Australia: Travel from the USA
Travel to Australia from the USA is a long trip. Certainly, no question about it. However, Australia is a beautiful country and well worth the trip. It is full of diverse cultures, stunning landscapes, and unique experiences. From the cosmopolitan cities of Sydney and Melbourne to the laid-back beach towns of Adelaide and Carnes, to the vibrant coastal cities of Brisbane and Hobart, Australia has something for everyone. Whether you’re looking for a relaxing getaway, an adventurous exploration, or a cultural experience, Australia is the perfect destination for you.
Travel to Australia from USA – Cos and Robin’s Visit
Robin and Cos visited Australia in 2023, visiting Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide and Hobart in Tasmania. This was Cos’s third visit to the country. Of the two previous visits, he still recalls his first trip.
While in Sydney, in 1997, there were reports of Princess Diana’s death in a car crash in Paris. He remembers vividly that the people of Sydney poured out their hearts with an enormous flower remembrance. He was in his hotel room calling home to the USA to describe the scene.
At the same time, the TV was showing similar scenes from London, which he watched on CNN from the USA. Suddenly, two things hit him hard. First, with the advances in telecommunication, (remember this was 1997), the world had become a much smaller place (the Internet was only a few years old). And second, the British Commonwealth had some real strength. While the sun no longer “never sets” on the British Empire, the British Commonwealth was real.
However, Cos and Robin recently learned that in 2023 perhaps Australia wanted to loosen the ties a little bit. More on that later. First, here is what we learned in each of the major cities.
Travel to Sydney, Australia from the USA
Sydney is one of the most popular cities in Australia, and for good reason. From its iconic landmarks like the Sydney Opera House and Harbour Bridge, to its world-class beaches, and vibrant nightlife, there’s something for everyone in Sydney. Therefore, whether you’re looking for a relaxing weekend away, or an adventure of a lifetime, Sydney has it all.
When thinking about Australia, or Sydney in particular, nothing reminds you more about this beautiful place other than the iconic Sydney Opera House. For more information and pictures about our visit to the Opera House, please visit our Favorite Theaters Post.
However, Sydney is a lot more than just the Opera House. To first understand Sydney, we took a ride around town on the Hop-on Hop-off Bus, which we booked through Get Your Guide. (For more information about Hop-on Hop-off buses and other transportation alternatives, please see our Trains and other transportation post). This ride provided an excellent overview of Sydney.
Walk thru the National Park
One of the fun and educational activities we did in Sydney, was to take a 2-hour stroll through the Sydney Harbour National Park. Alan from EcoWalks led the way, a tour which we also arranged through Get Your Guide. Alan is a geography teacher in his full-time job, and is an ecological expert as a tour guide. We learned more about the flora and fauna of Australia than we ever thought we might get to know. Here, are some beautiful pictures from our tour.
Alan is also a history buff, and when we visited the war memorial he provided us some insight into Australia’s involvement in WWII. He helped us explain the difference between New Zealand’s and Australia’s involvement in the two World Wars. Australia was attacked in WWII, but New Zealand did not engage in the Second World War at all. That helped explained the question we posed in our New Zealand Post of why all New Zealand’s War Memorials favored WWI, while Australia’s War Memorials favored both wars.
Royal Botanic Garden
The Royal Botanic Garden is located less than a mile from the Opera House. It borders Sydney Harbour, as do many places in Sydney, and is a great place for a nice summer stroll. Please check out our Favorite Gardens Post for more information and pictures of the Royal Botanic Garden.
We started our walk through the Royal Botanic Garden near the Opera House and ended in the area called Woolloomooloo (that’s a real place). We passed some neat Street Art on a tall building and some great statues on the wharf.
At the wharf we had a nice lunch, at one of Sydney’s nicest restaurants, China Rose. We highly recommend a meal there. Please see more information about The China Rose and other Restaurants in our Restaurants Post. They make a mean Gin & Tonic.
Travel to Melbourne, Australia from the USA
Melbourne is the second most populous city in Australia, known for its vibrant arts and culture scene. From its stunning street art, to its world-famous museums and galleries, to its bustling nightlife, there’s something for everyone in Melbourne. The harbor is very attractive.
