Australia

Fraser Island-Sand Island Gem

September 4, 2017 Lisa Rossmeissl Australia No comments

Did you know islands made of sand exist? Did you know that Fraser Island is a world heritage listed island and considered to be the largest sand island? It is also the largest island off the coast of Queensland, Australia. While not found on your everyday itinerary to Australia, it is certainly a gem to consider putting into your vacation experience.

Fraser Island then is a Sand Island Gem

Why you ask? This unique island is actually loaded with some spectacular lakes, lush rainforest, and miles of pristine beaches. It is absolutely amazing how diverse the landscape is on this island created from sand. Another added bonus is it is home to one of the largest dingo populations.

To get to Fraser Island you begin with a ferry ride from Hervey Bay.

Hervey Bay is about 3 hours north of Brisbane. It’s a beautiful drive up from Brisbane along the Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast. Once you ferry across the bay you arrive at Fraser Island and check into Kingfisher Bay Resort. The gorgeous resort overlooks the Great Sandy Strait on the western side of the island. It is a purpose-built ecotourism resort with numerous awards and accolades it can boast about over its 21 years of operation. The resort has an extensive program of guided walks, talks, and 4WD tours as well as wildlife. They even offer whale watch cruises during season. Kingfisher Bay Resort is an ideal base from which to explore the island.

A fantastic tour option is the Beauty Spots Tour.

On this incredible beautiful day of off-roading, you’ll visit the top natural attractions and cool off in fresh watering holes all in the comfort of your air-conditioned four-wheel drive coach. Lunch is provided, but you’ll want to pack your swim wear, a hat, and your sunscreen for this adventure. Here are the highlights you’ll discover:

Gorgeous Lake McKenzie
Central Station and Wanggoolba Creek
Pile Valley’s stunning Satinay and Brush Box forests.
Seventy-Five Mile Beach’s famous highway. (yes, you drive on it)
The Maheno Shipwreck.
The colored sands of The Pinnacles.
The temperate, fresh waters of Eli Creek.
The might Stonetool Sand Blow

To make it even more spectacular, consider taking a scenic peak of the interior by purchasing a ride in one of the sea planes that appear on the beach. And if you’re lucky and have your eyes out you may spot a dingo or two. Or in my case the dingo may want to join your tour and run along side your vehicle.

After a fantastic day of experiencing the island return to Kingfisher Bay Resort for a lovely dining experience at the Seabelle Restaurant. All of their dishes incorporate local indigenous items in them. Then end the evening in your room over looking the swamps and fall asleep to the sounds of the night world.

Sounds divine, doesn’t it?

Lisa Rossmeissl is the owner of Boomerang Escapes, a home-based agency located in Old Bridge, New Jersey with agents in TN, MS, and WI.

She has been a professional travel consultant since 2008 and specializes in Australia and the South Pacific. Australia, New Zealand, Tahiti, Fiji, and Cook Islands are among the specialist certificates she holds. Her agency’s focus is on creating custom itineraries with their client’s wants, desires, and budgets in mind. She and her planners believe in getting to know the traveler to ensure they have a vacation to remember. With each planner specializing in a different market area, Boomerang Escapes can offer a wide variety of leisure vacation planning.

Kick Back and Relax at Kickenback

December 18, 2016 Lisa Rossmeissl Australia No comments

Winter, spring, summer, or fall, no matter the season, you don’t need a reason to kick back and relax. Whether you are a twosome or a small group of friends, a perfect Australian escape awaits at Kickenback at Crackenback.

Kickenback is a beautiful holiday residence snuggled in the Snowy Mountains at Crackenback. This residence is ideal for exploring the many activities available in the Snowy Mountains while relaxing and enjoying family and friends.

Crackenback is located in the Alpine way and is only 2 hours from the country’s capital in Canberra. It is perfect for long or short stays with its studio for a couple or the chalet ideal for families and larger groups. The two units can actually be booked together as one stay as well!

