Australia

After a brief layover in Fiji, (watching a monsoon rage from the airport window) We continued our journey to Australia, starting with Cairns.

Quick bit of time info here, we planned to spend 4 days here, but an oversight regarding not only time differences but crossing the international date line, meant that 4 days turned into 3. We flew at midnight Saturday for 6 hours. We landed at 4am. We flew again at 9am and landed into Cairns at lunchtime on Monday.... What the heck happened to Sunday??

Cairns

This short stay had purely one reason in mind, to visit our friend Margaret and her husband Peter. We became friends with Margaret in 2018 during our trip to China and have remained distant friends ever since. It was with Margaret and Peter that we spent New Year 2024 on their balcony. This year Margaret insisted we cancel our booking at a local hostel insisting we stay, at her expense, at a hotel of her choosing. Anyone who knows Margaret knows there is little point in arguing! We duly cancelled our booking, and with Margaret picking us up from the airport, the secrecy of our hotel was still held a mystery. All was revealed when she dropped us off at not just any nice hotel, but the Hilton, next door to her own `unit`. Unit being a very Australian word for Apartment or Flat. After an incredibly long journey, all we could muster the first evening was crash and sleep. The following three days had bonkers weather. Day one we relaxed in the pool, and got incredibly sunburnt due to our inattentiveness towards the sun, and the fact that we were engaging in a great conversation with two other couples about world travel, and cricket. Cricket being the main reason not only these two couples were in Oz, but us as well. The Ashes in fact. but that`s for later.

Days two and three were spent in identical fashion. Leisurely time in the hotel watching the endless rain from the balcony by day, and two wonderful evenings with M & P with amazing takeaway food from the RSL just below us. We spent both evenings watching the sun go down, endless conversations and happy memories made.

Melbourne

It is getting close to Christmas now, but not wishing to impose on our friends there for too long, we chose to stay in Melbourne City for the first 4 days. Having spent time in Melbourne last year, we had no desire to retrace our steps again this trip. With Christmas so close, and Mrs B being a huge lover of all things Christmas, we hit the shopping malls in the hope of finding ourselves anything Christmassy, tree/lights decor to make our room sparkle. Oh my goodness Melbourne was just so incredibly busy, but not busy in the way we seem to be Christmas busy in the UK. For a starter, its hot! Granted nowhere near as hot as it was last year, but still very warm, and secondly the shops are full of summer clothes! bright colours, whites, cream, yellows. Anyone from the UK knows perfectly well that you are not going to find yourself a summer coloured t shirt in December at home. Our shops are consistently Black, Red, or Sparkly. We did not feel the love for Christmas in the malls, we ate at the Pancake Parlour, but even that felt a little flat and less than Christmassy. The shops were devoid of all things Christmas decoration wise, and not knowing which shops to aim for, for cheap cheesy sparkly things, we left the mall empty handed. Mrs Bunny was more than just a little sad. Mr B googled the heck out of Melbourne that evening, and day two started with a Plan. Out of Melbourne he found us a dedicated year round Christmas shop!. Perfect. We drove there the morning of day two, and found ourselves driving through the scruffiest areas that we could not believe were so close to the City. It was so run down, covered in graffiti everywhere, and shops that looked barely open. Such a contrast to the many other towns around Oz that we have passed through. We finally arrived at the Christmas shop and hit the jackpot. We went just a little bit daft, buying not one, but two trees, multiple sets of lights, a couple of little elves and a whole bunch of tinsel. (if space and weight wasn`t an issue, we would also have purchased several of the most gorgeous Disney ornaments that we have ever seen, the likes of which we have never seen in any of our 7 Disney Parks around the world, come to Australia and wow, so many!) From that Christmas shop we headed next to a nearby mall. Both bunnies thought this mall was very nice. In fact we had a little too much fun there buying ourselves (and each other) new clothes and simple gifts for Christmas. It was only at the end of a long day there, that over coffee and a chat with a friendly local lady, that she informed us that this particular Mall had a very bad name, and only two weeks prior a gang of youths with machetes had run through injuring several people. With the appalling news of the attack in Bondi still fresh in the news, it was a little disconcerting. Shortly before leaving the mall for the day we heard the sound of a brass group playing carols. As brass players ourselves we were drawn to the sound. It was the local Salvation Army band, just 5 of them, but also giving out a leaflet for their Christmas Carol concert the following night. With a great desire to find the spirit of Christmas that we were so desperately missing, we decided a carol concert was just the thing.

