What's Dave Doing?» Australia archives | whatsdavedoing.com – living the travel dream

The Friday Photo #19 – Perth city view

Dave — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 04:21:54 +0000

View over the water back towards the Perth central business district. I took this photo while on holiday in Western Australia a few years ago – it seemed as if everywhere I went was just one big photo opportunity.

Loving my neighbourhood

Dave — Mon, 05 Apr 2010 22:30:16 +0000

For the last year or so I’ve been living in Fitzroy, a mile or two north of the central city in Melbourne, Australia. Not to put too fine a point on it, I love it. Much more than anywhere I’ve lived in the past, Fitzroy and its surrounding area is a neighbourhood with personality. Melbourne’s first – and smallest – suburb, it’s crammed full of fantastic restaurants, bars, galleries and heritage buildings that thankfully haven’t been knocked down by over zealous developers, with a laid back mix of bohemian residents for whom anything goes. From the crowded pavement cafes of Brunswick Street to the local pubs tucked away down quiet back streets, from the pumping live music scene to the wide open parkland of Carlton Gardens, I will – and happily do – spend hours just wandering round and enjoying everything the area has to offer. Here’s my highly subjective tour of Fitzroy that takes in a few of the places that I return to time and again

Article published: Roadtrip Tasmania

Dave — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 04:51:29 +0000

I’ve had another article published by Craig and Linda at indietravelpodcast.com – this time it’s all about roadtrippin’ round Tasmania. From the beautiful Cataract Gorge in Launceston, via the cosmopolitan delights of Hobart and history of Port Arthur to the beaches, forests and peaks of the east coast and Cradle Mountain, there’s something for everyone on this little island. Take your own car over on the ferry or hire one once you get there, and enjoy a fantastic roadtrip.

Feet and ferries

Dave — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 04:09:54 +0000

Up and out early (I really didn’t want to spend any longer than necessary in the hostel) and on my way to Cradle Mountain. I knew this was apparently one of the ‘must see’ areas of Tasmania and it seemed a fitting way to spend my last full day here. As a result I was expecting some stunning scenery – what I wasn’t expecting was the stunning weather to go with it. It’s fair to say that this part of the state has a reputation for appalling conditions at times, but there were no sign of them while I was there. Blue skies, hot sunshine and gorgeous views – very much a recipe for success in my book.

What a difference a day makes

Dave — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 10:27:39 +0000

The morning dawned bright and clear (unlike my head) and within minutes of leaving town I could see why the Bay of Fires was such a renowned spot. With the sun shining the place took on an entirely new perspective and I began to wonder what it would take to be able to have a holiday home in the area. A lottery win, probably. In any case I soon arrived at Binalong Bay, at the southern end of the Bay of Fires, and it was just stunning. In a wide sweep as far as the eye could see, the dazzling white sand and crashing aqua waves were a sure recipe to relax the soul (and reduce the hangover), and I spent over an hour wandering along the beach.

Falling water

Dave — Sat, 06 Feb 2010 08:38:56 +0000

This post is bought to you by the letter W, for water. There’s been no shortage of it lately, both falling from the sky and tumbling down a cliff. As I drove the fifty-something kilometres from Bicheno to St Helens with the windscreen wipers on, the local’s assurances that the weather was likely to clear seemed somehow a little optimistic. St Helens is near the start of the Bay of Fires, apparently rated one of the world’s greatest beach areas. Probably not that day, however …

Good weather … if you are a penguin

Dave — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 23:38:51 +0000

The weather had been pretty average on the way to Swansea yesterday, and any hopes of an immediate improvement were dashed as soon as I woke up to hear the rain on the roof. Not really ideal conditions for hiking several hours around the Freycinet National Park, but why let the weather (or logic) get in the way of a good plan? Thankfully the drizzle did eventually clear somewhat – it was still far from the picture-perfect shots that you see on the tourist brochures, but at least I didn’t need water wings on the trail.

Go east young man

Dave — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 23:35:27 +0000

Dropped the family out at the airport inappropriately early then headed out for a run and to explore Hobart. Battery Point and UTAS (University of Tasmania) were the first port of call – the former was particularly cool, with little streets heading every which way, old houses and commercial buildings everywhere and a very laid back vibe.

Convicts and devils

Dave — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 10:00:00 +0000

After breakfast at Retro Cafe on Salamanca Place (good food, truly abysmal service – don’t reward it with your patronage) the happy family headed southeast down the Tasman Peninsula bound for the biggest drawcard in the area. Famous for over 150 years as a brutal penal station for those convicts who reoffended once in Van Diemen’s Land, and for the last fifteen as the site of an equally brutal massacre by a deranged gunman, the Port Arthur historic site always draws the crowds.

Down to Hobart

Dave — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 01:01:00 +0000

The highlight of the next day in Launceston was … dinner. And not just because most of the rest of the day was spent either trying to find someone to serve us breakfast or lying in the park reading a book. “Lonnie” is a pretty sleepy town at the best of times, but on Sundays it seemed positively in a coma. Many of the shops were shut and foot traffic in the central city was light at best. A great excuse to do not much, so we took it. Fish ‘n’ Chips was the choice of evening meal location, and an inspired one it was. A truly excellent calamari salad, washed down by several bottles of cold Corona while shooting the breeze and sitting almost in the river.