The area has plenty to do to keep you occupied during your stay, no matter the season. Whether you are looking to hit the snowy slopes, view autumn colors, or discover some of the regional tastes, you will be sure to love your experience. Here is a list of just some of the activities you and your spouse or you and your friends might divulge in:

Food & Wine
Art & Culture
Fishing
Skitube
Touring by road
Well-being activities
Horse riding
Kosciuszko National Park
Mountain Biking
Skiing
Shopping
Archery

When your day is done, return to the warmth and comfort of your lodge at Crackenback. Share stories around the dinner table, fireplace, or lawn chairs over a nice glass of wine.

I can highly recommend a couple of things after I visited the resort during spring a few years ago. First, make a trip over to Canberra to spend time in the city’s capital. Enjoy the high life while taking in some of the museums. The War Memorial was of special interest, and it was neat to discover our close connection in history with the Australians. My other favorite activity was driving the countryside and stopping for a picnic lunch in Kosciuszko National Park. While there, we were able to observe the wild kangaroo mob very up close and personal.

With all of its unique opportunities and fun, Crackenback is just one small piece of New South Wales worth putting on your visit list.

Lisa Rossmeissl is the owner of Boomerang Escapes, a home-based agency located in Old Bridge, New Jersey with agents in TN, MS, and WI.

Amazing Facts About Koala Joeys

October 30, 2016 Lisa Rossmeissl Australia, Wildlife No comments

1. Baby koalas are called Joeys. All marsupial babies are called joeys – kangaroos, wallabies, wombats, tasmanian devils, possums & bilbys. The meaning/origin is unknown – it’s possibly just a diminutive used at that time for any small animal. Joey as a baby marsupial was first recorded in use in 1839.
The use of the word joey may have started with the word being applied for a British fourpenny coin. Politician Joseph Hume promoted the use of the fourpenny, thus the coin developed the slang name joey after him.

2. The first time you see a koala joey it is already 6 months old. Koala joeys are born as tiny naked creatures that don’t look anything like a koala. They move straight into the pouch, and remain unseen until they emerge at around 6 months old.
Actual emergence takes time. The joey first pokes his head out of the pouch at 5.5 months, and fully emerges at 6 to 7 months. By 8 to 9 months the joey becomes too large to get into the pouch, and spends all his time on his mother’s belly or back.

3. Koalas invented pro-biotics. Koala joeys eat ‘pap’ – a special substance produced by their mother that looks like poo and acts like a probiotic. It contains gut flora that the joey needs to process eucalyptus leaves. The mother koala produces it from her caecum (a special chamber in her large intestine) and delivers it from her cloaca, so though it looks a bit like poo, its not.
Pap is absolutely essential to a koala’s health. Wildlife Carers with orphaned koala joeys will frequently ask the wildlife care community for a postal delivery of pap from a koala mother – any koala mother will do, the closer the better but any is better than none. Imagine receiving that package of squishy green slurry in the mail!

4. Koala joeys are born out of their mother’s central vagina. Female koalas have three vaginas.

Why? Its complicated, and deserves a complete blog on the subject. Suffice to say that the two lateral (side) vaginae are for the passage of sperm to the uteri, and the median (central) vagina is for birth.
5. Koala joeys are born high in a tree. There is no danger of them falling to the ground – they are so tiny they get trapped in their mother’s fur. At birth a koala joey weighs only 1 gram – as much as a single sultana/raisin – and is only 2cm long.

It’s Koala Joey Season in the state of Victoria right now. All over the state wild koalas can be seen with joeys – hotspots are The You Yangs near Melbourne, the Great Ocean Road and Raymond Island, East Gippsland.
Echidna Walkabout runs the following tours to see koalas in the wild – with a high chance of seeing koala joeys each year from September to November:
Wildlife Journey 4 days
Great Ocean Road 3 days
Koalas & Kangaroos IN THE WILD 1 day
For more information contact:
Janine Duffy
janine@echidnawalkabout.com.au
T: +61 (0)3 9646 8249
Echidna Walkabout Nature Tours & Koala Clancy Foundation
http://www.echidnawalkabout.com.au http://koalaclancyfoundation.org.au

*Reprinted with permission from Echidnawalkaobut

Lisa Rossmeissl is the owner of Boomerang Escapes, a home-based agency located in Old Bridge, New Jersey with agents in TN, MS, and WI.

