G'day! I'm Chris. I left my home in rural Australia back in 2007 to pursue a life less ordinary.
I specialize in ambitious travel - bucket list worthy journeys such as the Great US Road Trip, the ultimate African safari, and following the length of the Silk Road.
When you hear the name ‘Kobe’, one of two things come to mind: the basketball player or the famously good beef that happens to hail from this idyllic Japanese port city.
Prior to visiting, my image of Kobe was not a particularly inspiring one. I imagined a dull port city that just happened to be home to some fantastic steak, and saw it as the kind of place I might make a quick trip to in order to check ‘eat Kobe beef’ off my Japan bucket list.
Boy, was I wrong!
Kobe won me over from the very first. It is a green, dynamic city with so much going on that we left wishing we’d allowed ourselves more than just one day to experience it.
With that being said, it is possible to do Kobe in one day and do it justice.
Kobe is a green and gorgeous city. Soraku-en Garden is just one example of this.
How to Get to Kobe from Osaka
While it’s perfectly possible to find a hotel in Kobe and extend your stay there, for the purposes of today’s post, I’m going to assume you’re like most people and you’re skipping across from nearby Osaka.
Assuming you aren’t driving or walking, the train is going to be your best bet. For the purposes of this itinerary, you want Shin-Kobe Station.
The JR Shinkansen from Shin-Osaka to Kobe takes roughly 15 minutes and will set you back around 1,500 yen ($15 USD).
For those on a bit more of a budget, you can also reach Kobe from Hanshin Umeda Station, Hankyu Umeda Station, or Osaka Station on the JR. In all cases, you’re looking at around 35 minutes and 320 yen ($3.20 USD).
You can also travel from Osaka Station in as little as 20-25 minutes or from Osaka Namba Station in 45 minutes. In both cases, the cost is 410 Yen ($4.10 USD).
If you’re fresh off your international flight and want to get right into the action, you can head to Kobe from Kansai Airport in 1 hour and 45 minutes for 1,710 Yen ($17.10 USD) or from Osaka Itami Airport in 45 minutes for 510 Yen ($5.10 USD).
Storing Your Luggage at Kobe Station
If you’re like me, you’ll probably be traveling with your life strapped to your back.
if you’re only planning to spend a day in Kobe, I would advise storing your luggage at Kobe Station upon arrival so you aren’t wrestling with backpacks all day.
Coin lockers at Shin-Kobe Station start at 300 Yen ($3 USD) for a small and go up to 1,600 Yen ($16 USD) for an extra large.
Ninubiki Falls is well worth the 15-minute hike.
Hike to Nunobiki Falls
Our first stop on our day in Kobe is right behind Shin-Kobe Station, with picturesque Nunobiki Falls one of the most accessible hikes you’re likely to find in all of Japan.
Seriously, you bid farewell to the station, briefly walk through a quiet neighbourhood, and you’re already beginning your ascent through the woods towards one of Japan’s most beloved waterfalls. Nunobiki is often described as one of Japan’s three most significant waterfalls, and it’s just a 15-minute walk to get you there!
The best part? It’s absolutely free to visit!
Even an overcast day couldn’t diminish our enjoyment of the Kobe Herb Gardens.
Explore the Kobe Herb Gardens
Once you’ve snapped your photos of Nunobiki Falls and descended, we’re ducking just around the corner to the stunning Kobe Herb Gardens.
I had my doubts about the appeals of visiting a herb garden, but Nunobiki Herb Gardens is absolutely worth a visit.
The view from the Kobe Herb Gardens’ ropeway is worth the price of admission on its own!
The Ropeway
While it is possible to hike all the way up Mount Rokko to the gardens, the scenic ropeway offers a relaxing and visually stunning way to make your way to the mountaintop.
Tickets are 1,500 Yen ($15 USD), but this includes the return journey and access to all of the gardens, boutiques, and restaurants sitting atop the mountain.
It’s a scenic 10-minute ascent that provides you with an absolutely breathtaking view of Kobe.
Making your own fragrance is a fun way to take home a little bit of Kobe.
View Rest House & Fragrance Museum
Once you’ve reached the top of Mt. Rokko, you’ll find yourself standing before a decidedly German-influenced building. If you’re visiting in the holidays, like I was, you’ll even find a quaint German Christmas market in full-swing.
Inside the Rest House are boutiques and a fragrance museum, where guests are encouraged to sample the many heady scents that go into making perfumes and other goods.
If you’re after something hands on, you can even try your hand at making your own perfume or bath oil, which makes for a nice souvenir.
Richelle and I standing in front of a statue to ensure our love remains lucky.
Tropical Gardens & Cafe
Making your way down the hill, you’ll pass through both herb gardens and floral gardens before you make your way to the tropical glasshouse. If you’re looking for a break from the cool mountain air, this is a nice dose of warmth.
There is also a cute little cafe here boasting a fantastic view of Kobe, as well as herbal foot baths you can indulge in for around 100 Yen ($1 USD).
The Descent
Once you’ve had your fill of delicious coffee, fragrant treats, and gorgeous gardens, you can board the ropeway at the mid-point station and complete your descent.
Of course, the option is also there for a leisurely stroll down the mountain if your knees are up to the strain.
A tour of a sake distillery is a great way to work up an appetite for sake.
Lunch and a Sake Brewery Tour of Kobe
While Kobe beef might be Kobe’s most famous export, the city’s Nada district is actually Japan’s largest sake producer.
A combination of high-quality rice and perfect conditions have meant Kobe has been synonymous with Japan’s famed rice wine from the very start.
No visit to Kobe would be complete without sampling this potent potable, so I’m suggesting two stops to learn a little about sake culture.
A Kaiseki Lunch
You’re probably hungry by now, so we’re going to stop off at at Sakura Masamune (Japanese only site) for one of Japan’s most delectable cuisines: kaiseki.
Kaiseki is a multi-course Japanese meal themed around seasonal products, meaning you’ll get a different culinary experience depending on what time of year you’re visiting.
Sakura Masamune has an on-site sake museum, but it’s not especially impressive and there’s precious little English. We’re just here for the food!
You can also buy a bottle of sake with your face printed on the label here, which is a pretty fun souvenir!
Admission is free, but your meal will depend on your menu selection.
We definitely don’t look like tourists…
Touring Hakutsuru Sake Brewery
It’s a short walk (or taxi ride) from Sakura Masamune to Hakutsuru, which offers a fantastic and comprehensive tour of both sake production and the history of the craft.
The best part? There are English-language videos for every display and the entire museum can be toured in around 15-20 minutes.
Before you leave, don’t forget to stop by the gift shop to sample 4-6 different sakes. I’m a big fan of ume-sake (sour plum sake), but you may find you’re more partial to other varieties.
Admission is free.
Gorgeous girl. Gorgeous garden.
Soraku-en Japanese Garden
With a full belly and a pleasant buzz on, it’s time for a stroll in one of Japan’s meticulously manicured gardens.
Soraku-en is a truly gorgeous little island of tranquility in the heart of a bustling city. It’s easy to forget about the world beyond its walls and the Japanese maple with their reds, oranges, and golds.
Entry is just300 Yen ($3 USD) and is well worth it. In addition to the trademark arched bridges, beautiful ponds, and quiet groves, you’ll also find gardening competitions, a historic European-style villa, and an idyllic picnic area to stop and sip an iced coffee.
With the sun setting and the air beginning to cool, it’s time to get a taste for how modern and dynamic Kobe is.
Grab a taxi to Merikan Park, the revitalized section of Kobe’s port district. With its eye-catching towers and architecture, it’s a great place to snap a few city skyline photos and enjoy the wind whipping in off the ocean.
Highlights include Kobe Port Tower (especially at night), the eye-catching Kobe Maritime Museum, and distinctive Meriken Park Oriental Hotel, which looks like a pleasure cruise has washed up on shore!
Admission to the Kobe Port Tower is 700 Yen ($7 USD), while the Maritime Museum and attached Kawasaki Good Times world can be visited for 600 Yen ($6 USD). For those wishing to visit both, a 1,000 Yen ($10 USD) pass gets you access to Kobe Port Tower, the Maritime Museum, and Kawasaki Good Times World.
Whether you’re just snapping pictures or visiting the touching Kobe Earthquake Memorial, there’s plenty to occupy you as you people watch.
Shopping in Kobe
The nearby Kobe Harborland shopping precinct is also worth a look, with a variety of Japanese and international brands, restaurants, cafes, and more to keep you entertained.
We only had a half-hour to explore, but we saw plenty to convince us that Harborland is an area we’ll revisit in the future.
My mouth is watering remembering how damned good this tasted!
Try Kobe Beef
Your visit to Kobe wouldn’t be complete without experiencing the piece de resistance of Kobe cuisine: Kobe Beef.
As you might imagine, there are countless restaurants offering up this tantalizing treat, but we went to Mouriya Honten, one of the top five Kobe beef restaurants in the city.
It. Was. Delectable.
I’m a man who likes his red meat (gout be damned) and is justifiably proud of Australia’s world-class steaks, but my Kobe beef experience was borderline tantric.
Small slices of perfectly cooked steak, a variety of herbs and dipping sauces, and equally delicious side dishes and appetizers to accompany it. All washed down with ume-sake or Australian wine.
Is Kobe Beef Expensive?
There’s no mincing words here: a Kobe beef meal can be a pricier prospect than ramen, sashimi, or takoyaki, but I think of it this way:
It’s likely to be one of the best meals of your trip;
It’s a bucket-list worthy experience in its own right.
A good Kobe beef restaurant has set menus starting at 5,000 Yen ($50 USD), but keep your eyes peeled for deals that can bring this down. Mouriya Honten occasionally offers their 6,000 Yen set for just 3,900 Yen if you book through their website.
Kobe really is a gorgeous city.
Where to Stay in Kobe
While it’s totally possible to follow the above itinerary and do a single day in Kobe, it’s a city that deserves to be savoured.
There are plenty of Kobe hotels catering a range of tastes and budgets, so why not splash out and spread the above adventures over two days?
A little bit in love with this girl and this garden.
Is Kobe on your Japanese to-do list? What are you most excited about for your visit?
Have you already explored Kobe and spotted a glaring omission in the above? Let me know!
Got a question about Kobe? Post it below and I’ll get back to you as soon as possible.
DISCLAIMER: My trip to Kobe was made possible by a partnership with Kansai Tourism Board. All opinions, however, are entirely my own. If I don’t like something, you’ll know about it!
I spend so much of my time pursuing bucket list items outside of Australia that I often forget just how much there is to be said for an Australian bucket list. With a huge variety of climates, landscapes, and cultures to be explored, the hardest part of preparing the following list was limiting it to just 95 things you should do while in Australia.
Australia is a hugecountry, so tackling all ninety-five of the items below might take a few return journeys! You might want to enlist the aid of an Australia tour specialist.
Editor’s Note: Needing to brush up on your Aussie slang? Don’t forget to check out my exhaustive Guide to Australian Slang.
The Obvious
As one of the more popular and safe countries in world tourism, it’s understandable that Australia has quite a few ‘must see’ items that might seem obvious to any seasoned traveler.
The below can be considered a rough guideline for planning the perfect one or two month trip to Australia.
There are some delicious food challenges, a smattering of sporting events, and some unforgettable experiences along the way.