Robin and Cos visited Melbourne twice during their 2023 trip to Australia, one day on their Auckland to Sydney cruise and three days before they departed the country. Melbourne was one of their favorite places in all of Australia. Cos had visited one time earlier, but missed all the fun things below. On their one day visit, we hired a tour guide that took us on a walking tour of the Central Business District. The tour, called “Melbourne Laneways Tour” which we booked through Get Your Guide. It was also surprising that there was such a strong influence of Italian restaurants. We loved the ones listed below.
Architecture in Melbourne
In addition to the Laneways, the architecture of the buildings is superb. One of the buildings with the mural on it housed the local newspaper where Rupert Murdock’s father used to work. The mural forecasted the growth of the family’s publishing business.
Other buildings throughout Melbourne are also spectacular:
Laneways of Melbourne
The central business district of Melbourne (CBD), designed in a grid, is similar to New York City, Savanah Georgia, and many European cities. Between the major roads that make up the grid are Laneways, or what we might call “alley ways”.
In the 1990s, the Melbourne government realized that to get people to spend more time and money in the CBD they needed to cleanup the Laneways. Visiting some European cities convinced them that the Laneways could become an attraction to both the people of Melbourne and to visitors.
They created two types of modern Laneways: those that encouraged street art and those that encouraged shops and restaurants. Here are some pictures of the Laneways that we found to be particularly charming.
Laneways with Street Art
We might call much of the street art graffiti, but some of this art on the buildings is truly professional. This is real quality artwork.
One of the strange aspects to the Laneways art is how it changes. Travel to Melbourne, Australia from the USA to see what happened to Snoop Dogg a week apart.
Laneways with Cozy Cafes and Small Shops
Laneways line the city, many with small cafes and shops. As a result, there is little room to walk around. You will see shops of all kinds. selling chocolate, vintage clothing and pastries. The windows have very attractive decorations including figurines highlighting the store’s offerings. Some of the Laneways have indoor arcades with clever statues ringing clocks or other poses.
Travel to Australia from the USA and take the Great Ocean Road Tour
One Hundred kilometers to the west of Melbourne, in the small coastal town of Torquay, begins a 200-kilometer journey known as the Great Ocean Road Tour. This tour ends in the town of Port Campbell and passes some of the most beautiful scenery in all of Australia. For more information, please see our new Post on the Best Road Trips of the World.
Travel to Melbourne, Australia from the USA to see the Werribee Open Range Zoo
About one hour west of Melbourne is a wonderful Open Range Zoo. Basically, there is the Australia side and the Safari side. All things considered, both sides are interesting:
Australia Side
The emus were very active. Additionally, they annoyed the kangaroos and one got friendly with Robin. However, the Koalas were hard to photograph as they were all hiding and sleeping.
Safari Side
As you can see, there was a lot more action on the safari side:
Travel to Adelaide, Australia from the USA
Adelaide is the capital of South Australia, known for its laid-back lifestyle and stunning beaches. Accordingly, from its beautiful beaches and parks, to its vibrant nightlife, Adelaide is the perfect destination for a relaxing weekend away. Whether you’re looking to relax on the beach, explore the city, visit Adelaide’s three nearby wine districts or experience the local culture, Adelaide has it all.
Comparatively, you will find that Adelaide, like Melbourne, has a clearly defined central business district (CBD). The city also has a free tram system within the CBD to help you get around. Within the CBD is a wonderful Botanical Garden and the National Wine Museum run by the local university. Lastly, for more information about the Botanical Garden, please visit our Favorite Gardens Post.
Adelaide’s Wine Culture
Adelaide’s wine culture is strong. We did two wine tours there, booking both through Get Your Guide. Here are pictures of the wines from our second tour as well as a sign promoting the wine culture:
Unlike Australia’s other eastern towns, Adelaide’s history was not as a convict town. Okay, that really isn’t fair to Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane as many of the ex-convicts who founded those towns were in most cases petty criminals. Volunteers who moved there built Adelaide. And they weren’t all Brits. In fact, it was the Germans who were largely responsible for the wine culture in the mountains and valleys near Adelaide.
Travel to Hahndorf, Australia from the USA
Less than an hour from Adelaide, in the Adelaide hills, is the German town of Hahndorf. The Germans came to Adelaide and Hahndorf as persecuted Lutherans who were looking for a new place to live and practice their religion. They left from Hamburg in a ship called the Zebra. Hence, the Zebra statue in the Hahndorf museum.