The day of the concert was spent the best way possible. A room full of Christmas lights, two trees, lots of tinsel, Christmas movies in bed, and Uber eats! This would be my most favourite day of the trip so far. Even the Christmas concert that evening with the Salvation Army band's (not quite Black Dyke...) painful renditions of Christmas songs by an over enthusiastic singer who couldn`t quite sing in the same key as the band, or the same speed for that matter. Nor did a group of random children shaking as many noisy bells to the once enjoyable Jingle Bells carol dampen our enjoyment of that day. With Christmas in my heart I went hunting next for more Christmas joy, and found a stage play of A Christmas Carol playing the next evening in the city. We got tickets and had the best evening ever watching this version of an old story. No props, just sound effects, yet it worked beautifully. the encore of Silent Night played with the sweetest sounding little bells ended the night wonderfully. Today was also little Bunnies birthday, and though I felt so sad not spending at least part of the day with her, I did know that she was having an adventure of her own in Manchester, and that made it feel so much better. Turns out she had also watched a version of Christmas Carol some nights previous. Great Minds!

Christmas with Friends

Frankston, it was here last year that we met my mums best friend and her hubby for the first time. Just as my mum predicted prior to passing, we loved them. Mrs Koala and her hubby were just two lovely people, with Mr Bunny getting on so well with Mr Koala they could have been best school mates meeting up once more. Mrs Bunny knew in a heartbeat why exactly Mrs Koala was her mums best friend. It hadn`t taken too much thought into wanting to return to stay with these guys, Christmas would not have been my first choice of dates, but when Mr Bunnies heart is set on fulfilling a bucket list dream, then Christmas it would have to be....

We arrived to stay with the Koalas just prior to Christmas, with the intention of spending 6 days with them to enjoy their wonderful company and to fulfil the bucket list dream of Mr Bunny, then, it would be onto another destination to celebrate Christmas Two in our own silly way.

Christmas Day. It did not start well. I am the most intense Christmas present shopper, always seeking the most perfect presents for everyone. This Christmas I was challenged by limited space, weight and knowledge. In a nutshell I chose poorly, and it upset me. I hate buying gifts that are silly, pointless, tacky, and with my heart not really wanting to be in Oz at Christmas at all, because I wanted to be at home (different story) my head failed to let me find presents that I truly wanted to give. Receiving the most beautiful bracelet, earrings and a crazy pink Christmas hat that I loved, made me feel sad that I failed so badly in my task to find the perfect present for my new friend. Mr Bunny received the most amazing gifts also, an Ozzy rugby shirt, a special cap, and socks. Socks? Yes, yellow `beer` socks with white furry tops and handles!! Probably bought as a joke, but I do hope Mr Koala knows just how often those crazy socks are worn!!!! Mr B loves them.

Mrs Koala excelled herself on Christmas Day, you have never seen a fridge so full. We truly hoped this was not all done with us in mind, but felt better when told there would be 10 for the lunch. Lunchtime came, and everything was perfect. Poor Mrs Koala had a fit when she found out I do not eat anything seafood, stood there as she was surrounded by every kind of shell fish monstrosity. In the end it was decided that I could eat the same as the children, melon and sausage much to everyone`s amusement. Did you know you can cook Christmas Dinner on a BBQ? Oh how very Aussie!, The oven indoors held the roast spuds, but everything else was cooked on the `barbie`. My first Christmas away from my own little family was pleasant but a challenge. I am not a social butterfly, and faced with an extended guest list of people I didn`t know, was a little overwhelming. Lovely as the entire family was, I breathed the biggest sigh of relief when they all departed that evening, and once more the house reigned in silence, the occasional chink of glasses raised, a most pleasant sound.

The Bucket List. The Ashes. The Melbourne Boxing Day Test

This my friends was the sole reason for our epic trip. Mr Bunny has always wanted to watch a major live sporting event, and with the Ashes, in particular the Boxing Day test held at the iconic MCG each year, that was a bucket list item just waiting to be ticked off. No matter how much I hated the idea of being away from home at Christmas, this was one dream that I was not going shatter. Sulk, yes, whinge, most probably, but decline? No chance. It was supposed to be Mr B and his very best mate, along with new bestie Mr Koala, but when Daddy B decided it was too much, it was up to opposing sides to settle their differences and head to the cricket together.

