One year in Australia : Our TOP 20 !

That’s IT, our one year road trip in Australia is over. 365 days in a van alternating between work and travel!

Here are our top 20 highlights in chronological order (leaving from Sydney on 9.11.14 back in Sydney on the 16.10.15, 37 000 km !). A small glimpse at all the marvelous things we saw in Australia!

1 – Jervis Bay, NSW

Our first turquoise water white sand combo. First squeaky sand. First Dolphin (on NYE!). All that made us stay 4 days, mainly at Booderee NP.

2 – Wilson’s promontory NP, Victoria

Superb NP on the coat. WOMBATS, beaches, treks, WOMBATS, great camping, WOMBATS

3- Grampians NP, Victoria

Yet Another superb NP, really beautiful walks (especially the Pinnacle). Great free camp in the park is a bonus!

4 – Great Ocean Road, Victoria

A great classic that’s Worth it. The 12 apostles are beautiful (but SO touristy) don’t hesitate to spend less time there and more time on the other lookouts after (going west). KOALAS at cape Otway ! And beautiful camping at Johanna’s Beach

5 – Overland Track, Tasmania

My first more-than-one-day trek. Magical. 6 days of complete autonomy in the middle of Tasmania. Just incredible. (video here in french)

6 – Bay of Fires, Tasmania

Must do in Tasmania! It’s splendid and not very talked about ! We always see pictures of wineglass bay (beautiful also) but this place… wow !

7 – Flinders range, South Australia

The most deserted sceneries we got to see with our van, adorable Yellow-footed Rock wallabies on the scenic drive (which is kind of intense in a 2WD but Worth it !)

8 – Esperance / Cape Legrand NP, WA

Our biggest highlight in Australia.. really. This park is absolutely SPLENDID (so much that we went twice !). The camping is great (especially for 10 $ a night pp) with super friendly kangaroos !

Thistle cove

And… our little secret… swimming with dolphins at little hellfire bay !

9 – Bilbulum Track (albany to Walpole), WA

Second trek for me, 12 days this time (with resupplying in the middle) I loved it ! Coastal walks, well situated huts, giant tree forests and bonus we did it with our friend Denis who came to see us from Belgium !

(video in french)

10 – Kalbarri NP, WA

Great park where we unfortunately didn’t get to spend much time. Beautiful coastal views and whales if you’re Lucky and walks in the red rocks with the « window on nature »

11- Ningaloo reef, WA

THE PLACE we had waited for since the beginning… and we weren’t disappointed. AMAZING snorkeling right off the beach (!!) and little splurge… whale shark tour Worth every penny !

(video in french here)

12 – Karinjini NP, WA

Superb walks with ice cold swims as a bonus !

13 – Broome, WA

Fun town where we spent a few days on the beach ! Impressive sunsets !

Cable Beach

14 – Litchfield NP, NT

Magnificent park with croc-free swimming ! Florence falls (early in the morning) and the rock pools for afternoons of relaxing and jumping in the water

Florence Falls

15 – Kakadu NP – Nourlangie art ranger talk, NT

We were first disappointed by this park before being enchanted by it, We visited the “natural infinity pool” (on a horrible dirt road) and the next day did a ranger talk at nourlangie rock (with Chritian the ranger) which was such an eye opener on what this park represents to the aboriginal community. This park is to visit with a cultural approach to get the most out of it. Cahill’s crossing on high tide for some serious croc watching !

16 – Bitter Springs, Northern Territory

35 degree Crystal clear waters with turtles.. and you (just getting transported by the small current). Magical

17 – Red Center, Northern Territory

We hesitated and finally decided i twas « just » a little 800 km detour. We didn’t regret between the sunrise on Uluru, the Sunset on Kata Tjura, and the visit to Kings Canyon. Splendid colors

18 – Diving on the West Coast, Queensland

I regroup our 3 experiences here

• Live aboard Spirit of freedom : If you’re gonna dive the great barrier reef do it well or don’t do it. We’d heard too many people disappointed by day strips we decided to do it well ! 4 days of being taken care of, fed, finned (yes… they PUT your fins on FOR YOU when you dive). Like a trip Inside a trip for us. The weather unfortunately didn’t allow us to go to osprey reef but the 2 dives on steve’s bommie definitively made up for it !

• SS Yongala : Diving on a ship wreck sunk in 1911 you find a « reef in the shape of a boat » in the middle of nowhere = ALL the sea life regroups here. You never know what you’re going to see ! (no pictures because during that time our go pro was lying on the bottom of the ocean at the great barrier and miracle… the spirit of freedom FOUND it and SENT IT to us !!
• Fish rocks : sharks, sharks, sharks, sharks, sharks. Here to see sharks

19 – Whitsunday Islands – From the sky, Queensland

THE picture of the Whitsunday islands… well… you can only get it from the sky ! We opted for the Heart Reef+ Whitsunday islands flight (without the snorkeling because after spirit of freedom… we could only be disappointed). One hour of jaw dropping beauty.

20 – Fraser Island, Queensland

The biggest sand Island in the world. Visit with a 4×4 or do it like us and walk ! We LOVED our week on the Island and really got to appreciate everything it has to offer !

There are so many more places I would love to show you but these represent the places that really left there mark in our memories during this incredible year we were so lucky to live!
Now… we’re heading to NEPAL !!