Australia 2025: Discovering the 5th Continent (page 4 of 5)

Final leg: January 9th to 12th: Closing the loop: Adelaide 2 and Sydney

Back on the ferry on this 4th day, we need to return to Adelaide to catch a flight to Sydney. We’ll stop by Victor Harbour, a charming little tourist port, for a lunch break, and then rest our suitcases at a historic hotel in downtown Adelaide for two nights.

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We’ll enjoy the city a bit "by night."







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We’ll also discover a very Australian concept north of the city: the "beach in," a beach drive-in where anyone (including me!) can park their vehicle right on the sand! Just remember—when crossing, look left and right.





Final shopping, last drinks, and the plane is waiting for us in the late afternoon for our last night in Sydney—the same hotel near the airport that suits us perfectly.



Ladies and gentlemen, flight SQ222 to Singapore will now board at gate 57!

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After 33 hours of flights and airports, a missed connection in Munich (but I *knew* 45 minutes for a layover wasn’t enough!), a quick detour via Frankfurt (because direct flights were fully booked!), we’ll land tired and freezing—but happy to finally be back in our Haute-Savoie!

And in the end?

Discovering Australia wasn’t initially on the agenda. We went without preconceived ideas or particular expectations—kind of a "bonus trip." Only one rule: Don’t rush! It’s obviously a huge country, and we were blown away by its vast, stunning landscapes, magical beaches, and almost untouched forests.

We also got to see tons of animals, including some that are endemic to the country. Some didn’t exactly put us at ease, but in the end, not as much as we feared.

Australians are friendly folks—just ask them nicely to articulate a bit and speak a little slower.

I loved the mix of city and nature, sometimes in the same area. But I do love cities, especially at night...

So, all good?

Yes, all good, but there are a few downsides:

First, the budget. During school holidays in a super touristy area, everything was expensive... In the end, we shelled out over 13,000 € for the trip, including international flights, and without going overboard! We knew it was coming, and last year’s trip to Asia helped us "save up" a bit...

What’s convenient (and dangerous at the same time) is that it’s the kingdom of "Tap on"—contactless card payments everywhere! I exchanged 100 AUD in cash and came back with almost all of it! But I also blew through my card payment limits...

The culture shock: Australians are mostly ex-Europeans who’ve become Americanized, and sometimes we felt "at home," which isn’t exactly what I look for in travel.

The schedules: In a month there, we never got used to it—restaurants closing at 7 PM, shops at 5 PM, parks at 6 PM—help!!!

And finally, the "too clean" vibe of everything... We’d experienced this in Costa Rica, on the Americanized Atlantic coast, and found it here too. Everything is "belt and suspenders," every path is paved, nature is sanitized, and it lacks a bit of "grit." But that’s just my feeling—others might love this ultra-safe aspect.

Will we go back?

Yes, definitely, but not right away—we need to refill the coffers. I’d love to explore other sides of the country, for a longer stay and in a more "Australian" way in my imagination. I’ve admired their "Australian caravan and pickup" setups more than once, and I’d dream of discovering new Australian lands that way. But that’s another adventure!

And my imagination, ChatGPT illustrated it like this:





But at this point, one savings plan won’t cut it... Or maybe a heist

Ugh, you know me, I couldn’t resist one last little touch of humor I found online from a guy who’s not quite *deconstructed* yet...

Thanks for this discovery of Australia! 🙂

I’m not totally sold on the price + flight time versus the landscapes and cities in this country.

Arrff, you know me, I couldn’t resist one last little touch of humor found online from a man who’s not quite deconstructed yet...



It really called for a conclusion worthy of this travel journal. It smells like real-life experience, a no-holds-barred perspective. Look at that poor little animal, how scared he is she’ll get mad...

Thanks Bruno for this report (I skimmed through it a bit but I’ll go back to it later on a bigger screen 😉). Australia doesn’t really appeal to me (and the cost of the trip definitely settles the matter 😏), but it was a pleasant virtual journey through the pictures.

Thanks, Agnès, for reading—I wasn’t trying to convince anyone, just sharing my experience. I travel to explore, and this distant continent was a wonderful discovery, even if it won’t be part of the “trip of a lifetime” 😉 As for flight durations, I’d take a thousand 10-hour flights on an A380 over a single 3-hour low-cost flight any day…

Why I was thinking of you when I posted this photo, no one will ever know 😄

Thanks for your message. There must be more eco-friendly ways to travel in Australia (off-season, camping, etc.), but I’ll admit it wasn’t our priority on this trip.