Image courtesy of Christopher Chan
1. Visit the Sydney Opera House (NSW)
Arguably Australia’s most recognisable piece of architecture, the stunning Sydney Opera House defines the Sydney skyline and symbolizes the largest Australian city in the same way that the Statue of Liberty defines New York City.
Completed in 1973, the distinctive white ‘shells’ of the Opera House house a number of performance venues. It’s not just opera that takes place in the Opera House, but also stand-up comedians, dance, orchestral performances, and touring speakers and performers from all around the world.
The best part? The Opera House can be experienced without having to spend a dime! If all you want to do is snap a few photos of the unique structure, you can do this from land or sea without having to pay for the privilege.
If guided tours aren’t your bag, there’s always the chance to see a show in the Sydney Opera House. I was lucky enough to see the Cirque de Soleil style La Soiree in the Opera House in 2011 and it was unforgettable.
Seeing the Opera House from a Unique Perspective
While it’s certainly possible to simply walk to the steps of the Opera House from Circular Quay Station, I’ve always found it’s most beautiful from alternate perspectives.
The Manly Ferry (mentioned later in this bucket list) affords a fantastic photo opp as you pass by the Opera House.
If you’re feeling a bit braver, the Sydney Harbour Bridge Climb also affords a spectacular view of the shells from above.
Where: The Sydney Opera House is located a short walk from Circular Quay Station in Sydney’s CBD.
Cost: It’s free to visit the Opera House. Tours start from $37 AUD.
Standing atop with the Sydney Harbour Bridge with friends in 2010.
2. Climb the Sydney Harbour Bridge (NSW)
Sydney’s other distinctive landmark: the Sydney Harbour Bridge is right up there with the Brooklyn Bridge, Golden Gate Bridge, and Tower Bridge when it comes to iconic bridges.
A feature of the Sydney skyline since 1932 and remains a major artery in the city’s transit network to this day.
Stretching from North Sydney to the bustling CBD, the Harbour Bridge is one of the most photographed landmarks in Australia with good reason. Its distinctive look is matched only by the stunning backdrop that Sydney’s towering skyline provides.
While it’s free to walk from Milson’s Point to The Rocks (or vice versa), the bridge is best experienced by climbing to the very top and looking out over the city.
Climbs are run year-round by Bridgeclimb Sydney, with their sunset or after dark climbs being especially spectacular. Nothing quite beats the feeling of standing above everything and looking out over the glittering city lights and their reflections in Sydney Harbour.
Where: Sydney Harbour Bridge can be walked across from Wynyard or Milson’s Point Station. BridgeClimb’s office is located in The Rocks at 3 Cumberland Street.
Cost: Walking across the Sydney Harbour Bridge. BridgeClimb experiences start at $183 and top out at $383 for the sunrise or sunset climbs.
Image courtesy of A Beach Cottage
3. Visit Bondi Beach (NSW)
Australia’s most famous beach may be a tad overrated, but it wouldn’t be a trip to Australian shores without getting some sun, sand, and surf on the country’s most famous beach.
A year-round attraction, Bondi Beach is a picturesque stretch of beach often hidden by the massive crowds of local and international tourists clambering for a precious patch of white sand.
If you’ve longed to experience the distinctly Aussie beach day complete with fish and chips, impossibly attractive lifeguards, hipster cafes, and aggressive surf, Bondi Beach is about as quintessential as an Aussie beach experience gets.
While it’s true there are definitely better beaches than Bondi in Sydney (such as Coogee, Manly, Cronulla, Shelly, and Bronte), Bondi remains the most popular and is well worth a visit if only so you can say you’ve been.
Where: Bondi Beach can be reached by train and bus from Town Hall Station in approximately 30 minutes.
Cost: Free! Australian beaches are always free!
Image courtesy of cactusbeetroot
4. Explore the Blue Mountains (NSW)
Sticking with the Sydney theme, it’s off to the neighbouring Blue Mountains to soak in the serenity of the Australian bush.
While the Blue Mountains are just a short train ride from the heart of Sydney, you couldn’t feel more removed from the hectic noise of the city. Standing at one of the lookout points or hiking through the bush, you might as well be a thousand miles from Bondi or The Rocks.
The famous Three Sisters are the most recognisable landmark in the region, but the Blue Mountains is far more than just a photo opportunity.
Dine in the quaint cafes of Leura, Blackheath, or Katoomba, venture into the Blue Mountains National Park to hike amidst the waterfalls and dense scrub, take in the lights at Jenolan Caves, or ride the death-defying rides at Scenic World. The world is your oyster!
Where: The Blue Mountains are two hours from Sydney by bus, train, or car. Major train stations include Katoomba and Wentworth Falls.
Cost: It’s free to visit the Blue Mountains National Park. Attractions such as Scenic World and Jenolan Caves do have their own entrance fees.
5. Overnight at Taronga Zoo (NSW)
Australia’s most famous zoo, Taronga might just be the most picturesque zoo in the world. With a stunning view of Sydney Harbour and its major landmarks, Taronga is an island of calm located just twelve minutes from the city.
Taronga is home to more than 4,000 animals and boasts a huge variety of activities such as ropes courses, up close animal encounters, educational courses, and much more.
For a truly unforgettable experience, however, the option is there to spend a night in the zoo. You’ll not only enjoy having the zoo to yourselves after dark, but also dine on delicious food and fall asleep to the sounds of elephants, lions, and much more. It’s as close to a safari as you’re likely to get in Australia.
Even if you can’t afford the price for the Roar and Snore experience, a visit to the zoo is a great way to see both Australian and international wildlife.
Where: Taronga Zoo is a twelve-minute ferry ride from Circular Quay Station.
Cost: Entry to the zoo starts at $27 for children and $47 for adults. The Roar and Snore overnight experience starts at $195 for children and $295 for adults.
Shelly Beach is my favourite beach in Sydney.
6. Ride the Manly Ferry (NSW)
Sydney Harbour is crisscrossed by a number of ferries, but none offers a more picturesque journey than the Manly Ferry.
Taking people from Circular Quay to Manly, this half-hour ride takes you past the Opera House and past the headlands where the mighty Pacific Ocean meets the Sydney Harbour.
It’s more than just the journey too, as a day in Manly is an experience all of its own!
Grabbing a bite to eat on The Corso, swimming at Manly, Dee Why, or Freshwater Beach, swinging by 4 Pines Brewing Company, visiting the Manly Aquarium, or having a beach BBQ on Shelly Beach, there’s so much to see and do on Sydney’s North Shore.
Where: The Manly Ferry leaves every hour from Circular Quay.
Cost: Tickets on the Manly Ferry are $6.20 one way.
Photo by Danya Rose
7. Celebrate New Year’s Eve in Sydney (NSW)
Few cities ring in the New Year quite as well as the Harbour City, with Sydney’s annual fireworks display being one of the most spectacular in the world.
Ringing in the New Year in Sydney is one of the biggest parties in Australia and an absolute must if you’re going to be in Australia over the holiday.
The city grinds to a standstill during the party, with tens of thousands of locals and visitors hitting popular vantage points such as Darling Harbour, Barangaroo Reserve, the Royal Botanical Gardens, and many more.
Be sure to check the Sydney New Year’s website for details on which areas are ticketed and which are free, where BYO alcohol is prohibited, and timing for various events and performances on the night.
Where: All over Sydney Harbour.
Cost: Free, although some areas of the city are ticketed.
8. Wander the historic Rocks district (NSW)
As Australia’s oldest city, Sydney has plenty of history if you know where to look. While it’s a bit touristic these days, the historic Rocks district is arguably the best place in the city to learn more about the area’s roots.
An intriguing collection of colonial-era buildings and historic sites, trendy brewpubs and eateries, and glitzy boutiques, The Rocks is one of my favourite parts of Sydney to just wander around.
It’s home to my absolute favourite pub in Sydney (Hart’s Pub) as well as a selection of other fantastic pubs with plenty of history such as Lord Nelson, Hero of Waterloo, and Australian Heritage Hotel.
Taking a Rocks Walking Tour or a spooky Rocks Ghost Tour is a great way to learn more about the area’s history, but even wandering at your own pace and soaking it in is a real treat.
Where: The Rocks is a short walk from multiple Sydney train stations including Wynyard and Circular Quay.
Cost: Free.
Image courtesy of Sacha Fernandez
9. Attend the Royal Easter Show (NSW)
The Australian equivalent to a US State Fair, the Royal Easter Show is one of the biggest ‘agricultural exhibitions’ in Australia. This might sound a bit dry, but an Aussie show is just as much about food, alcohol, and rides as it is about who has the biggest pig and who took the best photo.
More something for families than for young travelers, there’s still a little for all tastes at the Royal Easter Show. We’re talking rides and activities for kids, bars and restaurants for adults, and performances of all varieties for the family.
Can’t make it to Sydney for the Easter weekend? Most towns in Australia have an annual agricultural show that offers up the same experience in miniature! You can find an exhaustive database of shows and dates here.
Where: Sydney Showground in the Sydney Olympic Park.
Cost: Tickets start at $37 for adults and $22 for children.
Image courtesy of Andrew Wilson.
10. Achieve peak hipster in Melbourne (Victoria)
Arguably Australia’s most popular cities when it comes to tourists and expats, ultra trendy Melbourne is more about the vibe than a set list of things to do.
While Sydney boasts obvious landmarks you need to visit, Melbourne is more about taking your time and soaking in Australia’s most cosmopolitan city.
It’s home to Australia’s best coffee and a mouth-watering cuisine scene, as well as world-class shopping, art galleries, and entertainment.
As Australia’s self-proclaimed sporting capital, it’s also one of the best places in Australia to attend one of the national sports such as Super Rugby, the National Rugby League, the A-League, the T20 Big Bash, and the AFL.
Looking for some Melbourne inspiration? Check out this insane Melbourne bucket list.
Where: Melbourne can be reached by plane, bus, train, or car. It’s serviced by a large international airport.
Cost: Free to visit. A tad more to dine, shop, or stay in.
11. Visit the Gold Coast (QLD)
Australia’s most famous beach playground, the white sand and clear waters of Queensland’s Gold Coast are a popular attraction for tourists from around the world.
Catering to international and local tourists in a way no other Australian city does, the Gold Coast can boast having something for all walks of life. From bustling theme parks to glitzy casinos to chilled surfer towns, all tastes are catered to in this southern Queensland haven.
While I won’t go so far as to say the beaches are world-class or that you can’t find a lot of what the Gold Coast offers elsewhere, nowhere else in Australia can lay claim to having all of the ingredients in such close proximity.
For shopping, night-life, and family-friendly entertainment, there are few places in Australia more perfect.
What to do on the Gold Coast
If you’re traveling with kids, theme parks such as Dream World and Movie World are always popular. I’ve even written about my own visit to Dream World. There are also wildlife experiences such as Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary.
For big kids, the clubs and pubs of Surfers Paradise are a haven for cashed-up tourists and budget backpackers alike, offering debauchery in spades. There’s also Jupiter’s Casino for those wanting something a bit more glitzy.
Aside from the stunning beaches, there are also a number of nearby national parks in which you can get in touch with Australia’s unique wildlife. These include parks such as Springbrook, Tamborine, and Lamington.
