Australia and the United Kingdom are like family. They are very similar culturally. Despite that, there have been a few surprises coming here.
Visitors to Australia are often apprehensive about our venomous and dangerous animals. They watch the documentaries listing our venomous snakes and spiders, the man-eating sharks and crocodiles and the deadly (but almost invisible) Irukandji jellyfish. I therefore expected to arrive into the United Kingdom, a countryside settled for centuries to be benign when it comes to dangerous flora and fauna. There may be no large wild animals but there are stinging and thorny plants aplenty!
On our first day here, we were introduced to stinging nettles, an innocuous looking weed common in the countryside. They sting if contacted against the skin. There is also a shin height weed called a thistle with sharp prickly leaves. The Christmas Holly shrub actually has spiky leaves all over. Last but not least are brambles! This hardy shrub grows like a weed. Rough, tangled and prickly with thorns! What a surprise to find so many stinging, thorny and prickly plants in this country! Watch where you walk!
The upside to the thorny bramble bushes are the sweet blackberries they produce. You can find blackberries growing naturally all over as well as wild strawberries. I want to learn more about the edible plants I can forage in this country because who doesn’t love free food! There is a lot to learn actually. There are plenty of strange new trees and plants that I cannot as yet name or identify e.g. yew, cedar, elm, poplar, beech, yarrow etc.
Despite the recent reports of a terrible heatwave, the weather has cooled down significantly. British people are a cold hardy sort, with the ladies wearing their bright summer dresses in temperatures that would have Australians zipping up their jackets! It is so cool that butter is kept out on the counter in a butter dish and the bread is kept at ambient in a bread box! This would not be the norm in Darwin where the humidity and heat would melt the butter and grow mould on the bread.
There has been a discovery of a couple of surprising foods that are new to me. Damson gin is a sweetened gin made with the fruit of the damson tree. A small, dark blue, ovoid, plum like fruit that is too sour to be eaten as is but with gin, sugar and time, it turns into a sweet, port-like drink, perfect for an aperitif or a nightcap.
Another new food is the pork faggot. Pork faggots are meatballs made of pork offcuts, offal and other herbs and seasonings. It’s a traditional food in the UK. Here is another example of a “waste not, want not” or “nose to tail” eating which is a lesson from the past that has lost favour but should be re-invigorated as move into the future. Reducing the number of animals being farmed is good for the climate. This can be achieved by eating less meat and eating all parts of the animals to avoid waste. Consuming non-traditional parts of the animals such as the liver can also be healthier than the usual cuts.
The striking thing about visiting towns in the UK countryside is how the varied the architecture is, reflecting the time when they were built. An example would be the historic old Warwick town with its 1000+ years of history and a majestic, medieval Warwick castle looming over the town. Contrast this against the neighboring Leamington Spa, a more recently built town that grew when it’s waters were purported to have medicinal qualities. The Georgian and early Victorian architecture in Leamington gives it a completely different vibe to the historic Warwick town despite being in such close proximity to each other.
Warwick CastleWarwick Plaque – check out the dates!! 1100 years of history! Graveyard in WarwickStreet in Warwick
Compare these towns again to the big city of Birmingham with a population of over 4 million people. Skyscrapers, large modern shopping malls, modern architecture adorn the heart of this big city. Birmingham is a city buzzing with the excitement of the upcoming Commonwealth Games which they are hosting.
BirminghamBirmingham – a city with more canals than Venice or Amsterdam
Another surprise in the UK is the diversity of the accents in the one country. Whilst there are a few regional differences in the way Australians speak, the range in accents is miniscule compared to the variation in accents that can be heard from the UK. These reflect differences in regions as well as socio-economic backgrounds. Despite the differences in accent however, there is one common thread that has been unanimous thus far. Everyone in the UK has been really lovely, kind and warm.
One more thing which I suspect doesn’t change regardless of the country are politicians. We caught the recent debate between the two leadership contenders for the leadership of Britain, Rishi Sunak and Liz Truss. This comes not long after watching the leadership debate in Australia between Scott Morrison and Anthony Albanese. Both the Australian and British debates were the same with the aggressive positioning and posturing, the persistent interruptions and insistent hogging of the limelight. They were both equally hard to watch, undignified and basically seems to confirm that politicians (in general) despite how hard they try, are simply unable to come across like trustworthy, normal human beings with integrity.
