Episode 13: Australia Adventures

Mary Herendeen:

Wildlife experiences like koalas, quokkas, and kangaroos; bizarre and beautiful pink lakes; pounding waterfalls; and some of the best waves in the world are just a few of the reasons to visit the land down under.

Welcome to Traveling With AAA. I'm your host, Mary Herendeen, and today, we are traveling to Australia on a Contiki guided tour. We are joined again by the Pulitzer Prize-winning Journalist Jessica Fender, co-founder of the website travelerbroads.com and author of the “Ask the Traveler” column that appears in Westways magazine and online. Jessica Fender, thank you for joining us.

Jessica Fender:

Hi, it's so great to be back. Thank you for having me.

Mary:

I'm really excited to hear about this. Can I ask, was Australia on your bucket list? What compelled you to go?

Jessica:

You know, if I'm honest, everything is pretty much on my bucket list, but in terms of ranking, Australia was pretty high up there. There's just something about the other side of the world that feels exciting. Especially if you're a little bit adventurous, Australia is the place to go. Like it is a country unlike any other.

Mary:

So you said other side of the world, what was the travel like getting there?

Jessica:

That is so funny because my trip was actually a little while ago, and I barely even remember being on the plane. So obviously, it wasn't too bad because there are definitely flights from a while ago that I do remember, but it wasn't that bad. I don't mind a long flight, though, so for me it was OK.

Mary:

Well, that's good. It sounds like the trip itself was the most memorable part. Now, what were your expectations about Australia before you went, and what was it like when you got there?

Jessica:

Oh, that's a great question. So, I was an ‘80s kid, so obviously, I had the Crocodile Dundee vibe that I was expecting. I would advise anybody who goes to Australia to not really bring that up that much. Everyone there is very good humored, but I think it gets a little bit old. I really was expecting wildlife and I feel like that's something that people really associate with Australia. It delivered on that, and then some. Some beaches, it delivered on that and then some. It just has kind of a laidback attitude that I feel, especially when you have traveled to the other side of the world, it’s just nice to be somewhere where things are casual, fun, and a little bit adventurous.

Mary:

Yeah, and feel welcomed, I'm sure. How did you find the people?

Jessica:

Yeah. Oh my gosh, honestly, that was one of my favorite parts. Everyone's up for a joke and for a good time. The people are very friendly and want to chat. I think some places in the U.S. are like that. I live in New Orleans, and people are very friendly down here. I found that to be the case in Australia as well. There was a joke that they played on tourists. And honestly, I don't know if I should reveal this because it was kind of a delightful thing to come across on my own, but it involves drop bears. So, it's like this scary version of a koala that drops down from the trees and bites you, and everybody was talking about this crazy thing. And I'm like, “That can't be true. That can't be true.” I Googled it, and one of the national museums in Australia actually has the top-ranking page, legitimizing drop bears, which are not a real thing.

Mary:

My gosh!

Jessica:

Everybody's in on the joke. It is such a fun place to hang out.

Mary:

That's funny. OK, so you almost had me. You're telling this story, and I'm thinking, “It was on the website.” And you're like, “No, also a joke,” because I had never heard of drop bears. Especially if you see koalas and wildlife everywhere. You're worried about the ones you didn't know about.

Jessica:

Oh yeah, and Australia also has the big sharks, the massive crocodiles, and everything is a little bit bigger there, so it felt like maybe it was a possibility, but I just loved that the whole country seemed to be in on that joke.

Mary:

Yeah, I hear spiders are big over there.

Jessica:

Oh yeah. You know what? We did see one, and I did not freak out the way I thought I would. It was so big that I was just fascinated.

Mary:

How large?

Jessica:

Oh my gosh, at least the size of my hand.

Mary:

OK, that's scary. I might freak out a little bit over that.

Jessica:

I think to each their own on that one. I wouldn't say make it a point to go seek those things out, but it was kind of cool to come across one at a distance.

Mary:

That's really cool, and you’re probably not going to see anything like that again, you know? It's not usual here.

Now, you toured with Contiki on this trip. For those who don't know, what is a Contiki tour and who travels on these types of tours?

Jessica:

A Contiki tour is a group trip. There are a lot of solo travel travelers that do this, and I believe it's geared toward people around the age group of 18 to 35. So, I was close to the higher end of that. And it's all kinds of people. We had a young British couple who had just been married and were there for a honeymoon. We had a bunch of gap year kids. We had people in their thirties, women in their thirties, especially. I don't know if there were any men in their thirties that were solo travelers, but people who just wanted to see something new, do something new and make new friends, and who have like-minded interests. If you're self-selecting for group tour in Australia, obviously you already have a lot in common, so it really was kind of a wonderful thing. And it was my first experience with that style of travel.