Where: The Gold Coast is a short drive from Brisbane, but can also be reached by its own international airport.
Cost: Free to visit.
Image courtesy of Richard Ling
12. Scuba Dive the Great Barrier Reef (QLD)
Australia’s Great Barrier Reef is unquestionably one of the most spectacular natural wonders in the world, but you’ll need to see it before the Australian government’s pro-mining, anti-environment policy bleaches it to oblivion.
Cynicism aside, scuba diving the Great Barrier Reef is a goal worthy of any travel bucket list, let alone an Australian one.
I was lucky enough to learn to scuba dive on the Barrier Reef, but it did spoil me for all future scuba diving. Once you’ve dived the Great Barrier Reef, subpar house reefs in Southeast Asia just won’t cut it!
I Can’t Scuba Dive!
Not scuba-certified?
A little uncomfortable at the idea of being deep underwater with a tank of air strapped to your back?
I understand that scuba diving isn’t everybody’s cup of tea. Thankfully, snorkeling the Great Barrier Reef is almost as good as diving on it.
There are plenty of areas where the crystal clear waters are shallow enough to allow you to experience the reef’s vibrant colours on a snorkeling tour. There are even glass-bottom boats available for those who are allergic to the ocean!
Where: The Great Barrier Reef stretches along much of the Queensland coast, but popular dive spots exist in Townsville, Cairns, and Port Douglas.
Cost: Certified dives range in price from $60 – $100 AUD per dive (including equipment). This is on top of any boat fees (often $200+ AUD).
13. Complete a Tim Tam Slam (N/A)
Here’s a nice, easy one you can do without even having to venture all the way to Australian soil.
The Tim Tam is a hugely popular chocolate biscuit (or ‘cookie’, for my American readers) that Aussies have invented a rather inventive way of eating.
See below for the how and why of it all:
So, grab a packet of Tim Tams, put the kettle on for a hot cuppa, and get a little bit sticky eating Australia’s most popular biscuit!
Where: Anywhere!
Cost: A packet of Tim Tams will set you back around $2 AUD in Australia, but considerably more if you’re abroad. They’re $6 a packet here in Vietnam!
If Tim Tams are one of Australia’s most beloved exports, it’s safe to say that Vegemite is at the opposite of the spectrum.
This salty, yeast-rich spread has a cult following in Australia but is definitely an acquired taste. I didn’t like it at all until I was in my teens, and now I never leave home without a jar or tube of the stuff.
It’s actually unbelievably good for you too!
Many first-time Vegemiters make the mistake of spreading it onto their toast like they would peanut butter or jam (jelly). Rookie error!
Vegemite is best when you put a light spread – a dusting if you will – across your toast. It gives a delightful saltiness to an otherwise mundane bit of bread. Winning!
Where: Anywhere!
Cost: A jar of Vegemite is around $2 AUD in most grocery stores.
If the Gold Coast is synonymous with partying and Bondi is famous for its hordes of sun-reddened British expats, Byron Bay is Australia’s most well-known hippie get away.
If you’re all about acai bowls, drum circles, hemp clothing, reggae, and dream of a day when weed is legal in Australia, you’re probably going to love Byron Bay.
That isn’t to say that this gorgeous beachside town is a den of sin and iniquity – far from it! I grew up holidaying in nearby Ocean Shores, and Byron Bay remains a popular destination for Aussie families who can stomach the crowds.
What to do in Byron Bay
The obvious attraction in Byron Bay are its beaches. It’s a great place to work on your tan, do a little sea kayaking, or take a surf lesson.
Nearby Nimbin is a popular hippie town famous for its community market, while a number of national parks and stunning landscapes are close by for those who want to do a spot of hiking.
Seeing the sunrise at Byron Bay Lighthouse (Australia’s easternmost point) is also an experience not to be missed, and very nearly warranted a spot all of its own on this list!
For more Byron Bay inspiration, check out this post by 2Aussie Travellers!
Where: Byron Bay can be reached by bus or train, but is also close to both Gold Coast Airport and Ballina Airport for flights. It is a two-hour drive from Brisbane and a scenic nine-hour drive from Sydney.
Cost: Free to visit.
16. Learn to Surf in Torquay (Victoria)
It’s true that you could learn to surf on the Gold Coast, in Byron Bay, in Sydney, and in a dozen other places, but I’ve got to give a little love to Victoria, whose beaches are often overlooked due to the cooler climate.
Located southwest of Melbourne, Torquay and nearby surfing hubs such as Lorne and Bells Beach are hugely popular with surfers on all parts of the skill spectrum. Bells Beach’s famous breaks might be a bit much for a newcomer, but lessons in Torquay are a great way to get into the sport.
There are a number of surf schools to choose from, so do your research and get out there!
Where: Torquay is located roughly ninety minutes from Melbourne.
Cost: Lessons start at around $60 AUD, including equipment hire.
The days of Australia being perceived as a nation of beer-swilling colonials may never truly die, but Australia’s status as one of the world’s premier wine-growing nations has certainly helped our global stocks.
While there are a number of world-class wine regions scattered across Australia, South Australia’s Barossa Valley is arguably the most well-known.
The perfect place to sample fantastic wines, indulge your inner gourmand, and soak in the beauty of rural Australia, the Barossa Valley is an easy day-trip from Adelaide. This makes it the most accessible of Australia’s prominent wine regions.
You don’t need to be a wine expert to enjoy wine country. I found this out when I was a wine virgin in wine country. It’s hard not to have fun drinking good wine, eating all of the cheese, and soaking in a bit of sun.
Where: The Barossa Valley is a 45-minute drive from Adelaide, which is served by an international airport. While in Adelaide, I recommend staying at the Grand Chancellor Adelaide.
Cost: Cellar door tastings are free, but it’s polite to buy a little something. Guided tours range from $100 to $200 AUD per person.
Famed for its white sand and crystal clear waters, Queensland’s Whitsundays Islands are an archipelago centered around Hamilton Island and famous for world-class sailing and picturesque, isolated beaches.
Located midway between Cairns and Brisbane, the Whitsundays are a popular (albeit expensive) stop on many an East Coast road trip. It’s arguably Australia’s most Instagrammed location, and you’ll understand why when you see that impossibly white sand and spend some time swimming in bathwater-warm seas.
Whether you sail its emerald waters, visit famous Airlie or Whitehaven Beach for a soak, snorkel the Great Barrier Reef, or just soak in its unspoiled beauty – the Whitsundays is a mustfor any Aussie itinerary.
Sailing the Whitsundays
A visit to the Whitsundays is a must for any Australian bucket list, but sailing around the Whitsundays is a daydream all of its own.
Ranging in length from romantic sunset cruises to multiple day excursions, heading out onto the water and island-hopping is a pricey but unforgettable way to experience the Whitsundays.
Where: A long drive from either Cairns or Brisbane, so it’s best to fly to either Great Barrier Reef Airport on Hamilton Island or Proserpine Airport. It’s also possible to get there by train.
Cost: Free to visit, but sailing tours start at around $350 AUD and go up in price based on length of trip and level of luxury.
Image courtesy of Australian Traveller
19. Drive the Great Ocean Road (Victoria)
There are few more iconically Australian things to do than hit the open road and go on an Aussie road trip.
A country the size of Australia has no shortage of memorable road trips, but few are as picturesque as the Great Ocean Road in Victoria. Stretching almost 250 breathtaking kilometres, it’s one of the most picturesque drives you’re ever likely to encounter.
Much like South Africa’s Garden Route, it’s every bit as much about the drive as it is about the many stops along the way. From the towering Twelve Apostles to serene bushwalks to quaint country towns to isolated beaches, there’s just so much to see and do along the way.
Where: The Great Ocean Road stretches between Torquay and Allansford in Victoria.
Cost: Free to drive, but you’ll need to factor in car hire, petrol, and any incidentals along the way.
Image courtesy of Lawrence Murray
20. Experience an Uluru Sunrise (NT)
Like something out of primal mythology, the monolith of Uluru (formerly known as Ayer’s Rock) is one of Australia’s most enchanting and isolated landmarks.
Located almost smack-dab in the heart of Australia’s sunbaked desert, the iconic red of Uluru draws people to the red centre of Australia year after year.
Spectacular at any time of day, Uluru is especially beautiful when experienced at sunrise or sunset. The reds, oranges, and purples of the sun combine wonderfully with the natural ochre of Uluru to create something positively otherworldly.
Don’t Climb It
You might be tempted to climb Uluru, but don’t. Only assholes climb Uluru, which is a sacred site to the local Anangu people.
As of 2019, this ‘no climbing’ rule changes from respectful request to outright law.
Where: Uluru can be reached by bus or overland, but the easiest way is to take a flight to Ayers Rock Airport.
Cost: It costs $25 AUD for a three-day pass to Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park.
Image courtesy of Rudolf Helmis
21. Visit the Nation’s Capital, Canberra (ACT)
What? Australia’s capital isn’t Sydney or Melbourne!?
You’d be surprised how many people not only don’t know Canberra is the national capital, but that it even exists.
While it’s true that Canberra is more oversized country town than true city, you would be remiss to visit Australia and not at least see where the business of governing is done.
Home to some of Australia’s best galleries and museums, Canberra is a must for those with an interest in Australian culture and history.
What to do in Canberra
The National Gallery of Australia, the Australian War Memorial, the National Portrait Gallery, the National Museum of Australia, and the National Library of Australia are just a few of the more prominent museums and galleries in the capital. When you add in kid-friendly Questacon and the CSIRO Discovery Centre, you’ve got enough culture to make yogurt.
Of course, it’s not all museums.
Parliament House is a pretty impressive bit of architecture, while man-made Lake Burley-Griffin is a popular spot for picnics and water sports.
Outdoor enthusiasts can visit Stromlo Forest Park, the National Botanical Gardens, or the National Arboretum to get their dose of greenery, but Canberra is one of Australia’s greenest and most picturesque cities.
Where: Canberra is serviced by an international airport. It is also reachable by car, train, or bus from both Sydney (3 hours) or Melbourne (eight hours).
Cost: Free to visit, but individual attractions vary.
22. Attend an Australia Day BBQ (N/A)
While it’s true that most Australian holidays end up being about beer, a BBQ, and time off from work – Australia Day is the most quintessential of Australia’s holidays.
Taking place on January 26th each year, the day celebrates Australia’s settlement by Europeans – which has caused plenty of controversy amongst both indigenous Australians and non-European immigrants in recent years.
Politics notwithstanding, the day tends to be a popular excuse to get to the beach or, failing that, have a BBQ and a few too many beers in your backyard.
Don’t have a backyard? Major cities such as Brisbane, Sydney, and Melbourne regularly come alive with parties and events in honour of the occasion, and even the smallest of towns is sure to have some kind of event you can attend.
Where: Just about anywhere.
Cost: Free!
23. Feed a kangaroo and hold a koala (N/A)
One that all of my female friends seem most excited about: feeding a kangaroo and giving a hug to an adorable, chlamydia-riddled koala.
The good news? It’s perfectly possible to do both of these during your trip to Australia!
The bad news? It’s open to debate how you should feel about this from a conservation standpoint.
If you’re against zoos and the like, you’re going to have to reconcile that with your desire to snuggle up to a eucalyptus-addled koala, I’m afraid.
Shut up and tell me where to go, Chris!
