Category Archives: Australia

Melbourne has something for everyone

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Museums, penguins, five-star restaurants, koalas, sports aplenty, a vibrant arts scene — Australia’s second-largest city has got it going on! The coastal capital of Southeastern Australia’s state of Victoria, Melbourne is home to 21 different wine regions with more than 699 wineries, 380 cellar doors and 160 craft breweries. It’s the birthplace of Magic coffee, although many of us believe coffee is always magic in the morning. So when you are done with your visits to the barrier reef and the rain forest, spend some time in Melbourne.

GetAway Travel travel advisors are ready to assist you in planning a trip to Australia and, perhaps Tasmania?

From gold rush to goal rush

Settlers from Tasmania established Melbourne in the mid 1830s and the city experienced a major growth spurt in the 1850s during the gold rush. If you want to have the “gold rush experience,” take a 90-minute trip from Melbourne to Sovereign Hill.

Sovereign Hill

At this hands-on outdoor museum set up like a mining town, you can pan for gold, take an underground mine tour and watch gold pouring.

By the late 1800s, Melbourne was one of the world’s largest and wealthiest urban areas. Many of the gothic-style buildings still standing were built during this time.

Flinders Street Station

It became the temporary capital of Australia in 1901, but reverted back to just the capital of Victoria in 1927 when Parliament moved to Canberra.

Melbourne Cup

It is the sports capital of Australia. It has hosted numerous major world sports including the Australian Open, Formula 1, Australian Grand Prix, Melbourne Cup, Boxing Day Test and AFI Grand Final.

Even if you aren’t a “sports person,” don’t pass up a chance to see the Melbourne Cricket Ground or as it is known in Melbourne, “the G.” This enormous stadium is the largest stadium in the Southern Hemisphere, the second largest cricket stadium in the world and the 11th largest stadium in the world. Seating capacity is 100,000.

Melbourne Cricket Ground Stadium

It has been the home of Australian football since 1859, was the birthplace of Test cricket in 1877 and one-day international cricket in 1971. The Australian Sports Museum is just outside gate 3.

Interactive exhibits celebrate the diverse sporting culture of the country including the Summer and Winter Olympics, tennis, rugby and soccer. The Australian Racing Museum is inside the Sports Museum.

No shortage of great sites to visit

 The Old Melbourne Goal opened in 1842 and executed 133 of what were considered some of the country’s most infamous criminals. The old jail was open for 80 years and there are creepy, fascinating displays in the cells about the people who were locked up there and what jail life was like. For extra “creepy” value, take the night tour.

State Library Victoria

One of the most beautiful buildings in the city is the State Library of Victoria. It has soaring domed ceilings, a fabulous reading room and the view of the interior from the sixth floor is amazing. Australia’s oldest public library and one of the first free libraries, there are dozens of exhibits including the world’s largest collection of chess-related materials and the Rennie Ellis photography exhibition has iconic photos of Melbourne life from the 70s and 80s including the punk scene, sporting events, protests and visiting celebrities.

Eureka Tower

The 88th floor of Eureka Tower is the highest observation deck in the Southern Hemisphere and there are awesome views in all directions. Feeling particularly adventurous? Try out the Edge, a transparent glass cube that travels on the outside of the building so you are suspended over Melbourne with nothing but glass beneath your feet.

Royal Exhibition Building

Speaking of amazing views, that’s also an option at the Royal Exhibition Building if you go onto the terrace off of the dome. The Exhibition building is one of the most historic buildings in the city and was the first building to get UNESCO World Heritage Status.This enormous building, the site of the country’s first parliament, was also used for the country’s first World Fair. During the fair it was packed with exhibits, exotic and innovative, from all over the world. At the fair, the US proudly displayed, chewing gum.

Now, the Royal Exhibition Collection consists of more than 5,000 historic objects, the ceiling paintings are lovely and the surrounding Carlton Gardens are beautiful.

St Patrick’s Cathedral, Melbourne

The Melbourne Museum has galleries and interactive exhibits focused on nature and the landscape of Victoria — from the rain forest to dinosaurs. Inside the museum is the Bunjilaka Aboriginal Culture Centre. Exhibits, performances and displays celebrate the achievements, culture and history of Victoria’s aboriginal people.

