THE ULTIMATE GUIDE to FANTASTIC OZ

[Herbster]

Hi Everyone;

I hope you'll bear with me, as I recently suffered a brain storm when watching the Skoda ad on telly (don't mock what you don't know!), which to the tune of My Favourite Things, uses deliciously familiar treats, like chocolate, sponge cake, ice-cream, jelly, etc. to construct & sell a completely unrelated product - a car!

:idea: I thought PIO would love to sing the praises of their many Favorite Aussie Things, sharing with those longing to visit or relocate, but who (like me!) are having a hard time choosing a destination, or aren't sure if they'll be giving up too many of their favourite British things. ..!

:idea: So my thinking is, can we construct a VIRTUAL MAP of OZ ? This would mean anyone who's lived, visited or resides there can share their Favourite AUSSIE Things? The only real rule being that you, your mate or kids MUST have been there, eaten, seen, experienced this Favourite Thing!

May be you want to extol the virtues of your fav brand of ice cream? Can you let us in on a spectacular surfing spot, your fav restaurant, or shopping street, a great school, play-ground, park, or a stunningly amazing picnic spot or ferry crossing? Do you have a fav car, sandwich bar, cinema, boutique, brand of beer, or wine that you think we should try & why, or can U reveal a most exhilarating rock climb, bike ride, surf break, view, winery, bird, tree or golf tee.... Even your fav budget cafe or motel will be of note, you tell us where & why, & if you have a link, all the better to share!

Surely, this would be the most amazing creation...!

I'm dying to see what you all come up with, surely they'll be no stopping you! This has gotta be a fun, lively & personal way of developing a picture of this wonderful, yet vast country , a destination we dream about, but can only troll through on sluggish websites or dusty tour guides! We are depending on your wonderful, amazing, outstanding, fantastic experiences for inspiration... Pleaseeee!

 

Thank You,

 

Herbster X :notworthy:

A bear with open book to blank page, pen in hand, poised....

 

[Herbster]

Thank U Jo,

This is a great start!- Idealy!

Already making me feel like I should be packing...

Let's have mooooore Favouritessss Pleaseeee

 

Herbster XXX

Smiley Bear Hugs:yes:

[The Broughtons]

Here's a few of our favourite things:

 

Our favourite chair lift is Arthur's Seat, Port Phillip Bay on the Mornington Peninsula

Our favourite Sunday Morning breakfast is on the street at a little cafe in St Kilda followed by a stroll along the hippy market on the seafront

Our favourite waterfall is McKenzie Falls in the Grampians, Victoria - stunning views and fond memories (see our pictures in the gallery)

Felicity's favourite koala is Dundee who gave her a big cuddle at Currumbin, Queensland (see our avatar)

Michael's favourite animals are the pair of tassie devils going hell for leather all day at Currumbin

Felicity's favourite dinner was posh nosh (especially the kangaroo) on the Tram Car Restaurant travelling through Melbourne at night

Our favourite casino is Crown in Melbourne - Felicity could watch the jumping water fountains all evening while Michael wishes he had endless supplies of cash for the roulette table

 

Will keep thinking and maybe add a few more favourites at a later date.

 

What a fab idea Herbster - you really are one clever bear

[Guest EM&M]

mmm got me thinking now here goes:-

 

Fav Beach - Whitehaven beach on the whitsunday island

Fav Posh Restaurant- Four Winds Revolving Restaurant in Crown Plaza Surfers Paradise

Fav Thing Ever Done- Seaplane over the Great Barrier Reef (Honeymoon)

Fav Sunset- Horseshoe Bay, Magnetic Island (just off Townsville) Magical.

Fav moment ever in Oz - when OH proposed after a day of scuba diving on the Reef

 

Will add more as I think

 

Em x

[Guest darsar]

What a great idea,really cheers you up on a rainy day in August!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Favourite thing to do......Harbour Bridge climb(even at 8 am,with extreme jet-lag,awesome!!!!)