As a result, Hahndorf is a remembrance of Germany settlers who introduced the wine culture into the hills and valleys of Adelaide.
One of the great wine makers of the region is Wolfgang Blass, who created the Wolfblass brand of wines.
Carnes and The Great Barrier Reef
Carnes is a small coastal town in North Australia, known for its relaxed atmosphere, stunning beaches and access to the Great Barrier Reef. From its beautiful beaches and parks, to its vibrant nightlife, Carnes is the perfect destination for a weekend away. Whether you’re looking for a peaceful escape, or an adventure of a lifetime, Carnes has it all.
Travel to the Great Barrier Reef, Australia from the USA
To begin with, Cos visited Carnes and The Great Barrier Reef twice, first in the 1990s and the second time in the 2010s. Roughly 15 years apart, he noticed a major change in the Reef during this time period. First the waters had become much more populated with what the Australians called Stingers. These are Man of War type jelly fish that are very poisonous. Consequently, there are nets roping off many of the beaches. This is to keep the stingers out of swimming areas. In addition, you needed to wear a wet suit if you snorkle on the reef.
Secondly, the Reef itself was less spectacular. After all, here had been some significant deterioration in the quantity and quality of the plants on the reef. This was primarily because the waters in this area had warmed. We learned during our trip in 2023, that there had been some improvements since Cos’s last visit in the 2010s, but we can’t confirm the improvement.
Brisbane and The Gold Coast in Queensland, Australia
Brisbane is the capital of Queensland. Above all, it has a vibrant culture and stunning beaches. From its gorgeous beaches and parks to its vibrant nightlife, Brisbane, like Carnes, is the perfect destination for a weekend away. As a matter of fact, Brisbane is a great jumping off point for a trip to the Gold Coast of Australia.
Cos visited Brisbane in 1995. At the time he was the President of an IT company that had just acquired a small IT Business in Australia. The company was a pioneer in the early days of the emerging field of internet commerce, a field that has expanded rapidly over the past 25+ years.
The Gold Coast of Australia
The City called the Gold Coast is 41 miles southwest of Brisbane and includes a whopping 43 miles of coastline. This resulted from the merger of a number of coastal communities. It contains some of the best beaches for surfing and other water activities in the entire country. In total, the city is the sixth largest city by population in Australia and second behind Brisbane in Queensland.
Hobart, Tasmania, Australia
Tasmania is a beautiful island located off the south-east coast of Australia, known for its natural beauty, unique wildlife, and friendly locals.
Tasmania is a nature lover’s paradise. From the rugged coastline of Bruny Island to the snow-capped peaks of Cradle Mountain, Tasmania has something to offer everyone. The island is home to some of Australia’s most spectacular natural attractions, including Wineglass Bay, the breathtaking Bay of Fires, and the awe-inspiring Tasman National Park.
Tasmania is also home to some of Australia’s most unique wildlife. The island is home to many of Australia’s iconic animals, including the Tasmanian Devil, the Platypus, and the Wombat. It is also home to a variety of bird species, including the rare Forty-spotted Pardalote.
Hobart, the capital city of Tasmania, is a bustling port city with a strong maritime history. It is the gateway to Tasmania’s many attractions, including the iconic Salamanca Market, the Royal Tasmanian Botanical Gardens, and the Museum of Old and New Art. With its vibrant culture, stunning views, and lively nightlife, Hobart is the perfect place to start your Tasmanian adventure.
Cos and Robin visited Hobart on a New Zealand to Australia cruise in 2023 . They only had one short, eight-hour stop in Hobart. So, because they wanted to experience more than just the city of Hobart, they spent the day visiting the Island of Bruny. You guessed it, we found this excursion through Get Your Guide! It was a nice bus ride, a ferry ride to the island, a few stops and a nice lunch on the water. We tried a gin that turned color from blue to purple when you add tonic. A real magic trick!
Bruny Island
Bruny is a 40 minute drive and a ferry ride from Hobart (see more about this and other ferry rides in our post on Ferry Rides). While on Bruny we saw a small island off the southern coast, called Penguin Island, despite the fact that it has no penguins. Using Penguin Island as an illustration, our tour guide tried to explain to us why the term “Mainland” has little meaning in Tasmania. He essentially said the only way to describe Penguin Island is that it is an island of an island (Bruny), of an Island (Tasmania), of an Island (Australia). Get it?
