Amy, I think we should make you an honorary (sp) Australian, your humour and way of writing certainly fits in with the way we do things over here. So glad you had such a good time.

I can't believe the family resemblance between you all!! amazing, peas in a pod and all that.

I love the scenic railway - the steep one, and Leura is so pretty isn't it?

You certainly gave it a good shot and covered a lot, well done. Next time put the northern beaches on your list we would love to see you here.

Schnauzer

Well, schnauzer, my body evidently THINKS I'm an honorary Australian, 'cause I'm still on Australia time! So cheerful being wide awake at 3AM and such. But it was certainly worth the jetlag. (Oh, and the girls got the "Are you triplets?" question more than once; not, just twins and a sister.)

Cathies, the YHA was great; thanks for the suggestion (and a few others who agreed with it, as well.)

Dottyp, we did do the rim walk in about 3.5 hours, maybe just a tad more. The walk once you're up there is pretty simple, but that ascent is a killer! Watarrka is gorgeous, indeed.

Thanks to everyone for their input both now and in the (interrupted) planning process!

<<One thing that surprised me about Uluru was the vegetation surrounding it; I love the variety in texture and subtle color palette of the silvery-green shrubs, trees, and plants.>>

This is what I love most about our Outback. Absolutely beautiful sunsets and colours that just take your breath away.

I particularly loved a place called Lark Quarry (site of a dinosaur stampede)near Winton in outback Queensland. The silver lance woods, the green spinifex type grass and the red, red soil - such, such beauty.

I recall also unbelievable sunsets when we were camped at Palm Valley in the Northern Territory - totally loved that place.

Thank you for that lovely report. Have just started planning my one month trip in October. Apart from visitng friends in Brisbane I will be traveling on my own.

Thanks again Amy. Just catching up and enjoyed the rest of the report.

Great trip report Amy. So glad you enjoyed my fair city of Sydney. It continues to dazzle me every day.

Finally marking this to read and catch up.

Really enjoyed your report Amy. It sounds like it was a really wonderful trip. Loved the pics too!

Thanks, Toucan2. It was a wonderful trip, and I guess I still sound pretty enthusiastic talking about it. Tonight I was talking about our respective trips with a former student of mine who, a couple of weeks ago, proposed to his girlfriend in front of the Eiffel Tower. At night. To top that, guess where he wants to go for the honeymoon? Yup, Australia!

Update on the pictures: Webshots changed their purpose, so I've been (slowly) migrating the pictures to Smugmug; here's Australia, including that fish and chips from Steyne St. that my nieces and I still reminisce about: http://missalg.smugmug.com/Travel/Au...6886748_7tnHJd

This was a great read!! Really glad you and your nieces had such a nice time here! :)

They are great shots & capture the adventurous spirit & good time you all had.

Really enjoyed revisiting your trip report, too.