We spent our first week exploring Sydney and surrounds. My best friend from college married a great Aussie guy on September 3rd. On the 4th, all the Americans took a side trip West to The Blue Mountains, including a bushwalk to the edge of the canyon (where we watched BASE jumpers leap), stops at the Mount Tomah Botanic Garden and the Katoomba Scenic Skyway and Railway, and Devonshire Tea at the Hydro Majestic Hotel with views of the Megalong Valley.
On September 5th, James and I split off from the group and began our roadtrip south down the coast to Murramurrang National Park. We woke up the first morning to see a herd of kangaroos on the beach outside our cabin!
We continued our drive down the coast of New South Wales, stopping to visit with Vanessa the Baby Wombat and another herd of 'roos at the Birdland petting zoo. We stopped in two famous cheese towns, Tilba Tilba and Bega, and bought the first Men at Work CD in Sale. We continued our drive into Victoria. We stopped at Philip Island to see the Fairy Penguin parade and the Koala Sanctuary.
On the way into Melbourne, we drove through the Dandenong Ranges. We then spent a few days exploring Melbourne, include the highlight of our stay, a private "Foodie's Dream Tour" of the Queen Victoria Market.
From Melbourne, we flew to Cairns where we immediately hopped a boat for Green Island, a coral island in the Great Barrier Reef.
After a few blissful days on Green Island, we returned to the mainland where we stayed north of Cairns and explored the Northern Beaches, Port Douglas, and the Daintree rainforest. We took a train up to the village of Kuranda where we visited the Butterfly Sanctuary. On the way back, we took a skyrail over the top of the rainforest.