A highlight thus far in the UK has been attending a play, Richard III at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre in Stratford Upon Avon. This gorgeous town, the birthplace of Shakespeare has a touristy main street full of old Tudor buildings and a large theatre in a prime location overlooking the Avon River. The production was excellent. It always surprises me how well versed British people are with the history of their kings and queens. Then again, considering how incestuous, violent and drama-filled it all is, it does make a compelling story!
View of the Avon River from the Royal Shakespeare TheatreRoyal Shakespeare Theatre, Stratford Upon Avon
Exiting the excellent Changi airport, into the humid hug of the Singaporean tropical air, there is always a feeling of excitement because Singapore is a wonderful city to visit. We have been numerous times before but these are my impressions of our most recent visit.
The most striking thing is the mask wearing compliance in Singapore. Everyone wears a mask indoors. Most people wear a mask outdoors even though it is no longer mandatory. This is despite the tropical heat. Masks are worn properly, covering both the nose and the mouth. There is none of the slovenliness observed in other countries during masks mandates where people would allow their masks to slip down past their nose and mouth. The fact that the entire Singaporean population can wear their mask properly, means that every mask wearer is perfectly aware of the position of the mask and that if a mask has slipped down, it is intentional.
Even very young children wear their masks properly in Singapore. Toddlers of only 20 months old manage to mostly keep their mask on during a long day of play at day care. We saw a line of older children of 4, 5 and 6 being led in a line through the city by their teachers. They were all wearing their masks properly. To a “liberty” and “freedom” loving person, this may look like sheep-line behaviour. To me, it looks like care and consideration for the community. When people wear their masks properly, they are showing that they care about the more vulnerable people in the community and they care about each other. The only time, I saw masks worn incorrectly or not worn at all was at Changi Airport amongst the foreigners. This was disappointing.
Similar to masks, is the orderliness of things in Singapore. There are neat queues at the MRT train stations to get onto the trains. There are self scanning systems installed on all cars to pay for car park fees which requires no effort by the driver other than to keep their accounts topped up. In many ways, Singapore feels like the future although it is totally understandable that some may find this kind of order too stifling.
The Jewel Changi
This visit to Singapore, it felt like there was a lot more Mandarin spoken rather than English. This may have been a function of the areas we were frequenting. Mandarin would be the default language and English secondary. This is different to my experience on previous visits.
When traveling around Singapore, look out the window at the huge number of high rise apartment buildings. Many of these are HDB (Housing and Development Board) apartments. The vast majority of Singaporean live in these tiny, high rise apartments, a contrast to the spacious houses and backyards of many middle class Australians. As a result of this population density, there are plenty of shops and amenities clustered around these apartments. One could easily live an entire life serviced by the amenities within close walking distance. Just downstairs from an apartment would be all kinds of shops selling cooked and uncooked food, a supermarket, a pharmacy, bank, beauty salons, general stores, medical clinic, dentist and of course the gambling shop. The completeness of the range of shops and services available is driven by the population density and therefore demand from these high rise apartments.
Due to the small size of the island and the large number of people living on it, there are strict restrictions on car ownership. Owning a car is extremely expensive and most Singaporean rely on their excellent public transport system for getting around.
In Singapore, good food is readily available everywhere. The food is almost always reliably good and clean because of competition. A stall selling bad food simply would not survive. It is a frugal food lovers paradise where good meals are available for only a few Singaporean dollars. In Singapore, there is a huge range of prices that a person can pay for a meal. From the cheapest meals at the local coffee shops to the swankiest, fanciest dining experiences. All are available in this buzzy city, whatever your taste.
Singapore, like other Asian countries, it can be economical and healthy to eat out for every meal. There are many places selling dishes which are not too different from a home cooked version. Purchasing ingredients from the supermarket and cooking at home does not always work out cheaper. In many Western countries, a healthy home cooked meal is always multiple times cheaper than eating something of equivalent quality outside.
The public image of Singapore is of slick office buildings, Changi airport, the Jewel at Changi airport and shopping. It is easy to forget that Singapore is one of the world’s busiest ports.
View from West Coast ParkView from West Coast Park
Singapore is indeed a hub for shopping. There are shops selling every variety of goods and services at a huge range of price points. The competition leads to an astounding variety and a strong desire to appeal to every customer.
