Bushrangers Bay

Posted by Claire on Jan 7, 2013 | 4 comments

It’s a family tradition. Every December we take the long journey from Tennessee to a peninsula south of Melbourne, Australia (I have spent all but two Christmas’s with my family down under) and each year, we pick a day and go out just before the sun sets to a place called Bushrangers Bay. To get to the bay, we must walk a long narrow path through the bush (about 1.5 miles) filled with lots of greenery, grass fields, trees, butterflies, and kangaroos. 

Favorites of 2011

Posted by Laura & Claire on Dec 28, 2011 | 12 comments

2011 has been a great year for us! It has really flown by though and we had some great moments during our travels!

Favorite moments

Favorite destinations

1. Melbourne, Australia
2. Sydney, Australia
3. Kusadasi, Turkey
4. London, England
5. Buenos Aires, Argentina
6. Jerusalem, Israel
7. Bondi Beach, Australia
8. Tybee Island, Georgia

We can’t wait for 2012! :)

Xtreme Travel Sports

Posted by Laura & Claire on Nov 8, 2011 | 4 comments

Whenever we go on a trip, we try to take part in some sort of activity or sport that we normally wouldn’t back at home. Here a few we have tried out:

Surfing

In Australia we took surfing lessons at Point Leo, Victoria. It was so much fun and we caught quite a few good waves… Check out some photos:

Do you like our cute wetsuits?

There we are on the right learning some surf moves with our “beginner” group before heading out.

That’s Laura in the middle catching a huge wave. The sharks can’t catch us!

Here we are after becoming pros out there in those 40 foot waves. Notice our hat heads from our helmets.

Next time we plan on hanging ten ;)

Paddleboarding

In Tybee Island, Georgia we rented some awesome paddle boards. If you don’t know what a paddle board is, it looks like a surf board, except bigger and you usually don’t have to catch a wave to stand up. You stand and paddle! Check out our experience:

Here we are ready to go paddle boardin’… “Watch out, Ocean!”

Defying the seas. (Okay, it’s a lot harder than it looks)

After a few struggles and falls, we got back up again..

Paddlin’ away to the Pacific.

Kayaking

Yep, we went kayaking on Tybee Island, too!

This was a lot of fun!

This is our whole kayaking group.

See those green marshes in the background? Yeah… we kayaked through that ;)

Mopeds

Another time we went to Tybee Island we rented these awesome mopeds. It’s so fun to ride these around a little beach town/island like Tybee.

Pedal Boating

In Positano, Italy (favorite place we’ve ever visited, by the way), we rented a pedal boat! It was so fun to just pedal out to wherever we wanted, for example, this cave/cliff thing…

We thought about going into the cave but decided not to take any risks. Probably a smart choice.

Taking a break from pedaling to relax on our little boat in beautiful Italy.

Horseback Riding

In Australia we took a bush/beach horseback ride. Although our horses were very stubborn, it was one of the most amazing things we did in Australia! Here are some of our photos…

Along the gorgeous beach… we were slacking behind the rest of the group, as you can tell. Also we were the only ones on the beach… it was like our own beautiful private beach!

Through the bush. Check out that stunning view! No civilization in sight.

We had so much fun. A spectacular experience.

Some other Xtreme travel sports we enjoy…

Snorkeling, snow skiing, water skiing, wake boarding, fishing, boating, boogie boarding, hiking…

Some of our Facebook fans told us which Xtreme sports they enjoy…

Adam from Travels of Adam went skydiving over the Great Barrier Reef in Australia!

Leonnie also went skydiving in Darwin, Australia!

Shirlene from Idelish went ice climbing on a glacier in Alaska!

What Xtreme sports do you take part in while traveling?!

What’s it like to LIVE in Australia?

Posted by Laura & Claire on Sep 1, 2011 | 6 comments

Do you like living in Australia?

Yes, I love living in Australia! It’s a beautiful country.

Would you rather live anywhere else in the world?

Not really. I’ve always thought it would be exciting to live somewhere in Europe or Japan, however, I just can’t imagine living anywhere else other than Down Under!

What’s it like living somewhere that many people consider a paradise?

It’s hard to say. I’ve never lived anywhere else to compare it to. However, the older I get I realise more and more what a beautiful country Australia really is. We have world famous beaches, cute wildlife and hot weather.

What are your favorite places in Australia?

Hmm.. well I do love my home city, Melbourne. Sometimes overshadowed by Sydney, Melbourne has a lot to offer. It’s artier and celebrates individuality; it’s a very cool place. But I can’t not mention the Whitsundays! The group of islands neighboring the Great Barrier Reef is the closest I’ve been to heaven!

What are your plans after high school?

After finishing year 12, my friend and I are taking a gap year. A gap year is what we call when you defer from university for one year in order to get a job, travel etc. I am travelling to Europe, and doing a Contiki tour. I will also be staying with a friend in London, and working in a summer camp in the English countryside.