Master Bridge Climbing

October 24, 2016 Lisa Rossmeissl Adventure, Australia No comments

Another year, another trip, another Amazing Aussie Adventure with another Harbour Bridge Climb. Yes, I can officially call myself a master bridge climber now.

A bit easier and actually even more exciting than the last, but still a test of fear as I push myself to the heights above the Sydney Harbour. Each time I travel to Australia, or even another destination, I take chances to step outside my comfort zone. The feeling of accomplishment makes it well worth the discomfort as much as seeing and experiencing all the world has to offer.
The sights from the bridge are well worth facing any fears you may have to experience Sydney from this vantage point. There are three hundred and sixty degrees of pure beauty as you scan across the city and the harbour. On a clear day like we had, you can see the Blue Mountain ridge in the distance. Each climb presents a different experience than the last.

With varying guides, climbs, and times of climbs, you are sure to have a new experience each time you make your way up onto the bridge. There is a climb for every client and those with fears. As you make your way along your metal path, your guide will fill you in on the history of how the bridge came to be. It is a tale of absolute wonder, considering they did not have the modern building conveniences today. Learn how brave these men had to be up there, putting in the pegs that connect this and all with ultimate precision and alignment. Discover how brave you are as you rise above the city to see the most spectacular sight.

The climb runs all year and just about all weather. My last climb was a wicked windy day, but we prevailed. The wind actually made for an incredibly clear view seeing well beyond the reaches of the harbour. The center provides all gear. All items are securely attached to your blue and grey jumpsuit as you are securely attached to the bridge itself. You only need to bring a do it attitude and closed-toe shoes. Indeed you have your knees knocking by the end of your adventure (mine always are), but the exhilaration of completing this climb will bring you back for more adventure.

Lisa Rossmeissl is the owner of Boomerang Escapes, a home-based agency located in Old Bridge, New Jersey with agents in TN, MS, and WI.

Follow my #amazingaussieadventure

August 21, 2016 Lisa Rossmeissl Australia No comments

I’m off again. Next week I take off on my third Amazing Aussie Adventure with Travel2. You will be able to follow my adventures on my social media accounts. All you need to do is search the following hashtags: #amazingaussieadventure, #myhappyplace, #Australia, and #returntoyourhappyplace.

Like last year, about 60 top agents from across the U.S. have been chosen to head Down Under to meet suppliers and experience the wonders the country has to offer. I am back in Queensland this year and will be going up to the Sunshine Coast from Brisbane to Cairns with stops on Fraser Island and the Whitsundays.
My adventure begins on Wednesday, August 24th, as I make my way from Memphis to LA to catch my overnight flight on Qantas. (I love Qantas!) We will arrive in Brisbane Friday, August 26th, and be off and running. Friday begins day one, crikey!

Day 1-Our first stop– Australia Zoo. It is the home of the “Crocodile Hunter.” We will have a quick breakfast, followed by a morning of activities. There will probably be another koala cuddle for me, and, of course, I will need to check out the saltwater crocs. After a morning of zoo fun, we will be off to Montville in the Sunshine Coast Hinterland to visit Flame Hill Vineyard. What’s better than a wine tasting at midday? By late afternoon, we will head to the Sebel Resort Noosa for a little R&R shopping. We will also enjoy bathing on the beach or laying by the pool before dinner that evening at Bistro C looking over Noosa’s Laguna Bay.

Day 2-We will rise early for a morning run/walk through Noosa National Park, followed by a healthy breakfast at Season Restaurant. After breakfast, we hit the road and travel to Hervey Bay to board the ferry to Fraser Island, where we will check into the Kingfisher Bay Resort. The afternoon will be spent doing a resort inspection and trying out the many available activities to guests. The day will end with a pleasant dinner at Seabelle Restaurant.

Day 3-We will savor breakfast at leisure before we depart for a full day of Beauty Spots Tour. We will visit the top natural attractions and cool off in fresh watering holes on this beautiful day off-roading. We’ll have lunch on the road and have the opportunity to discover:
Gorgeous Lake McKenzie
Central Station and Wanggoolba Creek
Pile Valley’s stunning Satinay and Brush Box Forests
The Maheno shipwreck and the colored sands of The Pinnacles
The temperate, fresh waters of Eli Creek
The mighty Stonetool Sand Blow
The day will end with a quick shower before dining at Meheno Restaurant and taking the ferry back to spend the night at Mantra Hervey Bay.