Mary:

Right, it sounds like you hadn't been on an escorted tour before. What was it like to be on this tour?

Jessica:

I travel for a living, obviously, and I am big on planning. Part of me just loves doing all of the research. What's the hottest restaurant to go to in this city? And what's the best way to get from this European capital to this European capital? And so I really wasn't sure how well I would like giving up the control of predetermined places to stay. It was fantastic. I have been on several other group trips since because I really got to be in the moment. Even though I was technically working on this trip, I really got to be in the moment, talking with people, really experiencing things, not worried about what time do I need to leave in order to make this surf class appointment? What hotel is going to be close to the things that I want to do? It really was wonderful to have experts who already have that planned out for me.

Mary:

Yeah, I'm a planner myself and even though I enjoy it and I always want to take control, there's something a little bit stressful and having to be in charge of everything, too. It's like, “No, we need to do this,” but knowing that you can just be present, you could relax and allow the experts to do the work for you.

Jessica:

Yeah, and it sounds like you're a little like me where you're the go-to person on the trip when someone says, “Oh, what do we do now?” or “What do I need to bring with me today?” And that is a job. I always work on vacation, more or less, even when I'm not reporting. So, this was where I got to experience what it's like to not do that and I am a big fan.

Mary:

That's incredible. Now, did you have any reservations about traveling with a big group or a group of people you didn't know?

Jessica:

Yeah, sometimes I feel like I'm really outgoing, and sometimes I feel like I'm not. It's hard to gauge where you will be on any given day. Also, I was a little worried because I was like 34, I was just under the wire. I think the youngest person on our trip was 19. Most people were in their mid to late twenties to early thirties. So it was spread out, but I was definitely the oldest. I thought it was fantastic, and it was so much fun. I had quiet time if I needed some. We're traveling on the bus, and there's a lot of time to do the things you want to do or wander. And then you always had people that you knew there to be like, “Hey, I wanted to go hit the shops” or “Hey, I was interested in checking out this beach,” and you got to go do that and actually make some really good friends in the process. It was kind of wonderful.

Mary:

Yeah, I'm apprehensive a little bit about solo travel, but it sounds like doing it on a tour there's that safety and togetherness involved where if you do want to be with people, we're in the same place. You can be like, “Hey, did you want to go to the shops?” or “Did you want to go try this activity?”

Now, what sorts of activities were involved with the tour or included?

Jessica:

Oh my gosh, so much. So many things that I never in a million years would've done on my own. I took a surf lesson, so that was fantastic. I am not the most athletic nor the most coordinated person, but everyone was doing it, so I was like, “Well, let's just give this a try.” And I actually stood up on the surfboard once at the very end of the lesson and rode all the way in. It was thrilling.

Mary:

It’s amazing, right?

Jessica:

I had an amazing time. We went to an animal sanctuary where I got to hang out with a couple of my probably bucket list animals. If you're an animal lover, which I know you are, you probably have that list too.

Mary:

I am.

Jessica:

Yeah. Gosh, what else? And then there were just fun cultural things. We went to a cattle ranch and had a karaoke night in the bunk houses. A lot of Australia is in the middle of nowhere, a lot of places are very remote. And this is kind of how they have fun and keep themselves entertained. And I was just like, “Yeah, this is great.” This is what I would probably miss if I did this trip on my own.

Mary:

That's really cool. Being able to hang with the locals and see how they enjoy it. That's incredible. I love that.

Now the surfing lesson, I know it's thrilling. I actually surfed for the first time tandem in Hawai‘i 7 or 8 years ago, and I never realized how amazing and good it feels to go in on the board and ride that wave. Now, I'm not an avid surfer. I don't surf now, and doing it assisted is still a problem, but what an amazing experience, right?

Jessica:

Yeah, it was great. And it's funny because they kind of tell you, “Once you get the feel for it, you can start doing it.” And I was just like, “Well, we're an hour in, and I do not have the feel for this.” And then once I got up that last time, I was like, “Oh my gosh, I got it! I got it.”

Mary:

Jessica, what did you find most surprising about Australia?

Jessica:

I know that it's a big place, but I don't know that I realized quite how big it was. We spent time going from place to place, and we covered a lot of ground and it was wonderful to be able to do that. But I do think that if I hadn't done the tour, I probably would've ended up staying in a city or two and I would've missed out on a lot. So, that was surprising.

We also just happened to be there for Australia's Independence Day, which was amazing. We arrived in Sydney right as all of the festivities were starting. People were out in the streets waving flags, everything was decorated, and everyone was just out having fun. I'm not sure if it was like a bank holiday where everyone got the day off, but it seemed like it must have been because there were a lot of people out there. And yeah,  there were a lot of wonderful little surprises like that all throughout the trip.

