Bucket List: Australia

Armchair traveling through Australia

When I’m not OUT THERE traveling, I’m at the mansion doing a little armchair travel in preparation for trips to come. I’ve got two in the next couple of weeks that are already scheduled, and YES I’m researching a bit about where to eat, shop, etc. Of course once I get these travel images in my head I’m OFF to explore and figure out where I want to go next.

I gave up a trip to Qatar just two weeks ago, and I know that it was the right thing to do. It’s not the distance that I  minded…it was more what was going on in that part of the world. Distance never bothered me.

Take Australia for instance.

The shortest distance from HERE (South Florida) to THERE (Sydney) would take 24 hrs to get there and 22 hrs back. With no direct flights, I’d have to make 2 stops along the way (Dallas and Los Angeles). So, in my typical fashion I start looking at the flights to find the quickest vs. the least expensive – trying to use FAVORITE airlines in order to boost my points (or use my points in a case like this).  BTW, at this writing Qantas has an incredible sale on flights from L.A. to Sydney.

What to do & where to stay

Of course next I begin researching  the events, sights, and experiences. If I’m going to go THAT far, I want to explore as much of the country as I can. Staying at Sydney Hotels (Accor has some wonderful hotels in all price ranges) and visiting the famed Opera House is high on my list. More than anything I’d LOVE to go sailing around Sydney Harbor. I have a feeling that I could even entice Mr. S to come if I mentioned sailing!

Of course an American like myself NEEDS to have the kangaroo and koala experience, so I think I’d head to Melbourne, check out some of the Accor Melbourne Hotels (love Hotel Scribe in Paris – which is an Accor Hotel) and visit the Healesville Sanctuary.in the Yarra Valley

 The Sanctuary’s 30 hectares (70 acres) of bushland offers a distinctly Australian setting for visitors to experience unique close-up encounters with some of Australia’s unique and endearing wildlife, including koalas, kangaroos, wombats, emus, dingoes, birds of prey and platypus. It’s also an ideal place to enjoy the best food and wine the Yarra Valley has to offer.

The Aussie experience is on my bucket list

Since I only know ONE person who’s been (and she lived there for a semester in college), I’d LOVE to hear from those of you who have been for suggestions of what to do, where to dine, etc. Maybe I can make this a reality in 2013.