Day 4-There will be an early sunrise departure from the hotel for a flight to Hamilton Island. Once at Hamilton Island, we will be staying at the Qualia. We will grab our golf buggies and head to the marina for lunch before our hotel inspections via Hamilton Island Treasure Hunt. The evening will be filled with food and wine as we begin with cocktails at One Tree Hill, followed by dinner at Long Pavilion overlooking the sparkling Coral Sea. This is only for guests of Qualia.

Day 5-We will start the day with a sunrise walk, followed by yoga before diving into a healthy breakfast. After breakfast, we are off to the sea and sand, spending a day seeing Whitehaven beach via yacht and helicopter. I will be taking a flight over to see the famed Heart Reef. After a full day of sun, there will be dinner at Marina Tavern back on Hamilton Island.

Day 6-We will grab one last breakfast at Qualia before catching our flight to Cairns. Cairns is the gateway to Queensland’s tropical north. We will spend three nights here at the Pacific Hotel Cairns, conveniently located near the Esplanade, Markets, and Reef Casino. We will have the afternoon free to visit those wonderful places before meeting for dinner at Wharf ONE Café at Trinity Warf. After dinner, we will enjoy a peaceful evening.

Day 7-We will start the morning with some yoga on the Esplanade before assembling our Trade Training Day. This is a full day to meet with fifty of my Aussie and Kiwi partners to get all the latest updates. The day will close with a little free time before our Beach Party on Green Island. The evening will be great for networking and enjoying Cairns.

Day 8-There will be breakfast, followed by a play day. My playtime will be spent out on the Great Barrier Reef with a day of sun and snorkeling. After a full day on the reef, we will return to the Bushfire Flame Grill Restaurant for a Brazilian Churrascaria a la Australian dinner.

Day 9-We will head to the airport for breakfast included on the flight to Sydney. Upon arrival, we will check into the Holiday Inn Old Sydney. The morning will be free time to shop at the Rock Markets before our Sydney Harbour Bridge Climb. The climb takes about three and a half hours and is suitable for most fitness levels. After our climb, we will clean up to head for dinner aboard Captain Cook Cruises for their food and dancing trip. After a three hour sail around the harbor, we will return with some time to explore the famous old pubs on our short walk back to the hotel.

Day 10-There will be many sad faces as our adventure will come to an end, and it will be time to catch our flight back to the U.S. I will look forward to making another trip to my happy place but until next time, Australia. Xoxoxo.

**Any activities that I participate in on my travels can be worked into your own itinerary. Call for a complimentary planning session to begin customizing your own #amazingaussieadventure.**

Lisa Rossmeissl is the owner of Boomerang Escapes, a home-based agency located in Old Bridge, New Jersey with agents in TN, MS, and WI.

Little Penguins of Phillip Island

August 7, 2016 Lisa Rossmeissl Australia, Wildlife No comments

I was first introduced to the Little Penguins at Featherdale Wildlife Park in August 2011 during my first trip to Australia. Featherdale is located just outside of Sydney and makes for a great day trip for visitors wanting to get up close and personal with some of Australia’s most famous wildlife.

As our trip continued along the Southeast coast of Australia to Melbourne, I got the experience of a lifetime at Phillip Island, which is home to The Little Penguins.

Phillip Island has a wealth of activities for visitors to partake in with great landscape and wildlife. Some favorites are visits to the Churchill Island Heritage Farm and the Koala Conservation Centre, but Phillip Island has probably become most well known for the Penguin Parade. The island is one of the Little Penguins’ homes that come in each night to their nests.
The penguins are the smallest of all the penguin species. They have homes along the rocky coastlines of New Zealand, Tasmania, and Australia’s southern coastline like Phillip Island. The penguins are under increased threat from non-native carnivores, and areas such as Phillip Island have become national parks that work to protect and conserve these tiny creatures.