Favourite moments.......Seeing my Dad for the 1st time in 15 years(he lives in Oz)

.......Drinking beer in the Opera House Bar

.......Watching a whale and calf while sitting on a beach!!!!!!!

Favourite funny moment......My OH going fishing and catching a stonefish(he threw it back rather quickly!!!!)

Favourite food ........Pink Lammingtons from Woolworths!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!:biglaugh:

[Herbster]

Thank You Thank You THANK YOU

 

BUT WE HAVE LOTS MORE OF OZ TO COVER! WOULD BE GREAT TO HAVE EVEN MORE FAB FAV PLACES, LOCATIONS, FOOD, SHOPS, BUSH, OCEANS, MOUNTAINS, CRITTERS, WHAT EVER MOVED YOU IN OZ, WE WANT TO KNOW ABOUT IT Pleaseeeee

 

Thank you Everyone,

LOVE

HERBIE

X

:notworthy:

[Guest hays]

This is a fab thread!!!!:notworthy:

 

Please please can we have some more fav things??????? for us that havent even been yet:daydreaming:

hays

[Guest tonys]

hi guys great thread heres ours!

having a few tinnies on nudgee beach! very tranquil.

mount cootha stunning views of Brisbane.

having sunday morning brekkie at Wynnum Bay

hugging a Koala at Australia Zoo.

beautiful beaches at surfers on Gold coast.

Great views of Brisbane city from river on city cat especially at night.

Amazing aerosol painter on Queens st shopping mall.

 

Tony & Shelley.

[Guest joksand]

Hi

 

Lovely thread - I've just got to add my favourite Western Australia things...

 

Favourite beach: City Beach Perth, central, huge and usually deserted, and Peaceful Bay near Walpole

Favourite place to snorkel: Ningaloo Reef

Favourite Festival: The Sardine Festival, Fremantle (went in '98 - hope it's still taking place when we get back there!)

Favourite drink: OH: ice cold and in a stubby-holder! Me: Iced Latte please

Favourite time of year: 'spring' time in Perth - not too hot, but dry with perfect blue sky

Favourite view: from the top of Central Park Tower, Perth - suddenly made me realise what a wonderful city we were in. Plus any view of Perth's foreshore.

 

 

Sure I'll think of more, but I can't concentrate!! the kids are going loopy 'cos they've been in all day due to the rain!

 

Jo

[Guest mandytuck]

Great idea..:idea:

 

Favourite view......coming out of the train station at Sydney Harbour and seeing the view that is on tv or in magazines for real...amazing!

 

Second favourite view....Brisbane from Mount Cootha.

 

Great place for a picnic/ family day...Hinze Dam, Gold Coast Hinterland.

 

Relaxing.....People watching at South Bank/beach, Brisbane.

 

Peaceful and scenic.....Fishing at Nambucca Heads, NSW.

 

Keep kids amused....Wet'n'Wild, Sea World and Warner Bros. Movie World, Gold Coast. (buy the ticket to get into all 3 for value)

 

Lovely Stroll....Natural Bridge waterfall and sub tropical rainforest, Gold Coast Hinterland. (nice drive up to it too...if a bit steep at times).

 

If you get the chance, hire a motorhome and do the drive between Sydney and Brisbane. So many different views and places to see: forests, farmland, coastline, sugarcane(I think) that stretches for miles and some great little towns and campsites along the way. When we move it wil be one of our first holidays as we want to stop off at more places this time. Briliant!

 

:daydreaming:

[The Broughtons]

 

Great place for a picnic/ family day...Hinze Dam, Gold Coast Hinterland.

 

Keep kids amused....Sea World

 

 

 

Oh yes - hinze dam is absolutely stunning.

Never mind Sea World keeping the kids amused - we have no kids and had a brilliant day out.

 

Felicity:cute:

[Midget]

A few from the Adelaide area...

