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Published: June 24th 2010
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We took an overnight bus from Brisbane to Sydney, eating up the miles along the Gold Coast over a long 16 hour journey. The trip meant that we missed out a few famous places, like Byron Bay, but with the weather still poor the beaches held little allure. Plus, we’d arranged for a press loan from Volkswagen Sydney in exchange for writing a camping feature in Australia (thanks to John Rawlings with your help sorting that one out).
With the loan of a Caravelle sorted, we only spent one day saying hi to Lindsay before getting out of Sydney and heading inland to explore the Gold Coast hinterland. Our first stop was the Blue Mountains which, due to a vapour released by the multitudinous eucalyptus trees, have a blue hue when viewed from a distance. They’re pretty amazing, looking like you’d expect Aussie landscape to look. You know, enormous and deserted. We viewed them from an unassuming little town called Katoomba, where there’s stunning landscape and little else.
The highlight of the town is a very individual cafe called, Common Ground, which provides a pinch of originality among the cookie-cut commercial strip malls that comprise the rest of the
place. The building is largely wood, with uniquely carved wooden tables. We liked it so much that we returned the next day, only then realising what it was that had seemed a little odd the night before. All the waiters looked kind of the same with short, clipped pony-tails and slightly scraggy beards. And the pallid waitresses and cooks were also all dressed identically. Some literature by the bar revealed that these guys are a Christian group who live like those mentioned in the book of something or other. I want to say Revelations, but my Bible knowledge isn’t quite what my Nan would like it to be. They live in some sort of collective, where they share all the wealth and build everything themselves too. Well, a few of our dollars went into the collective pot and providing you’re not especially impressionable, I thoroughly recommend the place.
Anyway, from here we went onto the Hunter Valley. With the cafe’s noble piety still knocking around our heads, we decided it was best to aim the van for one of the world’s most-famous wine regions. And a good decision it was too. The scenery in the Hunter is gorgeous, and
when there we were blessed with sunshine. Even enough to sit by the campsite pool for an afternoon. There are hundreds of vineyards n the valley, so we spent a day driving between a few, where you get a sample session at each. It’s a nice way to spend the day, providing you decide who’s unluckily enough to be Des for the day.
At our last vineyard of the day, Brokenwood I think it was called, the girl doling out the samples accidentally spazzed a splash of wine all over my new white shirt. Which was a bit of a shitter. She was lovely about it, giving us a couple of complimentaries and even taking my shirt home to wash! It also meant I looked like the ultimate redneck to a group who came in for a sophisticated sampling only to find me topless at the bar, necking a drop of plumy Cab Sav.
With the van loaded with wine we headed back to Sydney to stay with Lindsay for a few days. Kindly, she put us up in her cool little townhouse, based in Surrey Hills, within striking distance of downtown. Linds showed us around the city,
which has a unique flavour. I kind of knew it would be laid-back, but hadn’t realised it was quite so surfy. But with a string of stunning surf beaches along the eastern limits, you can’t blame the locals for winding the partying down early to make it out in the sea first. Aside from having great meals and seeing the sights, we were there for Anzac Day, which commemorates Australian and New Zealand soldiers. After the dawn service everyone piles into the pubs to get gazeboed and play a game called ‘two-up’. It’s gambling basically, and the one day where you’re allowed to gamble in the pubs. An MC directs the coin-toss and everyone around the pub bets against each other. It’s pretty simple and generates a raucous, and surprisingly un-punchy, atmosphere.
Of Sydney’s beaches Em and I loved Bronte beach, which is next to the famous Bondi. It has huge surf waves that you can play in even if, like us, you can’t surf. We spent about an hour getting battered by the powerful surf, which is incredibly strong.
After a few days with Linds it was time for the girls to say an emotional farewell and
time for us to fly onto New Zealand. Australia was great to see, we were just a little disappointed we didn’t get to see it basking in its usual dose of strong sunshine.
Next up, New Zealand. I’m catching up with the blog now, sorry it’s still slow progress. But trust me, New Zealand’s worth waiting for.
I’m off to celebrate England gloriously scraping through their group. We still believe and God save the Queen.
Love you, bye!
x
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