Mary:

Do they celebrate similar to what we do? Waving the flags, the fireworks, and all those things? What did you see?

Jessica:

There were banners everywhere and people having a good time. I didn't see the fireworks. I don't believe that there were any, but maybe we were doing a different activity around them. But it was just a very festive time to be in Sydney, and I felt like we got really lucky on that front. We also got to do the Sydney Opera House and backstage tour, that was just incredible. It was so, so gorgeous. There's a lot of beauty in Australia's cities, but the natural beauty is also stunning. We went on a sailing trip to…oh goodness, I forgot the name.

 

Mary:

Whitsundays?

Jessica:

Oh, my gosh. Yes! And that was the most gorgeous setting. We were going to sleep on the boat for the night, and we were all playing card games, chatting, and looking out at the gorgeous scenery at nighttime—there's these amazing stars overhead. And somebody spotted dolphins playing off of the back end of the boat. And we were all hanging out together, crowded around this group of maybe 20-something people that had done that part of the trip, just watching these dolphins play in the moonlight. And I'm like, “This is enchanting. Australia, I did not expect to be enchanted.” I thought I was going to have fun. I thought it was going to be a little bit of a party, but I did not expect to be charmed.

Mary:

Wow, that is beautifully said. And now I know you wrote an article in Westways about the trip, “The wow factor.” Was that your wow moment, or what was the wow moment for you on the trip?

Jessica:

Oh my gosh. That was definitely one of my wow moments. That was really magical, but I also did things like getting to feed baby kangaroos. That was a wow moment. I got to hold a koala and really get up close and kind of experience those animals. That was a wow moment. I don't know if I should say this, but we were out, and I can't remember which city it was early on, and I didn't really know my travel companions that well yet. And everyone just ended up dancing at the bar. We had gone out for the night and that was kind of a wow moment. That's not something I would normally envision myself doing, but it was a great time.

Mary:

So fun! Well, so many unexpected or unique experiences. I imagine even going out to the bar was a unique experience. Now you mentioned cuddling a koala and you know, I am an animal lover. I got to handfeed and hold a little monkey in Mexico, which was beautiful. I actually cried during the experience. I was like, “Oh, I can't believe this is happening.” So, cuddling a koala sounds amazing. What was that like for you or the other people on the trip?

Jessica:

Oh, wow. It was so sweet. They handled the animals with a lot of care. Koalas sleep most of the day. They’re just these slow, beautiful, cuddly looking animals, and so when they're up, part of their enrichment and part of their activity to interact with people and the zookeepers. I actually had a little baby koala—well, it wasn't a baby, it just looked like a little baby—cradled in my arms. I think about it now, and I can't believe that actually happened to me.

Mary:

That's amazing. And it's good to hear that the keepers really treat them well. I think a thing that a lot of people worry about is you want to enjoy those experiences, but you also want to ensure that we're doing right by the animals themselves, so it's good to hear.

Jessica:

Of course. Yeah, and we talked about that with the zookeepers there. Folks had questions and people wanted to be doing the right things. They were very open about how that all works, so I appreciated that too.

Mary:

That's great. Now, what was your experience like on the Sydney Harbour Bridge? I read that in the opening of the article. Will you tell us about it?

Jessica:

Oh girl, this was insane. Like I told you, I didn't think I would ever be on a surfboard. I would've probably actively fought against getting up on this bridge before this trip. I am so terrified of heights. Thinking about heights, I get trembly legs. But we were going to be arriving in Sydney and at the very end of this trip, I felt like I needed to go big.

And on top of that, there were experiences where people were diving in the Great Barrier Reefs. I didn't do that, I don't have dive certifications or anything like that. Or people went to jump out of an airplane. It’s not bungee jumping…

Mary:

Oh, skydiving!

Jessica:

Skydiving! People were going skydiving! I'm like, “Oh my gosh, all of these people are so brave.” And I don't know if you know, but the Contiki’s mantra is no regrets. A fancier way of saying YOLO, I think.

Mary:

You only live once, right?

Jessica:

Exactly. You only live once. And that really got to me by the end of this trip. I was like, “I got to do something.” And so that was one of our options for one of our last evenings. And I would not have traded that experience for the world. It was absolutely incredible to be standing up there, looking out with the sun setting, the lights in the harbor, and there's the water traffic going on underneath you.

Oh, I'd mentioned it was their Independence Day, and they had plane formations flying overhead. And you're just like, “This is a remarkable vantage point. I will never be here again.” And those types of moments give you the opportunity to really appreciate your life, where you are, and the things that we're able to do.

Mary:

Yeah, that sounds like that was your wow experience. I mean, like you said, go big and then go home. I have chills thinking about it. I'm thinking about you standing up there 440 feet, is that what it is?

