A Week in South Australia

We spent a few months waiting for approvals to fix our boat, so we used that time to visit places we wouldn’t take the boat. After flying to Melbourne and driving the Great Ocean Road trip, we crossed into South Australia. During a week in South Australia we stopped in Adelaide, its adjacent wine regions, and found some other gems.

Travelling Around Australia

One thing we’ve noticed is travelling around Australia is easy. Flying in Australia is much less of an ordeal than back in North America. It may not be cheap, but flights are priced better than in Canada.

Flights are usually on time, and you don’t even need ID to get into the airport or on board. Plus, people are respectful when boarding planes. We’ve flown several times within the country and have yet to see passengers try to board outside of their group. It’s a nice place to travel by plane.

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New Zealand Quirky Attractions

One thing you learn after spending just a short time in New Zealand is that Kiwis have a sense of humor. And, if you do a New Zealand road trip, you’ll notice countless oddball sculptures, and lots of BIG things. They’re everywhere in New Zealand, alongside roads and in towns. These New Zealand quirky attractions make for great stops on a road trip or even a day trip, and we took advantage and stopped at a lot.

Favorite Quirky Attractions

While not as famous as the big sites and museums, these New Zealand quirky attractions are part of the fun of visiting. Plus, there are so many scattered around the country, you don’t have to plan anything. You’re bound to run into a kiwi sculpture or something!

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Boating The Bay of Islands

New Zealand’s Bay of Islands is renowned as a summer destination. The North Island’s water wonderland, we spent a month boating The Bay of Islands. We loved anchoring in cozy bays, hiking uninhabited islands, and visiting historic towns. It’s a great place to visit by sailboat.

About New Zealand’s Bay of Islands

New Zealand’s Bay of Islands is both beautiful and an important historical area. Captain Cook stopped here on his South Pacific voyages and gave it it’s name. Also, the Bay of Islands was the first part of the country to be inhabited by Europeans. Maybe more importantly, it’s the site of the signing of the 1840 Treaty of Waitingi between the British and Maoris.

beach, Boating the Bay of islands
Beach at Urupukapuka Island

Currently, The Bay of Islands is known for beautiful beaches, clear water, and gorgeous scenery. The entire region is called “The Winterless North” because the weather never gets freezing like in other parts of the country. It’s New Zealand’s top cruising ground in the summer. We visited in autumn and fell in love with the region.

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