The Australian Centre for the Moving Image is dedicated to the history of movies and digital media.

Interior, Melbourne St Paul’s Cathedral

The city is home to two major cathedrals, St Paul’s and St. Patrick’s. St. Paul’s, an Anglican Church, was built in the 1880s. The neo-Gothic building has beautiful brickwork and the interior has a stunning patterned tile floor, banded stonework and tiled dado walls.

St. Patrick’s, a Catholic Church, constructed of bluestone and sandstone, was competed in 1939 when the spires were added to the chapel. Check out the gargoyle on the front ledge, walk the peaceful Pilgrim Path and check out the floor mosaics.

Penguins, koalas and shopping

Penguin Parade, Phillps Island

Take a 90-minute trip to Phillip Island and watch the penguin parade at dusk. We’re not talking a couple of birds taking a stroll — thousands of penguins come out of the sea and walk back to their nesting area. It’s a Parade with a capital “P.”

Little Blue Penguin

The Healesville Sanctuary, about an hour from Melbourne, is a zoo specializing in native Australian animals. You can see koalas, kangaroos, platypus, dingoes, wombats, emus and more. No, you can’t hold a koala. It is considered an endangered species that has high anxiety when it comes to human contact.

Mother and baby Koala

However, Moonlit Sanctuary Wildlife Conservation Park, near Melbourne, will let visitors touch and take selfies with a variety of animals including koalas. The sanctuary is home to more than 70 species including the cuddly quokkas, a short-tailed wallaby.

If all that sight-seeing makes you yearn for some relaxing shopping, Melbourne has you covered.

Seafarer’s Bridge – Melbourne

Queen Victoria Market is the largest open-air market in the Southern Hemisphere. Built in 1878, it has dozens and dozens of food stalls including the American Doughnut Kitchen and the Bratwurst Shop and Co.. There is every type of cuisine imaginable as well as hundreds of types of cheeses, patés, smoked fish, olives, homemade dips and toppings. There are lots of bakeries, too.  You can find all sorts of souvenirs and clothing here, too.

Queen Victoria Market

Speaking of food, there are a number of Lune Croissanterie locations in Melbourne. While “croissant” and “Australia” aren’t often paired in one sentence — don’t skip a chance to try one. The New York Times has dubbed these flaky creations which come in a variety of flavors “the world’s best.” Have one with “Magic” coffee, a special coffee order that is double strength expresso topped with steamed milk.

Melbourne Central Business District

The Melbourne Central Business District is home to lanes and arcades, often referred to as laneways. Here, an arcade is a narrow street with a glass canopy and shops, cafés, bars and awesome street art. The Royal Arcade is the oldest while the Block Arcade was designed to mimic a famous galleria in Milan. It has mosaic tiled floors, stained glass windows, skylights and wrought iron fixtures. Here you can find Haigh’s, the country’s original chocolatier.

 

Melbourne is calling, GetAway Travel can help you answer! We can be reached at:  (262) 538-2140, e-mail: sue@getaway.travel or paul@getaway.travel

 

 

 

 

On land or at sea: Amazing Australia

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The Land Down Under is the one of the only places in the world where two UNESCO World Heritage sites meet. It is home to the Great Barrier Reef as well as the Wet Tropics of Queensland, the oldest tropical rainforest on earth. If adventuring in two marvels of biodiversity are on your bucket list, the travel advisors at GetAway Travel are here for you! 

The Great Barrier Reef

 Queensland rainforest renowned for beauty 

 Wet Tropics of Queensland is 3,453 square miles of rainforest that is 80 million years older than the Amazon rainforest. It is one of the only places on earth where two World Heritage sites sit practically side-by-side. The Great Barrier Reef is visible from the rainforest. 

