Last weekend, half our group went on an over-nighter to Stanthorpe and Girraween National Park. It was a blast!
After a 3-hour bus ride south, we stopped off at the University of Queensland wine and tourism campus for a quick tour and tasting of their student wines. In addition to university students, they allow high school students from the area to grow and bottle wine as well in an effort to strengthen the industry from the bottom up.
From there we traveled to a family-owned orchard. Now, I realize this doesn't carry with it the same glamour that a performance at the Sydney Opera House does, but I loved it! (Although, I am coming to the conclusion that I may have been born to live on a farm.) In six enormous fruit baskets we were pulled along by a tractor stopping frequently for fun farming facts as well as a chance to sample the fruit right out of the field, which included rasperries, apples, tomatoes and peaches, each the best I've ever had! After being given an entire case of apples as a parting gift, we went on our way to The Vines Motel. Anna's Restaurant, a classic Italian eatery, fed us well with some seven courses including salad, ravioli, stuffed mushrooms, fried potatoes, chicken and pork, plus dessert! What a treat. (Luckily, I'd gone for a run along the river across from our motel that afternoon.)
After a poor night's sleep, we arose ready for our Castle Rock hike located in Girraween National Park. It was a beautiful 2-hour kike through granite-covered eukalyptus forest to the park's central peak, which allowed for 360 degree views. Gorgeous! From there, we headed to Ballendean Winery, which has been in business for 75 years and three generations of an Italian family. As with the orchard, we were given a tour by the grower himself (Angelo), which would never happen in the states. We tried both the red and white grapes right off the vine, toured their facilities for everything from crushing to bottleing and ended our time there with more wonderful Italian food prepared by Angelo's wife along with unlimited tasting of all their wines, which are the best I've ever tasted! My personal favorites were the White Pearl (sweet white), Summertime (semi-sweet red), and Late Harvest Muscat, which smelled and went down like honey- perfect paring with fruit according to Angelo's wife. Definitely ordering a few bottles when I get back to the states!
Coming up is a trip to an amusement park called Dreamworld, and then it's off to my six-day excursion in Tasmania. I'm sure there'll be lots to share!
Cheers!
Monday, February 26, 2007
Friday, February 16, 2007
Fun in Sydney!
So, think San Francisco minus all the steep hills. Sydney is an amazing city- clean, lots to do, beautiful architecture and the hustle bustle of a metropolis paired with the warm charm of a small suburb. Unlike New York, everyone was helpful and friendly, always willing to point us in the right direction. (Of course, that has nothing to do with the fact that we were twelve adorable American girls.)
So, after the hour plane ride and checking into our hostel, we slipped into our dresses and headed to the harbor for our sunset dinner cruise, which offered gourmet food, stunning views of the opera house and unlimited champagne and chardonnay. A winning combination! The next day, we hit the city for some serious sightseeing. We started out at the Olympic Park where the 2000 Olympics were held. The energy of the games is still in the air. I stood under the cauldron where the torch was lit, walked through the aquatic center and albeit the competition track was closed, Kira and I snuck onto the warm-up track to snap a couple quick pics. Then it was off to marvel at the 360 degree view of the city from Sydney Tower, where I took a Ferris Beuller picture- forehead against the glass looking down over all the buildings. We then hit the Sydney Aquarium, which has an incredible sharks and rays exhibit, complete with underwater glass tunnels! From there, we headed over to the kick-off of Chinese New year where I ate an array of Chinese appetizers, including dim sum, satay chicken and skewered octopus. The next morning after breakfast at Darling Harbor, all twelve girls met up at the opera house for "The Wedding of Figaro." However, due to a mix up in booking, we had tickets for March 12th instead of February 8th. After pleading with the ticket office to no avail, we headed our separate ways to make the most of the day before catching our evening flight back to Brisbane. A half mile away from the opera house we got a call informing us that not only were we able to get in, we had premium seats in the second row for no extra charge, tickets worth $250- quite a step-up from our $55, partial view original booking! Dress shoes in hand and feet burning, we sprinted through the harbor market place back to the opera house for our show that started in ten minutes. We were twelve ecstatic (sweaty) girls. To be honest, I thought of going to the opera as more a duty than anything else. You're in Sydney... Go! But, to my surprise I enjoyed it thoroughly. Without the subtitles however, I may have been singing a different tune. (No pun intended.) The 3 1/2 hours flew by! The sets incredible, the singing phenomenal, and the orchestra breath-taking. Yet another "once in a lifetime."
And, that's Sydney. If you have the chance to go, I would highly recommend it! But, call me first, so I can tag along.
Wednesday, February 14, 2007
Some New Photos
Hi guys!
I've uploaded a couple new albums for your viewing pleasure. Pictures from my weekend in Bundaberg and Fraser Island are now up as well as the weekend last month that I spent in Noosa, which has been my favorite beach spot thus far. Enjoy!
I've uploaded a couple new albums for your viewing pleasure. Pictures from my weekend in Bundaberg and Fraser Island are now up as well as the weekend last month that I spent in Noosa, which has been my favorite beach spot thus far. Enjoy!
Tuesday, February 6, 2007
Bundaberg and Fraser Island
Well, just finished midterms and tomorrow morning I'm off to Sydney with twelve girls from my program! Woohoo! But first, I wanted to tell you all a bit about my escapades last weekend. (Pictures to come.)
Our entire group of forty-five traveled together for the fun-stuffed weekend. We left Thursday morning and drove to the Bundaberg Rum Distillery, which is the number one spirit manufacturer in Australia. We toured the facility, learning all the way from molasses purification to bottling. My favorite was the molasses barn filled with ten solid feet of molasses, which you could view from walkways above. To end our time there we were given two complimentary drinks. I chose to start with the "Dark and Stormy," which is ginger beer (ale to us Yanks) and Bundaberg rum conveniently paired in one bottle for my enjoyment. My second drink of choice was the liqueur. Oh, so yummy.
