TD China Globe Trekkers

Australia Experience – Part 3/3

Nick Xie

02/06/2009

Mission

Share photos, stories and experiences What to see Where to stay How to have fun (not go with Chinese tours)

Inspire enthusiasm about our globe Gain a world view Appreciate cultural differences Take initiatives (one day) to see the world

Backpacking Explained

How Backpack on your shoulder Money/credit card/passport in your pockets Use credit card whenever you can (cash is king!!) Stay in highly rated hostels

What to bring 1 credit card Cash Camera Netbook or iTouch/iPhone (if you like to surf internet) Battery-powered alarm clock Travel-sized daily necessities (toothbrush, etc) Medicine (cold, cough, anti-itching creams, etc) Bath towels 1/3 to ½ of cloth needed for trip (throw-away socks)

Research

GoogleTripAdvisorLonely PlanetAsk the hostel receptionistsDon’t use Chinese sites (Ctrip, etc)

Only tell you where Chinese tourist group go

Australia Itinerary Overview

Sydney – 1.5 days City + beach Blue mountain + Jenolan Caves

Uluru – 2 days Ayers rock Kata Tjuta King Canyon

Cairns – 2 days Kuranda Scenic railway + skyrail Great Barrier Reef + scuba diving

Melbourne – 1.5 days Philips island penguin tour

Cairns and Great Barrier Reef

Fly from Uluru to Cairns Nice small beach town (little ppl, many tourists) Esplanade has a open public swimming pool next to ocean Good seafood, humid, not very hot Scuba diving

Put the Gear On

Easy, painless, you don’t even need to know how to swim Professional divers will take you through it Don’t bother with snorkeling, scuba diving is easier and see more fishes

Scuba Diving in Great Barrier Reef

Do as many times as they allow you to Gets better the more you do coral

Scuba Diving (cont.)

Up close and personal with the fishes

Scuba Diving (cont.)

Nemo fish

Scuba Diving (cont.)

Giant clams

Melbourne

No need to see the city (nothing exciting) Stay at “Cooee in St. Kilda”, on your way there on tram 3 you see all major sightseeing places Flinders station Go see penguins or 12 apostles

Penguin Tour

See kangaroo, emu, wombat, and koala along the way Wombat is nocturnal, and it is not legal to touch koala

Penguin Tour

Only specie of penguin not living in the cold Color evolved to dark blue to match ocean Only one colony left in Australia

Melbourne Ocean

Beautiful ocean view Do 12 apostles if you can (need one day)

Melbourne Ocean (cont.)

Unpolluted waters are beautiful

Melbourne Ocean (cont.)

Check out the seal (and the water)