Rainforest in Queensland

The rainforest, renowned for its beauty and biodiversity, is home to 2,800 plant species and 380 of those are considered rare or threatened. There are 102 animal species that are also classified as rare or threatened. One-third of Australia’s mammals call the Wet Tropics home and of those, 13 can only be found in the rainforest. Forty percent of the country’s bird species, 58% of the butterfly species and 30% of Australia’s marsupial species are in the rainforest.  

Rainbow Lorikeet – Queensland

There are actually nine subregions in Wet Tropics with the regional star being the Daintree Rainforest. 

Curtis Falls, Queensland

The Daintree Rainforest covers the Northeast coast. It is criss-crossed by rivers and framed by the impressive Mossman Gorge. 

Skyrail Rainforest Cableway

Visitors can see the rainforest, including some of the more spectacular waterfalls, by taking the Kuranda Scenic Railway. Or, take the Skyrail Rainforest Cableway. It takes you across the rainforest from the Barron Gorge National Park. There are two stops, at Red Peak and Barron Falls. A viewing platform a short walk from the Barron Falls stop overlooks the gorge and spectacular falls. 

Barron falls as seen from the Kuranda railway

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Australian Bush Walking

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Throwback Thursday (This Blog, originally published in 2011 at an earlier version of our site – we think you’ll still enjoy)

Sounds innocent enough doesn’t it?  After all the word “walking” is in the name, how hard could it be!

 

Lemonthyme Lodge Tasmania

 

Well to say I was surprised would be an understatement.  You see it seems walking is really a complete misrepresentation of what one will be doing on a bush walk.  It might be better named as bush hiking, bush trekking, or even bush sweating because friends it is not a stroll in the park!

 

Who knew walking could be graded as easy, intermediate, hard and very hard?  To me walking has always been just putting one foot in front of the other to propel you forward?  In my mind a bush walk was nothing more than a stroll in nature.  That was until my 7K bush walk in Tasmania near Cradle Mountain.

 

During our visit to the Lemonthyme Lodge we were given a pamphlet entitled “Timeless Trails, Lasting Impressions”.  Sounds sort of romantic doesn’t it?  The lodge is a cute boutique property tucked away amongst temperate rain forest.  The accommodations sort of help the unknowing form that romantic getaway sort of vibe with 1 and 2 bedroom tree top cabins.  The place lulls you into nature and all it’s wonders!

 

 

So when the owner handed us the pamphlet describing the “walks” well we just knew we had to try one.  I believe his exact words were, “well there is a short trail behind the main lodge that will take you about 45minutes, but if you have time you should try to see the waterfalls.

Proof we made it to the waterfalls!

Now I don’t know what it is about the word waterfalls that sets so many of us into a state of euphoria but somehow it just does.  So of course we can MAKE the time to do the “walk” to the falls!!  I mean it’s only a 2 hour walk, we can do that in the morning before breakfast, right?

 

 

The little pamphlet has a map, we have a plan to get up at 630am and “walk” to the waterfalls, we are all set!  But, do we actually read the pamphlet?   Don’t be silly, it’s just a walk!

The lodge dining room

The alarm rings and we dress for our adventure.  Originally there were 4 of us going but I think the other 2 must have read the brochure because they did not emerge from their cabin so Paul and I set off together for our stroll, camera in the ready to capture the flora and fauna of the area.

 

The first part of the walk is on a 4WD track that was created when power was added to the lodge (this place is in the sticks folks) and hmmm, it’s all uphill.  Wait let me rephrase that…up mountain.  Yes, such a lovely gradual incline that we literally had to stop every 30 or 40 steps because our calves were screaming mortal combat type pain and our cardiorespiratory system was pleading for normalcy.

 

 

I believe it was during this part of the “walk” that Paul asked 6 or more times if we should turn around and go back but NO we wanted to see the waterfalls!  I will say it is at this point where we read a small portion of the pamphlet with these exact words, “This is a beautiful circuit and one on which you should consider taking a packed lunch”!  What the heck, I thought it was a 2 hour “walk”, we only brought 1 bottle of water!

After nearly a grueling hour we finally reached the little sign that pointed off the 4WD track into the BUSH. I believe this was the top of the mountain but I was too focused on breathing that I’m not really sure.