 

Favourite wine - anything from Rockford's winery in the Barossa (a very small family run winery, but well worth the effort to visit), but especially the Alicante Bouchet. Can't buy it in a shop.

 

Favourite bakery - Lyndoch Bakery in Lyndoch, heading towards the Barossa from Adelaide. Combine a pie at this bakery with a glass of wine from Rockfords = Heaven ! Close runner up is the bakery on Stephen's Terrace at St Peters - the vanilla slice is awesome (my thighs are still to forgive me though)

 

Favourite walk - walk along the beach from Glenelg all the way to Seacliff - will take a few hours but a beer at the Seacliff hotel watching the sun set is worth the effort. Another favourite is the walk from Waterfall Gully up to the top of Mount Lofty. A lot more effort but you can stop in at Cleland Wildlife Park along the way.

 

Fishing - Moonta Bay jetty - more for the day out fishing than the catch although you might be lucky! Moonta Bay is a suburb(!) of Moonta, a really nice country town a short drive north of Adelaide. Last time I was there Moonta also had a nice English lolly shop for those sweet tooths.

[Herbster]

A few from the Adelaide area...

 

Favourite wine - anything from Rockford's winery in the Barossa (a very small family run winery, but well worth the effort to visit), but especially the Alicante Bouchet. Can't buy it in a shop.

 

Favourite bakery - Lyndoch Bakery in Lyndoch, heading towards the Barossa from Adelaide. Combine a pie at this bakery with a glass of wine from Rockfords = Heaven ! Close runner up is the bakery on Stephen's Terrace at St Peters - the vanilla slice is awesome (my thighs are still to forgive me though)

 

Favourite walk - walk along the beach from Glenelg all the way to Seacliff - will take a few hours but a beer at the Seacliff hotel watching the sun set is worth the effort. Another favourite is the walk from Waterfall Gully up to the top of Mount Lofty. A lot more effort but you can stop in at Cleland Wildlife Park along the way.

 

Fishing - Moonta Bay jetty - more for the day out fishing than the catch although you might be lucky! Moonta Bay is a suburb(!) of Moonta, a really nice country town a short drive north of Adelaide. Last time I was there Moonta also had a nice English lolly shop for those sweet tooths.

 

THANK YOU ALL FOR SHARING! :v_SPIN: Midget, UR Baaad! In a good way of course... All things that sound delicious to me! So ru from that part of the world?

Have you (or anyone out there) have some favourite things in Tass to share with us? And in the interests of fairness, not that I have any intention of going North, is there anything worth reporting from NT???! (Does anyone actually go there from here that is???)

:spinny:

But as special as these entries are, & I hope many of these favourites will become favourites for others too, Oz has got to be Bigger & Greater than this!?? Are there any memorable ethnic cafés, Swedish bakeries, Patiserie's, great Thai food, Indian shops, Bear Emporiums (Ted's Rule!), Farm Shops, eccentric museums, ghost towns, outrageous clothes shops, little eateries with amazing views... Your experience is your only limitation!

 

Thanks,

 

Herbster :cute:

[Guest scots-in-oz!]

We're over in Brisbane & the Gold Coast in March April this year on holiday - hoping to be living there next June July! Here's a few of our fav things...

FAV AUSSIE ANIMAL - The kangaroos - feeding them at Currumbin and Australia Zoo was amazing - didn't want to leave!

FAV FAST FOOD OUTLET - Nandos chicken - lovely wraps, pittas, etc

FAV ICE-CREAM PLACE - Cold Rock - Pick your ice-cream (choice of loads of flavours), pick your mixer (ie bounty, nuts, jelly beans, oreo biscuits, etc,etc) and watch them being hand mixed on a slab of ice - then enjoy, YUMMY!

FAV BEACH - Surfers Paradice, a surfing lesson is a must!

FAV VIEW - Glass House Mountins - stunning!

