Elizabeth Quay bridge, Perth
City view of Perth
Yanchep Lagoon
Quokka on Rottnest island
Wines from Mandoon estate
February 7 - February 19, 2024
We flew from Bali to Perth on February 7 with Air Asia. This airline stands out for having the most limited leg space in aviation history! My knees have never felt so confined between two seats, making bus rides in Malawi or Sikkim suddenly seem comfortable. We lodged in a pleasant home through Home Exchange, situated in Kewdale, where we took care of a charming little dog.
During our four-day exploration of Perth, the city reminded me of smaller Canadian cities like Ottawa or Halifax. The temperature consistently soared above 40 degrees Celsius on most days. Renting a car, we drove to Yanchep National Park, where we encountered our first wild kangaroos. A dip in Yanchep Lagoon followed, though the water, at around 65°F (16 degrees Celsius), felt chilly compared to Bali.
Our visit to Caversham Wildlife Sanctuary allowed us to hold koalas and interact with soft, friendly kangaroos. A day trip to Rottnest Island gave us the chance to marvel at Quokkas, unique marsupials exclusive to the island, and stroll along super clear waters. At the Royal Mint of Perth, I glimpsed at a $900,000 diamond ring (opted not to purchase!) and indulged in exceptional wines at Mandoon Estate in Swan Valley. The seven wines tasted were consistently high-quality, surpassing those I experienced in Armenia.
February 19 - February 27, 2024
We took a flight with Jetstar airline from Perth to Melbourne. Taylor Swift was in town for 3 nights (part of her Era tour) so flight were more expensive than usual. We were a little jetlag, but visited the Victorian memorial on our first day in Melbourne. We spent the next 3 days visiting Melbourne's numerous free attractions: Victorian library, Museums, Art Galleries, Botanical garden, etc. We searched for wild possum (they can be found in some of Melbourne's park), but didn't find any.
Swamp Wallaby, Wilson Ntl Park
February 27 - March 1, 2024
Wilson Promontory National Park is located a 2-hour drive south east of Melbourne, at the southernmost tip of the Australian mainland. This place has pristine landscapes, diverse ecosystems. superb beaches, granite peaks, dense forests, expansive heathlands, secluded coves and great sand dunes!
The park is a haven for wildlife enthusiasts (like us!), boasting a rich array of native fauna, including wombats, kangaroos, and many bird species. We saw our first wild wallabies and encountered a wild wombat.
March 1 - March 6, 2024
Sydney, the biggest visited city in Australia, surpassed our expectations in terms of size and attractions. Our journey from Melbourne to Sydney by train, however, encountered a delay of over two hours from its planned schedule, marking a difference in the punctuality we had experienced with trains in India!
Our Sydney itinerary included visits to iconic landmarks such as the Sydney Harbour Bridge, the Sydney Opera House, the botanical gardens, and the historic laneways of the Rocks neighborhood beneath the Sydney bridge. Additionally, we walked along the waterfront of Bondi Beach. A highlight of our visit was the coastal walk from Bondi to Bronte Baths, where we braved the agitated ocean for a refreshing dip. During our time in Sydney, we also caught up with friends from Malaysia (Scott and Amber), who now live here.
On March 6 2024, I left Sydney and took three planes (a 40-hour journey) and landed in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Click here: Argentina was my next destination.