One of the most impressive things about Singapore is how green it is. The tropical climate supports lush green growth. This combined with smart town planning means that there is plenty of greenery around the city. My favourite are the elegant rain trees that line so many of the streets. All the greenery may look beautiful but it also has a cooling effect on the city. There is a lesson here for other hot climate cities!
Do you like Singapore? What are your impressions of this city?
Sydney-siders love their Vivid light festival but due to Covid, they haven’t had it since 2019. It’s now 2022! It’s back and it is stunning!! It brings the crowds into the city. The highlight of this festival are the light projections on many of the iconic buildings of Sydney. These are all free to attend. There is also a diverse range of other events which are directly or indirectly linked to Vivid. This festival is strategically held just as the weather turns cold in Sydney. Rug up when you venture out after dark to see the lights because the cold wind is biting.
On weekends especially, the crowds that flock into the city for this 3 week festival is insane and all restaurants on the light trail are at capacity! The timing is perfect for restaurants because the weather is not inviting. Gone are the long, warmer, mild summery evenings. Hello early darkness, cold wind and beanie weather! Vivid lures Sydney-siders out from huddling by their heaters in their homes! Check out these pictures and you can understand why! (And this doesn’t even cover all the free Vivid light installations! There are more!)
Interactive sound and light installationsDrone display. This was changing and accompanied with music. These drones (with lights) must be programed to fly and light up in relation to each other to create amazing images! Unfortunately, it did seem that many of the shapes were advertising. Nevertheless, impressive. We did see a few drones fail and plunge into the water below. Bubbles!More bubbles!Sydney Harbour BridgeWater, music and light show reminiscent of the fountain show at Bellagio in Las Vegas!The water was shot out at a great height. Due to the prevailing wind, the crowd gets to experience a cold spray of water on a cold night!The crowd is dense. This is the crowd in the area where there are street food vans! Light and sound projections near Circular QuayThis simple wood structure kept changing personalities depending on what was projected on it! From colours and shapes to animals! Sounds to accompany as well! Museum of Contemporary ArtProjections on the Opera HouseThe unused old Goods Line is turned into an immersive display of laser lights, smoke and sound. Sculpture outside the Museum of Contemporary Art. We have walked past this sculpture so many times during the day but at night, lit up from inside, this sculpture is totally different and unexpected!
Ahh Sydney!! We return again! It’s a stunning city! On a dry, blue sky day, it really sparkles!! Unfortunately, recent months have been abnormally rainy but we have had plenty of good days to enjoy nevertheless.
Some things to love about Sydney include;
Free museums – there are a number of free museums and free museum days so check it out! Hyde Park Barracks in particular has a great interactive, audio-visual display which is fantastic and immersive!
Diversity of people and hence cuisines! You can get very regional, specialised and authentic cuisines in this big city!
Sydney harbour – stunning! You can’t help but get your camera out EVERY TIME, despite having so many photos from every other time you visited previously!
Vibrant and friendly people – Big cities have a reputation of being cold but I have found Sydney-siders to be warm and welcoming. There is evidence of community to be found in so many places!
It’s such a big city there are always interesting things to do and see!
Centennial Park – a nice bit of greenery close to the city and a great place to ride your bike!Sydney Harbour Bridge – beautiful on a blue sky day!The Sydney skyline on an overcast day! Museum of SydneyHad to take a photo of this building in Darlinghurst. It has a Harry Potter-esque vibe to it! When in Sydney, the cheapest harbour cruise is the public transport ferry. How can you beat these views!? St Mary’s Cathedral, SydneyThe city skyline peaking through the trees from Hyde Park.A protest through the city for Palestine. As Sydney is such a big city, there are often organised protests in the CBD. These are always peaceful and there is a police presence. Artwork in Hyde Park honouring Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander service men and women. Campsie Street Festival – Street festivals in Sydney are extremely well attended resulting in ridiculously long queues at every street food stall at all hours! This particular festival was a great initiative by the Campsie council as it drew visitors from all over Sydney to the Campsie main street. Businesses would have been thriving this weekend but there would be an ongoing lingering business benefit for these shops from the exposure! Men in Campsie playing and watching a game with great focus and interest! The colourful view from the ferryYes! Another shot of the Sydney Harbour Bridge!Hyde Park BarracksThe marina at Birkenhead Point. The factory outlet stores here are worth a look for a bargain but head out the back and check out the view of the marina! Hyde ParkAnzac MemorialHarbour Bridge by night. This area always stays buzzy with people and restaurants.Crown Towers – a shiny, metallic slick, reaching for the sky! Tall Ship and Sydney Opera HouseCommonwealth Bank Sydney
Today, was the Sydney Morning Herald Half Marathon. We were unaware of this as we set off on a (comparatively short) bike ride around the sights of Sydney. A half marathon is a crazy 21km long. Turns out this is one of Australia’s most iconic and largest half marathons. It takes in many of the big sights of Sydney e.g. the Sydney Opera House and the Harbour Bridge. Iconic it may be, but Sydney is a hilly city and there are hills on this route. Seems cruel to arrange a route with hills considering the massive distance these poor runners had to endure!