Phillip Island has set up an amazing opportunity for educating visitors while allowing them an up close and personal glance at these cute creatures. This is an impeccable experience that allows visitors to see the creatures make their nightly trek up into the rocky shore banks to return to their nests. Hundreds or more birds each night come ashore and make their waddle to the nests. Visitors can choose from several watch options for viewing from the main area at Summerland Beach to personal guided eco-tours. My personal view back in 2011 was from the Penguin Plus Viewing Platform. I highly recommend spending the extra few dollars for a closer viewing station for a more intimate experience and a front-row seat.
Listening to the bird’s chatter and call out to one another as we watched them make their nightly journey was truly amazing. It didn’t even matter that we were getting wet in a light rain that had begun to fall. I was literally close enough to reach out and touch them but sadly was not allowed. Photography is not allowed either. However, the shop at the end of the tour has professional photographs available for sale in various formats. I took home several of the postcard photos, one of which you see here. Animal lover, bird lover, wildlife enthusiast, or not, you will love and be amazed by these little birds and their nightly trek home. Photo courtesy of www.visitphillipisland.com

Lisa Rossmeissl is the owner of Boomerang Escapes, a home-based agency located in Old Bridge, New Jersey with agents in TN, MS, and WI.

Kings Canyon-An Outback Gem

July 17, 2016 Lisa Rossmeissl Australia No comments

August 2015, I once again enjoyed being included on an educational familiarization trip to Australia. The itinerary included several days in The Outback. Most Americans are familiar with the famed Outback either through movies such as “Crocodile Dundee” or the restaurant chain “Outback” or have heard about Ayers Rock (Uluru) that marks the center of this territory. However, I find that few want to take the time to really explore this region besides a 2-day inclusion to explore Uluru.

I am here to tell you that you need to add some extra days to your itinerary and explore Kings Canyon.

Kings Canyon is part of Watarrka National Park and lies about half-way between Uluru and Alice Springs. Kings Canyon is “back of beyond”-way out there somewhere remote. No phone service, no Wi-Fi, no doctors even for miles or a day’s trip away. Despite its remote location, this is the perfect place to escape, relax, and connect.

Kings Canyon’s sandstone walls were formed millions of years ago, and the aboriginal have called it home for over 20,000 years now. With more than 600 species of vegetation, the canyon makes for a lovely hiking escape if you’re up for the challenge. I was, even with being under the weather the day of our climb, I would not have missed this site.

The climb to the rim is a challenging 6-kilometer hike that takes approximately 3-4 hours. The first section of the climb is the most challenging as it is nearly a 90 degree stone step staircase to climb. Once you’ve conquered it, the remainder of the trail is relatively level, and the views are spectacular. Along part of the hike, we saw the famed area where “Priscilla, Queen of the Desert” was filmed. Earlier in the week, we had been surprised by a secret performance from Priscilla and her troop. We also took the descending walk through what is known as “the Garden of Eden.” Here there is a permanent waterhole with amazing lush green vegetation and birdlife. After you take a million pictures of the breathtaking landscape and complete your hike, I recommend spending a night or two at Kings Canyon Resort.

Kings Canyon Resort makes for a nice base camp for exploring more of the region. My recommendation would be to stay in the deluxe room with the soaking tub below a clear picture window. You feel as if you are sitting right in the midst of the desert. It is very romantic for couples. During the season (April to October), take in the evening meal “Under a Desert Moon.” There is nothing quite so spectacular or romantic as dining under the Southern Night moonlit sky.

To explore Kings Canyon and Uluru, I would recommend allowing 3-4 days from your trip schedule. Trust me, this is the Australia you imagine, and it is well worth the stop.

Lisa Rossmeissl is the owner of Boomerang Escapes, a home-based agency located in Old Bridge, New Jersey with agents in TN, MS, and WI.

My Lunch with True Blue Aussie-Bushy and his Wife

May 8, 2016 Lisa Rossmeissl Australia, For Fun No comments

I had a real treat this week when my past client, Jean Lakey, replied to my weekly e-zine to ask if I had any time during the week to meet up with her brother and his wife from Western Australia. Here was her email:

“My brother is here from Perth Australia for 4 weeks. He enjoyed reading your email post this morning.
He said to tell you he is a tru- blu dinky di Aussie
Bushy. He is sitting at my table in Eads, Tn.
He says they spell “bushy” with a y . 😊😃
He would love to drop by and meet the lady who is promoting his wonderful Australia.
I told him you had helped us several years ago when we made our trip to Perth.”

