I recently returned from a two-week Australian cruise to snorkel the Great Barrier Reef. It was an amazing adventure shared with my wife, sister, and brother-in-law that taught me several things. Chief among them: worth it!
Here are five lessons learned from my second trip down under:
- It’s far out (literally). Not only is Australia well out of the way (nearly 20 hours flying for me), it requires noticeably more sea days (and fewer ports) to cruise when compared to other global itineraries. Be patient with it.
- The “outer” reef is all that matters. Forget the more accessible “inner” reef. Most Great Barrier visitors come all this way… only to stop short of the real star of the show: the “outer” reef. Don’t make the same mistake even locals do (and I almost did). Heading further north and farther out to see is worth it (like underwater mountains, canyons, and trenches covered in corral and insanely vibrant marine life).
- Shore excursions and porting can be tricky. Think long tender lines, limited bookings, and tours that fill incredibly fast. You can’t book last minute tours here on the dock like they do in the Caribbean and beyond.
- Queensland resembles Hawaii. Who knew the South Pacific would look so similar!? Although the area puts off heavy Hawaiian vibes, the wildlife is dramatically different. Which brings me to…
- This continent will eat you. Dangerous animals. No swimming its beautiful beaches. Scorching sun that burns in seconds. This dazzling but harsh environment might be even more deadly than an African safari.
Lastly, with current exchange rates, everything in Australia is around 40% off for Americans right now, making it a great time to visit the otherwise costly continent. If you have the means, make it happen, cap’n!
Several years ago while traveling for work, I heard 61,000 Aussies belt out You’re The Voice by John Farnham at a college football game in Sydney. While I had heard the song before in that great scene from Hot Rod, I had no idea Aussies could sing it word for word like it was their National Anthem. As a devout musician, it was one of the most memorable moments of a remarkable trip to one of my favorite countries. And a great tune to boot. A message to future generations: don’t let this song die!
Me standing tall in Kyoto
Before pandemic closed international borders and decimated airline routes, I held the ridiculous job of getting paid to travel the world. I’d jetset to far-flung places (often with my family) and then write a review of what I liked most about the place, people, attractions, and/or food.
It was unreal.
Although I plan on taking up that job again, for now I can only dream. And when I look back on the dozens of places I’ve had the privilege of visiting, these are the ones I’ll return to in a heartbeat—one for every inhabited continent.
When daydreaming or adding places to your bucket list, few countries are more lovable than these:
Japan (Asia). Half of the food is amazing. The other half is gross. But the people are 100% adorable. And their contradictory culture is mesmerizing—everything from their language, customs, formality, architecture, tradition, and scenery. BONUS points for being one of the safest and cleanest countries on Earth—a place where kindergartners freely roam downtown late into the night, it’s so safe.
Continue reading…
Credit: National Geographic
What luck we have. Not only were we born on the most marvelous planet in the observable universe—not to mention the only habitable one out of gazillions—but the one we did inherit has seven distinct, magnificent continents.
Picking just one experience from each that best personifies the greater landmass is an impossible job, not to mention totally unfair. But life isn’t fair. Nor is this column. If you need someplace to start when attempting to bag all seven continents, make it one of these iconic and universally well-rated encounters. Continue reading…
