Melbourne to Sydney the long way round

IMG_0888
Originally uploaded by lucie.gray

I had decided a while ago that instead of just taking the greyhound up to Sydney I would join a tour and see some more of the country on the way. So bright and 6.15am early I stood at the wrong gallery in Melbourne waiting for my bus. After a while of wondering why no one else was taking to tour I re read the booking sheet and realised I should have been 5 mins down the road. So in my best backpackers panic I started running... luckily I spotted the bus coming down the street and after flagging them down and throwing myself onboard I was on my way.

Our tour guide was a chap called 'Bones' and I don't think I will every be able to put into words the crazy nature of this tall, skinny, long haired ozzy. Who informed us he had never been to europe because he thought it would be a bit dull. I could see his point after the tales of his travels came out, including the 3 years traveling with a camel and the purchase of Daryl the donkey in South America to help him get about.

Our first stop was Wilsons Promontory a nature reserve on the coast which includes the most southerly point of Australia. Bones stopped the bus because he had spotted a wombat in a clearing. He prepped us with tactics so we could get up close and because he was quite still we were in with a chance of getting a good look. After a stealthy creep round his lack of movement was explained by the fact he was dead. We were all visibly disappointed and sad so Bones lead us in to the bush with the promise of Kangaroos. True to his word after a short walk to another clearing we were surrounded by what seamed like hundreds of Roos bouncing about.

We then headed further in to the park for a 3k walk up onto the point and down on to a beach with sand so white and fine it felt like snow to walk on.

Day two we again were up bright and early and on the road by 6am. The landscape slowly turned into mountains and we turned off the main highway onto the 'Barry way' which has been carved into the mountains. Sadly they didn't think that a road wide enough fot two vehicles would be a good idea so as I peered out of the window I was greeted with a very large drop. The road took us up into the Snowy river region and the Australian snow fields. I know Australia has snow but I still could not get my head around the idea and even after a snow fight I wasn't quite believing it. we stayed in a town called Jindabyne which is situated on a huge man made lake, of which we had amazing views of from our room.

Day three we headed in to Canberra which true to my expectations was lacking in people and soul. We were taken to parliament house which offers a free tour and surprisingly is more interesting than we were all expecting. We when headed of for a drive around the embassy's and a game of 'guess which country lives here'

We arrived into Sydney just before 6 and I headed down to the harbour for a sneeky peak of the Harbour bridge and Opera house. I know it sounds strange but now I have seen them I can truly believe that I am in Australia.