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Uncle visits Oz

 
 
uncle retrospective
10:25 / 09.02.05
So I’m heading down to Australia in March, where I’ll be landing in Sydney and heading for a 3 week drive up the east coast. So what I’m asking is, what should I do? Any tips or ideas?

Thanks.
 
 
The Return Of Rothkoid
21:11 / 09.02.05
Up the east coast? Pack some sunscreen... it'll be fucking warm.

Other than that, I'd suggest stopping at Byron or the like - it's pretty nice there, though is hippie-central.

Queensland's islands, should you get a chance, are FIIINE.
 
 
frownland
05:03 / 10.02.05
Byron is a beautiful spot for sure, and won't be too crowded when you're planning to visit. check out the view from the lighthouse, or surf at Tallow's Beach. Byron is not Hippie Central - that title belongs to Nimbin, a couple of hours inland from there. You should visit the Nimbin Museum, and sample some of the local product.
Queensland's islands are superb. Hire a 4wd vehicle and visit Moreton Island; while you're there, snorkel the Tangalooma wrecks. Don't do as a young spanish couple I recently met there did - hire bicycles - the entire island is made of soft white sand.
Fraser Island is spectacular - check out Lake McKenzie, and watch out for dingoes.
I can't tell you which Barrier Reef Islands to visit, cause I haven't been to any since I was a kid.
If you make it as far as Cairns, keep going another 75 km and visit Port Douglas and the Daintree National Park.
Other personal favourites: Noosa National Park (my backyard), Lamington National Park, Brisbane Chinatown
 
 
A
01:24 / 12.02.05
Are you going to Brisbane? If so, say when, and I'll let you know what excitement is on.
 
 
uncle retrospective
22:53 / 18.02.05
Cheers guys, I'll be asking more questions when the time draws nearer.
 
 
8===>Q: alyn
23:02 / 18.02.05
Oz? Watch out for Adebisi, that dude is crafty.
 
 
astrojax69
01:47 / 19.02.05
don't go to queensland!! it's full of, well, queenslanders!! and it's hot. and green. not like australia at all.

australia's all red and dusty and got drop bears and we have forteen of the world's fifteen most poisonous snakes and lots of bad sharks and nasty spiders and no water but great beer, except in queensland!!

actually, nambucca heads is a hidden jewel, a little before byron bay. but go west from sydney first and have a look at the blue mts - spectacular and worth a couple days walking, if you have time. i have a fondness for wentworth falls, and parents there!

glasshouse mts in qld, north of brisbane, are beautiful... and a fabulous restuarant is clio's, at palmwoods, just near the big pineapple near nambour, not so far from noosa. tell daniel, the chef, i sent you... (really)

but i rekkun the south coast of nsw is better than north, but i like it cooler, less populated and i like seasons - s'why i am in canberra (now there's a hidden jewel, but most aussies will disparage this sentiment! their own capital, sheesh!) why north from sydney?

have fun!

we have vegemite, too.
 
 
uncle retrospective
23:17 / 14.03.05
I fear vegemite as much as I fear nasty snakes and spiders that can kill me without me seeing them. Anyway..

So there has been a little change in the old plans as far as my trip is concerned. I’m now starting in Adelaide, moving on to Melbourne then Sydney and probably up as far as Byron Bay. Bloody backpackers! They’re a menace. So, same question again but a different part of the country. What should I be looking for or at? Does anyone know if the Fool is still on the board? He’s based in Melbourne and strikes me as a guy who knows where the party is.
What I’m saying is, any help would be great.
Thanks.
 
 
invisible_al
23:50 / 14.03.05
Ahhh Melbourne is apparently quite a fun place to visit, I'll get Angel to weigh in with her advice as she lived there for ages and still has a bunch of mates there.

Only bit of advice I can think of at the mo is go to the Blue Mountains, its a few hours out of Sydney and is one of the most beautiful places I've ever been to. It would be an absolute crime to miss it, check out some of the caves in the area as well if you stay more than a day, they're amazing.

Oh and check your PM box .
 
 
Scrubb is on a downward spiral
01:23 / 15.03.05
Don't go to Canberra.

I'm telling you this because I care.
 
 
matsya
02:03 / 15.03.05
I'm in Melbourne, Uncle. Is a noice place. Lots going on. A freakin' arts festival every two weeks. March has got the fashion festival, comedy festival starts march 23, you just missed the stencil festival, queer film fest from 10-20 of march, i think what is music is still on (the residents are in town! and chicks on speed!)there's heaps of spoken word gigs on, loadsabands...

Do all the urban stuff - don't stress about getting out to the country too much. How long you down? When you down? PM me if you wish...

This is an okay website to get an idea of events in the citeh.

plus there's lotsa galleries and tasty food too. we love melbourne.

m.
 
 
astrojax69
03:50 / 15.03.05
doin't listen to them... canberra is a beautiful city, worth seeing as it is a wholly planned city - this is unique and worth the visit. we also have some good food, some great australian bush moments from the city centre (what there is of that!) and, well don't listen to them... : )


in melbourne, between festivals, you MUST check out a game of aussie rules - pref with a local who can tell you what is happening, other than big blokes hitting each other and a ball somewhere. preferably at mecca [aka 'the g', or technically the MCG] though the dome is ok if you must... pity there are no suburban grounds left... also pref when geelong are playing, 'cause the cats reign supreme [although i may be biased here] you could be lucky and see a geelong home game on the way into melbourne!

on the drive from adelaide to melbourne you should go along the aptly named 'great ocean road', see what is left of the twelve apostles (i think but eight remain? someone?) and stand and look at where antarctica is... and it would be best if you did this stretch on a fast motor bike.

between melbourne and canberra (or syndey!) is the rutherglen wine area, some of the world's finest fortified wines (tokays, muscats, ports, mmmmmmmm) and possibly australia's best meat pies at the bakery at rutherglen town itself. mmmmmm....

don't listen to them, come to canberra....
 
 
uncle retrospective
20:12 / 15.03.05
Wow, everyone has told me to keep the hell away from Canberra!
Cheers folks, thanks for the tips, Matsya, I will PM you if you don't mind, there's nothing like a local to show you the places that you'd miss normally.

I'm getting excited! I'm out of here on Monday!
YEA!
 
 
uncle retrospective
20:24 / 15.03.05
Bah! I've missed Sunn 0))) and OOIOO at What? is music.
 
 
matsya
21:05 / 15.03.05
there ARE suburban grounds, just not the AFL ones. If you want the smaller experience, you could go to a VFL game - not sure if the VFL season has started yet.

m.
 
 
the Fool
03:47 / 16.03.05
I dunno when you are in Melbourne, but Witness Protection is always a fun night out - www.wppsc.com - Run by my mate Shaggs (I get in for free 'cause I do his website )

Honkytonks is a nice little club if you want some dancing. Duckboard Place - Off Flinders Lane.

There is a really cool bar/club called StGeromes (I think that's what its called) just off Lt Bourke St. Look for the kids out the front sitting on crates.

The Croft Institute is also rather nifty, but really really well hidden (down an alley, down another alley, passed some smelly bins!). Its also off Lt Bourke st.

Most of the cool stuff in Melbourne is down alleys and lanes (all the bars and clubs mentioned above are).

Avoid the trashy gay strip of commercial road. There really is nothing there of interest.

If you were here for last weekend I hope you avoided the supermarket rave that is Two Tribes (bleh!)

Thats what I can think of off da top of my head...
 
  
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