Australia and the British Commonwealth
Australia is a Realm in the British Commonwealth. As such it has a Governor-General who represents the King of England in the country. The Governor-General’s role is mostly ceremonial. The British Commonwealth is a unique international organization, comprised of 54 nations. The majority are former British colonies. Not all are Realms. Canada, New Zealand and Australia are three of the most prominent Realms and members of the British Commonwealth. They have a long and intertwined history. These three countries share their culture, language, and history as well as a commitment to democracy and the rule of law.
The three countries, along with the United States also have a strong military alliance. The Australia, New Zealand, United States Security Treaty (ANZUS) is a military alliance among the three countries, established in 1951. The alliance helps to protect the three countries from external threats. It has been instrumental in maintaining peace and stability in the region.
Finally, the three countries (Australia, New Zealand and Canada) have a strong cultural relationship. And, all three countries have vibrant and diverse cultures that are reflective of their shared history. This is evident in the fact that all three countries celebrate the same holidays and have similar customs and traditions.
In conclusion, Canada, New Zealand, and Australia have a strong relationship that is based on a shared history, commitment to democracy, strong economic ties, and a strong military alliance. The British Commonwealth has played an important role in fostering this.
Australia’s First People
“Australia is the only first world nation with a colonial history that doesn’t recognize its first people in its constitution”. In order to make her point, Linda Burney a spokesperson for Australia’s Opposition Party. made his claim. Subsequently, this claim, factchecked by Factcheck@rmit.edu.au. is a valid one.
The Aboriginal People of Australia are unique in that they track their origin in Australia to over forty thousand years ago. However, today they represent only one percent of the population of Australia. The Māori represent 17% of New Zealand’s population. As a result, New Zealand better respects the Māori than the Aboriginies in Australia.
However, Australia has made formal apologies for the way they treated the Aboriginal People in the past. They have adopted an Aboriginal Flag to fly with the Australian Flag. Most companies have a statement, reaffirming their gratitude to the Aboriginal heritage. They also made land reparations. For more details, please see our post on Indigenous People.
Our Restaurant Recommendations
Here is a list of our recommended restaurants from our 2023 trip to Australia. If you wish to see which of these restaurants made our highly rated top-50 list, please go to Top 50 Restaurants.
Adelaide
We felt right at home at Fugazzi Bar & Dining Room in the party zone off Peel Street in Adelaide. It reminded us of a NY/Italian Bar and Dining room, with the sophisticated tunes and elegant drinks. We sat at the bar and had exceptional service, greak drinks and excellent food. They recommended an exceptionally good wine.
Located right on Peel Street is, not surprisingly, Peel St. Restaurant. We loved our table, located inside but looking through an open window to the outside seating. The best of both worlds! The food was large and delicious and our server was wonderful, suggesting the best options in both food and drink.
Melbourne
We were very surprised to see the strong Italian influence in this city. Our favorite restaurant was one we found after our Laneways tour, a recommendation of our guide: Tipo 00. Italian cuisine in an intimate sophisticated laneway, with open kitchen named for the flour Italians use to make pasta. This was an absolute delight for its sophistication, innovation and a great cooking show at the bar. We tried in vain to go there for dinner on another night but were out of luck. Lesson learned: reserve early!
Inspired by the glamour of 20th-century Chicago, Gimlet is the brainchild of Chef Andrew McConnell. Cocktails are Prohibition-inspired. The bar is lively and fun. Elegant booths, elegant dining room, elegant bar. What else can we say? We did not have a reservation, so sat at the bar where we were served as if we did. Bartender was engaging and offered advice for a quick bite. Best gimlet ever (of course!). Great experience.
Sydney
Neo-French bistro helmed by 3 of Sydney’s most exciting hospitality players, Bistrot 916 was a real favorite of ours in this city of outstanding restaurants. We love bistro cuisine and this was no exception. Everything from the pink tablecloths to the extensive wine list to the classic dishes would remind you of Paris. Highly recommend.
Imaccheroni: This neighborhood Victorian home belies the gorgeous food produced here.
Chef Marcello Farioli is Michelin star trained. We weren’t sure quite what to expect as we walked into the small first floor and then began climbing two flights. The setting was comfy, and we had no idea how great this was going to be. Superb!