Our first hint that there was a running event were some people walking away with bib numbers pinned to their shirts. We did not understand then, that these people were the absolute cream of the crop and had already finished their 21km morning run.
Next, we rode along the sidewalk of the road which formed the final leg of the half marathon. At this point, there were loads of runners streaming past us, giving it their all, on the final leg. They had amazing rhythm and groove to their running, and they must have been relieved to get close to the end. Grit, sweat, resilience and determination was written all over their faces. They were a diverse bunch. Not just all the sinewy marathon types you would come to expect. There were men and women of all different ages, races and sizes. There were quite a number that you would never expect, based on their physique, would be capable of running such a long distance.
As someone who wants to slow to a walk after 90 seconds of slow jogging, the idea of running 21km is unfathomable and an unreachable goal. Yet, hundreds of people were doing it! And this bunch, was doing it with, dare I say it, some ease! Yes, they looked exhausted and hot, but their run had an unstoppable rhythm. There was no doubt they would easily make it to the finish.
No photos of the runners because I was strangely transfixed looking into their faces, wondering how much they were hurting and how they could keep going. Also, because I try not to take photos of people for the blog without their consent.
Some time later on, we came upon the stragglers. These were runners who had slowed to an exhausted walk. They were passing the hydration station where volunteers were still cheering them on as if they would win the race. I really commend them for taking on a half marathon and kudos to the volunteers for providing such encouragement and facilitating the hydration station. Other volunteers were spaced along the route, some were keeping up a constant stream of encouragement to the passing runners. What legends!
The most amazing thing was, riding through the city later on and seeing these runners, still with their bib numbers pinned on, melding back into the normal population with us mere mortals. These superheroes, distinguishable only on this special day with their bib numbers and medals were morphing into mum’s, dads, sons, daughters, friends etc. We saw runners walking home!! Seems insane after such a massive physical feat to have to then walk home! We saw runners who had turned into mothers, dealing with their whingey kids. Some were walking and munching on an apple, others had stopped for a well deserved brunch, many were chatting on their phones or with their friends. All were highly functioning despite just running 21km! They had all cooled off and looked almost normal. You could not tell that these people had just run 21km! They were now, just people, going about their Sunday, getting on with the things they had to do.
These superheroes, live amongst us every day!!
These people are such an inspiration. They are our aspiration.
Travelling in a new country is exciting but sometimes, the mundane stuff of life can be frustrating. This post is for a person new to Australia and specifically targeted for someone who wants to travel around Australia by road. This is all the boring information to keep you safe and help you save money so you can get on with the fun stuff.
The blog will be split into two sections; safety tips and cost saving tips. For costs, frugal tips will be provided for all the major expenses for road-tripping Australia i.e. fuel, accommodation, food, sightseeing, gear etc.
SAFETY TIPS
Australia is a big country. Don’t underestimate the distances! Stay awake and alert when you drive. Pull over for a rest if you have to. Fatigue can cause accidents and a high speed accidents can easily by fatal.
When travelling in remote areas, understand the capacity of your fuel tank and know where you can buy fuel next.
Always have water in your vehicle and take water with you on remote walks.
If you breakdown, stay with your vehicles instead of walking off to find help. Many tourists have died walking off to look for help. You are easier to find by your vehicle.
The sun is strong in Australia. Slip, Slop, Slap i.e. Slip on a shirt, slop on some sunscreen and slap on a broad brim hat.
Listen to the locals and obey signage when it comes to animals such as crocodiles and jellyfish. Yes, you may be hot and desperate for a swim but there is a reason why no one else is in the water!
Snakes are usually more scared of you than you are of them. As you tramp through the bush, they will hear your noisy approach and slither off.