Now *that’s* what I call a grand finale, Bruno! 👍😂🤩😂

Thanks for this feedback—and especially for the honest summary! 😊 Beyond the price, I love the chaos of India or São Tomé too much to ever crave Australia’s "order."

But I’ll admit—I’m *super* jealous of your koala encounter! 😍

Now *that’s* what I call a grand finale, Bruno 👍😂🤹‍♂️😂.

You know me 😉

Thanks for this feedback—and especially for this honest summary 😊. Beyond the price, I love the chaos of India or São Tomé too much to crave Australia’s "order."

I’m pretty much with you on that …

But I’ll admit I’m still super jealous of your koala encounter 😊

Beauval or Thoiry?

I don’t know if you’re deconstructed or what, but you’ve got humor, Bruno!

Can’t believe the travel journal’s already wrapped up 😕

Kangaroo Island looks really amazing, even after the wildfires.

For the "too clean and too structured" vibe, I know people who felt the same way about New Zealand and came back disappointed for that reason.

Budget-wise, it’s a pretty big sum, but if you’re thinking about going back someday, it means you liked it—and that’s what matters most.

Thanks for these new works. 🙂 Given the museography, Thomas Hirschhorn’s sculpture would fit perfectly in the Migration Museum. You can see the British monarchs or their consorts overseeing the suffering of Aboriginal people.

But this museum, which we really enjoyed, also housed other magnificent works, some very disturbing

Including Piccinini’s (Big Mother) in a quirky setup with those Greek gods in the background.

I’d like to explore other sides of the country, over a longer period and in a way that feels more “Australian” to me

That’s exactly what draws people to the country: spending a long time in the bush. And it can be done on a more modest budget than you might imagine. 😉

I don’t know if you’re deconstructed, but you’ve got humor, Bruno!

Can’t believe the travel journal is already wrapped up 😕

Kangaroo Island looks really great, even after the fires.

For the "too clean and too structured" aspect, I know people who felt the same way about New Zealand and came back disappointed for that reason.

Budget-wise, it’s a hefty sum, but if you’re thinking of going back someday, it means you enjoyed it, and that’s what matters.

I said one week for the travel journal, and I stuck to it! We really loved Kangaroo Island, as well as Philip Island. Well, New Zealand will have to wait a bit... Thanks for reading!

Thanks for these new works. 🙂 Given the museography, Thomas Hirschhorn’s sculpture would fit perfectly in the Migration Museum. You can see the British monarchs or their consorts overseeing the suffering of the Aboriginal people.

Totally agree with you.

But this museum, which we really enjoyed, also housed other magnificent works, some of them very disturbing.

Including Piccinini (Big Mother) in a strange setup with those Greek gods in the background.

More than that one, which was indeed thought-provoking, it was Jake and Dinos Chapman’s piece that really stunned us. Here’s the link—the image isn’t very telling, but it’s worth zooming in if you’ve got the stomach for it...

https://www.agsa.sa.gov.au/collection-publications/collection/works/das-swings-unt-roundabouts-fur-der-kinder-ja-nein-schweinhund-swings-and-roundabouts-for-the-children-yes-no-pigface/26163/

I’d love to discover other sides of the country, over a longer period and in a way that feels more “Australian” to me.

That’s actually the country’s appeal: spending a long time in the bush. And it can be done on a more modest budget than you might imagine. 😉

My dreams know no bounds, but we’ll cross that bridge when the time comes...

Anyway, thanks for your interest in the travel journal

When travel, because it’s well told, makes us discover things, and when images beautifully complement the words, I also really like "photo travel journals" 😉.

Thanks for sharing this wonderful adventure here (and hope you feel better soon!)

When travel, because it's well told, makes us discover things, and when images beautifully complement the words, I also really like "photo travel journals" 😉.

It’s never easy to avoid going from "useful illustration" to "family album," especially when you bring back over 600 photos … Glad you enjoyed it!

Thanks for sharing this beautiful adventure here (and get well soon!)

Thanks for reading—I’m heading back to work now! 🤪

There we go... I looked at your photos in good conditions 😉 It's beautiful, it's clean (too clean?). Still, I fell in love with Uluru and Kangaroo Island (I'm not much of a "city" person), and of course, the koalas! Thanks for this travel journal and hope you get back into work smoothly 😎!

There we go... I looked at your photos again in good conditions ;) It's beautiful, it's clean (too clean?). Still, I fell in love with Uluru and Kangaroo Island (I'm not much of a "city" person), and of course the koalas! Thanks for this travel journal and hope you had a smooth return to work! 😎

Hi Muriel, and thanks for stopping by again ;) As for favorite spots, we share the same ones, though I did enjoy Adelaide for its quiet and natural vibe. Koalas, kangaroos, wallabies—it's for them we crossed the globe!

