Two’s Company

After a long day bushwhacking, a boat ride to Manly sounded perfect. Of course, we wanted to visit the beach and enjoy a lovely stroll along the coastline. Manly is charming, its quaint streets reminded us of seaside towns from family holidays long ago in England. There’s even a playful legend that when Captain Cook first laid eyes on the shore, he saw a group of Aboriginal people with spears and boomerangs, all standing on one leg. “Don’t they look manly?” he supposedly rema

Our base just north of Sydney was perfectly placed for a quick move. Day one and we were off again! Circular Quay, Platform One: destination Katoomba. All aboard for the Blue Mountains! As always, Two’s Company decided not to hit the tourist bus from Katoomba Station. We made our own way to Echo Point; seeing is doing and we prefer to walk like the locals to truly get the vibe in our senses. Passing quaint shops with some succulent offerings dressing the windows, we admired t

Arriving in the northern business district, Sydney felt like a bustling hub of commerce, yet strangely calm. Sunlight crashed through branches, giving respite from the heat and the glorious jacaranda trees, petals carpeting the footpath, led us downhill towards our accommodation for the next four nights. We didn't waste time, as we knew three days simply wouldn’t be enough to see what we planned, never mind the rest. Our stroll down to the waterfront was warm but lovely. To s

The journey south continues, bringing with it a subtle but noticeable theme: the further we travel, the more the urban growth, infrastructure and natural environment seem to assert their accessible, yet indestructible presence. Newcastle started with an incline, the first of which, known simply as “The   Hill,” took us soaring up to the cliff tops. From there, the vast view stretched back over the city. The Hill top also allowing us to scan the sea for whales which we failed

On our east coast adventure, Port Macquarie was the place where we would have the least time. Upon arrival, it felt much larger, more urban and more town-like. Aware of the famous coastal walk, we moved swiftly, so far, the advice from Kylie and Darryle hadn't let us down: sunscreen applied, Factor   50   slapped   on; feeling nice and sticky again, we headed out! Intense Breeze and Rugged Cliffs The breeze was intense and cloud soon covered the sun. Convincing ourselves that

On the Road: From Byron Bay Via Lennox Head to Casino Back on the road and heading down south! What a remarkable sunrise we saw at Lennox Beach on our route to Casino to catch our onward train. The track twisted and turned for a couple of hours before we arrived. It was warm, airless and breezeless. Good planning, Helen! We had booked the nearest hotel, just a couple of hundred yards away from the station (the other choice was three times as far). We were early but managed a

Heading South Over the next few days, we are due to head South along the East Coast. Looking forward to seeing several lovely coastal towns, each with their own atmosphere, so we have read. First up is Byron Bay. Byron Bay: Beautiful People and Bush Tuckering… It was 3:15 am as we, Two's Company, headed for yet another replacement bus service. The Brisbane early morning air was still warm; party-goers were returning home as we headed to Roma Street coach station. Several hour

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Two’s Company covered some distance in Queensland, from Gold Coast to Sunshine Coast, from watching sunset from the Sky Terrace to river rides and sensational Koala Sanctuary. We even made it to the Botanical Gardens via the River Cat after a couple of Sheffield Shield sessions at The Gabba. Arriving early afternoon after leaving the Gold Coast behind, our first Brisbane encounter was Jacob’s Ladder which was a challenge to say the least, it certainly gave our legs a real wor

The snow had fallen on the mountains overnight, dropping the temperature around Queenstown and creating a magnificent spectacle. Helicopters & Light Aircraft Take Off Early Morning Flight Activity & Fresh Snow Fresh snow shimmering in the mid-morning sunlight as we strolled the 1.5km to the airport lounge, the easiest transfer we've ever had. Arriving Queenstown Airport The 15 minute stroll was lo