There are some venomous spiders. Just use your common sense and take reasonable care and you’ll be fine.
DO NOT drive at dawn and dusk. This is when many animals are more active. You are at a MUCH greater risk of driving into a kangaroo or even a cow. If you have to drive at that time, lower your speed and watch carefully. These animals can behave unpredictably and you will have less warning than you think.
MONEY SAVING TIPS
FUEL
Fuel is a big expense on a road trip especially considering the distances involved in traveling around Australia. Always look for the cheapest fuel along your route. If you deviate a great distance from your route for cheap fuel, it could be a false economy.
You may only save a few dollars each time but the savings accumulate. These websites are useful for finding the cheapest fuel. Most states and territories have accurate fuel prices information provided by the government except for Victoria and Tasmania. The information in Petrolspy in Victoria and Tasmania is crowdsourced so can be inaccurate especially for remote or small fuel stations.
When planning your trip, do your research and plan an optimised route so you don’t double back to see something you have missed. Minimising the number of kilometres you drive, saves fuel and saves wear and tear on your vehicle, thereby reducing maintenance costs and increasing vehicle re-sale value.
Take advantage of supermarket fuel discounts. Coles provides a 4c/L discount when you spend more than $30 in their store. The voucher is on the bottom of your paper receipt. Woolworths does similar but their vouchers are automatically stored on your Woolworths Rewards Card. These discounts only apply in affiliated fuel stations (which despite the discount, still may not be the cheapest!)
G’day park membership gives 4c/L off at Coles Express fuel stations.
Drive slower. The sweet spot for fuel economy is about 80km/hr.
Do not speed. Speed radar cameras are used because they are a good revenue earner for the government. Even just 2km/hr over the limit can get you caught and the fines are often steep and you will also get demerit points. Penalties are even harsher on public holiday long weekends to minimise road deaths.
ACCOMODATION
These accommodation tips assume that you will be camping. If you will be staying in hotel type accommodation, the advice is to shop around. For camping,
Download the Wikicamps app. There is a tiny fee but it will pay back many times over. This app will tell you where you can camp including places you can camp for free. For each place, it will tell what amenities are available e.g. toilets, showers etc. This app is absolutely essential for road-tripping Australia. An inferior free alternative is Campermate.
Free camp – There are plenty of areas set-up where you can rest overnight or free camp. Some of these will include drop toilets and/or picnic tables. Use Wikicamps to find these or there will road-signs that pre-empt the turn-off to a rest area.
The two big caravan park chains in Australia are Big4 and G’day parks. Big4 charges consistently more per night but tends to be newer and nicer. Both offer a quality and consistent product. For $50, you can purchase a 2 year membership which will get you a 10% discount for each night stayed and other perks. For value for money and a greater number of locations around Australia, I recommend a G’day park membership. They also often sell their membership at a reduced price of $35. G’day park membership also comes with a fuel discount at all Coles Express fuel stations.
Plan ahead around busy periods e.g. school holidays. Things get crazy around school holiday times in popular holiday destinations. The price for accommodation goes through the roof and that’s if you can get something! We were quoted $110 a night for an unpowered campsite on the Great Ocean Road on Easter weekend! In Kalbarri, there was absolutely nothing to be had during the school holidays as a recent cyclone had damaged a lot of the pre-existing holiday accommodation.
FOOD
To save on food in Australia, it is almost always, especially in remote areas, cheaper to cook yourself rather than eat out. If you are in the big cities, there are discounts to be had eating out. These are documented in this blog post.
Coles and Woolworths are the two nation-wide large supermarket chains. You will find these in all but the smallest towns.
If you are in a big city, it will be cheaper to shop at Aldi
If you are heading to remote areas, stock up so you don’t have to shop at tiny, small town supermarkets at a premium price.
Supermarkets often mark down items close to their expiry date. Take advantage of these if you can. I find Coles is better for these types of discounts.
Shop at markets and food court stalls near closing time. Often, they are trying to move their stock to avoid waste and will discount heavily.
Don’t waste your money on buying water. The water out of the tap in Australia (unless marked otherwise) is potable and can be drunk as is without any further treatment e.g. boiling. Drink tap water!
Join the Woolworths Reward card program and Flybuys for Coles. As you shop, you can accumulate points for additional discounts.
