Australia March 2023

Vacations
Other Trips

In late February of 2023, I started a 2-week trip to Australia.  The beginning of the trip was to attend the Australian International Airshow (Avalon Airshow) in Geelong, Australia – just outside of Melbourne.  The rest of the trip was to work in Adelaide, Canberra, and Sydney.  I flew 18 hours non-stop from DFW to Melbourne, a long, tiring trip.  We stayed at the Crown Promenade Melbourne, downtown on the river and could walk around to many pubs and restaurants.  Melbourne is a much bigger city than I thought, almost the size of the DFW metroplex.

 

My travel itinerary was:

  • Direct flight from DFW to Melbourne, Australia, 18 hours
  • Attend Avalon Airshow in Geelong
  • Fly from Melbourne to Adelaide
  • Work in Adelaide for several days
  • Fly from Adelaide to Canberra, the capital of Australia.
  • Fly Canberra to Sydney
  • Tour Sydney Harbor before direct flight from Sydney to DFW on Qantas, 18 hours

 

In Adelaide, we stayed at the same Hilton in the city center as I had stayed at in Sept 2022 trip to Adelaide.  This is very convenient for walking around to restaurants, bars, tourist attractions and the train.  Adelaide is not too large, and it was quick to get out of town on a train to the south coast.  Also, a quick drive to wine country in the Adelaide Hills and to the German town of Hahndorf for some wine, German beers, and good German food.

Click on any photo to see a larger view

Map showing Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide and Canberra, all in the southeast corner of Australia
In Sydney Harbor early in the morning before flying home
We spent a week at the Avalon Air Show in Geelong. Drove in from Melbourne every day
We just had some good Chinese food and beer in Melbourne
I always try Vegemite - not good
I drank a lot of Flat White's and now I get these at Starbucks
Sydney Opera House
Big ship in Sydney Harbor
Sydney Harbor Bridge
Early morning in Sydney
Baddog bar in Adelaide. A high end $$ bourbon only bar in an alley with no sign out front. The note says: If the light's on, we're home.
Baddog has a great selection of Bourbons and a cool owner, He does not mix drinks, take it straight
MQ-4C Triton
P-8 Poseidon
Wedgetail
Mark enjoying German beer and food in Hahndorf, just outside of Adelaide
It was a tough choice - big schnitzel or a pork knuckle
Adelaide Central Market
I could spend a week looking around the Central Market
Good view of Sydney Harbor
Train stop outside the Hilton Hotel in downtown Adelaide
Pig Blood and Pickled Womlook ---------------- also --------------- Stir Fried Pork Insodes?
Sheep Scorpion Pot

Zoom in and look at these menu descriptions!

Fish Head Puff Pastry
Pork Insodes??? Pig Blood ?? Pickled Womlook??
Elbow in Brown Sauce
Some Pickled Fish for you?

Zoom in and look at these menu descriptions!

Cattle and Sheep page on menu
Looks like we got the sampler platter
Chinese food served in shovels
Downtown Melbourne
Me, Peter, Josh and Mark at a bar in downtown Melbourne
Took the train from downtown Adelaide to Glenelg Beach on the south coast
Christina and Deanna in Melbourne
High on the Melbourne Skydeck with Perry and Susie
More food on a shovel
Walking through Hahndorf, saw some friendly sheep and dogs
At the Qantas Lounge in Adelaide
It is 17 hours flying Sydney to DFW without any place to land