From there we were off to the Mos Repos Turtle Hatchery. Once the sun went down we were given an introduction into the endangered species of turtles that lay their eggs on the beaches there. After the riveting slide show, we were led to the moonlit beach to embark on a search for a female turtle emerging from the water to lay her eggs in the dunes. The wind was whipping my hair all around and rain drops began to fall. It was so exciting. We received a call from one of the rangers down the beach. Upon arriving we could talk but not be seen by the turtle or else she would cease laying and return to the sea. This was a difficult task with such a large group! By dim flashlight we watched in awe as the mother laid her eggs and meticulously buried them in the sand. Once her duty was done we followed her back to the sea and watched as she disappeared. It was amazing to witness! And it gets better. Her eggs weren't buried far enough up on the dunes, so the ranger dug up the nest and we were each allowed to transplant two eggs to the new nest farther up. I am blown away at how hands on Australians are with such delicate situations. In the states tourists like us would never have even been permitted on such a beach. Yet another once in a lifetime experience! Great pictures to come!!
The next morning we headed down to Fraser Island, the largest sand island in the world. Our mode of trasportation for the weekend was, no joke, a four-wheeling, off-roading charter bus driven by a typically wild Aussie. What an adventure! Although we were restricted from entering the treacherous surf and shark-infested ocean, we did get some time for some water-wading. We drove through the rain forest to Lake McKenzie, with water so pure they prohibit it's swimmer's from wearing sunscreen in it! I took a private airplane ride over the island admiring the dense flora, rolling sand dunes and pristine lakes. One of my favorite parts of the weekend was our tour through the rain forest, where we wandered through trees and palms adorned with hanging vines (which Kira and I did pole vault swings from!) and drank from the "silent stream" flowing with water that's been purified for up to 300 years. Mmm, so good. Being a water lover, I was in heaven. Back at our resort, there was a small bar which we dominated on kareoke night. For once on the trip I enjoyed being an obnoxious American. Kira and I debuted "I Love Rock and Roll" by Joan Jett and were a big hit! And of course we all belted out "Born In the USA." It was a great time! It's beautiful what a little alcohol does for a group. On our last day we hiked over sand dunes (I felt as though I were in "The Three Amigos," it was so hot.) to Lake Wabby, where we caught some rays before heading home to Brizzy.
So, that's that. And now I'm off to another adventure. I know, it's tough keeping up. But, that's what my blog is for. Stay tuned for details from Sydney.
Our entire group of forty-five traveled together for the fun-stuffed weekend. We left Thursday morning and drove to the Bundaberg Rum Distillery, which is the number one spirit manufacturer in Australia. We toured the facility, learning all the way from molasses purification to bottling. My favorite was the molasses barn filled with ten solid feet of molasses, which you could view from walkways above. To end our time there we were given two complimentary drinks. I chose to start with the "Dark and Stormy," which is ginger beer (ale to us Yanks) and Bundaberg rum conveniently paired in one bottle for my enjoyment. My second drink of choice was the liqueur. Oh, so yummy.
From there we were off to the Mos Repos Turtle Hatchery. Once the sun went down we were given an introduction into the endangered species of turtles that lay their eggs on the beaches there. After the riveting slide show, we were led to the moonlit beach to embark on a search for a female turtle emerging from the water to lay her eggs in the dunes. The wind was whipping my hair all around and rain drops began to fall. It was so exciting. We received a call from one of the rangers down the beach. Upon arriving we could talk but not be seen by the turtle or else she would cease laying and return to the sea. This was a difficult task with such a large group! By dim flashlight we watched in awe as the mother laid her eggs and meticulously buried them in the sand. Once her duty was done we followed her back to the sea and watched as she disappeared. It was amazing to witness! And it gets better. Her eggs weren't buried far enough up on the dunes, so the ranger dug up the nest and we were each allowed to transplant two eggs to the new nest farther up. I am blown away at how hands on Australians are with such delicate situations. In the states tourists like us would never have even been permitted on such a beach. Yet another once in a lifetime experience! Great pictures to come!!
The next morning we headed down to Fraser Island, the largest sand island in the world. Our mode of trasportation for the weekend was, no joke, a four-wheeling, off-roading charter bus driven by a typically wild Aussie. What an adventure! Although we were restricted from entering the treacherous surf and shark-infested ocean, we did get some time for some water-wading. We drove through the rain forest to Lake McKenzie, with water so pure they prohibit it's swimmer's from wearing sunscreen in it! I took a private airplane ride over the island admiring the dense flora, rolling sand dunes and pristine lakes. One of my favorite parts of the weekend was our tour through the rain forest, where we wandered through trees and palms adorned with hanging vines (which Kira and I did pole vault swings from!) and drank from the "silent stream" flowing with water that's been purified for up to 300 years. Mmm, so good. Being a water lover, I was in heaven. Back at our resort, there was a small bar which we dominated on kareoke night. For once on the trip I enjoyed being an obnoxious American. Kira and I debuted "I Love Rock and Roll" by Joan Jett and were a big hit! And of course we all belted out "Born In the USA." It was a great time! It's beautiful what a little alcohol does for a group. On our last day we hiked over sand dunes (I felt as though I were in "The Three Amigos," it was so hot.) to Lake Wabby, where we caught some rays before heading home to Brizzy.
So, that's that. And now I'm off to another adventure. I know, it's tough keeping up. But, that's what my blog is for. Stay tuned for details from Sydney.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)