the evening we toured some of the shops in Maragret River and in the morning went to a chocolate factory.  Then it was back to Perth for more fun.


http://www.bridgefield.com.au/











Car trouble in Perth. Flavia is keeping an eye on the auto club man.





















Want to see Kagaroo? Why of course, head to the golf course for some of the best Kangaroo watching  around Perth.















Our hosts in Perth, Flavia, Bill and William.  Bill is the Architect who designed the Swan Bells in Perth. http://www.swanbells.com.au/






After spending 6 days in Perth sight seeing and having fun in the sun, Lauren and I flew back across the continet to Sydney to spend some more time on the eastern coast.












Our accomidations at the Bed and Breakfast Sydney Harbour where we could walk out the door and down a couple blocks to the Sydney Harbour Bridge.


http://www.bbsydneyharbour.com.au/


















Look at those people climbing the bridge! We didn't go for that, but we did climb to the top of the bridge pylons. Even at the top of the pylons, it was pretty windy.

http://www.pylonlookout.com.au/
http://www.sydneyharbourbridge.info/












This is a view of Sydney Opera House from the Sydney Harbour Bridge pylon.
















View of Sydney Harbour Bridge from Circular Quay.
















Pat and the girls from Katoomba Falls in the Blue Mountains.
http://www.visitbluemountains.com.au




















View of Sydney Harbour Bridge from Circular Quay.
















View of Sydney Opera House from Circular Quay.
























After being in Australia for 18 days it was time to head home to Minnesota. We boarded our flight home in Sydney on Nov 21st and were back home in Minnesota on Nov 21st, just in time for Thanksgiving. It was a wonderful trip and want to go back to see more of the country.