Episode 004: Visiting Australia

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Have you ever wanted to visit Australia? This week we talk about the Land Down Under with native Erin Bender about what you can fit into a two-week trip to Australia — if that is all you have. We cover a sample itinerary, what to do with kids in Melbourne, Sydney and the Great Ocean Road. Plus, we learn about fairy bread, Vegemite, and where to find those adorable koalas and kangaroos.

ON THE PODCAST

1:00 Shout out to Lance for giving Vacation Mavens our first review on iTunes!

1:20 Kim talks about her recent trip to Phoenix including hot air ballooning

4:40 Spring training with the Cactus League

8:20 Eating in Phoenix — Hilton at Squaw Creek

9:55 Erin Bender from Travel with Bender (*now Explore with Erin)

13:02 Nomadic travel challenges

15:00 Australia in two weeks

17:00 Getting from place to place in Australia

21:00 Koalas and kangaroos

21:30 Must try Australian foods

24:00 Four days in Sydney

25:20 Driving Great Ocean Road

27:00 Phillip Island and Fairy Penguins

27:45 Where to find koalas and kangaroos

28:45 Best place to take a family photo

29:30 Surviving the long flight to Australia with kids

31:30 Favorite travel outfit or gear

33:35 Tip of the week

ABOUT ERIN BENDER FROM TRAVEL WITH BENDER

Erin is the driving force behind Explore with Erin. She’s recently returned home to Australia with her 2 young children (ages 6 and 7), after a nomadic journey across 64 countries and counting.

Erin and her husband were both born in Australia and have been together for 18 years. Erin and her husband Josh took a seven-week round-the-world trip pre-kids and loved traveling so much that they decided to embark on a nomadic lifestyle when her kids were two and three. What was going to be a six-month journey has turned into four years of travel.

Erin and her family are currently in Orlando and will be traveling through the U.S. for a few more months, but she took time out of her busy schedule to tell us about her native land — Australia. While she suggests spending at least a month in Australia, she shares a two-week itinerary that covers a few of Australia’s highlights.

TWO-WEEK AUSTRALIAN ITINERARY

Erin recommends flying into Brisbane on the Gold Coast and starting with four-nights in Queensland where you can see some of the best islands in the world, including the Great Barrier Reef and Whitsunday. In Brisbane, you will also find many amusement parks and attractions.

She would then spend four nights in Sydney, taking in sights like the Sydney Opera House and a walk across the Harbour Bridge. The Sydney Aquarium is also a highlight for families with kids. Ferries around the harbour are also a great way to get a view of the city.

Next, she would do four nights in Melbourne, including two nights driving the Great Ocean Road to see the Twelve Apostles rock formations. (Note: there are not Twelve Apostles, but the water is magnificent and the formations are quite beautiful.) If you get a bit further to see the great Australian “bite” with wonderful cliffs and views. Also, near Melbourne you can go out to Phillip Island to see the Fairy Penguins. At dusk, the penguins come from the ocean to their homes on land. You can sit in the grandstands to watch this phenomenon.

Finally, finish up with a trip to see Uluru or head over to western Australia and visit Margaret River, one of the best surfing destinations in the world.

 MUST-TRY FOODS IN AUSTRALIA 

WHERE TO FIND KOALAS 

BEST PLACE TO TAKE A FAMILY PHOTO

Erin recommends taking a photo with the Sydney Opera House in the background. If you are clever, you can manage to get the opera house and the Harbour bridge in the same photo. In Darling Harbour, walk on the lower level on the way to the opera house and you will be able to get both.

TIPS FOR FLYING WITH KIDS

FAVORITE TRAVEL GEAR