Must have been a misprint – no Champagne this way

 

 

Now if you’ve been following along, you’ll remember me saying we went uphill… (note tree tops on level with camera)

 

Well you guessed it, the little sign pointed downhill (again down mountain is more accurate) through the woods and when I say trail I’m using the word only because I don’t know the word to actually describe the next part of this “walk”.  There is just some trampled thicket where the steps are literally the tree roots and your only source of balance is to grab onto brush, tree limbs, or weeds.  The ground is wet (it’s a rain forest) so the going is slick and slow going.

 

But as we descend we begin to hear water..oh boy the excitement returns, we are going to see a water falls!  At the base of the mountain we find a stream which we cross over (yes, someone actually made a bridge out here!) and continue a short distance toward the roaring water.  We stop to observe as there are supposed to be platypus living in/around the water.  Nope, we don’t spot any, as a matter of fact we had not witnessed any living creature thus far on the walk!

 

A short (relative terms) distance away we come to the first for two water falls, Champagne Falls, aptly named because of the bubbles that are created as the water falls from the mountain top.  Oh, it is beautiful!

 

Our rapture ends in dread when we look at our watch and realize it has taken us nearly 2 hours to get to the first falls.  EEK if it takes us another 2 hours to “walk” out we’ll not only miss breakfast but be late for our bus departure at 10am!

We press onward.

 

Our goal is Bridal Falls…now this one is worth the “walk”.

 

It’s beautiful and if you are willing to hike up a small hill you can actually climb out onto a rock that is behind the falls (thus the name, Bridal as in bridal veil).  Climbing behind the falls is an add on walk, it does not advance you toward the finish but come on, you’ve “walked” this far you certainly aren’t going to miss it even if it is uphill!

 

We stop to take turns (risky so we did it separate incase one of us fell and the other had to go for help!) climbing up behind the waterfalls and taking pictures.

 

But now the dreaded return is upon us.  We are 2+ hours into a 2 hour “walk” and we are half way, hungry and our water is almost gone!

We begin the climb (oh I mean walk) up the mountain clinging once again to brush, tree limbs and weeds.  We stink, we are hungry, and we are exhausted.  I’m not sure which of those propelled us upwards but soon we found ourselves back on the 4WD trail and we began to descend.

 

Where my calves were burning on the way up, my knees were crying on the way down.  So much so that at one point I honestly considered laying down and rolling!  But the good news is down mountain is much faster than up mountain and we arrived back at the lodge 15 minutes before breakfast ended.  Needless to say we went to eat smelling like a good “walk”.

When the owner saw us he said, “I didn’t think you’d be able to do it”!  NOW he tells us!!  This “walk” was graded medium.  What the heck do you think Hard and Very Hard are like.  I’m sure I’ll never know!

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One thing for sure is, if/when you take a trip to Australia you have GOT to do a bushwalk.  This was actually one of two 7K bushwalks we took and loved them both.  As Aussie specialists, we can help you create an unforgettable vacation and even help you choose an appropriate bush walk!

Sue

 

Charm, beaches, mountains, great food and drink – Tasmania has it all!

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View from Mount Wellington, Hobart

Originally developed as a penal colony by the British, Tasmania is an island of breath-taking beauty that is slightly bigger than Switzerland. It boasts 19 national parks, pristine beaches, cliffs, caves, unique wildlife and 24 mountain ranges. Indeed, the wilderness area of Tasmania has been classified as an UNESCO World Heritage Site. It’s a great spot for outdoor enthusiasts, but it has immense historic charm and, is somewhat of a foodie paradise. Launceston, Tasmania is a UNESCO City of Gastronomy. There are less than 50 cities in the world carrying that distinction. If some charm, some stunning scenery and some great food appeals to you — GetAway Travel can get you to Tasmania. 

On a hike in Tasmania

 History, culture and critters 

 Hobart is the capital of Tasmania and where much of the population is located. It is the second deepest port in the world and it has a charming waterfront as well as a great food and wine scene with an emphasis on farm-to-table. 