FAV AUSSIE PAST-TIME - The barbies! - Free bbq'ing facilities are all over the place, just bring your own food & a few stubbies!

FAV THEME PARK - Dreamworld - the claw is a must-do! Movieworld - Loved Scooby-doo ride!

Mags:wubclub:

x

[The Broughtons]

Favourite greeting - walking into a shop and being greeted with 'How you going?' and replying with 'Good thanks'. He he he this has had us laughing for the last two weeks!:biglaugh:

[Guest]

Fav cafe - Lodge 241, Bellingen, near Coffs Harbour

Fav restaurant - The Smokestack, St Kilda, Melbourne

Fav market - Bellingen, once a month on a Saturday

Best airport hotel breakfast! - Holiday Inn, Sydney

Fav beach - Moonee Beach, Coffs Harbour

 

x

[Guest The Cutches]

Oooh, how fabulous Herbster!

 

Okay, our favs for Tassie:

 

Fav fun day - Zoo Doo Wildlife Park - Where our daughter morphed in a Kangaroo and had them playing schools with her. Also where I hugged a Koala til he was totally fed up and escaped up a tree for the rest of the day.

 

Fav relaxing day - Perusing Salamanca Market and sitting outside a lovely cafe called 'Say Cheese' in Salamanca Square, where (you guessed it) we had lots of Tassie cheese and wine relaxing and taking in the atmosphere, while the kids wandered around and played giant chess in the square - wonderful!

 

Fav shopping - Eastlands shopping mall, no longer will I have to stress about my fear of falling down escalators, sloping travelator's are a joy!

 

Fav lunch - Sat on a bench eating fresh fish (and chips) from a local fisherman moored at Constitution Dock, whilst watching seals playing around in the water in front of us.

 

Fav View - At night, looking from Howrah (where we hope to settle) across the water at Wrest Point Casino and Sandy Bay beautifully lit up with Mount Wellington behind.

 

Fav Foods - Strawberry Freddo's!

 

No Doubt I will think of more but there's a taster:smile:

[Guest maxxangel]

This is a wonderful idea. We have never been and are still undecided on where to go. WA appeals for some reason. I get this yearning every time I hear something about it. The other choice for us would be SA where an old family friend lives and because the weather may be a bit nearer to our own.

[Midget]

THANK YOU ALL FOR SHARING! :v_SPIN: Midget, UR Baaad! In a good way of course... All things that sound delicious to me! So ru from that part of the world?

Have you (or anyone out there) have some favourite things in Tass to share with us? And in the interests of fairness, not that I have any intention of going North, is there anything worth reporting from NT???! (Does anyone actually go there from here that is???)

:spinny:

 

 

Hi Herbster

 

Yes I am from Adelaide, spent 29 years there before moving to Sunny London last year :biglaugh:

I enjoy this forum because it is like my experience in reverse - adjusting to a country that is similar in so many ways but at times jarringly different. And of course if any advice that I can give will help you good people out on your journey then I am happy !

 

As for Tassie, I drove around it early last year. Highlights included

 

Farm shop - Kate's berry farm on the way to Swansea. Fresh berries (when the right season - I was there in March) and their homemade icecream with waffles was to die for.

 

Boat/yacht cruise - from Strahan, various options including dinner cruises on the Gordon river, or fishing. I had a lovely lobster from a fish and chippy on the pier, and ate it near a waterfall (Hogarth's Falls) in a local park which was a nice walk. To be honest I found Strahan a little touristy for my liking, but the surrounding area, like much of Tas, is beautiful.

 

Outdoors - Hastings caves was a good trip, and would be good for kids too. Also the Tahune Airwalk has amazing scenery and get up close to some huge Huon pines.

 

Cadbury Chocolate factory - may be a contentious inclusion given Brits don't seem to like Aussie Cadbury (and vice versa might I add, my sister sends me parcels!). But interesting all the same to see how it is made. Not as good as the NZ tour as the NZ one had much better samples...

