Universal City Walk Osaka is the all-American style shopping mall outside of Universal Studios. I loved this area. It was filled with shops and restaurants that we didn’t have in Australia. Choosing a place for lunch was a challenge. We eventually decided on TGI Fridays and we were not disappointed. After lunch we enjoyed exploring Hard Rock Cafe and taking a trip down memory lane.
The entrance to Universal Studios made us wish we had an extra day in Osaka. So when we return, we have promised ourselves that we will go through the gates.
The Tongariro River is on New Zealand’s North Island at Turangi. Known for it’s fly fishing, it is New Zealand’s most fished river. Tongariro is also classified as one of the best trout fishing rivers in the world. 75% of the catch is rainbow trout and 25% brown trout. While the fishermen in the river made it look easy, we unfortunately didn’t get to try it.
White water rafting is the another outdoor sport the river is known for. This we did get to try and it was amazing. Our raft had people from all around the world, none whom had tried white water rafting before. From memory, we went on a grade 3 rapid trip and some of the rapids were very scary. Even though the guides who steer the rafts are very experienced, the problem is that the river is constantly shifting so they are constantly looking out for new obstacles and dangers.
I actually feel in love with this river as my husband and I were following the Tongariro River trail. This walk took several hours but was well worth it to see so many of its different parts. I wasn’t expecting the river to be as different as it was to our Australian rivers. On our walk my favourite thing was seeing all the fly fishermen working their sport with such grace. It was just like a painting or a scene from a movie.
When we lived in Sydney I loved spending the day exploring Sydney Harbour by the ferries. We would get on at Sydney Olympic Park Ferry Wharf on the Parramatta River and travel into Circular Quay. This trip is about 50 minutes and takes you under Sydney’s iconic Harbour Bridge.
We would have something to eat at one of the amazing restaurants or cafes around the Rocks. Then, we would go back to the Circular Quay Ferry wharf. We would then decide where our next ferry trip would take us. Our favourite trip being across Sydney Harbour to Manly. To finish off the perfect day, we would catch ferries all the way back home away, often into the setting sun.
Sydney Harbour is the world’s deepest natural harbour. It is a beautiful busy harbour the holds over 500 gigalitres of water. 1 gigalitre is 1,000,000,000 or 1 billion litres. As Sydney Harbour contains 240 kilometres of shoreline, it is easy to see why there is always something new to see, notice and admire.
‘The best bakery in the world.  This is all about heart, passion and a love for making great bread.’ ​George Calombaris, MasterChef
​​​​‘I had RedBeard sourdough for breakfast and it was absolutely delicious. RedBeard is doing a wonderful job to promote the resurgence of authentic sourdough and artisan woodfired baking.’
Maggie Beer, legendary cook and restaurateur
Thes two quotes were taken directly from RedBeard Historic Bakery’s website and written by famous Australian chefs. Personally, I agree.
RedBeard Historic Bakery is in Trentham, Victoria. It makes the most amazing sourdough bread, cooked in a rare scotch oven. A scotch oven is a traditional, wood-fired commercial baker’s oven. Originally all bread was made in a scotch oven, however as bread began being made in factories the old ovens were destroyed and replaced by gas or electric ovens to eliminate competition.
RedBeard’s scotch oven is approximately 140 years old. It was used continuously from 1891 to 1987. After this time it lay dormant for nearly 20 years until the property was renovated and the scotch oven repaired.
The scotch oven has a floor area of 16 square metres, weighs 75 tonnes and has a massive domed roof. On one side of the floor area is the firebox which is put out before the bread is cooked. On the opposite side of the floor is a flu. Between all these elements enough heat is created to cook 600 loaves or equivalent.
RedBeard’s sourdough bread is leavened with a natural wild culture of yeast and healthy bacteria. They also use organic flours and their bread is shaped by hand.
The day we visited Trentham, we didn’t realise that RedBeard’s Historic Bakery would be as amazing as it was. The whole cafe was full and that didn’t include the number of people who came in for takeaway. I ordered the vanilla slice as I had been craving a cake for me birthday and not found one. But let me tell you this vanilla slice melted in my mouth. It was different to any I had ever had before. Sorry no photos.
We bought some bread to take home for lunch and again we loved it. In fact, we loved it so much that when we were coming home to Newcastle we drove 20 minutes each way extra on top of a 10+ hour trip just to buy more. The only problem was we were a day early, as the bakery isn’t open every day.
Quokkas are said to be the happiest animals in the world. They are a unique marsupial only found in a few isolated places in Western Australia. Rottnest Island, a short ferry trip from Perth is home to approximately 10,000 of them. Quokkas thrive on Rottnest because there are no foxes to prey on them.
Quokkas seem to know instinctively how cute they are. They love a good selfie. Quokkas are not afraid of humans and move around freely on the island. They are even in the pub.
Quokka’s are everywhere on Rottnest Island, even on the food.
If you get the chance put a trip to Rottnest Island on your bucket list.
Picnic at Hanging Rock is a novel by Joan Lindsay that I studied in high school. It tells the story of 3 school girls and their teacher from a private boarding school that disappeared on a picnic at Hanging Rock on Valentine’s Day 1900.
The hanging rock that named the site – Hanging Rock
Joan Lindsay is said to have dreamed up the story and for decades no-one knew if it was based on real events or totally fictional. This was how the author wanted it. A true mystery.
We recently visited Hanging Rock in Victoria. It is a special place.
Originally formed out of a volcano. This amazing rock formation is eerie in places and filled with mystery. If the story had been based on true events it is easy to see how it was possible.
The walk to the summit is about 1.5 kilometres, although in many places it is quite steep and involves rock scrambles. We spent several hours exploring all aspects of Hanging Rock, not to mention enjoying the amazing views in all directions.