Jessica:

You know what, I might have blocked that detail out. I'll tell you, even doing the prep when they show you how you're going to have to walk up and down the ladders, how you hook in, and even during the prep, which was on the ground, I was shaking. So 440 feet, if you say so, I believe it.

Mary:

Yeah, it sounds like the no regrets mantra really got to you, and you didn't leave with any, am I right? Did you leave with any regrets?

Jessica:

I mean, I regret that I couldn't stay longer, but that's pretty much all of my trips.

Mary:

The tour was ending, and you had to go home.

Now, I'm thinking about Australia and how it's known for its incredible landscape. Do you still have a vivid memory or favorite view of your trip?

Jessica:

Yeah, the Sydney Harbour Bridge. I was so glad when you brought that up because that just came back to mind immediately. The Whitsunday, and now that we're talking about this, I remember so much. We did this amazing offroad beach drive to this secluded beach, and it was just gorgeous. I don't know if you can narrow it down to a single view or vantage that's the best vantage in Australia, you know? And there's a lot even that I didn't see. So, who knows? Maybe there's more Australia in my future.

Mary:

Talking about this probably makes you want to go back a little bit. It always inspires me to hear someone else's stories. Now, what were your impressions of your traveling companions? I imagine they were from all over the world. Do you still keep in touch with them?

Jessica:

Oh yeah. One of the good lasting parts of the trip is that everyone connected over Facebook. I'm watching these people live out their lives. For example, the British couple who had just gotten married have a baby now. Two of our gap year travelers wanted to stay in that part of the world and extended their trip to New Zealand. They ended up living there together, and now I believe they're getting married. There's a nurse friend in Canada that I met and still keep in touch with. I think not everybody would necessarily do this type of trip, and so if you're there with a lot of people who have decided, “Yeah, this is what I want to do,” you're going to have a lot in common. You're going to make friends and it's kind of wonderful. And it's wonderful to have people I know all over the world based on this.

Mary:

That's awesome. Now, my next question is, how did the trip change you?

I imagine one of the changes is having long-standing friendships with the people you experienced it with, but were there any other ways this trip changed you?

Jessica:

Yeah, I think that it just opened me up a little bit more as a traveler. We talked a little bit in the beginning about how I usually travel: do months of research and plot every perfect itinerary point. And that is a wonderful way to travel, but I didn't realize what I was giving up by doing that, which is the sort of spontaneity and in-the-moment experiences that you have when you're not worrying about, “Where to next?” or “How do we get there?” or telling everyone in your group to be sure to pack their sunblock or whatever. It definitely has changed the way I travel a little bit and it definitely loosened me up, I would say.

Mary:

It sounds like that carefree Australian attitude kind of stuck with you a little bit.

Jessica:

Yeah, it's funny. I guess maybe it's a coincidence, or maybe it's part of it, but it’s such a laidback country  where I had this laidback travel experience.

Mary:

That's a great thing to take back with you. Now, finally, Jessica, do you have any advice for someone thinking of a trip to Australia or even someone considering an escorted tour?

Jessica:

Oh yeah. Those are 2 great questions. I think that for anyone planning to go to Australia, it is a long flight, so you want to make sure that you give yourself enough time there. You know, we met a lot of travelers from that part of the world on the plane and asked them, “Where are you going?” and “How long are you going for?” And they're taking like month-long vacations because it's hard for them to get off their island. So, I don't know if a month is necessary, but I would say 2 weeks at least. And honestly,  I don't expect to see everything in 2 weeks because there’s a lot to see.

In terms of how to do an escorted trip or what to think about when you're thinking about group travel, I would think about location, obviously, and group size. Like this Contiki tour happened to be a pretty big trip. I was surprised at how smoothly it went and how much I actually enjoyed it. But there are a lot more bespoke tours or ones that are little bit smaller if you're a little bit worried about those kinds of interactions. You know, think about your priorities. Are you interested in luxury accommodations or are you there for the experiences on the road? Because different operators offer different types of trips for folks.

Mary:

Yeah, it sounds like research is very important. I'm a fan of research and of planning.

Jessica:

Yeah, you can do a bit of research right at the beginning, and then your whole trip is set. It's a lot less than planning an entire 2-weeks-long jaunt through Australia.

Mary:

Right. Well, thank you so much, Jessica Fender of travelerbroads.com. Thank you so much for being with us. Such a pleasure.

Jessica:

Yeah. Thank you for having me back, and I hope we get to do this again soon.

Mary:

I hope so, too. And thank you to our listeners for being with us. If you're planning a trip, be sure to connect with a AAA travel advisor, check out aaa.com/travel, or visit your local branch. And if you enjoyed this podcast, please subscribe. I'm Mary Herendeen. Thank you for traveling with AAA.