Hobart waterfront

Port Arthur is a little more than an hour from Hobart. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, it was built in 1830 as a timber station and penal settlement. About 3,500 convicts were housed on the 250 acres. Historians contend Port Arthur, on Cameron Bay, is one of Australia’s most well-preserved landmarks.  

Port Arthur penal colony

There are more than 30 historic buildings on the site which can be reached by ferry, car, bus or taxi. You can even take an evening ghost tour along the coast.  

Tasmanian Devil at Bonorong

About a half hour from Hobart is the Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary. A 24-hour facility that treats and rehabs injured or orphaned wildlife with the intent of returning them to their natural habitats, it is a temporary home to some of the most unique wildlife in the world. At any given time it is a temporary home to wombats, Tasmanian devils, quoll (a cat-like marsupial with short legs and a white-spotted coat), koalas and emus. Stroll the grounds, which mimic the animals’ natural habitats. Get another taste of the outdoors at the Royal Tasmanian Botanical Gardens. It’s an outdoor oasis of multiple gardens spread over 34 acres. There’s a conservatory, lily pond and regional gardens including a subantarctic plant house that replicates the cold, wet conditions f the subantarctic islands. 

The Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery is a museum, art gallery and herbarium that holds artifacts that are important to the natural and cultural aspects of the country. The more than 100,000 items are the bulk of the State Collections of Tasmania. It has some fabulous displays on the history of seafaring and whaling and interactive child-friendly exhibits. 

Sue hiking at Lemonthyme lodge, Tasmania

The Museum of New and Old Art or MONA, looks like it would be just one floor, but there are three more levels underground. It was started as a small museum of antiquities by David Walsh. Now, in addition to the collections, there are art exhibitions, live music, food, wine, bars, restaurants, a library, recording studio and tennis court — almost all entirely underground. 

Digestion Art at MONA – yes it actually works

The art pieces range from the remarkable to the ridiculous. 

Looking for a great shopping experience? Every Saturday the Salamanca Market is open. The more than 300 vendors sell handcrafted woodwork items, jewelry, ceramics, glassware, souvenirs and tasty items like fish and chips and scallop pie. 

Cascade Brewery, with Mt. Wellington in the distance, is the oldest continuously operating brewery in the country. It still makes award-winning ales, stouts and bitters.  

 Devils, glorious food and spirits 

 Cradle Mountain is a stop on your way from Hobart to Launceston and you can visit the Cradle Tasmanian devil sanctuary. Tasmanian devils are nothing like the crazed cartoon character that tries to catch Bugs Bunny. They are shy, nocturnal carnivores about the size of a small dog, but definitely not cuddly.  They do have a voracious appetite and the strongest biting force of any mammal their size on earth. Their jaws are extendable and can bite through metal and most farming fences. 

Marsupials, they carry their babies in pouches and use scent glands to mark their territories. 

Speaking of marsupials – here’s a Wallaby mom and joey

The Cradle Mountain sanctuary is a breeding and conservation facility for the Tasmanian devil, spotted-tail quoll and the Eastern quoll. 

Our lodging in Cradle Mountain

Cataract Gorge is Launceston’s biggest tourist attraction. It is home to the world’s largest single-span chairlift and the gorge has fabulous panoramic views as well as walking trails, wandering peacocks and other natural wildlife, gardens including a Victorian garden, a tearoom, restaurant and cafe.  

Cataract Gorge, Launceston Tasmania

Queen Victoria Museum has natural science and history collections as well as a planetarium and just across the river is the Art Gallery with contemporary and traditional art and art pieces.

 

But let’s talk food and drink, after all, Launceston is a UNESCO City of Gastronomy.  

Charcuterie platter hits the spot at Pooley!

The country is small enough that visitors can take advantage of great food and drink options throughout the country.  

Moo Brew on tap at MONA

Enjoy craft brews of cider, single-malt whiskey, small batch gin or vodka. Most distilleries offer guided tours — try ships whey vodka, gin flavored with sloe berries or lavender rye. The “very Scottish weather” is not only great for whiskey, but also for blended spirits of apple, pear and cherry as well as some fabulous Pinot Noirs and Chardonnays. The Pipers River region near Launceston produces superior quality sparkling beverages. 

