Adventures on Australia's East Coast

By Dale Fehringer

An unusual incident happened on our way up the East Coast of Australia – we were robbed, in broad daylight, at eight o’clock in the morning – and we eventually recovered everything that had been taken! This all started at the mid-point of our two-week trip to Australia. Six of us (all Americans) were heading north from Sydney to the Great Barrier Reef. We had spent three terrific days in Sydney taking in the city and its beautiful harbor, touring the landmark Opera House, and exploring the nearby Blue Mountains. A highlight involved climbing Sydney’s famous Harbour Bridge; scaling catwalks and ladders up 40 stories to the summit. The views from the top were extraordinary!

Climbing Sydney’s Harbour BridgeClimbing Sydney’s Harbour Bridge is an amazing experience that shouldn’t be missed while you are in Sydney! It’s an opportunity to climb to the summit of an Australian icon and the world’s largest steel arch bridge. Advance reservations are necessary, as it books up early. This is not an inexpensive experience; we paid US$137 per person for the 3 ½ hour outing. It was worth every penny! Tours take place all day long, seven days a week, with groups of 10 climbers leaving every 15 minutes during peak hours. Safety, both for the climbers and the drivers below, is of paramount concern, and climbers go though breathalyzer tests and are outfitted in special clothing and equipment. The first half hour is spent completing forms, getting into full-body jumpsuits and gear, and being trained how to use the safety equipment, which includes a safety harness, communication phone, and headphones, Climbers then walk onto the lower sections of the bridge and over catwalks and ladders to the summit. At the top, you are 40 stories high (more than 400 feet), and enjoy amazing 360 degree views of Sydney’s harbor and Opera House, and experience a wonderful sense of achievement. It’s a beautiful sight and an incredible adventure!

We rented cars and drove north (on the left side of the road) toward Brisbane, enjoying three days along Australia’s picturesque east coast. We tasted wines in the Hunter Valley, stayed overnight in bungalows in the “bush,” explored fishing villages and surfing towns, and at one point inadvertently joined in an awards dinner for a local football team. We also stopped at a wildlife refuge to “pat” koalas and feed kangaroos by hand, and visited friends in the hip Gold Coast region.

St. Patty’s Day in Brisbane

Brisbane: Gateway to Australia’s East Coast

By Lee Tyree

Brisbane, which is pronounced “Briz-buhn” by the locals, is the third-largest city in Australia (around 1.8 million people), the capital of the state of Queensland, and an urban community that has evolved into a thriving business and tourist destination. It’s an interesting and attractive city, and a gateway to Steve Irwin’s Australia Zoo, the Sun Coast to the north, and the Gold Coast to the south. Downtown Brisbane is framed by the Brisbane River on three sides and includes the business and hotel districts. A developed wharf area features many good restaurants, a large botanical garden, and plenty of pubs.

The main thoroughfare (Queen Street) is closed to vehicular traffic and includes an inviting pedestrian mall and outdoor piazza. It leads to Victoria Bridge, and a short walk across the bridge leads to an area known as South Park, which stretches along the river and features the Performing Arts Center. There is also a large outdoor public swimming pool and picnic area that includes a long sand beach. There are restaurants of all kinds that provide excellent views across the river to the downtown cityscape. Brisbane’s water taxis are a unique feature of the city. They are operated by a single mariner and comfortably accommodate up to thirty people. They run every half hour, from early morning to late at night.
Brisbane was quiet the next morning. As we ate breakfast we noticed a few rowdy young men across the street, but we wrote them off as leftovers from the previous night’s parties. We checked out of our hotel, collected our luggage, and walked out to look for a taxi. We were due to catch an overnight train to the Great Barrier Reef, which was to leave in less than an hour; we were right on schedule, as we were just 15 minutes from the train station. I crossed the street to a taxi stand and put my backpack down to hail a cab. Two young hooligans ran by, grabbed my backpack, and took off down the street. One of my traveling companions followed them, looking in alleyways and rubbish bins in case they tossed the backpack aside. I found a policeman and began filling out a crime report.

A few minutes later a taxi driver approached us and said he had seen two young men running down the street, and thought he saw them drop something. I finished the crime report and went to a police station to see if the taxi driver’s story panned out (it didn’t). So I raced to catch the train. My traveling companions had gone ahead and checked me in, and a train employee was waiting with my ticket and to escort me to the train. It pulled out the minute I boarded.

