Shark Bay is huge – the UNESCO World Heritage listed site is 1500km / 930miles long and is a pristine Australian paradise of turquoise lagoons, white sand beaches, towering cliffs and very little development. This gives it that wonderful Australian wilderness vibe and also the opportunity to see some of the wildlife including the Kangaroos, Eagles, Bilbies (Rabbit-Bandicoots) and, the highlight for most people’s trip, the dolphins that come for morning feeding in the beach of Monkey Mia. A must-stop if driving the West Coast
Top tip – remember not to put any sunscreen on your legs as it irritates the dolphins eyes. You won’t need the sunscreen anyway as its early in the morning
If Karijini wasn’t in such a remote part of Australia it would be firmly on the top list of National Parks across the country. As it is though, the remote nature of the park means that there are far fewer visitors than many of the other parks and, combined with the breathtaking gorges and hidden waterfalls, gives you an otherworldly feeling of descending to the centre of the earth . . . or at least to the next beautiful rock pool area. Very much worth the 3-4 hour drive inland from the more traditional sites of Western Australia
Top tip – be sure to camp, or at least stay overnight. The stars are immense because of the lack of light pollution this far inland
It’s a big rock in the middle of the desert. Famous, for sure, but just a big rock . . . right? This is the general view of many people who haven’t visited Uluru (Ayers Rock) before. In reality, the experience offers so much more. Why? Well:
- Firstly, the rock itself is just huge – 3.6km / 2.2miles long, rising 348m / 1140ft up, and, with two-thirds of the rock still lying beneath the sand, it is the largest single monolith in the world. So, simply staring at it from close or afar is an experience you won’t forget in a hurry
- Secondly, the rock gives the mesmerising impression of changing colours through the day from red to orange to purple, and the changes are surprisingly dramatic – enough to make you gasp looking back at your photos, especially for sunrise and sunset
- Thirdly, the site is not only about Uluru (Ayers Rock). 35km / 22miles from Uluru are Kata Tjuta (the Olgas) – domed rocks that are actually taller than Uluru, typically a bit less busy and no less impressive
- Finally, so much of the trip is about being in the red centre of Australia – the red sand, big skies, Aboriginal culture, sapping heat and general feeling of adventure. A great feeling
Overall, a superb experience and a truly Australian one
Only one tip – I wish I’d cycled around Uluru. It’s only around 15km / 9miles all the way round, including stops right next to the rock itself. Would really add to the “fun factor”
Melbourne is consistently voted one of the most liveable cities in the world based on its arts scene, access to outstanding restaurants, outdoor lifestyle and, well, lack of many of the usual frustrations other large cities have. But more than anything, it’s the vibe of the place that makes it stand out, especially in comparison with its natural rival Sydney. Whilst Sydney has the big ticket world famous items like the Harbour Bridge and Opera House, Melbourne is more about the street cafes, chilled out lifestyle and sports scene. So, to get the most out this wonderful city, its best to focus on these things for a couple of days
Its years since I lived in Melbourne, ,which also means there are fewer photos to share! But my 5 biggest tips for 2 days:
- #1 Sports – see if you can combine your visit with one of the major sporting events taking place as Melbourne really comes to life when these are in town. Best ones are the Australian Tennis Open (January), the Melbourne Cup horse racing (March), Australian Formula 1 Grand Prix (usually March) and the Australian Rules Football at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) throughout the year. Even if not a sports fan its a must
- #2 Cafe culture – Melbourne is often called the most European of Australia’s cities and a large part of this comes from the street cafe culture. The best places are always changing, but I’d suggest heading into Fitzroy as it has the added benefit of bring next to the UNESCO World Heritage listed Royal Exhibition Building and Carlton Gardens nearby. Another option is Richmond, which can tie in nicely with a the end of a walk along the Yarra River and visiting the MCG
- #3 Walk along the Yarra River – the city centre of Melbourne is actually quite beautiful and nothing brings it to life more than the walk along the river. Start at Crowne Casino on the South Bank with the skyscrapers surrounding you and then walk east past the magnificent Flinders Street Station, Federation Square and onto the lovely gardens of Queen Victoria Gardens and Kings Domain. From there walk over the Swan Street Bridge through Melbourne Park and finish at the MCG
- #4 Chill out in St Kilda – whilst Melbourne may not have the wow beaches of Sydney, St Kilda is far cooler. Give yourself an afternoon to chill by the beach and enjoy the neighbourhood
- #5 Be prepared for extreme temperatures – Melbourne is often highlighted as a city that can have 4 seasons in a day. Famous for its 40 Celsius / 104 Fahrenheit days of blistering heat, it can also be grey and rainy shortly after and, one the first day I arrived, it snowed
- Extra tip – give yourself a day trip to the Great Ocean Road, one of Australia’s most famous driving routes, with its gorgeous coastline, rainforests with koalas housed in the trees, pretty seaside towns, and the eye catching 12 Apostles. Only a 3 hours drive from Melbourne, part of which is taken up by the gorgeous drive along the coastline itself
