Back to the Other Side of the World

You might have been wondering what happened to me – no updates for such long time?!

Everything fine and I am on my trip as mentioned since January 10th.
This blog will give you an overview of our trip back to Australia and beyond.

I won`t write any travel stories this time as I otherwise need to extend another time to fit in all things to do ;-)

Still you can follow me on this adventure with loads of pictures and impressions.

A regular update is given in my web space where you can access freely:

http://picasaweb.google.com/marco.schoeggl/

So where the bloody hell are we?

This is our idea of destinations we will visit:

Using the extra time to explore the far south of Australia – Tasmania which is worth a minimum trip of 4 weeks if you wanna follow. After our trip I would even say 5-6 weeks would be ideally if you want to do some serious hikes! Interested? Check out more here:

With some time in between on Australian roads we will than head to New Zealand and visit the Kiwis! 6 weeks is what we thought to be ok, but sure you can spend here months and years if you want to.

Zealandia is a world for itself, completely different to all the other countries around. The nature can`t be more versatile than here – from endless beaches to lush forest, from sheep farming valleys to the alpine glaciers and it`s 3000ers.




Right now we just left the natural South Island and arrived at the cultural North Island. Looking forward to this facet of this beautiful country.

Coming back from Kiwi land we will have our last 3 weeks in Australia giving us time for a long and pleasant goodbye.

Than we will get back to our backpacker life and set sail to the Fiji`s! Where exactly? No idea – we will see when we are there.

Definitely on our pick list are the world top diving grounds and beautiful islands with its picturesque beaches … all for us!


If you want to contact me – feel free as I keep my contact information update in the top right of this site as usual!

Wishing you all a good time and see you soon in summer 2010!

Take Care

Marco &  Carmen

Goodbye Australia <2009.8.22>

It`s sad but there is always an end of a trip infront of you.
And so our has come to say goodbye to Oz!



Unbelieveable how fast the time went by...

Carmen is opening me the last gate on our journey - the beauty farm of Jaqueline - my oncle Jan`s home.



You remember our beloved car Jaqueline - our beauty queen?!
How does she look after - I can`t believe it - 4,5 months and 23.583 km on the road?

Just like this:



Ups - sorry dad, this was before the cleaning...

Here she is - Voilá:



As on her first day - ready for the next thousand Ks.

Farewell to our home for a while

So here we spend our last days together with our beloved family Rita, Jani & Wusel in the relaxing backyard of Oberon city.











Even all Kangaroohs we saw during this trip came by to say goodbye to us!



Enough tears shed - let`s look into the future!
New adventure awaits us as we give up our campervan live and change into BACKPACKERS to explore South-East Asia over the next 3 months!



Let`s Walkabout

More on:
http://picasaweb.google.at/marco.schoeggl/GoodbyeAustralia#

From the highest Mountains to the deepest Caves <2009.8.20>

The last stop of our Journey through Oz brings us to the highlands which seperates Sydney from the Outback - The Blue Mountains.



Just an hour drive (if you are lucky and escape the rush hours)and you reach Katoomba the gateway to this area. They called "Blue" because the valleys are mostly covered in blue haze from the oil of the millions of eucalyptus trees.
Can you see it?



We drove along the cliff drive and stopped nearly at every lookout on the way - its hard to resist such view:





The celebreties of this area are called "3 Sisters" - there where more of them in the past, but this is what is left so far:



The first one reminds me of the Muppet Show:



:-)



How can such formations been established?
Just by the power of very little drops of water! Just plenty of them - like the famous Katoomba Falls



Best to view them from the Scenic World where we took the skyrail to the other side:



Here you view them from the beginning



until the big drop off



Idealy you stay here overnight to experience the sunset when this area becomes quiet as the tourist busses have left the showground and last chinese whisper as faded away when the blue haze starts to turn in all different kind of colors to welcome the cool night.



Than just lay back - 900m high over the cliff and feel the power and charm of mother nature at its nap:








On the next day we leave Katoomba and head further west into the country. I love to spend more time around here as this was just the beginning of the great lookouts - don`t miss blackheath city!





600m waterfalls




Searching for inspiration we head to the Jenolan Caves - one of the biggest and most impressive here in Oz.





Already when you arrive you pass through a huge cave-cathedral short before you reach the tour center. As you need to be on a guided tour - we quickly checked us in on the River Cave Adventure tour.

And here we are - 2 hours and 1.278 steps are waiting for us x-)



Already the first 5 minutes I saw more than at any other cave tour I experienced before. And this was just the way TO the cave ... hungry for more!



Clear underwater rivers & picturesque crystal cathedrals are waiting here for you since 430 mio. Years! Hard too grasp - isn`t it?!









And all made by single drop of water ...



But be careful - in those ancient caves also prehistorical creatures may await you...



Your Caveman

More On:
http://picasaweb.google.at/marco.schoeggl/FromTheHighestMountainsToTheDeepestCaves#

Natural Gems of Sydney <2009.08.17>

Being back in Sydney for 2 days doesn`t mean we are stuck in the city and lost in the huge shopping centers...
No - Sydney has more to offer than just downtown and we are ready to conquer those hidden gems!



Just north of the city center lies Manly Beach - famous for hours of walks along the shore or its buzzling surf beach.







With great views back on Sydney down town





... can you hear the "Love Boat" song in the back ground ;-)




Search for something more quiet - just stay a bit up north of Manly lies Long Reef where its just you and the sea:











If you ever go there - look for our track and follow this footprints ...



Finally we found the ultimate City escape - a place the size of Vienna, just 15 min off the city limits, spectecular cliff zones, powder sand beaches and NO SOUL around you!
Impossible - no - just simply the Royal National Park - the first in Australia.

















Was worth the search!

More on:
http://picasaweb.google.at/marco.schoeggl/NaturalGemsOfSydney#