I recently crossed the ‘Ditch’ (the Tasman Sea) from Melbourne to New Zealand, to explore what is one of my very favourite places, and in particular, to check out the recovery of Christchurch after the devastating earthquakes of 2010 and 2011.
Author: Coral Waight
I started travelling alone at the age of 60. I and my little hatchback, thermos and Esky in the boot, began the first of four road trips around the island of Tasmania, south of where I live in Melbourne, Australia. I planned to the 'nth' degree, but nothing could prepare me for getting stuck on the side of a mountain in the dark with my petrol tank on empty. Nothing could prepare me for being on my own in a caravan park on the west coast in the middle of a violent storm, or forgetting I get sea-sick and spending a boat cruise around Tasman Island with my head in a bucket.
With my 'Tassie' experiences under my belt, I ventured overseas, across the Tasman Sea to New Zealand and, eventually, to the other side of the world - England. They say if you want to make God laugh, tell him your plans. He must have been rolling on the floor as I discovered that no matter how much research you do, at some stage you have to give up your set ideas and just wait to see what happens.
My disappearing photos
Sorry to anyone who’s been trying to access the photos on my posts. Every photo, it seems, from 1st July back, has disappeared, leaving only a little box to say it had been there.
NSW Road Trip
Having damaged my right foot (that’s my driving foot) badly just prior to Covid, and not having been able to get proper treatment during that time, I’ve since seen a physio, done all the exercises and it’s been feeling good. It was time to test it out with some serious driving.
Alice Springs to Standley Chasm
It’s eight months since my trip out to Australia’s red centre via the comfort of the Ghan Railway (to read about my trip on the Ghan, click here). We stopped at Alice Springs for a tour, and I chose the lovely Desert Park, seven kilometres out of town.
Corroboree Billabong-Northern Territory
For my second day in Darwin, I organised a full day tour in the Mary River National Park, including a 2.5 hour cruise through the wetlands of Corroboree Billabong.
Darwin – Northern Territory
On the last night of our trip on The Ghan, we were dropped at our hotels in the city of Darwin, capital of Australia’s Northern Territory.
The Mighty Ghan-Katherine to Darwin
Following on from my last post, The Ghan had halted in the township of Katherine for our last excursion – Katherine Gorge in Nitmiluk National Park.
The Mighty Ghan-Adelaide to Alice Springs
For as long as I can remember, I’ve been wanting to visit Australia’s red centre, and also Darwin in the top end, but for various reasons I always talked myself out of it.
Continue reading “The Mighty Ghan-Adelaide to Alice Springs”
The Blue Mountains – NSW
I’ve been talking about exploring the Blue Mountains forever, and thought it was about time I got on with it. So two weeks ago I booked a plane flight to Sydney.
Tassie Twelve Years On – Heading home
I dragged myself away from the coast and across to the Midland Highway, known as the Heritage Highway because of all the heritage towns and villages along the way. I popped into some, for old times sake.
Planning to the Nth 