If you’ve got your heart set on it, you can feed kangaroos at a number of wildlife reserves and zoos around Australia. Some of these are going to be better than others when it comes to quality of life for the animals, so do your research.
Most states forbid you actually holding a koala, but you can still legally do this in South Australia, Western Australia, and Queensland. Personally, I experienced this at Rainforestation Nature Park in Kuranda.
Where: Kangaroos can be fed all around Australia, but you’ll need to go to Queensland, South Australia, or Western Australia to hug a koala.
Cost: Varies from park to park, but koala experiences usually start at around $20 AUD.
24. Sample a bit of pavlova (N/A)
It’s open to debate as to how much of a claim Australia actually has to the invention of pavlova, but damned if we’re going to let New Zealanders and their accursed facts take our beloved dessert away from us!
A heavenly combination of light, fluffy meringue, fresh fruits, and whipped cream – pavlova is a popular dessert at Australian BBQs and parties.
They’re harder to make than you would think, but you can buy the meringue base at most grocery stores and take the majority of the leg-work out of the equation. Otherwise, just ask your Aussie friends if they can whip one together for you or grab some at the nearest trendy cafe.
Where: Virtually everywhere, although it takes time to prepare.
Cost: If you don’t DIY, you can expect to pay around $10 – $20 at a cafe.
25. Eat a kangaroo steak (N/A)
You’ve fed a kangaroo, so it’s only natural that you let a kangaroo feed you!
As uncomfortable as you might feel about the idea at first, kangaroo is an increasingly popular fixture on Australian tables due to the leanness of the meat and the gamey flavour. With kangaroo numbers often so high that culls are necessary, you can enjoy a guilt-free steak, stir fry, or burger!
Combine this with an Australia Day BBQ and you’ve killed two birds roos with one stone!
Where: You’ll need to head out to a restaurant or buy your meat at a butcher, as grocery stores don’t stock kangaroo meat.
Cost: You can expect to pay a bit more than you would pay for beef or chicken.
Image courtesy of Pierre Roudler
26. Attend a State of Origin match (QLD/NSW)
Australians love their sport, but exactly which sport they love is going to vary based on where in Australia you are.
In New South Wales and Queensland, rugby league tends to be the most popular of the sporting codes. While the club competition (the National Rugby League) is well worth a look if you’re into contact sports, even somebody who doesn’t love their sports is likely to get a kick out of State of Origin.
An annual, three-game series featuring the best players from Queensland and New South Wales, the matches are played at an intensity that comes from decades of interstate rivalry.
With sell-out crowds jamming into stadiums in Brisbane, Sydney, and Melbourne – the matches are some of Australia’s most watched television and bring entire towns to a standstill.
Getting to the Game
While you can definitely experience a taste of the passion by watching the game on the big screen at a pub or leagues club, nothing can match the experience of being surrounded by 70,000 screaming madmen and madwomen during a game.
You can check out the State of Origin schedule to see if one of the matches takes place while you’re in town, but be sure to also check out the NRL draw to see if there is a game you can catch during the winter months.
Where: State of Origin games are usually split between Brisbane, Sydney, and a neutral venue such as Melbourne or (in 2019) Perth.
Club games are played in Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne, Canberra, Townsville, Newcastle, the Gold Coast, and Auckland, New Zealand.
Cost: Tickets start at $87 AUD. Club games are much cheaper, with tickets starting at $15 – $20 AUD.
27. Attend an AFL match (Victoria/SA/WA)
Remember what I said about different sports being popular in different states?
If you’re in Western Australia, South Australia, or Victoria – that sport is likely to be Australian Rules football. Somewhat akin to a fusion between rugby, Gaelic football, and football (soccer), the sport is Australia’s most attended code and practically religion in the southern states.
With clubs scattered across the country, it’s possible to attend a match in every Australian state, but the best experience is likely to be had in sports-mad Melbourne. The Victorian capital has ten teams within spitting distance, meaning rivalries are intense and derby matches can draw crowds in excess of 100,000.
While I’m not an AFL fan myself, a lot of ‘sports neutral’ people such as my fiancee have said they loved the pageantry and atmosphere of a live AFL game. It is definitely a sport best experienced live, rather than on TV.
Getting to a Game
The AFL season runs throughout Australia’s winter months, with games taking place across the country.
You can check the AFL draw to see when there is a game in the area you’re visiting.
Where: Games are played in Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, the Gold Coast, Adelaide, Perth, Geelong, and occasionally in Darwin and Hobart.
28. Attend a cricket match (N/A)
This is the last sports one (for a while), I swear!
I’ve long believed that experiencing a country’s sporting culture is a great insight into the country as a whole, and that’s especially true of a sports mad country like Australia.
While rugby league, rugby union, and Aussie rules are hugely popular in Australia, no sport holds quite the same level of popularity in Australia as cricket.
Whether it’s the five-day long tests, the one-day matches between international sides, or the hugely popular T-20 Big Bash, cricket is a language unto itself.
Attending a Test Match
One for the diehard cricket fans out there, attending a five-day test match at the MCG, SCG, WACA, or GABBA is a once-in-a-lifetime experience. The beer, the sunburn, and the slow pace of the game are something best experienced in person, but probably won’t be for everyone.
Attending a One-Dayer
Cricket in a far more digestible form, a one-day match lasts for (surprise surprise) a single day and is typically a more exciting match as a result. The two nations each face 50 overs (made up of six-ball innings) and aim to get the highest possible score.
It’s basically a slightly faster-paced version of baseball with fewer drugs and more casual racism.
Attending a T20 Match
If you’re a newcomer to cricket, my advise would be to get out to one of the T20 Big Bash matches that take place over the summer. A league comprising teams from Sydney, Brisbane, Perth, Hobart, Adelaide, and Melbourne – games are fast paced, family friendly, and alive with colour and pageantry.
With games lasting a much more manageable three-hours and with plenty of effort put into appealing to both women and children, it’s far and away Australia’s most family-friendly sporting event.
Where: A schedule for international test matches, one-dayers, and T20 matches featuring Australia can be found here. while fixtures for the popular T20 Big Bash can be found here.
Cost: Varies depending on the game, the opposition, and the venue.
29. Have a beach Christmas (N/A)
Being away from home for Christmas can be difficult, and that’s likely to be especially true if you’re not used to hot days, cold meat, and the fact snowmen, pine trees, and a fully-clothed Santa seem at odds with the 35C+ temperatures.
With that being said, there’s there’s plenty of reasons to love Christmas in Australia, so why not embrace that weirdness by celebrating the big day with a bit of a beach BBQ?
With Australia’s beaches public, it’s ridiculously easy to round up a few fellow expats and head on down to the beach for a few beers and a BBQ.
Just remember that most businesses are closed on Christmas Day, so you’ll want to stock up on Christmas Eve.
Where: Anywhere on the coast. Christmas is in summer!
Cost: Free!
Image courtesy of Phutully
30. Dress the part for Spring Carnival (Victoria)
Horse-racing might not be your thing, but there’s a reason that the annual Melbourne Cup is called “the race that stops a nation”. Places of business turn into ghost towns when the race begins, with offices and schools across the country arranging sweepstakes in celebration.
While it’s possible to experience Melbourne Cup fever anywhere in Australia, it’s best experienced in Victoria. Not only is it a public holiday for those lucky bastards, but you can also make the trek to Flemington Racecourse to experience all of the pomp and circumstance in person.
Attending the Melbourne Cup
The Spring Carnival is more than just a thoroughbred horse race. It’s a festival of food, live music, ornamental hats, and entirely too much booze.
Dressing up and over-indulging seems to be every bit as important as who wins the main attraction, so don your finest suit or frock, pick the best drinks/food package for you, and take as many obnoxious and regrettable selfies as humanly possible.
Where: The Spring Carnival and Melbourne Cup take place in and around Melbourne, with the main race at Flemington Racecourse.
Cost: Packages start from $75 AUD and go all the way up to the thousands for drinks packages.
The Australian Snowy Mountains come alive every winter, with skiers from all across Australia and around the world descending on famous Australian ski resorts like Thredbo, Perisher, and Mount Hotham to experience the closest to a true winter Australia gets.
It’s possible to find ski slopes in New South Wales, the ACT, Victoria, and Tasmania, although Thredbo and Perisher are the most popular options with the most facilities available.
With ski season running from June through October (dependent on conditions and location), why not sneak a cheeky ski in on your way from Sydney to Melbourne?
Where: There are multiple ski resorts in Australia, but the most popular include Thredbo and Perisher (NSW), Mt. Buller, Mt. Hotham, and Falls Creek (Victoria), and Ben Lomond (Tasmania). In all cases, you can fly to the nearest capital city and drive from there.
Cost: Passes in Tasmania start as low as $70 AUD, while the more prominent locations are closer to $150 AUD.
32. Go Whale Watching (QLD/NSW)
Rounding out the list of the obvious inclusions on an Australian bucket list, whale watching is a thrilling way to get up close and personal with some of the largest living mammals in the world.
With humpback whale migrations taking them along the Australian coast, it’s possible to head out for a day of whale watching from countless cities and towns. In fact, pretty much the only states where whale-watching isn’t feasible are the land-locked ACT and the Northern Territory.
The best spots? Southern Queensland’s Sunshine Coast, Hervey Bay as well as Byron Bay and Sydney. I’ve been whale-watching in Sydney on multiple occasions and never come back empty-handed. I’ve also been whale-watching on Moreton Island.
Where: The most popular whale-watching destinations are southern Queensland as well as Byron Bay and Sydney.
Cost: Tours are usually around $100 AUD including lunch.
Are the above too obvious for you?
Head on over to the next page to get a little more off-the-beaten-path on your Australian bucket list.
Ever since my mate, Hogg and I tackled the Great US Road Trip back in 2016, I’ve been itching to get back out on the road and explore a new country.
There is something invigorating about stopping in sleepy little towns, exploring famous sights at your own pace, and interacting with locals.
With so many of my dearest friends now calling the United Kingdom home, I’m long overdue a more thorough inspection of the motherland, and what better way to do this than with a road trip?
Never one to do things by half measures, I’ve compiled a colossal 46-day road trip that I would love to undertake someday. With help from Aussie on the Road Facebook fans and my own friends, I’ve put together my very own dream UK road trip itinerary.
Read on!
It’s time for the Great UK Road Trip! Image courtesy of Iain Merchant.
Starting Point: Newcastle Upon Tyne
London might seem like the logical starting point for a UK road trip, but my friend, Greg was quick to suggest a loop that started and ended in Newcastle.
Serviced by its own international airport and sharing a name with my childhood home away from home, Newcastle seems a perfect spot to start and end the grand UK road trip.
Hadrian’s Wall is worth a trip out of Newcastle. Image courtesy of Mike Locke.
1. Newcastle
Newcastle might not leap immediately to mind as a ‘must see’ destination in the United Kingdom, but ‘the toon’ is not without its charms.
A city that embraces its medieval roots, its industrial past, and its modern present – there is something for all tastes.
For me, the appeal of attending a Newcastle United game, seeing the famous Angel of the North up close, and taking a day trip out to Hadrian’s Wall to see the wall that inspired George RR Martin’s A Song of Fire and Ice are all on the agenda.
