Two’s Company

We were up in the air for a bit longer than planned, which made for a late evening arrival for Two’s Company. The next morning, we were up relatively early for a decent breakfast, a vast improvement on James’s late-night tuna sandwich situation. Jacob’s Ladder, Again! For goodness sake, the trudge up this one was immense, going on and on in the heat of the day. Helen, of course, strode up the hundreds of steps like a spring chicken, unphased by the gruelling climb. Crocodile

A familiar face greeted us as Two's Company pulled into Melbourne Cross Station. Within minutes, we were whisked away to Geelong, eventually arriving at the Brown’s family home in Drysdale. Saturday brought a special occasion. Young Alex smashed a 50 not out—coincidentally, it was his dad Andrew’s 50th birthday celebration weekend! All Aboard ‘The Q Train” The evening was a fantastic blur of steam and fine dining. Clickety, click went the tracks as we meandered through the Au

We’ve swapped the political buzz of Canberra for the quiet charm of Albury, arriving mid-afternoon ready for a new adventure. Manor House Mayhem First order of business: checking in to The Manor House. James was immediately suspicious; this place felt less "Aussie B&B" and more "Scottish Highlands." We’re talking suits of armour, shields, intimidating old paintings and a four-poster bed. A proper castle stay in the middle of New South Wales? Certainly not what Two's Company e

Heading out, memories of the cycle trip around the lake were still fresh. The sun was shining again as we chatted and drove along in Kylie’s pride and joy! ACT 1 A Cycle Break Our first port of call was the Australian National Botanic Gardens. The wildlife greeted us immediately with a splash of colour. We spotted a superb Fairy-wren—a brilliant blue and black creature darting around—contrasted by the soft pink and grey of a Galah. Down below, a Water Dragon kept a watchful e

Arriving in the Australian Capital Territory (ACT), excitement was high as we were met by Darryle. We were soon whisked across Canberra to the MacDonald family home. It has been 31 years since our paths first and last crossed in Barnoldswick, thanks to the game of cricket. Kylie and Darryle haven’t changed a bit and we received a welcome that felt as if we had only seen them yesterday. After swift family introductions, meeting Jay and Sophie was a delight, although there due

Our final day in Sydney started with a stroll over the Harbour Bridge and a fantastic view of the Opera House. The bustling market below was interesting enough to entice us down. The smells were wonderful, street food cooking and massaging   our   senses. Eventually, we settled for the most incredible sweet potato fries at the Mercantile, " four   doors   down!" due to refurbishment. The façade was still covered in the original green tiles; a hurried photo pinged away to cous

After a long day bushwhacking, a boat ride to Manly sounded perfect. Of course, we wanted to visit the beach and enjoy a lovely stroll along the coastline. Manly is charming, its quaint streets reminded us of seaside towns from family holidays long ago in England. There’s even a playful legend that when Captain Cook first laid eyes on the shore, he saw a group of Aboriginal people with spears and boomerangs, all standing on one leg. “Don’t they look manly?” he supposedly rema

Our base just north of Sydney was perfectly placed for a quick move. Day one and we were off again! Circular Quay, Platform One: destination Katoomba. All aboard for the Blue Mountains! As always, Two’s Company decided not to hit the tourist bus from Katoomba Station. We made our own way to Echo Point; seeing is doing and we prefer to walk like the locals to truly get the vibe in our senses. Passing quaint shops with some succulent offerings dressing the windows, we admired t

Arriving in the northern business district, Sydney felt like a bustling hub of commerce, yet strangely calm. Sunlight crashed through branches, giving respite from the heat and the glorious jacaranda trees, petals carpeting the footpath, led us downhill towards our accommodation for the next four nights. We didn't waste time, as we knew three days simply wouldn’t be enough to see what we planned, never mind the rest. Our stroll down to the waterfront was warm but lovely. To s