Have you ever planned to go somewhere, never made it and had the best day ever? This is what happened to my husband and I when we started out to visit Oberon.
Oberon is on the western side of the Great Dividing Range, a 45 minute trip from Bathurst, where we were staying. Oberon is a small rural town 1113 metres above sea level. The day we wanted to visit, a major cold front arrived and we were stopped by SNOW. Yes. Never before have I traveled on a normal road in Australia and been stopped by snow. We drove as far as we could but eventually the road was closed. So we got out of the car and had some fun.
I was born and bred in Newcastle during the 60’s and 70’s. Back then it was an industrial city, BHP was the biggest employer, smog was everywhere and many places were covered in a layer of black grim. Today, Newcastle is a beautiful, clean, modern city with everything you could want and a relaxed way of life. The biggest employers are Hunter New England Area Health Service and the University of Newcastle. Newcastle has a modern working harbour and in summer many cruise ships visit.
Newcastle is located at the mouth of the Hunter River and has always been known for its coal. Today, Newcastle is the largest coal exporting harbour in the world. It was first discovered by John Shortland in 1797 when he traveled north from Sydney looking for some escaped convicts. As a result Newcastle was the second city of the new colony and is steeped in history.
Sport is huge in Newcastle. We have the Newcastle Knights in the NRL (National Rugby league), and the Newcastle Jets in the A-League soccer. Newcastle is also home to Surfest on the world professional surfing tour. Our son recently had his wedding overlooking Merwether Beach and at the time, Surfest heats were going on in the background. At present, Newcastle is also home to the final round of the Supercars championships, Coats Hire Newcastle 500. After this final race the Virgin Australia Supercars Champion is announced.
My favourite thing about growing up in Newcastle is its amazing beaches and the two ocean baths. There is something special about being able to quickly go to the beach for a swim after work on a hot summers day.
The surrounding Newcastle region is home to the Hunter Valley, Australia’s oldest wine region, beautiful Lake Macquarie, Port Stephens and national park and state forest areas. Lake Macquarie is the largest saltwater lake in the southern hemisphere and is twice the size of Sydney harbour. It is the home to many water sports and outdoor activities.
If your ever in the area come for a visit, whatever your taste we’ll have something to interest you.
We took a tour of the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) last December. It was something that I was looking forward to as every year it hosts the AFL (Australian Football League) grand final. My team the GWS Giants had played in their first grand final 2 months before.
The MCG was built at it’s current location in 1853 after it was forced to move from its prior home as Australia’s first steam train was to go through its oval.
Touring the MCG the history is palpable. Many of the guides have been members of the MCG for decades and are very knowledgeable.
As well as the home of the AFL grand final, the MCG is the birthplace of Test and One Day Cricket, It was also the main stadium for the 1956 Olympics and the 2006 Commonwealth Games. Up until recently the MCG was the world’s largest cricket stadium with seating capacity of 100,024. It now takes second place to Motera Stadium in India.
Australia’s National Sports Museum housed in the MCG is full of history and memorabilia for many sports. It also includes the Sport Australia Hall of Fame.
The artwork throughout the MCG captures many amazing moments in our sporting history.
During our tour we were taken to the spot just outside the MCG where the first game of AFL was played. The game was between Scott’s College and Melbourne Grammar School in 1858. Apparently initially the cricketers didn’t think much of the new game being played outside, however as the crowds gathered weekly the MCG saw a need. So they found away to reverse their grandstands to support cricket in summer and AFL in winter. Overtime, as AFL grew in popularity they moved into the MCG.
Walking around the MCG is just as fascinating as the inside tour. It is lined with a ring of statues dedicated to famous athletes important to the MCG’s history.
On 30th June, 1867, during our winter, 3 young boys left their homes to go on an adventure. Brothers William Graham (6 1/2) and Thomas Graham (4) along with their friend Alfred Burman (5) went to look for wild goats.
When they didn’t return home for lunch the alarm was sounded. Over the coming days, 100 men on horseback and a further 600 people on foot did what they could to find them. Aboriginal trackers and dogs were also involved and the boys town of Daylesford was so concerned it shutdown the shops so everyone could help.
Unfortunately the night of the boys disappearance saw the coldest night in the area in 20 years. Despite a few sightings of the boys during their travels during the day there was no further sign of them and nearly a month later the largest search in Australia’s young history was called off.
The following Spring on the 13th September a local dog brought a child’s boot complete with his foot home to his master. The next day, the boys remains were found at Musk Creek in Wombat Forest. The two younger boys were found huddled together in the hallow of a large tree and the elder boy was found next to the tree, where he was believed to be on lookout for a rescue party. It is believed that the boys most probably didn’t make it through the night due to the extreme conditions and lack of food and water.
Over a 1000 people attended the boys funeral. It was a chance for the community to grieve and say goodbye to the three young boys who had changed their lives.
To mark 100 years since this tragedy The Lost Children’s Memorial was built in the approximate area that the boys were found. When my husband and I found the sign indicating The Lost Children’s Memorial was down a side road on our way to explore Daylesford, we had no idea what it meant. We turned off to investigate and were rewarded with a very significant part of our Australian history that we knew nothing about. Spending time at the monument and reading the love left behind by fellow travels to the spot over the last 50+ years was heartwarming.
In 1889, in honour of the boys created the Graham Dux Award which has been given to a boy and a girl each year since. The children each recieve a medicllion and a certificate that states ” In Memory of the Lost Children.”
There is also a formal Three Lost Children’s Walk which takes visitors along the path that the boys traveled that fateful day. The walk is 15 kilometres in length and takes 6 hours one way with breaks to complete.