Given my passion for this country and her people, I jumped on the opportunity to spend some time speaking with true Aussies. I immediately responded with a lunch invite. Jean’s email response was:

“Thank you so much for the lunch invitation.
Ken would love it, as would we. I must warn you,
his nickname is “Bushy” and he is a bit of a rounder.
He loves His Western Australia and is a volunteer at the
Round House in Perth. He is a history buff and loves
Sharing Australian facts and history so meeting someone
who is promoting his Country would be a treat.”

Of course, I told her the treat was all mine and we sent a date for lunch.

You see, Jean and her husband Bryan were my first Australia booking in 2011. That same year, shortly after booking their trip to visit their relatives, I was invited to my first FAM (familiarization trip) to Australia to complete my Australia Specialist Certification. It was a booking and a trip that soon changed the path of my life.

Thrilled to have the opportunity to get down and dirty with Australians, we met at O’Charley’s for a leisurely lunch. Ken, a.k.a. “Bushy”, was a wealth of information and a true historian. He and his wife, Madeline, shared all the great spots that you, my clients, should see in Western Australia. What most Americans don’t realize is the size of Australia. Western Australia is the largest state at nearly 3 times the size of Texas. Depending on how long you can escape will determine what you can choose to fit into your itinerary.

Bushy grew up around the aboriginals and currently volunteers and teaches at the Round House. The Round House is outside of Perth in Freemantle and is listed as a World Heritage Site. It is the oldest building in Western Australia and was first a prison in 1829. It didn’t actually house any convicts until 1850. In 1900, a dropping time ball and signal were erected. It was used each day at 1p to signal the correct time to navigators on ships entering Fremantle Harbour. While the procedure was discontinued in 1937, the Fremantle Volunteer Heritage Guides now re-enact the ceremony, and a member of the public may be invited to be the Honorary Gunnery Officer to fire the sound signal. The chance to fire is free, but a nominal donation is nice. It is the only place in the world remaining where you can have the opportunity to fire the sound signal. The person receives a free certificate as well. Upon her visit in 2011, Jean said this was an absolute highlight of her trip.

Lunch continued, and I must say I could have spent the whole afternoon listening to Ken, “Bushy”, and Madeline. It got a bit fun when “Bushy” decided he was going to test a bit of my Australian slang. I told him if he slowed down I might make out a bit, but if he spoke at full speed I wouldn’t be able to get enough of the context to decipher. Once he slowed down, I was somewhat fair. The Aussies like to do a lot of rhyming things and often shorten words. Truly, learning their slang is like learning another language. Just like here in the states, the different regions have different ways of saying and pronouncing things. Apparently, I speak more Eastern Australian, but no surprise since most of my friends and colleagues are from Sydney. Here is one he said in reference to our day at lunch:

“Bloody wind would blow a brown dog off a rusty chain”, meaning the wind had picked up quite a bit since we had entered the restaurant.

My favorite from Madeline was the Fremantle Doctor, aka “the sea breeze”. I think we could all use treatment from this doctor.

I compiled a list of must do’s from our conversation. To learn more about them or how to include Western Australia in your vacation plans contact us!

Western Australia Top “To Do” Items from an Aussie Perspective:

In Perth, Kings Park and the beaches (some the of the best beaches Australia has to deliver)
Go North to see the Lancelin Sand Dunes
A 2 hour run outside of Perth is the Pinnacles
Rottnest Island– take a ferry over and see the famous Quokkas
Freemantle War Memorial
4-5 hours visit the Natural Bridge
Go North to Broome to see the Stairway to the Stars
For wineries, stop by Margaret River or Swan River
See championship surging at Margaret River
Visit wildlife at Kahuna Wildlife Park
Visit the Living Rocks
Go to the Lighthouse where the Indian and Southern Oceans meet

I’ve certainly got Western Australia on my radar and with an open invitation to visit my new friends, I can’t wait to make it a reality.

Lisa Rossmeissl is the owner of Boomerang Escapes, a home-based agency located in Old Bridge, New Jersey with agents in TN, MS, and WI.