 

Derwent vineyard – Keeping the birds out as it gets close to harvest

Many of the vineyards have their own restaurants which take full advantage of crayfish, abalone, asparagus, mushrooms, fish, scallops and octopus which can be sourced nearby. Take the bay tour and stop off at Freycinet Marine Farm and they will let you put on a pair of waders and shuck oysters taken directly from the bay. Visit a truffle farm and go out with the truffle-scenting dogs and find your own treasures. The gin distilleries offer classes where you can learn the intricacies of making gin and mixing in some exotic botanicals. 

Check out our previous blog on wine tasting around Hobart – located here

 

Art, food, wine, history, culture — Tasmania has it all and GetAway Travel can get you there! Reach us at:  (262) 538-2140, e-mail: sue@getaway.travel or paul@getaway.travel 

 

 

 

 

Virtual Visit Week Thursday – let’s go Down Under to Sydney Australia

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One inescapable fact is Sydney is an ocean front city.  The Harbour is everywhere with 4 of the 5 central districts on the water.  The Greater Sydney area has many pristine miles of coast line.  Did you know there are well over 100 beaches in Sydney?  Sydney also enjoys over 300 sunny days each year.   Sydney has it all – beach lifestyle, culture, food and wine, and history.  

Speaking of history – Indigenous Australians have inhabited the area for over 30,000 years and thousands of engravings remain throughout this region, making it one of the richest for aboriginal archaeological sites in Australia.

In 1770, James Cook and his crew became the first Europeans to visit the area.  It didn’t take long for more people to arrive when in 1788 the First Fleet arrived to found a penal colony here.  British convicts were originally transported to the 13 colonies in North America, but after the American War of Independence ended in 1783, the newly formed United States refused to accept further convicts.   Between 1788 and 1868, roughly 162,000 convicts were transported from Britain and Ireland to various penal colonies in Australia.   Most were transported for petty crimes with sentences ranging from 7 years to life.  If well behaved, freedom was granted at the end of your sentence however very few had the means to return to Britain and therefore became settlers.

Enough of the history lesson though – let’s get back to modern Sydney.  It’s easy to get around with 5 fantastic neighborhoods in the Central district

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Your Invited Down Under – Thursday April 23

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It’s been a difficult time for everyone, trapped at home, concerned and unable to escape. A few of my Travel Adviser mates are hosting a virtual Australia information day and we’d love you to join us. You will escape your current confinement on a fabulous pictorial journey to the land Down Under.

On Thursday, April 23 we have lined up expat-Aussie, Jeff Adam to guide us through the best of Australia. There are 4 sessions as follows:

Session 1 – 11am PT, 12pm MT, 1pm CT, 2pm ET

Session 2 – 12pm PT, 1pm MT, 2pm CT, 3pm ET

Session 3 – 1pm PT, 2pm MT, 3pm CT, 4pm ET

Session 4 – 2pm PT, 3pm MT, 4pm CT, 5pm ET

For more details on the giveaways, prizes and to register http://campaign.r20.constantcontact.com/render?m=1112006432410&ca=e2b8df2a-d6c3-4369-bbd5-249a1d9b4af8

Jeff’s got a bit of a funny accent so all attendees will get a “How to Speak Aussie” dictionary, along with an Australia Map and Travel Planner. It will be balance of great information and good Aussie humor.

Wining around Hobart Tasmania

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Tasmania has perfect climate for growing grapes and making wines with mild summers and long autumn days.  Tasmania features elegant cool climate wines including pinot noir, riesling, chardonnay, sauvignon blanc, cabernet sauvignon, pinot gris, gewurztraminer and sparkling wines in both the Northern and Southern growing regions.