[Herbster]

Hi Herbster

 

Yes I am from Adelaide, spent 29 years there before moving to Sunny London last year :biglaugh:

I enjoy this forum because it is like my experience in reverse - adjusting to a country that is similar in so many ways but at times jarringly different. And of course if any advice that I can give will help you good people out on your journey then I am happy !

 

As for Tassie, I drove around it early last year. Highlights included

 

Farm shop - Kate's berry farm on the way to Swansea. Fresh berries (when the right season - I was there in March) and their homemade icecream with waffles was to die for.

 

Boat/yacht cruise - from Strahan, various options including dinner cruises on the Gordon river, or fishing. I had a lovely lobster from a fish and chippy on the pier, and ate it near a waterfall (Hogarth's Falls) in a local park which was a nice walk. To be honest I found Strahan a little touristy for my liking, but the surrounding area, like much of Tas, is beautiful.

 

Outdoors - Hastings caves was a good trip, and would be good for kids too. Also the Tahune Airwalk has amazing scenery and get up close to some huge Huon pines.

 

Cadbury Chocolate factory - may be a contentious inclusion given Brits don't seem to like Aussie Cadbury (and vice versa might I add, my sister sends me parcels!). But interesting all the same to see how it is made. Not as good as the NZ tour as the NZ one had much better samples...

Hi Midget: :jiggy:

Thanks for that, I love home made ice cream, so that sounds very delicious! Actually I'm one of the minority that actually doesn't like Cadbury's, but I thought I'd spotted a factory on Tass, but thought I'd dreamed it with so many complaining about the lack of it! :twitcy:However, I do like Thornton's - gluten free, & better quality, don't suppose they have that there?? We originally considered the Adelaide area, but we don't do heat too well, & we're so rural most people would question why we'd leave our Chocolate Box Cottage at all... So First Choice is now Taz (Vacations on Mainland!) Second Choice southern rural Victoria, third would be SW SA! Apart from your Visa hassle's, how are you liking the Big Smoke?

 

Thanks also, Cutches for your great inclusions, and everyone else inspired to share their favourite Aussie treats, however, still nothing from Up North, or even around Alice Springs; where's Fatpom when you need him!??

 

Thank you

Herbster X :v_SPIN:

[Ellie 2]

Hi Midget: :jiggy:

Thanks for that, I love home made ice cream, so that sounds very delicious! Actually I'm one of the minority that actually doesn't like Cadbury's, but I thought I'd spotted a factory on Tass, but thought I'd dreamed it with so many complaining about the lack of it!

Herbster X :v_SPIN:

 

I just had to underline what Midget said about Kate's Berry Farm. The icecream is to die for as are the home made jams and sauces etc. I have friends in Swansea and have been there many times. Tassie is a beautiful place.

[Midget]

Hi Midget: :jiggy:

However, I do like Thornton's - gluten free, & better quality, don't suppose they have that there?? We originally considered the Adelaide area, but we don't do heat too well, & we're so rural most people would question why we'd leave our Chocolate Box Cottage at all... So First Choice is now Taz (Vacations on Mainland!) Second Choice southern rural Victoria, third would be SW SA! Apart from your Visa hassle's, how are you liking the Big Smoke?

 

 

Not sure about Thornton's - from memory you can get some gluten free choc but I have no idea what it is like.

 

I'm tossing up whether to stay on here in London - I'm about to head off on a 3 month drive around Europe, which is really exciting and one of the huge benefits of living here. Whether I am keen to come back to London after is another story. It is certainly different to Adelaide :wacko:. I love the atmosphere and opportunities but I don't want to live here long term. No visa hassles for me - by virtue of my father being born in Leeds I have dual citizenship.