The journey south continues, bringing with it a subtle but noticeable theme: the further we travel, the more the urban growth, infrastructure and natural environment seem to assert their accessible, yet indestructible presence. Newcastle started with an incline, the first of which, known simply as “The   Hill,” took us soaring up to the cliff tops. From there, the vast view stretched back over the city. The Hill top also allowing us to scan the sea for whales which we failed

On our east coast adventure, Port Macquarie was the place where we would have the least time. Upon arrival, it felt much larger, more urban and more town-like. Aware of the famous coastal walk, we moved swiftly, so far, the advice from Kylie and Darryle hadn't let us down: sunscreen applied, Factor   50   slapped   on; feeling nice and sticky again, we headed out! Intense Breeze and Rugged Cliffs The breeze was intense and cloud soon covered the sun. Convincing ourselves that

On the Road: From Byron Bay Via Lennox Head to Casino Back on the road and heading down south! What a remarkable sunrise we saw at Lennox Beach on our route to Casino to catch our onward train. The track twisted and turned for a couple of hours before we arrived. It was warm, airless and breezeless. Good planning, Helen! We had booked the nearest hotel, just a couple of hundred yards away from the station (the other choice was three times as far). We were early but managed a

Heading South Over the next few days, we are due to head South along the East Coast. Looking forward to seeing several lovely coastal towns, each with their own atmosphere, so we have read. First up is Byron Bay. Byron Bay: Beautiful People and Bush Tuckering… It was 3:15 am as we, Two's Company, headed for yet another replacement bus service. The Brisbane early morning air was still warm; party-goers were returning home as we headed to Roma Street coach station. Several hour

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Two’s Company covered some distance in Queensland, from Gold Coast to Sunshine Coast, from watching sunset from the Sky Terrace to river rides and sensational Koala Sanctuary. We even made it to the Botanical Gardens via the River Cat after a couple of Sheffield Shield sessions at The Gabba. Arriving early afternoon after leaving the Gold Coast behind, our first Brisbane encounter was Jacob’s Ladder which was a challenge to say the least, it certainly gave our legs a real wor

The snow had fallen on the mountains overnight, dropping the temperature around Queenstown and creating a magnificent spectacle. Helicopters & Light Aircraft Take Off Early Morning Flight Activity & Fresh Snow Fresh snow shimmering in the mid-morning sunlight as we strolled the 1.5km to the airport lounge, the easiest transfer we've ever had. Arriving Queenstown Airport The 15 minute stroll was lo

Following a thrilling afternoon and evening in Tekapo. We packed our bags and headed down the mountain passes to Queenstown. The three-hour drive was full of stunning views. This lasted from start to finish. New Zealand tells you what to see; there are signposted lookouts and viewing points everywhere! Breaking Camp Tekapo to Queenstown They mark the best spots. Pulling over for a quick photo had become normal. We saw memorable views over Lake   Pukaki. The incredible, snow-c

Thursday evening brought a wave of frustration. As the sun set in Christchurch, severe weather shut down the rail lines and closed the roads, forcing us to abandon our original plans yet again. The Golden Star - Planning Bench Where Two’s Company Planned Their Escape From Christchurch! A swift pivot was necessary. We cancelled Friday's accommodation, booked a new place, an

We started our Wednesday in Christchurch expecting to be stuck inside. With schools closed, transport cancelled and sights to be seen not open, another storm approached New Zealand and we thought we'd be confined to our accommodation. However, after making use of the laundry, Two's Company  decided to head out and luckily after a few light spots of rain, the clouds began to break. The city quickly transformed. We took a lovely stroll and found ourselves at Hagley Oval , the

Since we arrived, New Zealand has truly decided to give us the full weather catalogue this trip. As we leave Picton for the second time in 24 hours it gives Two’s Company time to reflect. The Windy City Turned Force 10 Tuesday 21st! Our next mission was to get to Picton for the Coastal Pacific train to Christchurch on Tuesday. Standing between us and the train? It felt like about a million miles of South Pacific and the infamous Cook Strait lay ahead. We had booked the three