Where are you going to travel on your gap year?

As we will be mostly travelling in Europe’s wintertime, we’ll mainly stick to countries such as France, Belgium, Switzerland and Germany.

Favorite spots in Melbourne?

Hmm it would have to be inner city Melbourne, in the general area of Bourke Street. The heart of Melbourne is scattered with historic laneways. Filled with cafes and boutiques.

Would you ever want to live somewhere else in Australia?

Yes. Australia is different from many other countries. For one, we have a very small population, but also we don’t border any other countries. We’re pretty isolated. If we want to travel outside of Australia, it’s a long flight!

Favorite thing to do in Melbourne?

For me and my friends, it’s probably shopping! I love living near the city centre. Melbourne has great shopping.

How do you deal with the heat each summer?

I usally go to the beach! One thing about Australia is that most of the population is living right on the coast. So it’s not far to go when you want to cool down! 10 minutes max!

What’s the most unique thing about living in Australia?

Hmmm, that’s hard. I would say that it’s our Aussie spirit!! We are a pretty chilled and laidback country. Everyone is pretty open and friendly!

What’s it like never seeing snow?

That’s one thing I think all Aussies wish were different in Australia! I would love to have a white Christmas! But it never gets cold enough to snow. Australian Christmas’s are usually very hot, as summer has just started!

Top 10 of Australia

Posted by Laura & Claire on Feb 8, 2011 | 10 comments

1. JUICE BARS! You can find juice bars just about anywhere in Australia. Our favorite is a chain called “Boost.” I think we went to a juice bar at least once everyday, you can even find them in the airport. Not only are they DELICIOUS, but they are really healthy, too! Be sure to get the Mango Tango Crush or All Berry Bang…you won’t regret it. Visit Boost’s website

2. Bush and beach horse back riding...we rode horses at Ace Hi Ranch. Three things you should know: 1. You WILL be covered in dust if you go on the bush ride (wear sunglasses and bring a wash cloth, face wash, and a change of clothes if you are planning on going anywhere after the ride) and 2. You might get a super slow/obese horse if you have never ridden before (we did) and 3. You will probably be sore for at least three days. BUT the ride is worth it! The beach is amazing and the waves are gigantic! Visit Ace Hi’s website

3. Surfing!! You should do it. But you should know that you wont look as cool as you think. We got to wear these super stylish helmets and trendy over-sized wetsuits while surfing at Point Leo Beach!Visit East Coast Surf School’s website

4. Melbourne Zoo…This place is awesome, and if you are lucky you might even get to pet an escaped kangaroo. WE DID!

5. The Sydney Opera House! See it up close, go inside, walk around it and see every angle, see it from your hotel, and best of all, from the water.

6. Salted Caramel Gelato. The gelato we ate at Coogee beach was made by an Italian chef AND chosen by Oprah to be served at her party in the Sydney Opera House! Warning: If you try it once you will crave it everyday for the rest of your life. That’s a promise.

7. Shopping in downtown Melbourne… If you’re staying in a nearby town, away from the city, you can take the train into Melbourne! It’s affordable, especially on Sunday’s (it’s just $2 for an all-day ticket). The train is nothing special, but you’ll see some interesting people which was entertaining enough for us! Once you get into the city, there’s more shopping to do than you can fit into your day! We recommend thatyou take the trolly for quick transportation around the city! It’s free!

8. “Fish n Chips!” We aren’t exactly big fish eaters, but the “chips” (aka french fries) in Australia are to die for! You can go into a fish and chips shop and ask for a bag of chips. They will wrap it in paper and put salt on it. Made fresh to order!! You won’t be disappointed! If you like fish, you will also be in heaven!

9. Beach trails… If you’re in a beach town, there will be tons of trails leading to the beach, or trails with amazing ocean views! You can wake up early to see the sunrise at the sea-line or you can go see the sunset at night. You won’t be disappointed in the spectacular view of the sun rising or setting over the ocean!

10. Hiking at Bushrangers Bay! If you go here in the evening you will see dozens of wild kangaroos! Parts of the trail overlook the ocean and there are steps leading down to the beach. Don’t forget your camera!!! If you’re lucky, you could get as close as a few feet away to a wild kangaroo! It’s an unforgettable sight to see! At the end of the long walk, you can either head down to the beach, or continue to see the Cape Schanck lighthouse. Read more.

G’day!

Posted by Laura & Claire on Jan 16, 2011 | 0 comments

Australia was an amazing and unforgettable trip! We were in Victoria, Mornington, and Sydney most of the time. Some of the awesome things we did included learning to surf, riding horses on the beach, shopping in Melbourne, relaxing on the beach, petting kangaroos at the zoo, seeing kangaroos up-close in the wild, enjoying breathtaking views, visiting the Opera House, eating delicious meals, and so much more! We’ll be writing more detailed posts very soon, but first we’d like to share a few favorite photos from our adventure down under!