Our time in Australia is over, and it has been wonderful.  Here is brief synopsis.

Big mistakes

• Campervan: We reserved a campervan instead of a bigger motorhome.  Campervans don’t have AC!  Luckily, we were able to upgrade to a proper motorhome.  Note to self:  When reserving the thing you will be spending 16 hours/day driving and sleeping in for 15 days and nights…get the best/newest.  (Mistake avoided)
• Studying: You can’t count on Wi-Fi (see below).  We are buying workbooks next chance we get.

Pleasant surprises

• Kangaroos: They are like deer.  All along the side of the road as you are driving.
• Whitehaven Beach, 98% silica sand: The finest, most amazing sand we have ever seen, and it is illegal to remove any from the beach.
• Wombats: They are cuter and bigger than you think.
• Flying foxes (bats): We first saw them in Cairns and subsequently in most other towns along the coast.  Huge bats!
• Bathrooms: They are really clean–in campgrounds, gas stations, restaurants, everywhere.  We could learn something from the Aussies here.
• Leeches: What a surprise to discover them on your legs while hiking in the Blue Mountains!

Slight disappointments

• Great Barrier Reef:  Either we are spoiled by the Caribbean, or the good stuff is more than a day trip away, but we wish we had seen more.
• Stinger suits: While fashionable, they are a bit of a drag in the water.
• Wild animals: Where are they?  Aside from kangaroos, it seems all the wild Australian animals are in zoos (dingoes, koalas, cassowaries).  We didn’t see any dingoes – maybe the babies ate them.
• Store hours: Aside from grocery stores, everything closes by 7.  WTH?
• Leeches: Locals thought we were crazy for asking for first aid help.  It’s pretty routine for them.

Other reasons to love Australia

• Road signs: They have cheeky fun images and even roadside trivia along the highway.
• People: Everyone is so friendly.  No worries, no dramas–just “Cheers, mate!”

Things we have learned

• Wi-Fi: Don’t count on it!  It’s never what you expect–good at some campsites, bad in some hotels.  Maximize when you get the good stuff.
• Power management: It’s as SIMPLE as ABC – Always Be Charging:  The multiple USB splitter has been our most valuable possession.  Not like the old days where you just buy batteries as you go along.  We have two cameras, 3 iPads, one MacBook and 3 phones.  While you sleep, drive, eat: ABC.
• Talk to strangers:  Everyone has a story, some advice, or a connection. It’s part of the game.
• Get a credit card with a chip and PIN: We haven’t had any problems using cards (except Amex), but the whole signature thing created confusion more than once.

New additions on our site

• Nati’s talking ANZAC cookie and chocolate bilbies
• < 3: In an RV
• Favorite photos from Australia