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Australia Recap: We Made It Home!

I'll confess I fell behind on blog posts for the back half of the trip, so consider this my make-good — a quick recap of everything that followed the Great Ocean Walk.


For those just joining us: we hiked the Great Ocean Walk in Victoria, Australia — 80 miles over 7 days along one of the most beautiful coastlines we've ever seen. The day-by-day posts for the hike are all linked below and the rest of this post covers the trip after the walk.



From the southern coast, we made our way to Cairns on the northeastern side of Australia by taxi, bus, train, and plane. Although it was still late autumn in the north, the temperature was considerably warmer — a welcome change.


We settled into a beach house for a few days. It was a ridiculous amount of space for two people, but we took full advantage of the sprawling patios.
We settled into a beach house for a few days. It was a ridiculous amount of space for two people, but we took full advantage of the sprawling patios.
One might assume a beach house comes with beach swimming. Not this one. Signs lined the shore warning of saltwater crocodiles, stinging jellyfish, and swimming at your own risk. We admired the water from a distance
One might assume a beach house comes with beach swimming. Not this one. Signs lined the shore warning of saltwater crocodiles, stinging jellyfish, and swimming at your own risk. We admired the water from a distance

We rented a car to explore the area, which meant navigating from the right seat on the left side of the road. No problem!
We rented a car to explore the area, which meant navigating from the right seat on the left side of the road. No problem!

Before this trip, we had no idea how spectacular the northeastern rainforests were. The dense canopies stretched over 150 feet overhead, and the trees themselves were simply massive.
Before this trip, we had no idea how spectacular the northeastern rainforests were. The dense canopies stretched over 150 feet overhead, and the trees themselves were simply massive.

The ancient Daintree Rainforest is said to be Sir David Attenborough's favorite place on Earth — and after seeing it, we completely understand why. At 180 million years old, the Daintree is recognized as the oldest continuously surviving rainforest on in the world.
The ancient Daintree Rainforest is said to be Sir David Attenborough's favorite place on Earth — and after seeing it, we completely understand why. At 180 million years old, the Daintree is recognized as the oldest continuously surviving rainforest on in the world.

We spent an afternoon with an indigenous guide on a walking track through the Daintree Rainforest, learning about plant uses, food sources, and the deep relationship his people have with this ancient forest.

Our guide had a story that stopped us in our tracks: when he was younger, he spent an entire year alone in the Daintree. No supplies, no shelter, just a pair of gym shorts — with occasional check-ins from a tribal elder. He compared it to Survivor, except with far less human interaction and for a full year.
Our guide had a story that stopped us in our tracks: when he was younger, he spent an entire year alone in the Daintree. No supplies, no shelter, just a pair of gym shorts — with occasional check-ins from a tribal elder. He compared it to Survivor, except with far less human interaction and for a full year.
He also introduced us to some of the rainforest's more menacing residents. The most memorable: the Gympie-Gympie, or Stinging Tree. It looks completely innocent, but its leaves and branches are covered in fine silica hairs — essentially tiny hypodermic needles coated in neurotoxin. If they penetrate the skin, the pain can last for months. Needless to say, we became very cautious around trailside vegetation after that.
He also introduced us to some of the rainforest's more menacing residents. The most memorable: the Gympie-Gympie, or Stinging Tree. It looks completely innocent, but its leaves and branches are covered in fine silica hairs — essentially tiny hypodermic needles coated in neurotoxin. If they penetrate the skin, the pain can last for months. Needless to say, we became very cautious around trailside vegetation after that.

We took a historic train through another section of rainforest. Construction began in 1913 and took two years to complete just 23 miles of track — you can see why once you're in the gorges. Waterfalls, bridges, and dramatic drops at every turn. The highlight was the ride back down in a glass-bottomed tram.
We took a historic train through another section of rainforest. Construction began in 1913 and took two years to complete just 23 miles of track — you can see why once you're in the gorges. Waterfalls, bridges, and dramatic drops at every turn. The highlight was the ride back down in a glass-bottomed tram.

We couldn't leave Cairns without getting out to the Great Barrier Reef. We don't have great underwater photos, but the snorkeling was simply stunning — an abundance and diversity of fish unlike anything we'd seen.

We wore lightweight suits for jellyfish protection, which also helped with the chill on an overcast day. No sharks, no jellyfish, no stingy or bitey surprises — just impossibly colorful fish, and one very unhurried sea turtle.
We wore lightweight suits for jellyfish protection, which also helped with the chill on an overcast day. No sharks, no jellyfish, no stingy or bitey surprises — just impossibly colorful fish, and one very unhurried sea turtle.
After too few days in Cairns, we flew to Brisbane and picked up a camper van for the final stretch of the trip.
After too few days in Cairns, we flew to Brisbane and picked up a camper van for the final stretch of the trip.

For our honeymoon, we toured New Zealand in a similar setup — so it felt entirely fitting that on our 15th anniversary, we found ourselves back in a camper van on the other side of the world.

Here's a flashback to 15 years ago in NZ. We have a history with Britz camper vans!
Here's a flashback to 15 years ago in NZ. We have a history with Britz camper vans!

The camping portion of our trip was just wonderful. The van was small by RV standards but still felt a bit large and clunky on some of the narrow forest roads — we survived the adventure!


