Home » Australia » 1995 Travel Diary (Part 1)

I saw the New Year in with my brother and friends watching the impressive fireworks over Sydney Harbor. After the display we walked across the famous Sydney Harbor Bridge and then headed down to the nearby celebrations in the Rocks area. It was really kicking down in the Rocks area with all of the New Year madness one would expect. It was a great feeling as the New Year rang in and I realized that the next year was mine to travel and have fun - not to work. As I wondered what the New Year would bring I had a feeling that this trip was going to be a long one! I thought I would probably spend 6 months in Oz and then head over to Indonesia - after that I had no idea!

1995 Travel Diary (Part 1)

Gjcmcclurg
2005-12-23 14:34:04

Displayed times (last time: )

dolphins swimming just feet from me - they seemed to be as curious about us as we were about them. It was quite an experience to get so close to these intelligent animals. I stayed in the local town of Denham and spent several days going out on day trips enjoying some of the local sights, including some magnificent beaches. While hitchhiking around the Shark Bay area I met a local property developer who was keen to show me the sights. I spent almost three days with him and his girlfriend - my only obligation seemed to be that I had to be his drinking buddy! He ended up driving me all the way to Exmouth - some 400 miles further north.

Next I traveled up to Dampier where I visited one of my cousins who was living up there. The North West Shelf is a major gas producing area so it was all quite industrial, but there were some interesting old towns that we visited. Broome was my next stop and I fell in love with the place - at least for a couple of weeks. The old pearl fishing town was really charismatic, had a fantastic beach nearby and enjoyed a balmy climate. I found a great little hostel and met a nice crowd to hang out with. From Broome I organized a 5 day camping trip into the Kimberlys. The trip took us right into the Kimberly region and we explored the rivers, canyons and abundant wildlife. We even went swimming with the fresh water crocodiles - apparently they are not too dangerous! The whole region is still very much wilderness and is regarded by many to be the quintessential Australian outback!

After the Kimberlys trip I left Broome and traveled away from the coast, heading across to Katherine in the Northern Territory. On the way I took a light aircraft flight over the huge Wolfe Creek Crater and a helicopter tour over the spectacular Bungle Bungle National Park. I stopped for one night in the rough little town of Halls Creek and visited the infamous 'Cage' bar. I visited the bar in the day time while it was ...