Distance: 0km
Stay: 1-2 nights
Highlights: Newcastle United home game at St. James Park, visit Hadrian’s Wall, and pose like an idiot in front of the Angel of the North.
When I put a call out to my friends and Facebook fans, I was astonished at the amount of love being put forward for the Yorkshire Dales. I’d never even heard of them!
A picture perfect representation of some of the United Kingdom’s most beloved images, the Yorkshire Dales combines idyllic rural villages with breathtaking limestone peaks and serene woodland in a way that I didn’t think existed in the modern UK.
While the Cotswolds are perhaps more famous, the off-the-beaten-path Yorkshire Dales National Park sounds like the perfect fit for me.
Distance: 62 miles. Approximately ninety minutes.
Stay: 2-3 nights
Highlights: Hiking and mountain biking, wandering the villages, sampling local produce, and experiencing village life.
York Minster is an impressive sight. Image courtesy of Darren Flinders.
3. York
A city oozing history, York is a must-see for fans of medieval history. In fact, York Tourism proudly boasts “more attractions per square mile than any other UK city”.
How can you argue with that?
From the largest cathedral in Europe (York Minster) to ruined castles to dungeon tours to museums, there’s plenty to be experienced on a visit to York. There’s even a Viking museum!
Insider Tip: My reader, Linda suggests including a walk down the famous York Shambles in your visit. A 14th century street with plenty of charm, it’s akin to walking through a totally different time period!
Distance: 30 miles. Approximately one hour.
Stay: 1-2 nights
Highlights: York Minster, York Castle Museum, Clifford’s Tower, National Railway Museum, and Jorvik Viking Centre.
Fancy a pint in England’s oldest pub? Image courtesy of Elliott Brown.
4. Nottingham
Robin Hood and the Sherrif may be long gone, but Nottingham makes a fine stop to break up the otherwise long drive from York down to London.
Nottingham Castle is arguably the most well-known attraction in the region, but its nearby Sherwood Forest that is likely to capture your imagination.
Nottinghamshire is also home to England’s oldest pub! Ye Olde Trip to Jerusalem predates my own country by more than six hundred years!
Distance: 93 miles. Approximately two hours.
Stay: 1 night
Highlights: Nottingham Castle, Ye Olde Trip to Jerusalem, and Sherwood Forest.
Oxford vs Cambridge. Whose side are you on? Image courtesy of Alex Brown.
5. Oxford and Cambridge
Two of the four oldest universities in the world, the names Oxford and Cambridge are synonymous with academic excellence and the British elite.
I’ve suggested overnighting in Oxford and making Cambridge a day trip en route to London, but you could just as easily reverse it based on your personal preference.
Campuses that predate most of the world’s countries are obviously the big drawcard in both cities, but the student population does lend them both a kind of bohemian charm that translates into great food and a solid nightlife scene too.
Distance: 91 miles. Approximately ninety minutes.
Stay: 1 night
Highlights: Two of the oldest universities on the planet.
The Thames defines London and its banks are lined with some of the city’s most iconic sites. Image courtesy of Arnaud Matar.
5. London
Our first big stop comes in the form of the British capital, London.
London is expensive, but it’s also home to more things to do than you can poke a stick at. It just wouldn’t be a proper UK road trip without spending a good chunk fo your time here.
Whether it’s Premier League games, history, Monopoly themed pub crawls or getting into the more bohemian side of London life, there’s something for just about everybody.
Distance: 51 miles. Approximately an hour.
Stay: 4-5 nights
Highlights: Big Ben, English Premier League games, London Eye, Tower of London, Westminster Abbey, St. Paul’s Cathedral, The British Museum, Globe Theatre, Tate Modern, the National Gallery, Hyde Park, Kensington Gardens, the London pub scene, shows on the West End, Buckingham Palace… there’s so damned much!
Canterbury Cathedral is a stunning example of religious architecture. Image courtesy of Malcolm Manners.
6. Canterbury
Ever since reading Ken Follett’s Pillars of the Earth, I’ve had something of a fascination with cathedrals and the cities that spring up around them. There’s just something fascinating about how religion inspired such magnificent buildings and gave rise to entire communities to support them.
Canterbury Cathedral is one of the most impressive religious structures on earth, but it’s not the only reason to visit Canterbury. Check out Culture Trips’ guide to things to do in Canterbury for some inspiration!
Distance: 60 miles. Approximately an hour.
Stay: 1-2 nights
Highlights: Canterbury Cathedral, the Canterbury Roman Museum, and the Marlowe Theatre.
The White Cliffs are emblematic of the UK. Image courtesy of Robyn Cox.
6a. The White Cliffs of Dover
Today marks our first scenic spot of the trip that doesn’t warrant a full day and night: the famous White Cliffs of Dover.
One of the most iconic landscapes in all of the United Kingdom, the chalky white of the Cliffs overlooking the English Channel is sure to be one of the most enduring memories from your trip. It’ll definitely be one of your most photographed!
If you’re wanting those recognizable photos of the cliffs, however, you might want to also include a visit to Beachy Head or Seven Sisters, as it’s obviously difficult to photograph the White Cliffs while you’re standing atop them!
Distance: 20 miles. Approximately half an hour.
Stay: Day trip
Highlights: Uh… the White Cliffs of Dover?
It’s hard to believe this is in the UK! Image courtesy of Joao Paulo.
7. Brighton
English seaside towns might seem a little sad to those of us who have grown up with gorgeous, sunny beaches on our doorsteps, but there’s a kind of charm about the UK equivalent to places like Australia’s Gold Coast or the US boardwalk towns.
What Brighton and its ilk lack in white sand and warm waters, however, they do make up for in the uniquely British approach to a beach vacation.
From the history of sites such as the Royal Pavilion and the Brighton Palace Pier to the modern and cool Lanes, Brighten offers a little something for all tastes.
Distance: 108 miles. Approximately two hours.
Stay: 2 nights.
Highlights: The Royal Pavilion, Brighton Palace Pier, The Lanes, British Airways i360, the Brighton Toy & Model Museum, and Globalls (glow in the dark mini-golf!)
New Forest National Park is gorgeous. Image courtesy of friedwater.
8. New Forest National Park
I hadn’t even heard of New Forest National Park of until the delightful Where is Kait? suggested it, but I’ve immediately been ensnared by its country charms.
Declared as a royal forest by William the Conqueror, the area is the largest remaining tract of unspoiled forest in southeast England and an important centre for biodiversity. Forests, farmland, heathland, and breathtaking coastline can all be seen within the park’s boundaries.
Whether you want to go on a walking safari to spot the resident deer or just like the idea of sleeping in a quaint English village surrounded by arboreal beauty, it’s the kind of off-the-beaten-path stuff I love to find while I’m traveling.
Distance: 79 miles. Approximately ninety minutes.
Stay: 2 nights.
Highlights: Beautiful landscapes and cute rural villages.
My cousin just got engaged here! Image courtesy of Andrew Oliver.
9. Salisbury
Our next stop doesn’t immediately leap to mind when you’re planning a UK road trip, but Salisbury has plenty of history worth exploring while also being on the doorstep to both Stonehenge and Avebury.
I’ll cover that important day trip next, but Salisbury is more than just a way station on our way to someplace more exciting.
The double-whammy of Salisbury Cathedral (home to a copy of the Magna Carta) and the impressive Old Sarum hillfort illustrate very different periods in British history.
Distance: 25 miles. Approximately 35 minutes.
Stay: 1 night.
Highlights: Salisbury Cathedral and Old Sarum.
You can’t visit the UK without experiencing Stonehenge. Image courtesy of Nelo Hotsuma.
9a. Stonehenge and Avebury
Stonehenge might be the United Kingdom’s most famous historic site. It’s the kind of place that, as you’re standing in the long shadows cast by its eerily silent monoliths, you’re left questioning your place in the universe.
It’s a short drive from Salisbury to Stone Henge, where a couple of hours is sufficient to wander the green fields and photograph the impressive monument.
From here, it’s off to Avebury to visit a less well-known set of Neolithic monuments that include West Kennet Avenue, The Sanctuary, and Silbury Hill.
While here, be sure to stop at the Red Lion Pub for a tall pint of beer in the only pub in the world with its own stone circle (and interior well).
Distance: 10 miles to Stone Henge. 28 miles to Avebury. Approximately 15 minutes and 35 minutes respectively.
Stay: Day trip.
Highlights: Neolithic monoliths and stone circles. A pint of beer in a quirky pub.
I wish my photos from Bath had turned out this well… Image courtesy of Alex Ranaldi.
10. Bath
I’m not going to lie, I love Bath. It’s just such a gorgeous city with a lot to see and do.
Its most popular tourist attraction is undoubtedly the Roman baths that give the town its name, but Bath Abbey (burial site of Captain James Cook, the man who discovered Australia) is worth a look as well.
The aptly named Royal Crescent is a suitably impressive residential district for the upper crust, while Prior Park is a supremely gorgeous bit of park to explore on foot.
Take your time to enjoy Bath, and don’t be afraid to take a wee day trip to nearby Lacock Village for a bit of time travel.
Insider Tip: My reader, Linda suggests also taking a look at the nearby towns of Wells and Glastonbury, with the latter being the purported burial site of the legendary, King Arthur!
Distance: 27 miles. Approximately 30 minutes.
Stay: 2 days
Highlights: The Roman Baths, Bath Abbey, the Royal Crescent, and Lacock Village.
It could almost pass for Bondi! Image courtesy of Robert Pittman.
10. St. Ives and Land’s End
Today brings about one of the longest drives of the trip, as you make the ‘huge’ four-hour drive south to the United Kingdom’s most southernmost point and England’s westernmost.
To put this into context: we used to drive this far from our Outback town and still not have seen any signs of civilization greater than a sagging fence and the shredded remains of a tire.
While not an especially impressive spot in its own right, the feeling of standing on the literal end of England and gazing out over the steely-grey seas will come full circle when, later in the trip, you stand on the northernmost point of the United Kingdom in Scotland.
We’re not going to spend the night out on the headlands, but double back to the much more appealing beach town of St. Ives.
One of TripAdvisor’s top ten beaches in Europe, St. Ives has a delightfully Mediterranean climate, decent surf, and a thriving arts scene that ought to keep you entertained when you’re not relaxing on the beach.
Insider Tip: One of my readers, Andy, has suggested that you allow a little extra time here to check out the Lizard Peninsula on the opposite side to St. Ives for a chance to stand on the westernmost point of England. He vouches for the best pasties (Ann’s Pasties) and ice cream (Roskilly’s), while also recommending taking a look at the Isles of Scilly to the south.
Distance: 222 miles to Land’s End. 20 miles to St. Ives. Approximately four hours and forty minutes, respectively.
Stay: 1-2 days
Highlights: England’s southernmost point. The beaches and galleries of St. Ives.
Bristol is famous for its street art. Image courtesy of Andrew Gustar.
11. Bristol
It’s another long drive today, as we begin the journey north to Bristol.
More of a pit-stop on the way to Wales than a destination in its own right, Bristol nonetheless has enough to occupy you for a day or two.
Whether you’re hunting for Banksy on the streets, wandering across the stunning Brunel suspension bridge, or heading out to the impossible green Brecon Beacons National Park, you’re sure to find something to ensure Bristol is more than just a place to lay your head.
Distance: 189 miles. Approximately three and a half hours.