There are 3 main clusters of vineyards in the Southern growing region which encompasses the Hobart area:

  • The Freycinet Peninsula northeast of Hobart
  • Around Hobart including the Coal Valley and Derwent River
  • South of Hobart around the Huon Valley and the d’Entrecasteaux Channel

Exhibit at MONA

We visited Freycinet Peninsula previously, so for this trip we focused on Coal Valley and Derwent River.  Basically no matter which direction you drive from Hobart (as long as you don’t drive into the ocean) you will quickly reach a vineyard.  We were hosting a cruise group on the Celebrity Solstice which sailed originally from Auckland, New Zealand and we only had a 1 day stop in Hobart.   We’d been on the ship for about 1 week at this point, so did double duty on the day – taste wines and get some laundry done.  So off the ship we went, grabbed an Uber to the car rental, dropped off some laundry, made a very quick trip to MONA ( see our previous blogs on MONA here and here ) and then off to taste some excellent Tasmanian wines.

First stop was Derwent Estates Wines, located right along the River Derwent which is seen in the background of the tasting room below and which we’re sure you’ll agree is fantastically charming.  Several of these wines made it home to the states with us – where we recently opened the Calcaire Pinot Noir which is particularly stunning and by itself makes the entire trip to Hobart well worth it!

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Derwent tasting room

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Animal Attraction to Travel

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There are a few things in life that I know to be true.  One, I love to travel and two, I love animals.  Almost any destination and certainly almost ever animal (okay spiders and snakes are creepy but I mean like animals not reptiles or insects).  But I digress….

Koala, Churchill Island, Australia

Living in north central Wisconsin we have the usual set of animals (think farm, normal pets and wildlife) but when we travel we are opened to a whole new world of living creatures.  Take for example a trip to Australia.  Here you have an opportunity to get up close and personal with Kangaroo, Wallaby, Wombat and Tasmanian Devil.  How cool is that!  Some of these animals you’ll be lucky enough to see in the wild but not the Tasmanian Devi.  The Devil is an endangered species due to a cancerous facial tumor that has affected 30- 50% of the wild population.  But have no fear, nearby Hobart is the Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary.    Visiting this sanctuary will allow you hands on contact with several native Australian animals.  You can feed kangaroos, pet wombats and koala and observe the cute little Tasmanian Devil.  Our visit to the sanctuary was a highlight for this traveling animal lover.

I know what you are thinking, well sure there are cool animals in Australia but that is a long trip and I can’t go that far.  Have no fear, cool animals are everywhere you just have to look.  Let’s take the good old USA for example.  A trip to Alaska in the summer will provide you with an opportunity to see humpback whales feeding in the kelp rich waters.  And yes, a humpback whale is a mammal so thus does not fall in the creepy category 😊 Now the very best way to see whales (all types in AK) is a small craft tour (boats that hold 18 – 36 people max).  When choosing your tour company also be sure the boats are safe for those magnificent creatures you have come to see (no dangerous propellers).

Faerie Penguins, Churchill Island, Australia

What about the Polar bear, I mean the kind that live outside the zoo?  Wouldn’t it be cool to see them fishing for salmon out of a river?  A trip to Alaska, Canada, Norway, Russia or Greenland will provide you with the opportunity to see these at animals in the wild.   Of course, you aren’t just going to happen upon them, you’ll need a guided expedition or tour to give you the best chance of watching them in their natural habitat.  From Fairbanks you can take a tour mid Aug – late Step (side note, due to global warming it is expected that the polar bear could become extinct in the years to come).   This one is still on my bucket list!

Bear at Mendenhall Glacier, Juneau Alaska

Still too exotic you say.  Well as I said earlier, I love animal, pretty much any.  In particular though I happen to covet my Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier, Fergus.  And yes, I look for his kin just about everywhere I go.  I’ve seen them in France, Holland and Ireland, just to mention a few.  And each time I come upon one I smile and feel love.

Fergus – Our Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier

So, pick your favorite animals and travel!  You’ll be surprised to see so many along the way.

Do you know who MONA is?

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This BLOG post originally appeared 11/12/11 on our old site with the title “what the heck is MONA”.  MONA is still a great place to visit so we thought we would re-post.  Hopefully we will get to Tasmania again some day soon!

Just a short flight from Melbourne takes you to the island of Tasmania known for the Tasmanian Devil and convicts.