Aboard the Train
The Sunlander service from Brisbane to the Great Barrier Reef is a relaxing overnight train ride and a great way to see the central coast of eastern Australia. The ride was scenic and soothing, and we used the time to create a list of the items in my backpack and then figured out how to replace or get along without them. Most urgently, my passport was missing. I was scheduled to fly home in five days, and was concerned about being able to replace it in time. Also missing: my eyeglasses; house, car, and office keys; travel guides and maps; reading material; and $300 in US currency. Everything could be replaced, but with some effort and expense.

We ate lunch and watched the coastal towns, sugar cane fields, and cattle ranches go by. Dinner was served as the sun set, which in addition to offering wonderful views is also the best time to see kangaroos in the wild. After dinner, we went back to our cabins, which had been made up into bunks, and stretched out for the night. In the morning, we got off at the small inland town of Proserpine, rode a bus to the coastal town of Airlie, and boarded a ferry to Hamilton Island.

The First Good News
When we arrived at Hamilton Island I went to an Internet café and checked for news about my backpack. There were two messages: the first was a crime report from the Brisbane police; the second was a note from the police in Fortitude Valley (a suburb of Brisbane), saying they had found a backpack that matched the description of mine! I called the Fortitude Valley police. Was my passport in the found backpack? The answer was yes! That was a huge relief, because now I didn’t have to worry about replacing it. In fact, they said it appeared everything was there except the cash. I went to the Hamilton Island airport and changed my flight back to Sydney, allowing enough time between flights in Brisbane to get to the Fortitude Valley police station, pick up my backpack, and get back to the airport. When they heard my plight, the airline employees were very supportive, and they waived any fees for rearranging my flights. Then we relaxed and enjoyed Hamilton Island.


Hamilton Island and the Great Barrier Reef Hamilton Island is a traveler’s paradise -- set apart from the mainland and within easy reach of the Great Barrier Reef. It is also easily accessible from anywhere in Australia by plane and (via ferry) car and train. About a third of Hamilton Island is developed into a tasteful vacation resort with an assortment of lodging, excellent restaurants, and a quaint little village that provides an excellent variety of services.

There’s a lot to do on Hamilton Island including a wildlife zoo, hiking, fishing, sailing, snorkeling, and diving -- or you can just relax and enjoy the fabulous views and beautiful white sand beaches. Passenger cars are prohibited on Hamilton Island, so everyone gets around in golf carts (which they call buggies). Everything on the island is less than 15 minutes away, and we drove our buggies to the stores, restaurants, and departure areas for sea kayaking, snorkeling, and a day trip to the Great Barrier Reef. At night we drove home with our buggy’s headlights on and the island breezes blowing over us.

The Great Barrier Reef is a 90-minute ride by ferry (or a fifteen-minute flight by helicopter) from Hamilton Island. Once there, it is easy to see why it is a World Heritage Site and included in 1000 Places to See Before You Die. The nearly 3,000 coral reefs that make up the 1,200-mile Great Barrier Reef include one of the world’s most expansive collections of coral, sea life, and tropical fish. And it’s all on display as you deep sea dive, snorkel, or view it from an underwater observatory and semi-submersible submarine.
Recovering the Backpack

We hated to leave Hamilton Island, but after four wonderful days the time came to head back to Sydney. We flew to Brisbane and then separated – I went to find a taxi to the Fortitude Valley police station, while the rest of the group boarded their flight to Sydney. At the police station, I showed my crime report and ID and the police dug my backpack out of “recovered property.” I went through it and discovered, to my surprise, everything was still in it, including the cash! I thanked the police for their diligence and headed to the airport. I was euphoric during the flight to Sydney and during the farewell BBQ dinner at our hosts’ house that night. The incident had ended amazingly well!

A Lesson in Kindness We learned a lesson in kindness during our trip to Australia. It started with the generosity of friends who shared their home with us and proudly showed us their country from their point of view. It continued with the thoughtfulness of policemen, taxi drivers, and train and airline employees who went out of their way to help us in a time of need. And we were delighted with the warmth of people throughout Australia who made us feel welcome and wanted. It’s nice to travel in a land where they still like Americans. Thank you, Australia! Good on ya, Mates!