A three hour drive south from Perth to Margaret River, one of the country's great wine-producing regions.We stayed two nights at Lara and Jamie McCall's Burnside Bungalows, in our own bungalow, one of four on this working organic farm. The McCalls grow all types of vegetables and herbs, Zinfandel grape vines, olive trees for oil and soap, macadamia nuts, capers, and also raise cattle, pigs, geese, and of course hens for their own eggs. All organic and biodynamic....

Then we stopped in Kalgoorlie in the evening and had an hour long tour of this gold mining city—it could have been done in half the time (the highlight was stopping near a pub and three miners coming out to moon the bus). It has been an important mining town since gold was discovered by an Irishman, Paddy Hannan, in 1893, and it has the world's largest open cast pit. We weren't allowed to view the pit as a heavy storm was approaching. Glenna wasn't bothered! Ou...

The Indian Pacific railway journey does just that-it links the Pacific and Indian Oceans via Sydney in the east and Perth in the far west. We boarded the train in Sydney, and were enchanted with our cabin, the largest on the train-a decent sized bed, sitting area (2 chairs and a table), extremely efficient shower/loo arrangement, mini bar with champagne and automatic hot water for tea and coffee. Two wide windows ensured we would have splendid views of the scener...

We stopped in Adelaide on day 2 of our train journey for a 2 hour bus tour while the train was victualing. We discovered it is a charming Victorian city with very advanced planning ideas. Wide avenues with large houses are all facing outwards from the centre, towards the parks. The proposal to build the city was sanctioned by the Duke of Wellington when he was Prime Minister and interestingly South Australia was the only colony that didn't accept transported conv...

We are spending four days in Sydney after Singapore. Our B&B is very centrally located and comfortable, though a bit old fashioned. Highlights, in no particular order: Sydney Botanic Gardens, a large park with a long frontage on Sydney Harbour, ending up at the famous Sydney Opera House. Relaxing strolls under shady eucalyptus trees, and among gorgeous lush foliage. Lots of exotic birds-Sacred Ibis, brilliant white cockatoos, and even flying foxes, a batlike ...