 

I can highly recommend Tassie if you are after the country feel - my Dad grew up there and it is beautiful. And yes, he complains about the heat in Adelaide - you'd think after 60 years in Aus he'd be used to it :biglaugh:

[Guest JoanneHattersley]

Brissie girl here.

 

Ok here goes:

 

FAVOURITE RESTAURANT - too many! Bali Grill in Rosalie. Hogs Breath Cafes - BIG steaks,

 

ICE CREAM - Cold Rock Cremery. Lemon Sorbet with Cadburys Flake mixed in! MMMMM!

 

BREAKFAST: The Regatta at Toowong on a SUnday morning - brekky with loadsa coffee and the Sunday papers.

 

MARKETS/SHOPS: South Bank and Eagle Street Markets. Shops - Queen Street Mall, Indooroopilly or Chermside.

 

MOUNT COOT-THA - great views over Brissie and cake to die for!

 

BEACHES - Sunshine Beach at Noosa

 

I also love.....Noosa, Eumundi MArkets, Maleny, montville and Mapleton, going to the LYRIC theatre, eating out at the boatshed at the regatta in toowong.

 

BAD THINGS IN BRISSIE - occasionally your thongs rub in the heat! Thast things for the feet not the UK thongs!

 

OH before i forget

 

I LOVE SYDNEY TOO!

 

We went there for a week. I love the Bridge, the Opera house (Doesnt disappoint!), climbing the Bridge, Darling Harbour, Circular Quay, Dinner in the Shangri La Hotel overlooking the Quay. Drinks on the 36th floor there overlooking everything. The Rocks District!

 

I could go on for hours.

 

Sorry but the only thing I havent really liked much since being here is....melbourne.

 

(Sorry any Melbournites out there!):wubclub:

[Herbster]

Not sure about Thornton's - from memory you can get some gluten free choc but I have no idea what it is like.

 

I'm tossing up whether to stay on here in London - I'm about to head off on a 3 month drive around Europe, which is really exciting and one of the huge benefits of living here. Whether I am keen to come back to London after is another story. It is certainly different to Adelaide :wacko:. I love the atmosphere and opportunities but I don't want to live here long term. No visa hassles for me - by virtue of my father being born in Leeds I have dual citizenship.

 

I can highly recommend Tassie if you are after the country feel - my Dad grew up there and it is beautiful. And yes, he complains about the heat in Adelaide - you'd think after 60 years in Aus he'd be used to it :biglaugh:

Hi Midget:

You must be the envy of so many, having the option of staying here or returning to Oz?! Most Thornton's Chocolates are actually gluten-free! However, it is reassuring to know that there is quality Tassie treats, like good choc’s, fresh ice cream, even spuds, to look forward to...! Sounds daft, but veggies like potatoes & tomatoes can vary from horrid to inedible, and I'm hopeful that Tass will have outstanding to delectable!!

Glad you're getting to have a road trip round Europe, you may end up wanting to stay somewhere there instead, as there are so many fab places to explore & you'll find for the most part the roads are sooo much better than here, which makes for a pleasant driving experience!

I notice that temps in Hobart are pretty similar to (here) Up North, whereas temps are already creeping to-wards the low 30's in QLD (which is a bit toasty for me!) Do you know if there is much difference between, say Hobart & Burnie, in the North?

Also, can I pick your brains – what kind of tax/duty do they levy on insurance policies?! Seems so old fashioned, but stealth taxes aren’t obvious, & I’d prefer to be pre-warned…!

Good luck & Enjoy your travels,

Herbster X

(I can't go Advanced at mo; is it my problem or problem with site?) Mon Oct 8th, 07

 

[Guest joksand]

Hi

 

Re: Thorntons Chocs

 

I think you can get them in some places in Oz - usually the food halls of large department stores. I did some promotional work for them at Myer's in Perth - I was a very popular girl that day!! :yes:

 

Things may have changed of course - this was in 1998 - maybe they've got chains all over the place now - I can live in hope!!

 

Bye for now

 

Jo