G’day. I just returned from my second 3-week trip to Australia that included the Melbourne area, Tasmania, the Adelaide area and Brisbane (north to Hervey Bay and Fraser Island). I want to send a special “thank you” out to everyone who responds on this forum, especially the local Aussies. Your feedback and responses to numerous questions provided great local info and greatly helped us with planning our trip.

I hope to do a trip report once I get myself back on ESDT. In the mean time, I hope the following tips will help first timers who are headed down under shortly:

Distances are huge. If your plans involve driving, distances are greater than you think. Whatever time you have allowed to drive from point A to point B, increase it.

Businesses close early. We found that most stores, including grocery stores, are closed by 6:00pm. Thursday and Friday seem to be the days stores are open later.

Local Tourist Information offices. We used them for help in booking accommodations, local maps, booking dinner reservations, etc. The people staffing these offices (some are volunteers) are wonderful sources of local information. So, keep your eyes open for the blue sign with the yellow “I”

Local beer. Everyone knows Australia produces wonderful wines, but you never hear about their beer. So, enjoy the great Australia beers that you can’t get in the States. Does anyone know why Australia doesn’t export their beer??

Inexpensive meals at bakery. Even the smallest towns have wonderful bakeries. We took advantage of these bakeries and would visit for lunch and enjoy the great meat pies. Several times we visited in the morning hours and picked up pies which allowed us to picnic at lunch during our travels.

Thanks again to all who respond on this forum and happy travels to all.
Bonnie
Richmond, VA

Hi B,

Thanks for the kind comments. Re your beer remark - I was recently visiting Ostia Antica just out of Rome, Italy and was sitting in the cafeteria and I saw in the drinks fridge XXXX Beer! (Queensland beer). I said to my son that I didn't think it was imported but rather made under licence. So I took a bottle out and checked the label and yep sure enough it was made under licence but using Queensland hops!

It's just funny that I noticed it and now you've commented on it. Glad you had a great time by the way!

Bonnie
glad you like it!
yep i forgot that our shops close early except for woollies (but theyre mongrels anyway)
guess we are so used to scurrying to the shops before dark


the bakeries are great, arent they
especially those little country towns- oh that delicious aroma wafting!

nothing like a meat pie when youre wanting a quick lunch - but can be messy if youre not sitting down! and i know of a couple of people who have ended up with serious burns on their mouths and chins!

Stormbird,

I know this is kind of off topic, but you're one of the few people I know who've visited Ostia Antica! I totally missed the beer though!

Best,

Melodie

Hi Melodie,

This was my second visit to Rome and didn't do this first time around. I don't think too many do. It's an incredibly interesting place and not unlike Pompeii, I thought.

I, too, loved Ostia Antica. Stayed there and caught a bus, then train into Rome everyday, although spent part of a day on the shore and it is a lovely small town!