GEAR
When travelling around the country, you are likely to need some stuff e.g. camping stove, clothes, shoes, sleeping bags, pots and pans etc. Here are some places you could look for this stuff. This list is ordered from least expensive to the most. My suggestion is to look online (if you can) to confirm they have what you want at a decent price before heading to the store.
Check on Facebook Marketplace or Gumtree – secondhand stuff can often be much better quality than you would have purchased new and it’s better for the environment.
Bunnings – this is a nation-wide chain of hardware stores selling hardware, plants and other household items. Here you can buy 20L water containers, butane cannisters, folding chairs, camping stoves for a reasonable price.
Kmart, BigW, Target – these stores are nation-wide chains selling clothes, kitchenware, bedding and homewares. If you are looking for casual clothing, bedding or camping gear, check here before heading to more specialist stores. It may not be high end fancy but it will be a decent quality and functional.
Decathlon – This shop sells outdoor and sporting goods at an excellent price point. Unfortunately, there are only stores in NSW and Victoria so it is not widely available.
4WD Supacentre – this store specialises in camping accessories and outdoor gear with a focus on road-tripping. Their prices are good and they often have specials. You can also order stuff online.
BCF and Anaconda – Do you research and pounce when they go on sale!
For completeness, I will finish this list with the high end outdoor shops but DO NOT shop here if you are a budget backpacker e.g. North Face, Macpac, Paddy Pallin, Kathmandu.
BUYING AND MAINTAINING A VEHICLE
The most useful resources in Australia when buying a vehicle are;
Facebook groups – there are Facebook groups selling all kinds of vehicles e.g. Vans for Sale NSW, Australia Car Market / Campervans for Backpacker / Traveler etc.
When buying a vehicle, always do your research to understand all the costs and requirements which can vary from state to state. Registration costs can vary depending on state and each state has different requirements in regards to the requirement for vehicle inspections. Understand how much stamp duty will cost.
When buying stuff for your car e.g. engine oil, coolant etc., these are the nation wide stores that sell vehicle stuff in order of cheapest to most expensive. Remember always to check online and compare prices.
Try to plan your vehicle servicing for when you are in more populated cities. These are likely to have more mechanics and therefore more price competition. Shop around for the best price.
Some mechanics may allow you supply your own engine oil. You can then buy your engine oil on sale and pay only for labour. Call and confirm with the mechanic as not everyone will allow this. Make sure you know what oil to get because it will be your fault if you get it wrong!
Some nation-wide franchised mechanic chains offer a warranty where they will rectify issues caused by their service at their other branches. Some of these chains will even include a roadside assistance service as a perk of getting a service with them. Some nation-wide mechanic chains include; Ultratune, MyCar, RepcoService etc. Do your research as to which one of these provide these types of warranty.
In regards to vehicle insurance, always shop around as the price can vary significantly.
SIGHTSEEING
Visiting local parks and botanic gardens are free. These are often well planted with an interesting and diverse range of plants and may be adjacent to picturesque lakes and rivers. They often include additional amenities such as picnic tables, public toilets and sometimes BBQs.
Exploring a town or city is also free unless you join a paid tour. With all the information available on the internet and easily accessible on your phone, it’s easy to learn more about any location. Explore the main street of a small town or drive/cycle along the waterfront roads to gawk at the fancy, expensive houses! Most towns or cities that are built by the water, whether it is a river or the ocean will often have a nicely built waterfront area perfect for a lovely, scenic stroll.
Beaches are free and freely accessible in Australia, in contrast to the paid private beaches e.g. in Europe or areas where private property is built in a way that blocks free public access to the beach e.g. Asia or Europe.
There are many free lookout points in Australia and access to national parks is relatively cheap when considering that the rangers have the never-ending battle keeping out invasive plant species and feral animals, ensuring the walking trails are safe and maintaining toilets and other amenities. National parks are areas of stunning, untouched natural beauty.
MOBILE DATA
Shop around when looking for a phone plan as prices vary greatly. We were with Circles.Life with 100GB plans at $30.
Telstra is the mobile network that has better coverage in remote areas but they can be very expensive. Optus was OK. We had coverage in most populated areas and even in some surprise locations e.g. the campground at Karijini National Park. In a 2WD vehicle, we knew that even if we broke down somewhere without phone coverage, another vehicle would come along soon enough who could provide assistance.
MISCELLANEOUS
Toll roads exist in some major capital cities. Either set your GPS to avoid them completely or do your research on the cost and how to set-up for payment.