Cleland Wildlife Park-An Adelaide Animal Experience

April 11, 2016 Lisa Rossmeissl Adventure, Australia, Wildlife No comments

Many of you may have realized koalas are my favorite. But, it is not just the koala. I am wild about wildlife. I have been since a child. Koalas, along with the other amazing Australian wildlife, have been my inspiration for years. It is no wonder that Australia’s animals rank high for traveler’s top reasons to visit, and Australia does not disappoint with nearly every imaginable encounter you can think of.

Truly, no matter which state or territory you decide to visit, you will be able to include a wildlife experience in your itinerary.

Upon my most recent visit Down Under to Adelaide, I enjoyed introducing my son to my love of Australian wildlife. Adelaide is the capital of South Australia, which is “wildly” know for its wildlife experiences. With this visit, I made sure that our first full day in the state would be filled with an experience he wouldn’t forget.

We were staying in the heart of Adelaide near Cleland Wildlife Park.

Being close to the city center, the park can be reached by public transport or even a cab. We decided to opt for having the hotel desk call us a cab. A note to the wise, be sure your cab driver actually knows his own city before leaving the hotel. Our ride over to the park was a bit like an episode from “The Amazing Race,” where the driver says, “Yes, I know where that is.”, and then you find yourself pulling up to the wrong park. After that, you find the clearly has no clue where he is going. Fortunately, I kept a global data plan on my phone and was able to call up maps and guide the cab driver to our destination.

The park is open daily from 9:30 a.m.-5:00 p.m. (except for Christmas). What makes the wildlife parks in Australia a bit more unique than the familiar American zoo is the close and personal encounters you get to have with the wildlife. Imagine yourself in a giant kid zoo. Different educational and close encounters are scheduled throughout the day. The park has an eatery and gift shop as well. When buying your ticket (which runs about AUD 22), you can pick up a map along with food for the animals.

Our first stop was to head to the kangaroos. We were there during spring and got to see so many little joeys in their mom’s pouches. My son was amazed at how close you could get with them. You could even lay or sit beside them. It was like pulling teeth to have him move onto the next area where the wallabies were because he was so intrigued by all the little joeys popping their heads out. He had great fun taking selfies and making videos on the Go-Pro. Nearby the wallabies were the wombats. Now, these guys you could not feed, but the enclosures still made for great viewing. They even had white ones.

After a good hour or more feeding the kangaroos and wallabies, we finally moved on to explore the rest of the park with birds galore, reptiles, and the koalas as the main attraction. South Australia is one of Australia’s remaining states that still allows a “cuddle with a koala.” Of course, I couldn’t wait. I could never get enough koala cuddles in my lifetime. What was really the best for me was to see my son’s delight and watch him fall in love with my passion as well. The cuddle was a grand experience as we got to hold an adult male. Having only cuddled young ones of 1-3 yrs, this guy was a hefty fellow but loved it all the same.

We worked our way back through the park and stopped for some lunch before heading back to the kangaroos, which proved to be one of my son’s favorites. With still one bag of food left, we couldn’t let it go to waste. We spent nearly six hours at the park that day. With souvenirs for his friends in hand, we had the ladies at the entry call us a cab for the ride back to the hotel. Luckily, it was a much shorter trip this time. If you ask either of us, we would definitely recommend a day trip from Adelaide to this wonderful nature reserve.

Lisa Rossmeissl is the owner of Boomerang Escapes, a home-based agency located in Old Bridge, New Jersey with agents in TN, MS, and WI.

Your Palate is Immature!

November 8, 2015 Lisa Rossmeissl Australia, Culinary No comments

During a recent visit to Australia, I had the pleasure of finally visiting the Hunter Valley. The Hunter Valley is one of the most visited places in Australia. An easy day or overnight trip north of Sydney, you can not only wet your palate with the various wines of the region, but you can enjoy local cuisine, golf, or a restful day at the spa. Wine tours and tastings can be set up in advance. They can be done by vehicle or even by bike if you are up for a pedal. Most of all, the Hunter Valley offers a taste of the countryside and the hospitality of the locals.

