http://www.travelblog.org/Bloggers/timandmeg/ Travel adventures in journals and photos from timandmeg en-us Thu, 07 Jan 2010 15:58:32 +0000 Thu, 07 Jan 2010 15:58:32 +0000 So we made it to Queenstown even after our flight was cancelled due to fog. We took a 7 hour bus ride to get here but it was worth it This town is very similar to the ski towns in Colorado all New Zealand schools are off and top that with the Australia versus New Zealand rugby game tonight Much going on here. We are about to meet our friends we met on the bus to view the game. Let's just say http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/New-Zealand/South-Island/Queenstown/blog-419643.html We were sad to leave Australia but entered the beautiful landscape of New Zealand. The customs guy was much nicer here We set off in our rented 4WD vehicle up the mountain to stay at a beautiful golf resort you wonder who booked this. Terrace Downs was a beautiful resort near Methven which a ski town at the base of Mt. Hutt. We golfed in four degree C drizzle you don't need complicated for http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/New-Zealand/South-Island/Christchurch/blog-419349.html Melbourne is a great place to explore with lots of alleyways that wind through the city's grid. Also it's cold here and actually feels like winter We have taken a couple of day trips one to see the Penguin Parade on Phillips Island a nightly ritual where a thousand penguins return from the ocean and waddle into burroughs and a second tour to go wine tasting in Yarra Valley mmmmmm. We were http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/Australia/Victoria/Melbourne/blog-418064.html We arrived this morning to 45 mph winds in Melbourne We stepped off the plane and immediately wondered if we were back in Chicago. We didn't mind the wind because it cleared the air after Tim had to sit next to Smelly Jim for an hour on the plane. The cold winds have not stopped us from roaming around downtown and trying to find live music for tonight. Melbourne is an extremely artistic town wi http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/Australia/Victoria/Melbourne/City-Centre/blog-417321.html So Sydney has proven to be a HUGE city. We giggled when they said that it is the biggest city in Australia boasting over 4 million people. But seriously there is so much to see here. We went to the Opera House yesterday. The tour was pricey but well worth it. We had an Angelica Houston lookalike tour guide who knew everything about the place including the fact that Pres Bush had an entourage o http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/Australia/New-South-Wales/Sydney/Sydney-Harbour/blog-416397.html 6709Back in Brisbane after our adventure along the coast. We drove from Gladstone to Airlie Beach back down to Hervey Bay and now back to Brisbane this morning. A lot of driving but worth it as we are seeing some great places At Airlie Beach we went out on a sail boat daytrip that took us to Luncheon Bay where we snorkeled at the Great Barrier Reef. It was really spectacular. Arlie Beach http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/Australia/Queensland/Brisbane/blog-415660.html Greetings from across the globe We landed safe and sound at dawn this morning after a 14 hour flight to brisbane. I think it is Wed July 1st which means we leapfrogged Tuesday. We spent the day driving up inland of the coast toward the Great Barrier Reef. Very beautiful countyside with brilliant sunshine and hills and forest. It's hot here Winter my foot. We have stopped for the night i http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/Australia/Queensland/Gladstone/blog-413981.html We're leaving tonight We are mostly packed minus a few last minute things. It's hard to feel completely ready when you know that you might have missed something. Oh well They have Targets in Australia right We'll post more when we get there http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/California/Carlsbad/blog-413396.html Now that Megan is off school she has more time to worry about whether or not we are ready for this trip. We are currently formalizing plans but not too many We want some of it to be random. That's part of the fun of traveling. What to take Three weeks is hard to plan for. Do we take three weeks of clothes or maybe do laundry on the trip. Then again doing laundry isn't exactly a vacation is http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/California/Carlsbad/blog-408193.html