There is a minimum wage in Australia therefore, tipping is not the cultural norm.
When you can, zig when other people are zagging. Try to predict what the masses will be doing and consider if doing the opposite could get your better price e.g. if everyone is heading out of the city for Easter weekend, maybe there is cheap city deal you can take advantage of.
Don’t throw useful stuff away, sell it on Facebook Marketplace or Gumtree.
Hope this helps you stay safe and save some money. Enjoy your journey around this beautiful country!
Ahh! The humble pool noodle! The cylindrical, colourful piece of buoyant foam. On our road trip, there have been a number of occasions where the pool noodle has transformed a beautiful waterhole into something truly magical. Of course, a pool noodle can be used in any waterbody as a flotation device. The best, in my opinion is for swimming in a beautiful location, where the pool noodle, eliminates the need to physically keep oneself afloat. You can then drift along, enjoying the serenity and the magnificent surroundings. This is particularly useful in fresh water situations where you have less buoyancy than in salt water.
Pool Noodle. Image from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pool_noodle
Here is a list of stunning places around Australia where you should not forget your pool noodle! Float away, chillax, feel the serenity and marvel at the scenery. This list is not in any particular order because honestly, I could not order them. They are all truly special places!
ORMISTON GORGE, TJORITJA / WEST MACDONNELL NATIONAL PARK, NT
In this part of Australia, you are almost certainly going to be hot, hot, hot! Cool off with a refreshing swim in Ormiston Gorge. In fact, take care, some parts are so cold, you can get hypothermia! Lay back with your pool noodle and look at the sculptural, red rock bordering this swimming spot. Feel special because the vast majority of people in this world will never get remote enough to enjoy this unique place.
Ormiston Gorge
LAKE ARGYLE, NEAR KUNUNURRA, WA
For a closer look at Lake Argyle and the dam, head to Lake Argyle Resort. Bear in mind, despite the vastness of the lake from the various vantage points in this area, the actual lake is much, much bigger and cannot be seen in it’s totality from the ground. From the resort there are walking trails that take you down to Lake Argyle where you can swim. There are freshwater crocodiles in the lake but there are much more timid when compared to their saltwater counterparts.
Lake Argyle- only a tiny part, the vast majority cannot be seen from this vantage point.
LELIYN (EDITH FALLS), NITMILUK NATIONAL PARK, NT
In this delightful spot, there is a huge waterbody and a waterfall at the far end. Despite how hot the climate is, the water feels almost too cold when you first get in. It’s quite a long swim to get a closer look at the waterfall but don’t worry, you have your pool noodle to make the journey easier!
Edith Falls. Image from https://www.ourterritory.com/katherine_region/edith_falls.htm
EMMA GORGE AT EL QUESTRO, WA
Venturing out from Kununurra, it is worth making a day trip to Emma Gorge. This is the only site in the El Questro area readily accessible to 2WD. The hike to the waterhole takes about an hour and is quite rugged in parts. It’s worth it for the spectacular landscape on the way as well as the magical, cool, waterhole. Coming upon this beautiful waterhole at Emma Gorge makes the sweaty hike worthwhile. Swimming is OK in the cool, refreshing waters of the waterhole but beware a resident freshwater crocodile! To the right most side of the waterhole is a small thermal spring which is lovely if the water is getting too cold for you.
Emma Gorge
KATHERINE HOT SPRINGS, KATHERINE, NT
These natural thermal springs are within the town of Katherine. They are a lovely spot to relax after a long day of driving or sightseeing.
Katherine Hot Springs
THE GROTTO, WYNDHAM, WA
On the way to Wyndham, a “must see” stop is The Grotto. There is a hike down of 144 steps to get to a gorgeous, refreshing swimming hole. This is really a special place!
The Grotto
ELLERY CREEK BIG HOLE, TJORITJA / WEST MACDONNELL NATIONAL PARK, NT
This is a spectacular waterhole. Imagine swimming, dwarfed by these immense red cliffs towering over you on either side. Float around with your pool noodle and ponder our minuscule existence against geological time!