Stay: 1-2 days
Highlights: Brunel Bridge, Brecon Beacons National Park, Bristol Cathedral, and the street art scene.
Cardiff Castle is worth a look. Image courtesy of H Michael Miley
12. Cardiff
We bid farewell to England (for now) and say hello to lovely Wales!
Often overlooked by international tourists, Wales has a wealth of history and natural beauty to be explored.
Our first stop is Cardiff, renowned as being one of Europe’s greenest cities. Take it in by riding the beautiful Taff Trail or enjoying a picnic lunch in the Victorian splendor of Roath Park.
For the history aficionados, you’ve got Castell Caerdydd, the National Museum of Cardiff, and family-friendly St. Fagan’s National History Museum to give you a bit more insight into Welsh history.
Finally, it wouldn’t be a trip to Wales without a visit to Millennium Stadium for a wee bit of rugby or – if you time it right – the Millennium Madness rugby league.
Distance: 44 miles. Approximately one hour.
Stay: 2-3 days
Highlights: Cardiff Castle, Welsh rugby, and natural beauty.
Mumbles on the Gower Peninsula is one of the most picturesque spots in Wales. Image courtesy of SPL.
13. Swansea
After breakfast, it’s time to head off to Swansea.
Another city that doesn’t get the love it deserves, Swansea’s famous Swansea Market is a great place to do a little shopping and sample some local flavor.
If that isn’t your speed, there’s a vibrant music, arts, and live comedy scene to be experienced, the option to play some FootGolf, and the lure of Dylan Thomas’ association with the city to keep you entertained. The dramatic beauty of the Clyne Gardens can’t be overlooked either.
The nearby seaside town of Mumbles is also worth a look, particularly if your visit coincides with the delicious Mumbles Oyster Festival.
Lastly, the nearby Gower Peninsula offers up suitably impressive windswept cliffs and quiet beaches for those wanting to get away from it all.
Distance: 41 miles. Approximately one hour.
Stay: 1-3 days
Highlights: Clyne Gardens, Mumbles, Gower Peninsula, Dylan Thomas Centre, and Swansea Markets.
I’m not gonna lie, this made me so homesick for my own slice of rural beauty. Image courtesy of Stuart Madden.
14. Bangor and Snowdonia
We’re in for another long-ish day of driving today, as we follow the Welsh coast north to the city of Bangor. The oldest city in Wales might not be a lot to look at these days, but it’s the perfect base from which to explore the nearby Snowdonia National Park.
One of the United Kingdom’s most breathtaking parks, Snowdonia is a combination of rugged natural beauty and quaint British charm. You’ll be able to experience challenging hikes, serene valleys, and bustling little market towns in and around the park.
While the obvious attraction is the chance to challenge with a hike to the top of Mount Snowdon, there’s enough in and around the park to entertain all ages.
Distance: 160 miles. Approximately four and a half hours.
Stay: 1-2 days
Highlights: Snowdonia National Park and surrounds.
OPTIONAL: Ireland and Northern Ireland
I agonized long and hard over whether to include North Ireland (obviously part of the UK) and Ireland (not a part of the UK, but a shame to miss).
Ultimately, I decided that this post (and trip) were already long enough without adding a second island.
If Ireland and/or Northern Ireland are on your to-do list, this would be a good point to insert them.
I’d still love your suggestions for what would be must-see if you were to include Ireland and/or Northern Ireland in your trip! Comment below and I’ll come back to update this section someday!
It’s back to England today, as we bid farewell to Wales and make our way to Liverpool.
Home of The Beatles and the Merseyside derby, Liverpool has a little something for all walks of life. History, sport, parks, a lively nightlife and music scene, museums, and more clamor for your attention.
For me, the lure of experiencing the Merseyside derby between Liverpool and Everton is a big draw, but the appeal of getting a bit artsy and off-the-beaten-track as in this itinerary is huge too.
More obvious attractions include the Tate Liverpool, a ride on a brightly colored Mersey ferry, the British Music Experience, and a visit to the World Museum to learn about… the world.
Distance: 80 miles. Approximately ninety-minutes.
Stay: 2-3 days
Highlights: Liverpool FC, the British Music Experience, the Tate Liverpool, and Mersey Ferries.
There’s more to Manchester than football, but its football clubs are a huge part of its identity. Image courtesy of Paul’s Imaging Photography.
16. Manchester
Perhaps most famous for its two huge football clubs, Manchester is far more than just Manchester United and Manchester City. While football is certainly front and centre at the popular National Football Museum, there’s plenty here to entertain those of you who don’t love ‘The Beautiful Game’.
From history (Manchester Cathedral) to art (the Whitworth) to family-friendly (LEGOLAND), you’ll find a little something for everyone.
Fancy a break from the city? You’re never far from a quaint village or idyllic slice of British rural charm.
When booking your Manchester hotel, bear in mind that major Premier League fixtures and the Manchester Pride Festival can lead to huge demand. Get booked early!
Distance: 35 miles. Approximately 45 minutes.
Stay: 1-2 days
Highlights: Manchester football, Manchester Cathedral, Whitworth Gallery, and the National Football Museum.
Just about the most gorgeous thing I’ve ever seen. Image courtesy of Richard Walker.
17. The Lake District
It’s time to take a break from the city and head to the stunningly beautiful Lake District. One of England’s most popular vacation spots, I’ve written before about the many things to do in the Lake District.
Go read that. I’ll wait.
Regardless of where in the area you stay, you’ll be enjoying the great outdoors with everything from hiking and cycling to boating and canoeing.
It’s a land of mirror-still lakes, secluded valleys, and the kind of bucolic beauty that is so emblematic of the UK.
Our first stop in the land of Scots is Glasgow, the slightly less beautiful but nonetheless charming cousin of Edinburgh.
The Glasgow Cathedral is an obvious highlight, but there is also the abundance of museums and galleries that you would expect to find in a capital city. From the Scottish Football Museum to the religious-themed St. Mungo Museum, there’s a little something for all kinds.
It may not be the most exciting stop on the trip, but a day or two in Glasgow is a great way to recharge before we hit the road again.
Distance: 148 miles. Approximately two and a half hours.
Stay: 2 days.
Highlights: Museums and galleries.
Now you’re just showing off, Scotland. Image courtesy of John McSporran.
19. Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park
Today, we trade the hustle and bustle of the city for the natural splendour of the Scottish wilderness.
A visit to Scotland wouldn’t be complete without a little time strolling the shores of a loch (lake), and the Trossachs National Park is a great way to spend a few days out in the wilderness. Combine a little camping with some cycling, hiking, and fishing for a real appreciation of the Scottish landscape.
Distance: 33 miles. Approximately an hour.
Stay: 2 days.
Highlights: Camping, fishing, hiking, cycling, and loch cruises.
Like something out of a fantasy novel. Image courtesy of Ralf.
20. The Scottish West Coast
Scotland’s west coast is criminally underrated, but we’re about to change that as we head off-the-beaten-path to see something a little different.
While Glasgow, Loch Lomond, and Glencoe technically fall within the West Scotland region, we’re headed to the seaside town of Oban for a taste of the simple life. While we’re here, we’re also going to take a ferry over to the Isle of Mull to indulge in a spot of birding and wildlife-spotting. From red dear and seals to a huge variety of bird life, the Isle of Mull is a mini-safari well worth the trip.
Distance: 65 miles. Approximately ninety minutes.
Stay: 2 days.
Highlights: Scottish village life, bird-watching, and animal spotting.
The beauty of Glencoe is otherworldly. Image courtesy of John McSporran.
21. Glencoe
It’s on to one of Scotland’s most iconic landscapes today, as you’ll head into the Highlands proper to see the spectacular terrain of the Glencoe area.
I grew up fifteen minutes from a village called Glencoe, but the real thing is infinitely more spectacular than a sleepy town in rural NSW. You’ll be blown away by the brilliant greens and cold beauty of this area.
While you don’t have to overnight here to appreciate the beauty of the region, a night spent in the shadow of Ben Nevis means you’ll get to wake with a hot bowl of porridge and soak in that misty morning air. There are few more quintessentially Scottish experiences than waking up freezing.
Distance: 34 miles. Approximately an hour.
Stay: 1-2 days.
Highlights: Natural beauty.
The Isle of Skye is a hiker’s and photographer’s paradise. Image courtesy of Colin.
22. The Isle of Skye
This trip is almost as much about the journey as it is the destination. While the Isle of Skye is justifiably famous for its beauty, your drive there is every bit as spectacular.
Glacier-carved valleys, mirror-still lochs, bubbling mountain streams, and perennially dewy copses of trees make for a stirring view as you wend your way through the Highlands.
I want you to take your time with the Isle of Skye, because you’ll be hard pressed to find a more beautiful spot on earth. Pull on some waterproof shoes, rug up against the elements, and spend as much time as you can just wandering amidst the pinnacles and crumbling castles that lend the island such an aura of mystery.
Distance: 116 miles. Approximately 3 hours.
Stay: 3-4 days
Highlights: Natural beauty.
Be very, very quiet. We’re hunting monsters! Image courtesy of Giuseppe Milo.
23. Loch Ness
Your visit to Scotland wouldn’t be complete without trying your luck spotting the Loch Ness Monster.
While it’s perfectly possible to visit Loch Ness as a day trip from Glasgow or Edinburgh, I budgeted a night in the area so that you can overnight on the shores of the Loch and boost your chances of spotting the (non-existent) beastie.
Distance: 100 miles. Approximately two and a half hours.
Stay: 1 day.
Highlights: The Loch Ness Monster.
“To the ends of the earth, will you follow me?” – Lord Huron. Image courtesy of Adam Court.
24. John O’Groat’s
We visited Land’s End in the southwest, so now it’s time to pay a brief visit to the northernmost tip of Great Britain. There may be a bunch of islands to the north, but you’ve now driven as far as you can along the length of the island!
The main attraction here is standing at the literal end of the road, but this area is also one of the best places in the UK to spot adorable puffins, especially on nearby Dunnet Head.
Why not spend a night or two here so you can soak in the serenity, do some birding, and take a trip out to Orkney Island?
Distance: 134 miles. Approximately three hours.
Stay: 1-2 days
Highlights: Puffins, Orkney Island, and coastal walks.
There are castles and historic sites aplenty in Aberdeen on the Scottish east coast, but it’s also one of the best places in Scotland to develop an appreciation for Scotch Whisky. With a number of whisky distilleries both in the city and nearby, it’s the perfect place to indulge in a dram of the good stuff.
If that isn’t your speed, the nearby Cairngorms National Park is a representation of Scotland’s boundless charm in miniature. Castles, highland scenery, distilleries, and idyllic villages combine in the UK’s largest national park.
You can feasibly skip this stop, but you should at least try whisky while you’re in Scotland.
Distance: 221 miles. Approximately five hours.
Stay: 1-2 days
Highlights: Scotch whisky, historic sites, and Cairngorms National Park.
A truly imposing sight, Edinburgh Castle dominates the city’s skyline. Image courtesy of Clive G.
26. Edinburgh
We’re into the home stretch now as we make our way to the history and beauty of Edinburgh.
Like London, you’re going to want to spend a few days here to really soak in all of the history and charm that the city exudes. From ghost tours to delicious pub meals to historic sites, the city is bursting at the seams with stuff to do and see.
