Australia 2014/2015

This year my girlfriend Debbie and I decided once again to spend christmas away...We both used to live in Australia and wanted to go back together, so the destination was set.

In june of 2014 we started hosting airbnb, because our appartment is way to big for us and out of the three floors we have, we actually only use two. once we put the listing up we immediately had bookings https://www.airbnb.ch/rooms/3126069 and because we had 5 star ratings we were elected super hosts. Seven months, 80 guests from 14 countries later we are paying for our vacation with the money we earned as hosts. So thank you airbnb, we had a great time and get to go on a holiday as well.

we weren't keen on flying to Australia in one go so we did a stopover in Singapore. It had been a wish of mine to stay at the Marina Bay Sands Hotel and swim in the endless pool ontop overlooking the skyline. Wish fullfilled, it was worth the money.

On Dec. 21 we left Zurich (thank god we chose Emirates, lots more space and comfort in the A380) and arrived in Brisbane on Dec. 24. My close friends or should I say family members Walt and Teresa picked us up from the airport.

Singapore - Brisbane

Hope Island, Queensland

For those who don't know: in 05/06 I lived in Australia for a year and half of the time in Brisbane (Everton Hills) with them. We also worked together or should I say I worked for their catering business. One of many jobs I had here, but that's another story I guess ;-)

Teresa and Walt now live in a beautiful apartment in Hope Island (Gold Coast) even though they might have been a little worried that I might not leave ever again, they let us stay :-)

Hope Island

what a life

first breakfast with our dear friends Walt and Terese

x-mas day in the pool, nice

a new lifeguard in town

how expensive is cheese here??!!

x-mas in Australia

Santa lol

x-mas day picknick

On Dec. 24 we enjoyed a breakfast at the waterfront and had a typical Swiss x-mas dinner, like we would back home: Fondue Chinoise. Christmas Day we visited Walts Grandkids in Brisbane and hung out by the pool. Walt's a chef so he prepared a nice ham & turkey lunch for us girls.

Swiss traditional x.mas dinner Fondue Chinoise

Rudolph the red nose reindeer

Brisbane, Queensland

visiting friends of ours in Brisbane

wow look what they got

Hope Island, Queensland

the feast

ordinary family dinner

we stayed at their place for five days and had an awesome time, pushed in a day of outlet shopping at harbour town and SUP in Surfers Paradise.

Surfers Paradise, Queensland

SUP at the Gold Coast

doing it for the first time

that was alot of fun

Nimbin, NSW

Then it was time to leave the nest and we were on our way to Byron Bay. Like I mentioned before we've been to the East Coast and all these places before, so this time we would just visit friends, chill out and take it easy.

Byron Bay was flodded with tourists, fortunately we had booked our hotel months ahead...unfortunately it was raining when we got there, so no fun times at the beach, we went to see a movie and had a delicious Japanese dinner. Turns out I love love love Japanese food!

The day after we went on a little roadtrip to Nimbin, a hippie town 80 km away from Byron.

why did the chicken cross the road? to become a schnitzel hahaha

Nimbin, crazy hippy town

passing through Lismore

Byron Bay, NSW

Byron Bay, Liam Hemsworth was there at the same time, we did not see him :-(

freedom

pura vida

we love the coconut water

getting supplies

Sushi

very yummi Japanese dinner

I am starting to love love love Japanese food

Sushi train

on the road again

Cape Byron lighthouse

it feels good to be back in Australia

yes I love shrimps, but usually cooked

Port Macquarie, NSW

Our plan was to spend NYE in Sydney, so we hit the road once again to Port Macquarie because we didn't wanna drive to all the way to Sydney the same day.

We were unhappy with the motel, it was filthy and we were grossed out and happy to leave after just one night, also the steak restaurant that was recommended to us was a disappointment. Usually I can count on booking.com, just not this time.

Shelly Beach

What else can I say...

huge jelly fish

Sydney, NSW

So after another four hour drive we arrived in Sydney. We had booked an accomodation on airbnb, first time as guests. We had a whole appartment in Maroubra (suburb of Sydney) to ourlselves. So we dropped the luggage and returned the car at the airport. There's no need for a car in a city like this.

CBD traffic free for the NYE fireworks

It was very kind of our host Jessica to invite us to her boyfriends NYE Party in the Rocks. Best location in town to see the fireworks with the view of the Sydney Opera House. We met some nice people and some rather interesting folk;-) and had alot of fun. About 2 million people were at Circular Quay to see one of the most famous fireworks in the world, the ambience was great and they sure blew up alot of money. Happy New Year! We had a very relaxed time in Sydney, doing a little bit of shopping and just hanging out the beaches all day day long.

Sydney opera house

the rocks

NYE party in the rocks

one of the most famous fireworks in the world

NYE party

new years day, only half of Sydney decided to come to the beach

Sydney harbour bridge

enjoying the beautiful Sydney skyline at dawn on the ferry to Manly

opera house

meeting Canadian friends in Manly for dinner

We thought we'd buy some coconuts, now we just have to figure out how to open them

a bull shark was spotted by lifeguards and swimmers were being evacuated

off course the news team was there to report about the shark alarm

Bondi Beach

Chinatown

the view of the Sydney skyline from our apartment

one of the largest privately-owned yachts (Microsoft Co-Founder Paul Allen) is 126m long, has a permanent staff of 55 people incl. Ex-Navy Seals Bodyguards, worth $200 million

Manly beach

love Manly

he had the nicest voice ever

yeah

what can we say, we love Japanese food

Bondi

Debbie getting a pedicure

first manicure in my life

Gold Class cinema

Melbourne, Victoria

On January 2nd we droped of our rental car at the airport and hopped on a domestic flight to Melbourne where we visited Debbies Greek/Australian family. They really welcomed us with open arms and after 10 years it was good to be back here.

Deb and her friend Roulla

St. Kilda

St. Kilda Beach

love Melbourne

yummi dim sum lunch

Chinatown, Melbourne

Great Ocean Road

Roadtrip

Of course we couldn't be in Melbourne and go on a roadtrip to the Great Ocean Road. It's so worth the drive and probably the nicest daytrip in Australia.

the Great Ocean Road

Kakadu

in Switzerland in a zoo in Australia in a park : Kakadu's

I love Koalas

too cute

12 Apostles

Melbourne

last day in Australia :-(

dinner at our friends place

cuties

world champion of pizza making

Unfortunately after 3 weeks enjoying down under, meeting up with friends and family it was time to go home...well not straight home, we still had a stopover in Dubai where we met up with Debbie's cousin and her husband, shopping as usual and Dune Buggying in the desert. The trip was perfect!!!

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