Hi everyone. I received a private message about accommodations during the trip, so I’d rather answer publicly for everyone. I included direct links, but they were all booked via B**k**g ;)

Sydney: If you read the travel journal carefully, I won’t promote the crappy Airbnb I booked. Instead, I’ll mention the hotel we stayed at near the airport for our various transfers: Branksome Hotel & Residences, rated 8.7, 110 €/night for a fully equipped apartment with breakfast, https://www.guestreservations.com/the-branksome-hotel-and-residences/booking?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=990032576&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=990032576&gbraid=0AAAAADiMQMYR_uUJAgk3SvhPulubeOMNw&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIs7_etJXkjQMVykRBAh1BDjxxEAAYASAAEgLpz_D_BwE

Jervis Bay: In the small coastal town of Huskisson, the Jervis Bay Motel, rated 8.4, 140 €/night with ocean views but no breakfast, also fully equipped. Very expensive in season. Home | Jervis Bay Motel | Accommodation

Blue Mountains: In the hiking mecca of Katoomba, our first hostel of the trip, rated 8.5—it’s worth it. 103 €/night for a double room with breakfast. The comfort is basic, but the vibe is great. To save money, breakfast is optional (there’s everything you need nearby or in the shared kitchen). https://www.yha.com.au/hostels/nsw/blue-mountains/katoomba/

Uluru: Probably the most expensive accommodation of our trip, yet one of the more affordable options on-site: the Lost Camel Resort... 225 €/night, excluding breakfast (50 $/person!). But you’re kind of stuck there... https://www.ayersrockresort.com.au/accommodation/the-lost-camel

Melbourne: We really loved this residence, especially because of the super-friendly front desk staff. Melbourne City Apartment, rated 8.9, 95 €/night without breakfast—a fantastic apartment with a bedroom, living room, pool, and gym in the building, just steps from Victoria Market. https://www.melbournecityapartmenthotel.com/

Phillip Island: Another small coastal town, Cowes, where Seahorse Motel, rated 8.8, did the job for 155 €/night. But there was no worse peak season than during our stay... https://seahorsemotel.com.au/

Apollo Bay: Our second hostel of the trip, YHA Apollo Bay Eco, rated 8.7, 100 €/night—private room but shared bathroom. We loved the vibe, the spotless common areas, the terrace for drinks, and its location in the heart of the Great Ocean Road. Less so the price... https://www.yha.com.au/hostels/vic/great-ocean-road/apollo-bay/

Port Fairy: A little peaceful haven in the middle of town, Port Boutique Accommodation, rated 9, was perfect for us despite the price (165 €/night, no breakfast). Again, the price you pay for peak season... https://portboutiqueaccommodation.com.au/courtyard-suite-1/

Adelaide 1: Another highlight of the trip: Avani Residence, rated 9, delighted us with its 17th-floor apartment—upgraded from the studio we booked—with a bedroom, living room, and terrace for 123 €/night, including a huge breakfast! https://www.avanihotels.com/en/adelaide/rooms/one-bedroom-superior-suite

Kangaroo Island: My favorite of them all—our bungalow at Discovery Park, rated 8.9, ticked all the boxes for comfort, adventure, and surprises for 144 €/night... https://www.discoveryholidayparks.com.au/caravan-parks/south-australia/kangaroo-island/kangaroo-island?propertyCode=SKAN&arrive=2025-06-10&depart=2025-06-11&adults=2&kids=0&infants=0&sort=price-desc&maxSearchResults=30

Adelaide 2: A hotel in a 19th-century building, Adina Apartment Adelaide Treasury, rated 8.8, kept its old-world charm while offering all modern comforts for 107 €/night without breakfast. https://www.guestreservations.com/adina-apartment-hotel-adelaide-treasury-adelaide/booking?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=990032576&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=990032576&gbraid=0AAAAADiMQMYR_uUJAgk3SvhPulubeOMNw&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI17SanJXkjQMVyVNBAh1pLSFNEAAYASAAEgLZjfD_BwE&ctTriggered=true

There you go—a full rundown! Click the links if you want more details. The takeaway? Accommodation in Australia isn’t cheap, and now we understand the overall trip budget better. Of course, there were way cheaper options everywhere (well, maybe not...), but we also wanted to keep a certain level of comfort... I’m way past the age for dorms ;)