Grabbing a ticket for the hop on-hop off bus is a great way to get around town, as you’ll probably be sick of driving by now!
Distance: 128 miles. Approximately two and a half hours.
Stay: 3+ days
Highlights: Edinburgh Castle, the Royal Mile, ghost tours, Holyrood Palace, and more.
27. Newcastle
It’s time to say your goodbyes to Scotland make your way back down to Newcastle. We’re back where it all began!
Whether you choose to stay on here for a few days or head straight for the airport is up to you.
Distance: 120 miles. Approximately two and a half hours.
Your Say
Have you visited any of the above locations? What were your highlights and lowlights?
What would be on your Great UK road trip?
If you were going to add Ireland and Northern Ireland, what would your recommendations be?
Have you already been on your own UK road trip? What lessons did you learn?
Help me to make this the best possible road trip itinerary!
I emerged from the water exhilarated by my time soaring over the towering pinnacles and dusk-shrouded boulders of Pulau Weh’s famous ‘Canyon’.
Intermingled with my feelings of joyous wonder was that of frustration. It was my fourth and final dive in Sumatra’s premier dive location, and once again I’d come up well ahead of my dive partner, Richelle.
It was strangely emasculating to have to send her a slow motion wave at the end of my dive (and the midpoint of hers), a humbling kind of defeat that left a sour taste in my mouth as the dive master and I clambered back onto the dive boat.
Despite my disappointment, I was flushed with enthusiasm for the day ahead. We’d return to shore, grab some local food, and then retire to our hammocks at Treetops Inn for our final afternoon on vacation. Bliss.
“I’m just gonna head up top and get some sun,” I told the crew as I snatched up a bottle of water and made for the ladder.
The seas on the western side of Pulau Weh were a little rougher than they’d been on the sheltered eastern tip, but I had confidence in my sea legs.
Hell, it’s a running boast that I never fall over. I’ll stumble, I’ll slip, but I’ll always keep my feet.
I make my way to the highest portion of the boat. It was here that all eight of us perched on our way out, and I’m looking forward to comparing notes as the others return and seek out the sun’s warmth.
Twisting off the cap of my water bottle, I begin the decidedly unglamorous task of wrestling out of my too tight wetsuit.
Disaster Strikes
My arms are pinned behind my back when the swell tips the boat violently.
Pinioned in still damp Lycra, there’s precious little I can do as I start to slide towards the edge of the roof.
“Fuck,”
I shout as I skid across the rotting rooftop, half hoping I’ll snag in one of the holes that dot it like acne.
“Fuck,”
I cry out as my water bottle tumbles over the side of the boat. We’re still tipping.
“Fu-uck”
I spit it out one final time as I follow my water bottle over the side. As I’m tumbling, the boat is righting itself.
It’s not the water that’s rushing up to meet me. It’s the deck.
As with all disasters, minor and major, it happens too quickly for me to remember it in anything but jagged snapshots.
I couldn’t tell you which part of me struck the unyielding wood first.
I couldn’t tell you if I felt the moment when my ulna snapped like a twig and came perilously close to breaking the skin of my left arm.
I couldn’t say how my knee bent when it struck the edge of the boat.
I imagine it might have looked quite funny to the startled crew: a 105 kg man falling from the sky and dashing himself against the chipped paint of their boat.
It’s an instant of surprise and pain.
Followed closely by an instant of incongruous relief as the cold water closes in over my head and I realize I’m still alive and still conscious.
Relaxing by the river after orangutan trekking in Bukit Lawang. Obviously pre-broken arm. Photo courtesy of Adventures Around Asia.
Escape
One of the other divers had come up just in time to see my fall, but he’s preoccupied with the violent rise and fall of the ladder as our boat struggles with the rough seas.
“Grab on! Grab on!” the crew shout, shooing my startled American friend away and trying to help me up the ladder.
Hands are offered, but I’m stubborn. I hurt, sure, but I’m not an invalid.
I ignore my left arm’s screams of protests as I haul my sore, bleeding carcass back into the deck with which I’d become so intimately acquainted just moments before.
I feel nauseous.
My peripheral vision is a rapidly reducing circle of light rimmed by dancing motes of black.
I know this feeling: I’m about to faint.
I stagger over to the litter strewn platform on which Richelle and I had left her bag earlier and slump down.
My arm hurts like a bitch, but aside from an ugly puckered wound at the point of impact, it looks fine. No bruising. No blood.
My knee is a wreck of blood that has already covered me down to my ankle. It’s aided by half a dozen other superficial scrapes that look worse than they are.
I suck down water and force a smile onto my face.
My dive master, Elly and the freshly returned duo hover over me like nervous mothers. They smear iodine on my cuts and assure me that it doesn’t look broken.
There’s no swelling. I can move my fingers. I’m fine.
My urge to faint passes, but I lay back and close my eyes anyway.
The lofty perch from which I fell. Image courtesy of Adventures Around Asia.
The Concerned Girlfriend
I hear the others making their way back.
Richelle asks me to grab her GoPro from here as she climbs up the ladder, but she sounds miles away.
While I lie there, our dive master quietly informs her that I’ve had ‘an accident’.
I can’t speak to how she must have felt hearing that and seeing my lying there, bloody and unmoving.
I don’t flatter myself to think that I mean enough after a few short months to stop her heart, but I’m able to imagine how I’d feel if she’d hurt herself.
She rushes over to me with her weight belt still around her waist. There’s a mixture of concern and amusement and fear in her eyes as she catalogues my wounds and I play down the whole affair.
Some of my fellow divers off their sage wisdom on my situation.
“If it’s not swollen, it isn’t broken,” offers a Swiss dive instructor on holiday from Thailand.
“If you can move your fingers, you’re fine” a Canadian offers.
“It’s probably just a bad sprain,” puts in a well-intentioned Englishman, “You’ll have had worse from rugby, I’d wager”.
I’m in dire need of a hug, and Richelle obliges. I try not to let anybody else see that my eyes are wet with tears of mingled relief and pain.
Richelle, henceforth known as “the girlf” atop Shuicheng Great Wall for her birthday recently.
Dry Land
By the time we step back onto dry land, my little tumble has become more amusing than frightening.
My leg might be bloody and I might have trouble lifting my arm, but I’m alive.
I slump into a low chair and cradle an Aceh coffee sweetened with condensed milk.
I can’t fault Richelle for taking her time to fill out her dive log or any of the staff for thinking I was fine.
I felt mostly fine, and what did still phase me, I made a point of keeping to myself.
One of the dive masters sees through my chuckles and my apparently carefree attitude, instead spotting the flinches as I walked and the way my left knee seemed reluctant to support my weight.
He goes to the owner and comes back to us with a set of car keys.
“I’m taking you to the hospital”.
Iboih Beach in Pulau Weh. Image courtesy of Adventures Around Asia.
Visiting the Hospital on Pulau Weh
Iboih Beach might be the diving hotspot for Pulau Weh, but it’s hardly a bustling hub.
Even Sabang, the island’s largest city, isn’t much to look at.
The hospital they’re taking me to is laughably small. There are rural doctor’s clinics Australia better equipped to deal with my situation.
We make a hurried stop at our hotel so Richelle can grab a scarf for modesty and some cash for medical expenses, and ten bumpy, windy minutes later we’re at the hospital.
A trio of hijab wearing women tend to me, but beyond words of encouragement and washing my wounds, there isn’t much they can do.
This isn’t a hospital with an x-ray or even a fully stocked pharmacy, so I leave with six ibuprofen and their recommendation I go to Banda Aceh.
Over dinner, I feel what I later realise is the bone shifting around in the living meat of my arm. It feels like a fat finger rooting around in uncooked mince.
My arm is so swollen that my bracelets bite into my arm. My fingers look comically large.
And all the while I’m thinking, “Christ, I forgot to buy travel insurance“.
Flying with a Broken Arm
We don’t have time to pay a visit to Banda Aceh’s hospital.
Our last day on the island is almost over, and the next day sees us tackling a ferry and four flights in our 24-hour journey home.
I instead make the journey with the aid of one of Richelle’s sarongs repurposed as a sling and some ibuprofen cream a fellow guest was kind enough to lend me. Thanks, Andy.
The trip back is a nightmare, but I’ll let Adventures Around Asia tell that tale. She’s the hero of that piece.
A Broken Arm in China
Richelle and I are in high spirits as we make our way to the hospital on our first full day back in China.
I was reluctant to even make the trip. The worrying swelling from the day before is gone.
“I bet it’s a sprain,” I suggest, “I’ll buy dinner tonight if I’m wrong”.
“I bet it’s a fracture,” Richelle jokes, “I’ll buy dinner if I’m wrong”.
It’s a frustrating process navigating the various layers of interdepartmental bureaucracy that rule all things in China, but we’re soon before an English-speaking doctor and he’s showing me a decidedly broken arm.
Richelle and I both let out amused laughs when we see the first x-ray. Side on, it looks like a tiny crack.
I cheer for my first broken bone. She cheers because dinner is on me.
And then he shows us the other image.
And then he advises us that I’ll need surgery.
And then he says it’s going to cost 30,000RMB ($6,000 AUD/$4,300 USD).
And I’m thinking,
“Christ, I forgot to buy travel insurance”.
The arm in all of its gory glory.
Thank God I’m an Aussie
When I first heard the price, I nearly died.
I checked and rechecked the conversion in my head. We ask if he misspoke.
In a fit of supreme generosity, Richelle even offers to loan me the money so I can get the surgery done ASAP.
I’ve never quite outgrown being that kid who can always rely on the wisdom of his parents.
I call Mum.
Mum calls John Hunter hospital.
I can get the surgery done for free at home. I just need to present at A&E with my x-rays and then wait for a surgeon to be available.
A $700 flight home seems considerably more within the bounds of possibility than a $6000 operation with dubious cleanliness standards and the very real possibility of being prescribed three different teas as part of my healing regimen.
The possibility of being prescribed three different teas as part of my healing regimen.
We pay the exorbitant fee to get a soft cast put on my arm and start trawling Skyscanner for affordable flights home that don’t have 21-hour layovers in Chongqing or Changsha.
A standard prescription in China? Actually, smaller than most I saw.
Nanjing to the Rescue
Beijing might be China’s capital and a major transport hub, but its two airports aren’t offering up a lot in the two-week window the doctors gave me.
$600 one way flights or $650 round trips with ridiculous layovers in second tier cities.
I’d rather manually break my good arm than subject myself to any amount of time on China Southern.
Thankfully, my former stomping grounds in Nanjing come to the rescue.
I can get a $700 return flight with Cathay Pacific (with no bullshit layovers), have a long overdue reunion with mates I haven’t seen in six months, and get my Nanjing apartment sorted ahead of my move to Beijing.
I’m going home.
Flying the Aussie flag with pride is a rare sight.
Nil By Mouth
My time at Newcastle’s John Hunter Hospital is an exercise in patience.
From the six hours in A&E waiting to see first a doctor and then a surgeon, to the two full days of fasting ahead of a surgery that is continually postponed.
Nil by mouth is the process of cutting out all foods and liquids 8-12 hours ahead of surgery.
You’re hooked up to a drip and forced to wave away the meal cart whenever it comes by.
