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hidden secrets: touring melbourne’s lanes & arcades
Out of everywhere in Australia, the hubs and I wanted to spend the most time in Melbourne. We decided well in advance that we’d turn the city into a mini home base, and stayed for a full ten days before making our way across the rest of the country. Having recently confirmed that walking tours are the perfect intro to a new city, we were excited to start our exploring early, and joined Hidden Secret Tour’s Lanes & Arcades tour on one of our first mornings. Because I am not about to follow some guy carrying a giant orange umbrella…
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wining & dining in sydney: making our way through a new city
With only a few days in Sydney, we mad the best choice. Thanks to a half day food tour with a local company called Ultimately Sydney, we saw the city’s food scene much differently than I had expected. After much time spent wining & dining in Sydney I can confirm. It’s not all shrimp on the barbie & fish and chips, after all! So, where did we head on our Gourmet Tour of Sydney’s Inner West? Stop 1: The Coffee Roaster As we learned in New Zealand, both Kiwis and Ozzies are extremely proud of their cafe culture. Each morning,…
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relaxing in rocks square (or, how i fell in love with a house in ruins)
After our morning tour of the Sydney Opera House, the hubs and I decided to stay close to the harbor. The weather was absolutely gorgeous on our first day in Australia, and after the chill of New Zealand’s South Island, we were craving more sun and waterfront views. As we wandered, we eventually found ourselves in The Rocks, which, as it turns out, was one of the best ways to spend our mid-morning. To be honest, it’s clearly a super touristy area. It was reminiscent of New York’s South Street Seaport, and some of the stores and restaurants were the…
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down under // sipping wine in australia’s hunter valley
It’s true: the hubs & I didn’t last long in Australia without heading to the vineyards. We basically landed, and on day two, hightailed it to Australia’s Hunter Valley. That’s right. On our second day in Sydney, Rae from Boutique Tours Australia picked us up bright and early. Along with a motley crew of fellow tasters, we made our way north to Australia’s Hunter Valley for a day of vineyard hopping. Hunter prides itself as Australia’s oldest and most renowned wine region. After prepping ourselves on the region’s offerings with their free iPad app, we were excited to focus our day…
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a morning at the opera: touring the sydney opera house
When we planned our days in Sydney, there was no question we’d tour the Sydney Opera House, practically upon arrival. I’m a real sucker for iconic buildings and monuments. I tear up pretty much every time I see the Eiffel Tower. The Flatiron was one of my favorite things about my old work neighborhood. I we ever drive across America, I’ll def want to stop for every giant ball of yarn there is. So how was I going to miss the ins and outs of this beaut? We met our guide, Bruce, for the 9:30 AM tour. We stood at…
