On the Road, Again! (no campervan this time)

After a much needed month and a half of staying put in Melbourne, we have set out on the road again - this time with just a tent to shelter us at the end of the day. Melbourne has been a comforting home away from home for us, thanks in large part to the hospitality of Adam's aunts. It's a place that will always feel familiar. But now it's time to experience the unfamiliar again, as we head up the eastern coast. The tentative plan, with welcome room for change, is to make our way as far north as Cape Tribulation, then head in to the outback for something truly unique, and ultimately come full circle in Adelaide and take the Great Ocean Road back to Melbourne.

Here we go!

Beautiful last day in Melbourne

Last night we stayed on Phillip Island, and this morning treated ourselves to some amazing views of cliffs and coastline on the Cape Woolamai hike, with pinnacles of red, red rock that plunge into the sea and green, green grass that clings to it.

Carlton vs. Essendon

Last night we went to our first "footy" game and picked the non-drug scandaled team to root for - go Carlton Blues! They lost. But it was a really close match (Essendon scored the winning goal with just 30 seconds left) and a really fun introduction to Australian rules football, which is very different than gridiron. It is honestly a bizarre hybrid of rugby, soccer, and basketball (they have to bounce the ball every 15 yards!). Given that there are 3 goals, we'd like to say there's even a little Quidditch in there.

Post-game hustle across the William Barak Bridge

In other adventure news, we just bought a car! It's a green Honda CRV that is manual (Kelly's driving lessons will commence upon return from the U.S.), fairly large, and perfect for off-roading and camping. A huge next chapter in the travel log is now staged to begin mid-September, as we attempt to see as much of Australia as we possibly can. Here we go!

Sydney and Some Very Special People

One of Adam's oldest family friends, Noel and his lovely wife Jen, welcomed us into their home during our trip to Sydney. Our stay at their lakeside retreat an hour north of the city was arguably the most comfortable we have been in the last 2 months, and was the perfect launch pad to explore Sydney. In the morning we would take the train through hills and coves to Circular Quay station, located on the wharf next to the Opera House, and at night Noel would recall to us fascinating personal anecdotes of growing up in India and summers spent in the Himalayas, his years of competing in long jump, and the afternoon he spent with Muhammad Ali in his Michigan home (complete with pictures and newspaper clippings!). His has been a remarkable life, and it was a treat to hear about it at the end of every day.

Adam and Noel near his Buff Point home, an hour north of Sydney 

We're clearly not the focal point of this picture

We went to our first opera and snuck an inside picture! 

Sydney Harbor Bridge from the twilight ferry to Manly Beach

         

         Fulfilled goal of meeting a koala

Just chillin' on the side of the road

A day at Bondi Beach!

 

 

Goodbye NZ, Hello Oz!

Last week we said a sad farewell to beautiful New Zealand, but an equally excited hello to our new home base: AUSTRALIA. After a couple days of recuperating on the couch (and with nice showers, hot water, easily accessible food, etc. - luxuries after a month in the camper van!), we spent the weekend exploring Melbourne and its Mornington Peninsula.

Wednesday we road trip to Sydney!

Melbourne from our new neighborhood

Glacier Overload!!

In the span of 3 days we saw 3 glaciers. It's probably hard to appreciate the sheer massiveness of these rivers of ice through pictures, since with each one we decided to get close, then closer, to finally on top of to truly appreciate them.

Even so! Here are some pictures of our days with glaciers... They really are quite big.

Rob Roy Glacier - Mt. Aspiring National Park

Contemplating the massiveness

Franz Josef Glacier - Westland National Park

Franz Josef Alpine Village

A little closer view from the top of the valley

Fox Glacier - Westland National Park 

On Fox Glacier!

In Fox Glacier!

Lake Tekapo

From one unrealistic lakefront to another, we stayed in Lake Tekapo after an unexpected 3-day stint in Wanaka (it was too pretty to leave, basically). But instead of leaving beauty behind, it seemed to follow us to this similarly unreal, should-be-a-painting scenic waterside campsite.

The mountains on the far shore trail west to Mount Cook and its village only miles away -
nature's sign that our New Zealand adventure is winding down, and we are coming full circle.

It's hard to see in these pictures, but the lake is a milky turquoise color. Never seen anything like it.

      

Oh, Just More Mountains

The view from our Lake Wanaka campsite is insane. Favorite place we have planted ourselves so far.

Lakeside campsite views of Mt. Aspiring National Park

View from Iron Mountain summit hike

Many, Many Mountains

Prior to boarding our Auckland-bound plane, we had a few worries about our decision to visit New Zealand in the winter. But being here in the colder climate has, first of all, been fine weather-wise (it has been really good to us) and has ultimately given us these incredibly scenic views of the landscape that couldn't be seen the same in the summer. The rivers are fuller, the trees and grass seem more lush, and... THE SNOWY MOUNTAINS. Mountains make up two-thirds of New Zealand's South Island, and driving around it is instantly easy to believe - there are amazing alpine views in every direction, basically no matter where you are. And seeing these mountains covered in snow, and shrouded in mist or against a clear blue or sunset sky - that alone makes our winter adventure completely worth it.

Eyre Mountains

Humboldt Mountains 

Not sure but they are pretty... and that's part of Queenstown in the foreground 

Southern Alps (aka the Misty Mountains) 

The Remarkables from Queenstown's waterfront

Thomson Mountains from Mavora Lake campsite

Milford Sound

Unfortunately we visited Milford Sound on a particularly misty day but still managed to appreciate its unique beauty. The road to Milford is a very special drive, with literally hundreds of waterfalls plummeting from towering mountains right beside the car. There are also hundreds of Kea parrots - the most curious, fearless bird ever. They swarmed the camper van anytime we stopped which was a bit alarming but ultimately harmless.

Milford Sound & Mitre Peak

One new Kea parrot friend

Can you see all the waterfalls thru the mist?

Mount Cook Village

We went to sleep with this view...

....and woke up to this view.

Mount Cook