I become intimately familiar with nil by mouth as my Saturday surgery is pushed to Sunday and my Sunday surgery is pushed to Monday.
In both cases, I fast from 10 pm one day to 8 pm the next.
I watch daytime TV without much relish.
I stand solemn vigil in the hospital foyer each night so I can use their wi-fi. My IV drip stands at my side like a probation officer.
I shower with bags taped over my arm.
My Mum, bless her, subjects herself voluntarily to this purgatory. I feel too guilty to sleep while she sits by my bed leading through a novel or dozing fitfully.
It’s an exhausting few days, both physically and emotionally.
Going Under the Knife
I’m shaken awake at dawn on Monday morning and told I’ll be going in for surgery.
By 8 am, I’m staring up at the roof of the prep room while my anesthesiologist hovers over me and waits for the call.
I’m nervous but ready to be done with the waiting. As lovely as the staff has been and as supportive as Mum is – I’m ready to not be laying in bed all day.
Things go blank.
I wake up in a crowded recovery room which buzzes with life. Nurses cash back and forth between dazed and confused patients.
I am told to tap the morphine as soon as I see the light saying the timer has reset.
In a bizarre attempt to show I’m okay, I keep trying to make small talk with the obviously busy staff.
“Where are you from?” I ask them for no apparent reason.
I’ve already forgotten the question by the time they’ve finished answering.
My arm hurts. It fucking hurts.
In fact, it hurts worse than when I broke the damned thing.
That makes sense. They had to force the two jagged halves of my bone together, scrape away any calcification, and then attach a metal plate to the bone by drilling holes through it.
Morphine is a good friend.
Back in my room, I wolf down a bag of candy and guzzle a bottle of coke.
I then proceed to throw it all up into a bag my Mum holds for me.
Undeterred, I ask her to buy me a schnitzel and absolutely destroy that.
I stop just short of licking the plate.
Recovery
I’m kept under observation for another 24 hours as the morphine and the antibiotics do their job.
My cousin, Mitchell comes by with Cadbury Favourites and a travel adaptor so I can use my laptop.
I have long late night chats with Richelle and read and reread the Lonely Planet magazine Mum brought me.
I pee into a jug and have a nurse come and get it.
And then, just like that, I’m a delirious passenger in my sister’s car as she drives me out to her home.
The pain comes and goes over the next few days.
Sometimes, the Endone makes me so high that I can’t function and have to lock myself in the guest room.
I get 2-3 hours of sleep a night and I’m barely eating. I’m constipated and I’m not hungry.
But, despite all of that, I’m healing.
Exhaustion
It’s been an exhausting week on every level.
I cry on the train to Sydney because I can’t get comfortable enough to snatch some precious sleep.
I break down again in front of my friends over dinner as I try to explain to them why I can’t wait to get back to China.
I have a new apartment. I have my site. I have a business I’m trying to set up. I have a girlfriend I spend more time away from than I’d like. I have my brother, his girlfriend, and my nephew waiting for me.
It’s the culmination of a sleepless, pain-filled week. I’m emotionally, physically, and mentally drained.
The Moral of the Story
The moral of the story could be: don’t go up on the roof of boats in rough seas.
It could be: socialized health care is the benchmark of any civilized country.
But, let’s be honest, it should be: BUY FUCKING TRAVEL INSURANCE.
Instead of spending a bunch of money I’d rather be spending on more scuba dives, I’d have already had the surgery and been on the mend.
Travel insurance wouldn’t have changed my decision to fly home for the surgery, but it would have taken away a lot of the stress.
Learn from my mistakes, kid. Pay the money and save yourself a lot of heartache.
Your Say
Have you ever found yourself injured or ill abroad without travel insurance? What was your experience like?
Want to read more on the subject? Adventures Around Asia also wrote about our experience traveling without insurance.
I have spent so much of the last eleven years on the road that I feel like trips back to my native Australia are the vacation.
While I’m #blessed to be able to call such exotic locales as Tanzania, Vietnam, and China home – there’s still a wealth of places in Australia I am dying to explore.
Often overlooked by international travellers, Tasmania is a stunning island boasting some of Australia’s most breathtaking natural beauty.
Don’t believe me? Read on!
10 Amazing Things to do in Tasmania
As Australia’s only island state, Tasmania can sometimes seem a bridge too far for international tourists.
Thankfully, it’s possible to fly directly from major cities such as Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane. You can also take the ferry from Melbourne to Tasmania!
Once you’re on the island, there is a wealth of options to keep you entertained.
Tackling the Overland Track is one of the best ways to experience Tasmania’s natural beauty. Image courtesy of Steven Penton.
#10 – Hike the Overland Track
Ever since hiking the Kumano Kodo Iseji in 2017, I’ve been somewhat obsessed with finding the next big hiking adventure for Richelle and me.
The Overland Track is one of Australia’s most famous hikes and with good reason. A 65km hike from Cradle Mountain to Lake St. Clair, the Overland Track takes you through a variety of landscapes including temperate rainforest, rolling hills, and alpine mountains.
The extra-ambitious can extend their hiking by trekking to the summits of Cradle Mountain and Mount Ossa, while others choose to extend their hike by following the shores of Australia’s deepest lake, Lake St. Clair.
There aren’t B&Bs or ryokan along the trail, but a series of maintained huts give you a place to unroll your sleeping bag and cook your dinner.
The Overland Track isn’t one for casual hikers, but if you’re well-prepared and looking to experience Australia’s natural splendour, it’s a must-see.
The Southern Lights are absolutely spectacular. Image courtesy of Shellie Evans.
#9 – Spot the Aurora Australis
The Aurora Borealis (Northern Lights) might be one of the most famous natural displays on earth, but precious few people are aware that it has a southern equivalent.
The Aurora Australis (Southern Lights) is every bit as spectacular as the famous Scandinavian display, and it can be seen from locations in Tasmania such as Cockle Creek in the south or even Mt. Wellington in Hobart.
It’s not something you should plan your whole trip around, but carving out some time to see the dancing lights isn’t a bad idea!
How’s the serenity?
#8 – Relax in rural Tasmania
When people look for things to do in Tasmania, they’re directed to its vibrant cities and its astounding national parks. However, one shouldn’t overlook Tasmania’s significant rural charm.
Whether it’s stopping off in a quaint little town for a bite to eat on your way somewhere else or an extended stay at a cute B&B, rural Tasmania offers that dinky-di Aussie charm you won’t find in the cities.
My fiancee and I very nearly planned our upcoming wedding at my cousin’s property, Oatlands Manor. I’m still dying to get down there and get away from it all!
#7 – Experience Museum of Old and New Art (MONA)
Listed by Lonely Planet as one of the top attractions in the world, the deliciously quirky Museum of Old and New Art (MONA for short) is a must-see while you’re in Tasmania.
Even if your first reaction upon hearing the words ‘art gallery’ is to roll your eyes and say “that’s not my scene”, MONA might just change your mind.
The museum is carved into ancient sandstone and boasts an astonishing collection of modern art.
MONA aims to confront and confound its visitors with collections depicting everything from reproductive organs to global politics to (I’m not kidding) poop.
The distinctly coloured stones give the Bay of Fires its impressive name. Image courtesy of shuttles.
#6 – Explore the Bay of Fires
One of the most beautiful stretches of coastline in Australia, the dramatically named Bay of Fires has enchanted people from all across the world.
White sand beaches, crystal-clear water, and the fiery coloured stone that lend the region its name combine to make the Bay of Fires one of Australia’s hottest up and coming destinations.
Visitors can swim, go on bushwalks, or simply relax and enjoy the region’s immense natural beauty. It is truly one of Australia’s most stunning locales.
One of Australia’s most famous animals, the Tasmanian Devil doesn’t spin quite as much as cartoons might indicate. Image courtesy of Mathias Appel.
#5 – Go on an Aussie safari in the Tarkine region
You don’t need to go to Africa to go on safari!
Visitors to the rugged Tarkine region of Tasmania can experience an Australian safari including animals such as quolls, platypus, echidnas, bandicoots, sugar gliders, and the famous Tasmanian Devil. It’s also a world-class destination for birders.
Whether you explore it on foot, by kayak, or in luxury on a riverboat, the region is one of Australia’s most stunning wilderness areas.
One of Tasmania’s most beautiful spots. Image courtesy of Vern.
#4 – Take a dip in Wineglass Bay
The name Freycinet National Park may not immediately ring any bells, but Wineglass Bay just might.
Considered one of the top ten beaches in the world, Wineglass Bay is that perfect combination of impossibly clear water and powdery white sand. Combined with the stunning granite peaks that border the beach, it’s a recipe for a perfect beach escape.
Visitors can experience the region in barefoot luxury or in bare-bones camping. Activities in the region range from sunbathing and bushwalking to rock-climbing, sea kayaking, and fishing. There really is something for all walks of life.
One of Australia’s most haunted sites, Port Arthur is well worth a visit. Image courtesy of Tom Fassbender.
#3 – Uncover Port Arthur’s haunted past
Australia’s best-preserved convict site, Port Arthur stands as a haunting reminder of Australia’s dark colonial roots.
For those with an interest in Australian or British Colonial history, there are few places that offer a more complete picture of Australia’s past.
Taking a ghost tour of Port Arthur is one of the most popular things to do in Tasmania. If that’s not your style, visiting by day offers a range of activities including carriage tours, extended boat tours, or just soaking in the history at your own pace.
The park is truly one of Tasmania’s most gorgeous regions. Image courtesy of Steven Penton.
#2 – Travel through Cradle Mountain-Lake St. Clair National Park
I mentioned both Cradle Mountain and Lake St. Clair earlier in this piece, but the Overland Track probably isn’t for everyone.
For those who don’t see the appeal in five to six days of hiking through the Aussie wilderness, Cradle Mountain-Lake St. Clair National Park is nonetheless worth your time.
Comprising a startling variety of landscapes, the park feels like true wilderness. Signs of civilisation are few and far between, giving you a chance to experience what it must have felt like for Australia’s early explorers.
With a huge variety of day treks to be taken, multiple days could be spent within the park without seeing it all!
Quite a view of Hobart. Image courtesy of The 3Bs.
#1 – Discover Hobart
Last, but certainly not least, Tasmania’s capital is worthy of your time.
Home to the aforementioned MONA, Hobart has plenty to offer regardless of your tastes.
Like shopping? The Salamanca Market on Saturdays takes place in gorgeous colonial architecture.
Hiking more your speed? Head up Mt. Wellington for a glimpse of the Aurora Australis or a breathtaking view of Hobart.
Fancy a pint? The Cascade Brewery Company is one of Australia’s most popular beer brands.
Hungry? Hobart is a cosmopolitan city with flavours from around the world, but also some of Australia’s best seafood.
Wanting a day trip? Hobart is a great base to explore nearby national parks, wine regions, and islands.
In short, Hobart is one of Australia’s most criminally underrated cities and a fantastic base from which to explore the island of Tasmania.
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What Are You Waiting For?
Tasmania is very much on my radar for after we’ve tied the knot next year, but if Australia is in your plans for the year to come – make sure you make some time for Tasmania!
Your Say
Have you been to Tasmania? What did you think?
What are your favourite things to do in Tasmania? Did I miss anything?
I always check back over these comments, so let me know your suggestions and I’ll get them added!
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