On our first night in the Australian state of Tasmania we stayed at the lovely, modern and somewhat funky Mona Pavillion. Here there are 8 stand alone villa units with either one or two bedrooms as well as a presidential suite facing the River Derwent. From the outside they look somewhat like a space ship.

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From the inside they are right out of a James Bond movie. Each unit is named after Australian artists or architects. We stayed in Walter.

DSC_0393Walter from the outside

DSC_0376Living space in Walter

Each villa faces the harbor providing wonderful views throughout the day. And how could you not have a wonderful view, 3 of the walls are windows. Now i’m not saying they have windows….i’m saying they ARE windows. Full windows with shades that are operated by remote controls on the walls. How cool is that!

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These modernly appointed villas have everything your heart desires including a stocked wine bar, chilling each bottle to its exact prefect drinking temperature! The fridge is stocked with local beers, juices, soft drinks and milk.

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DSC_0392Yes, we had to pull them out to take a photo!

Our unit was a two bedroom, each with it’s own bathroom. And speaking of bathroom! Yeah this is my kind of set up! Oversized Jacuzzi tub with TV on the wall and a remote that if dropped into the water neither electrocutes you and still works!

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The beds, extremely comfortable….you’ll just have to take my word on that and in the morning wake to the wonderful sounds of nature chirping outside. Our bedrooms were tastefully decorated, some had a bit more of the shock factor going on.

DSC_0382Bedroom #1 in Walter

DSC_0435Bedroom #2 in Walter

DSC_0422One of the bedroom’s in the Roy (the largest pavilion)

Each unit is priced differently based upon it’s size but run between $390 – $990 per night based upon 2-4 guests. Plus tax of course. There are full cooking and laundry facilities in each unit.

DSC_0379Kitchen

These pavilions have everything a traveler could want.  As a matter of fact on a placard in the villas it says “we can arrange almost anything legal, just ask”. I’d call that customer service!

So what the heck is MONA?

Well it stands for Museum of Old and New Art. Mona is located just a short 10 minutes outside Hobart, Tasmania and is home to a somewhat shocking if not weird museum, a vineyard, cellar door and wine bar, a brewery, a restaurant, the Pavilion’s and of course a shop.

DSC_0396 Main building

DSC_0447The restaurant

DSC_0448The cellar door

At the cellar door you get a 1 hr. tasting and the admission fee is refunded if you purchase. Wine tours are available for $15.

DSC_0451Of course we tasted…and purchased!

DSC_0475The wine bar and brewery

On Friday and Saturday evenings you can get a 1 hr. beer tour and tasting for $15. They make 4 types of beer and all have no preservatives and are not pasteurized. You got to love the catchy “Moo Beer” name! Wine and beer master classes can be arranged upon request.

DSC_0478Believe it or not, we did not try them all!

As for the museum, lets just say it might not be for everyone as many exhibits are downright shocking and for some would be repulsive.

DSC_0483Museum entry

As the statement goes, “beauty is in the eye of the beholder” this pretty much sums the gallery up. The owner, David Walsh aka Glenn Walsh. Tourists not from Tasmania pay $20 for admission, those under 18 are free. Some of the exhibits are sexually explicit, others personally confronting thus the gallery may not be for children.

DSC_0493Plaster molds of a woman’s privates

DSC_0494The white room

DSC_0497The woodpecker (sorry just trying to give you a feel for the museum)

DSC_0517The human digestive system recreated, this woman is actually feeding the machine lunch at 1130am (sandwich, salad, fruit and a drink).  At 200pm it has a bowel movement! We did not hang around for that!!

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Coolest thing in the museum, mummy on the left, xray tomography of it on the right!

So, that is MONA.  Who wants to go?  It really is quite a cool place, definitely 2 or 3 nights are needed.

La Isla Bonita (The Beautiful Island)

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We bet you never heard this version of Madonna’s La Isla Bonita.  There is only one place that we know of where you can go see and hear Madonna’s entire greatest hits album “The Immaculate Collection”, performed by a bunch of people singing Karaoke in their individual sound booths.

Can you guess where?