I was graced with the opportunity to travel with AEA Luxury tours for my wine tour. I love this company and typically use them when arranging my client’s tours. We visited four wineries my day out, beginning with Mount View Estates. We lucked out with an absolutely gorgeous spring day in Australia for our wine tasting. The scenery was spectacular, and they were able to have our wine tasting outside, looking over the vineyards. I am not a huge wine drinker, but I am always game when I travel to try anything once!

We were introduced to Melissa, who would be our hostess and “educator” for the tasting. The table was already set with glasses, spit buckets, and a lovely cheese and cracker plating with selections from the local area. As we began the tasting, she described the first white wine and remarked about how our palates change with age. I decided to raise my hand for a question, letting her know I had never really become much of a wine drinker and still preferred my wines to be sweet. She politely asked my age and discovered we were the same.

Her next comment was, “My friend, you have an immature palate, but that’s okay because we can fix that.”

I then became the example of the day, much to my fellow travel professional’s enjoyment, as she continued to make her selections. She had me keep an open mind and mouth as we went through the selections of the day. She had me try various things such as smelling the wine first, trying it from different size glasses, and holding my nose so I couldn’t smell it. She was good! By the end of our time with her, she had actually found me a red wine or two that I didn’t mind.

The best part, which made everyone laugh, was the homework she gave me. She said, “Dear, you need to drink more!” A roll of laughter erupted from our group as they knew I would have no problem following up with that assignment.

Our afternoon continued onto three more wineries that day, the last having a lovely lunch with pairings. Another lesson I learned on my wine tasting trip is to be sure to eat breakfast before you go. I spent most of the day inebriated to a high degree, and lunch was more than a welcome sight before we headed out to spend the night at a local homestead. The Hunter Valley experience was truly one not to be missed on your Australian vacation.

Cheers!

Lisa Rossmeissl is the owner of Boomerang Escapes, a home-based agency located in Old Bridge, New Jersey with agents in TN, MS, and WI.

Fraser Island-Sand Island Gem

Fraser Island then is a Sand Island Gem

To get to Fraser Island you begin with a ferry ride from Hervey Bay.

A fantastic tour option is the Beauty Spots Tour.

Kick Back and Relax at Kickenback

Winter, spring, summer, or fall, no matter the season, you don’t need a reason to kick back and relax. Whether you are a twosome or a small group of friends, a perfect Australian escape awaits at Kickenback at Crackenback.

With all of its unique opportunities and fun, Crackenback is just one small piece of New South Wales worth putting on your visit list.

Amazing Facts About Koala Joeys

Master Bridge Climbing

Another year, another trip, another Amazing Aussie Adventure with another Harbour Bridge Climb. Yes, I can officially call myself a master bridge climber now.

Follow my #amazingaussieadventure

I’m off again. Next week I take off on my third Amazing Aussie Adventure with Travel2. You will be able to follow my adventures on my social media accounts. All you need to do is search the following hashtags: #amazingaussieadventure, #myhappyplace, #Australia, and #returntoyourhappyplace.

Little Penguins of Phillip Island

As our trip continued along the Southeast coast of Australia to Melbourne, I got the experience of a lifetime at Phillip Island, which is home to The Little Penguins.

Kings Canyon-An Outback Gem

I am here to tell you that you need to add some extra days to your itinerary and explore Kings Canyon.

To explore Kings Canyon and Uluru, I would recommend allowing 3-4 days from your trip schedule. Trust me, this is the Australia you imagine, and it is well worth the stop.

My Lunch with True Blue Aussie-Bushy and his Wife

Given my passion for this country and her people, I jumped on the opportunity to spend some time speaking with true Aussies. I immediately responded with a lunch invite. Jean’s email response was:

Cleland Wildlife Park-An Adelaide Animal Experience

Truly, no matter which state or territory you decide to visit, you will be able to include a wildlife experience in your itinerary.

We were staying in the heart of Adelaide near Cleland Wildlife Park.

Your Palate is Immature!

Her next comment was, “My friend, you have an immature palate, but that’s okay because we can fix that.”

The best part, which made everyone laugh, was the homework she gave me. She said, “Dear, you need to drink more!” A roll of laughter erupted from our group as they knew I would have no problem following up with that assignment.

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