We had a couple of beautifully isolated campsites: one a stone's throw from the beach, the other tucked into the mountains. Both had resident wallabies and kangaroos that were completely unbothered by the human campers in their midst.

These wallabies were different than the brown fuzzy ones we saw on The Great Ocean Walk a few weeks earlier. These looked more like miniature kangaroos.
These wallabies were different than the brown fuzzy ones we saw on The Great Ocean Walk a few weeks earlier. These looked more like miniature kangaroos.
We made a stop at a camel farm — a detour we did not regret. Camel milk ice cream is genuinely delicious. Australia has a large feral camel population, originally introduced in the 1800s as working animals and now very much at home. This particular farm we visited was a camel rescue.
We made a stop at a camel farm — a detour we did not regret. Camel milk ice cream is genuinely delicious. Australia has a large feral camel population, originally introduced in the 1800s as working animals and now very much at home. This particular farm we visited was a camel rescue.
One of the things that most impressed us throughout the entire trip was the birds. Even the most common Australian birds are strikingly colorful and diverse. Walking through our campground one morning, I came across a small flock of Australian King Parrots. My one regret of the whole trip: not bringing a proper camera. The phone camera just doesn't do them justice.
One of the things that most impressed us throughout the entire trip was the birds. Even the most common Australian birds are strikingly colorful and diverse. Walking through our campground one morning, I came across a small flock of Australian King Parrots. My one regret of the whole trip: not bringing a proper camera. The phone camera just doesn't do them justice.

One evening, Bob and I were enjoying dinner on an outdoor deck in a little beachside town when I made the mistake of looking up. The eucalyptus tree above us was full of the largest bats we'd ever seen — wingspan up to a meter, just dangling above the diners. We were very obviously tourists, craning our necks while the locals around us didn't give them a second glance. A couple of days later we had a chance to capture some footage of a roosting bat colony.

https://video.wixstatic.com/video/95327e_bcc3eabc125a46fdb10b49e7206ac6a6/1080p/mp4/file.mp4
Not all bats sleep in caves - some sleep above outdoor restaurants!

Our trip wrapped up in Sydney, where we returned the camper van and squeezed in a quick evening at the harbor.

We found ourselves at the Fortune of War, Sydney's oldest pub, with a packed outdoor patio and live music. Short on space, we ended up sharing a table with a lovely family who was seeing their son off to Wisconsin the very next day — heading to spend the summer as a camp counselor. Small world. It was a perfect last night.
We found ourselves at the Fortune of War, Sydney's oldest pub, with a packed outdoor patio and live music. Short on space, we ended up sharing a table with a lovely family who was seeing their son off to Wisconsin the very next day — heading to spend the summer as a camp counselor. Small world. It was a perfect last night.
We got lucky with our timing — the city was in the middle of Vivid Sydney, a light festival that illuminates iconic landmarks around the harbor, including the Opera House. A beautiful way to spend a last evening.
We got lucky with our timing — the city was in the middle of Vivid Sydney, a light festival that illuminates iconic landmarks around the harbor, including the Opera House. A beautiful way to spend a last evening.
Downtown Sydney was packed with people enjoying the lights.
Downtown Sydney was packed with people enjoying the lights.

Early the next morning, we were on a flight home — sad to say goodbye to this incredible continent, but already promising ourselves we'd return.
Early the next morning, we were on a flight home — sad to say goodbye to this incredible continent, but already promising ourselves we'd return.

In just a few weeks, we'd covered a remarkable amount of ground: walking the Great Ocean Walk along the dramatic southern coast, exploring the ancient rainforests and Great Barrier Reef far to the north, and winding through the mountains of eastern Australia by camper van. We got a real taste of the eastern side of the continent — but if anything, it left us feeling like we've only scratched the surface.


Above all else, what we'll remember most about Australia is the people.


From our very first day on the Great Ocean Walk, we were struck by the warmth of everyone we encountered. Our drivers were endlessly patient — shuttling us to trailheads, picking us up at the end of long days, and genuinely invested in making the experience special. Our hosts at CHI Farms felt less like innkeepers and more like family by the end of five nights. That tone carried through the entire trip.


In Queensland, we stumbled across a street festival that turned out to be put on by a local Rotary Club — live music, a petting zoo, a rehydration station, and an entire community out enjoying a beautiful day together. We stopped to chat with the club leadership and had a lovely visit. It was exactly the kind of moment that doesn't make it into the guidebooks.
In Queensland, we stumbled across a street festival that turned out to be put on by a local Rotary Club — live music, a petting zoo, a rehydration station, and an entire community out enjoying a beautiful day together. We stopped to chat with the club leadership and had a lovely visit. It was exactly the kind of moment that doesn't make it into the guidebooks.
https://video.wixstatic.com/video/95327e_3a6a8888630244b8a82b14323a24c71e/1080p/mp4/file.mp4
And then there was the family we met on our last night in Sydney, sharing a table at the Fortune of War and cheerfully sending their son halfway around the world for the summer. They even tolerated our sing-along. Friendly strangers, every single one.

We came to Australia for the landscape — and it delivered beyond anything we expected. But it's the people we'll be talking about for years... and those massive trail-hogging kangaroos on the Great Ocean Walk!


We'll be back on the trail soon. Thanks for following along!


Bob & Jen



 
 
 

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