Following a thrilling afternoon and evening in Tekapo. We packed our bags and headed down the mountain passes to Queenstown. The three-hour drive was full of stunning views. This lasted from start to finish. New Zealand tells you what to see; there are signposted lookouts and viewing points everywhere! Breaking Camp Tekapo to Queenstown They mark the best spots. Pulling over for a quick photo had become normal. We saw memorable views over Lake   Pukaki. The incredible, snow-c

Thursday evening brought a wave of frustration. As the sun set in Christchurch, severe weather shut down the rail lines and closed the roads, forcing us to abandon our original plans yet again. The Golden Star - Planning Bench Where Two’s Company Planned Their Escape From Christchurch! A swift pivot was necessary. We cancelled Friday's accommodation, booked a new place, an

We started our Wednesday in Christchurch expecting to be stuck inside. With schools closed, transport cancelled and sights to be seen not open, another storm approached New Zealand and we thought we'd be confined to our accommodation. However, after making use of the laundry, Two's Company  decided to head out and luckily after a few light spots of rain, the clouds began to break. The city quickly transformed. We took a lovely stroll and found ourselves at Hagley Oval , the

Since we arrived, New Zealand has truly decided to give us the full weather catalogue this trip. As we leave Picton for the second time in 24 hours it gives Two’s Company time to reflect. The Windy City Turned Force 10 Tuesday 21st! Our next mission was to get to Picton for the Coastal Pacific train to Christchurch on Tuesday. Standing between us and the train? It felt like about a million miles of South Pacific and the infamous Cook Strait lay ahead. We had booked the three

You know the drill by now, team Two’s Company tend to find themselves in a bit of pickle now and then. Tuesday was travel day and we certainly travelled, ending up here in Blenheim South Island New Zealand but not quite where we thought we’d be. So now it’s Wednesday 24 hours later and  we’re back on track in Picton we hope! So travel day one turns into travel day two… Christchurch here we come again?  The saga of North to South is yet to  be revealed!

Antrim House: More Than Just an Old Flame! Our grand tour of officialdom kicked off at the rather distinguished Antrim House. This old place, once a private residence, then a hotel, almost fell to fire. Thankfully, restored and now proudly serves as the main office of "Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga." A delight to behold, though our access to major parts of the building was limited which was a tad disappointing! Old Government Buildings: Wooden Wonder or Georgian Grandeu

Starting our Sunday late morning from the Trinity Hotel, the walk towards the memorials was immediately invigorating. The route at times exposed to the elements which certainly offered a constant chilly breeze, yet the brilliant sunshine made the air feel warm. View from Hotel The National War Memorial in Wellington was unfortunately under maintenance, but its sheer scale was striking, easily one of the largest we've ever encountered. The surrounding Pukeahu National War Memo

The nomad spirit doesn't wait for a convenient time. Saturday morning, 6:45 AM , we were out of the door, ready for the next adventure. There's a particular restlessness that sets in after a few stationary days, a deep-seated urge to move on. We were initially disappointed to arrive at the station and find the iconic Northern Explorer  train had been replaced by a coach, a consequence of recent weather. But the brilliant cheerio team quickly signed us in and soon we were sett

Botanical Gardens Splendour: What an immensely fabulous display of colour! Our visit to the Auckland Botanic Gardens  was nothing short of spectacular, with every corner offering a fresh burst of life. Even the majestic Amazon Lily made a grand appearance, its lush bloom clearly not camera-shy like its more reserved cousin down in Adelaide. The fernery was quite captivating, a cool, shaded world of its own. We wandered through a landscape of black-stemmed plants, towering sp

Leaving Adelaide was an event in itself. Honestly, it was as hard getting out of Australia as it was to get in. We were subjected to several bag searches and x-ray checks—I’m still not entirely sure what they thought we were smuggling out. Finally, after confirming we were not running off with the Australian Crown Jewels, we were back in the sky.   Arriving in Auckland and finding our way to our temporary digs was an adventure driven by tiredness. A bus and train combo saw us