My journey to Australia was a big one. I left off in Uluru and now we continue to Alice Springs.
(Don’t know what I’m talking about? Check my previous post.)
I only did a quick 2 nights in Alice Springs. I wasn’t sure what I was doing there, I just knew I was supposed to go.
For those of you who have never been, it’s a very small town/city. It’s very different than anything I’ve ever experienced. And I found something to do, visit the Alice Springs Reptile Centre!

I was really excited about this. I have a natural affinity for lizards. I don’t know what it is, I just know that when I see them, I want to hold them, give ’em a kiss and be in their presence for hours. Same is true when the geckos enter my home. I get excited like I have a pet and want to look after them. (I haven’t felt that with the crocs and gators though.) ????
Anyway, the Reptile Centre also had snakes, which I’m not as fond of. But, there was a ‘holding’ session while I was there, so I thought I might get over my fear and hold one. And I lived to tell about it, so I guess it’s all good.

Here are some pictures of my wonderful visit!

Adelaide

I flew into Adelaide and knew I had something to accomplish there. There was no way I was going to leave Australia without having held a Koala or see a Kangaroo. The Gorge Wildlife Park in Cudlee Creek was on my to do list. And, all my dreams came true there! I held a Koala, fed a bunch of Kangaroos and Wallabies, I had a lovely ‘conversation’ with a black leopard, and met so many lovely birds. I was in animal heaven!

The Great Ocean Road

I flew back into Melbourne, though let me tell you, I really wanted to drive. I heard that the Great Ocean Road was worth the drive from Adelaide to Melbourne or the other way. I was too nervous to drive on the left, so I flew back and scheduled a 1-day tour that stopped at a few of the known highlights. So here’s what I saw!

Thank goodness it was a beautiful day and not too hot. It was adventurous to take this on in one day. I highly recommend taking a leisurely drive over a few days if you have the time, and really soak up all the beauty that surrounds the coastline.

Back to Melbourne

I had a few days left in Melbourne after and I took one day to walk all over the city and get lost, and the last two to relax.

Australia was amazing.
In total, I took 8 intra-country flights. I flew on both Virgin Australia & Qantas and had very good experiences.

What I loved about Australia:
1. The people. Everyone was friendly, helpful, kind, considerate, and approachable. Even when one flight was grounded for over an hour, everyone was chill, relaxed and easy going.
2. Health & Well-Being. A healthy lifestyle including eating organic, using natural ingredients and maintaining physical fitness seems to be mainstream & the norm in Australia. (Compared to the US, where it feels like we still have to fight to get healthy foods onto the store shelves.)
3. Environmentalism. As with Health & Well-Being, there is a focus on doing their part to save the Earth. All the electrical outlets have switches to turn on & off. So, even if you leave your appliance plugged in, and you’re not using it, you can turn off the current. Brilliant. And, the toilet flush has two options. One for less waste (less water) & one for more waste (more water), but the amount of water used is still on the conservative side.

Thank You Australia!

Overall, I have to thank Australia. I learned so much about commitment, action, generosity, patience & trust. One month was perfect for a taste, and I’ll definitely be back as there’s much more to explore in the north & west.
A lot of people have asked me which part was my favorite or which city did I enjoy most? And I have to say that each city, each experience had great moments that I’m unable to compare to the others. I’m just grateful that I committed to taking this travel, marking a new start for a New Year by fulfilling a few more dreams.

Until next time, thanks for reading and Happy Travels!