Boxing Day, with the boys setting off early to get to the stadium, Mrs Koala and I started our day with a very leisurely breakfast, a dash of chocolate, Netflix and a Christmas Movie, we agreed to start with Love Actually, and we had a very nice day. We did end up watching the end of the cricket much to my chagrin, I would have so much preferred to have watched more movies, but its not my house and I was not for arguing. We picked up two frozen guys at the end of the day, who told us that although the day was bright, they were sat in the shade in a veritable wind tunnel. They were both freezing, but exceedingly happy.

Ashes Day Two. Once again the boys set off early, this time armed with puffy jackets and jumpers, but instead of a Christmas film, Mrs Koala and I watched the match. To be fair, whilst I was a bit miffed at not watching films, the cricket was quite exciting, I did try to read my book, but the pull of the match was too great. I am so happy to say that Mr Bunny not only got the chance to fulfil his bucket list dream of going to the Boxing Day Test in Melbourne, but that he also witnessed England at its best as they beat the Aussies hands down in a rather exciting second day.

The Surfcoast

Much as I adored staying with Mr and Mrs Koala, I was very excited and so looking forward to our stay at this little caravan park again. I had visions of how I was going to make the caravan all nice and Christmassy, I was going to tinsel and light it up with everything we had. There were so many unwatched Christmas movies to look forward to, on Disney and Netflix, a second Christmas Dinner to be bought, a second boxing day with turkey butties for lunch, all the usual stuff, just a few days late. I should have known better. Nothing is ever the same second time around, non more so than our `caravan`. The only room they had for us was a small motel type room, the type with the kitchen, table and bed all in the same room. The tv was one of those placed in a ridiculous position high up in one corner. We were so disappointed that we just had to beg for anything else. There was just one other cabin left. It was a dog friendly cabin so we knew it would be scruffier than before, but surely it had to better? Well.....the layout was certainly better, but oh dear heavens the Smell!! Mr B with his naff sense of smell had no clue just how bad it was. Fish! Seafood! wet dogs, whores boudoir (my imagination running wild) would just about sum it up. I was in total despair. I said we would stay but only if we begged borrowed and bought every kind of air freshener right now! Half a mini bottle of cheap perfume, one can of anti bac spray, vanilla air freshener, two bottles of scented sticks and an airwick candle later, not to mention every open window and door, and eventually the smell started to dissipate. We decked out the caravan as best we could given the limited space, placed our two Christmas Trees in strategic places, added as many lights as we could, then shopped for our `Christmas Eve 2` goodies, and` Christmas Day 2` lunch. A plan was coming together. We settled down with goodies and drinks in hand, switched on the TV and.....no Netflix.......okkkkkk......we have managed before, we can manage again, Laptop! and that`s when we found out we had absolutely bugger all internet. Nada, Zip, SFA. Right there and then my Christmas ended. We did try the op shops the following day, in the hope of finding Christmas DVDs, but we came up wanting. My love for all things Christmas fizzled from there onward. As far as I was concerned, it was over. I knew full well that we would have decent internet, albeit no Disney, at our next destination, but that wasn`t until the New Year. Pah. I have zero desire to watch anything Christmas after December has ended. I hereby admit that I was well and truly fed up!

The following days passed slowly. As per Melbourne City we had more or less been to all the places of interest nearby, and travelling for hours on end to visit more out of the way places just wasn`t high on my to do list. This trip was all about ticking the bucket list and not a lot else. We did take a drive along the Great Ocean Road, and it struck us just how many kilometres we did last year visiting places of interest. Arriving at the Koala Kafe, we would still have needed to drive at least another 100 km to reach the Apostles, and several more kms more to arrive at Warnambool. We did spend a day at Werribbee Open Range Zoo and that was good. The `safari` trail by truck was excellent, with the sheer amount of space available to the Zoo, they really made the most of it? A few more animals would have been nice, but never the less we had a great day.

Our time in Australia has come to a close. I have to say I was a little sad leaving this time, but I know that we will be back, not at Christmas, but at some point in the future.

Until next time Australia..