Ellery Creek Big Hole
BITTER SPRINGS, ELSEY NATIONAL PARK, MATARANKA, NT
Firstly, the picture below, does not do this location justice. It’s far more beautiful, if you can be believe it. The water is crystal clear and naturally, an unbelievable shade of blue-green. The waterhole is shaped like a “L” with a gentle current flowing in one direction. It’s a hot spring so the water is a lovely temperature. The thing to do is to get in at one end and drift gently downstream with the current. As you drift along, admire the scenery in the dappled light filtered through the palm fronds on either side. When you reach the other end, get out, and walk back to the start and float gently downstream again! Repeat! Bliss!
This spot can get busy so if you are after that perfect photograph, best to select an off-peak time to visit.
Bitter Springs. Image from https://lovefamilylifetravel.com/mataranka-hot-springs/
BERRY SPRINGS NATURE PARK, NT
At the start, I said I could not order the places but I didn’t say that I couldn’t pick a favourite!! My favorite place to take my pool noodle is the waterholes at Berry Springs Nature Park. This gorgeous spot is only a 40 minute drive from Darwin CBD. Take a picnic and your pool noodle. There are toilet facilities. This place does not allow swimming in the wet season due to crocodiles but as dry season approaches, the rangers trap them and open the waterhole when it is deemed safe. Check on their website to confirm they are open before driving over.
Make a day of it by visiting Territory Wildlife Park to see some local wildlife. My hot tip if you do visit this park is to attend all the daily talks and presentations. They are all excellent and in particular, the bird show is sensational! You can also visit Crazy Acres nearby for some locally made mango icecream using locally grown mangoes! End your busy day with a nice meal at Berry Springs Tavern or Darwin River Tavern. Both are very good.
In Berry Springs Nature Park, there are three areas to swim. There are 2 large pools and a smaller section with a waterfall. There are steps or a ladder to enter each of these sections. The areas can be quite busy on weekends or school holidays. You can enter into any one of these sections and swim or float to the other sections. There are so many stiflingly hot and humid days in this part of Australia that the cooling effect of getting into the water is simply divine! It’s such a special spot and with your pool noodle, you won’t have to work on staying afloat. You can just take it all in!
Berry Springs Waterfall. Image from https://nt.gov.au/parks/find-a-park/berry-springs-nature-parkBerry Springs Pool 1. Image from https://nt.gov.au/parks/find-a-park/berry-springs-nature-parkBerry Springs Pool 2. Image from https://nt.gov.au/parks/find-a-park/berry-springs-nature-park
Do you know any super special secret waterholes? Care to share?
This is a question without an easy answer. Australians are a mixture of the Indigenous Aborigines who have inhabited the land for the last 50,000 years, the descendants of the white settlers and the waves of immigrants that have chosen to settle and make a home here. This diversity in people has led to a diversity in food. Aussies are pretty adventurous with food because we are exposed to foods from different cultures on a regular basis and the geographic isolation of Australia, makes long overseas trips a rite of passage for most young Aussies. Travelling gives people a more open minded view to all kinds of things and food is no exception.
What does the average Aussie household eat for dinner? This obviously depends a lot on their particular individual heritage. Generalizing however, it can be safe to say that these dishes are popular and would be on rotation in many households.
And for the kids, it seems like chicken nuggets are very popular!
Popular things for breakfast are Weet-Bix and Vegemite on Toast. Weet-Bix is a whole grain cereal formed into blocks. It’s very economical to purchase at the supermarket and also healthy. Eat with milk, otherwise it will be chokingly dry!
Weet-Bix-Original. Image from https://weetbix.com.au/products/weet-bix/original/
A discussion of Australian cuisine has to address native foods that have been eaten in this country for thousands of years. There are lots of them (e.g. quandong, finger lime, lemon myrtle, etc.) however, I am not an expert and to be honest, except for the macadamia nut, they are mostly, not in wide circulation, in the general population. The awareness of native ingredients has really burgeoned in the last few years as some of these ingredients purport amazing nutritional benefits e.g. Davidson Plum. Some restaurants are starting to include these ingredients in their dishes and there are often markets stalls selling products made using these native ingredients. Nevertheless, these types of food generally haven’t managed to achieve wide appeal.
The macadamia nut is a must-try as it comes from a plant indigenous to Australia and has been commercially cultivated since the 1880s. It has a high fat content and a sweet, creamy, buttery flavour. It is a little softer than other nuts. It can also be pricey to purchase. Best to purchase with shell removed, because the spherical shell is very close to indestructible.
The following sections will cover foods that you can really only get in Australia. There are foods which are stocked in every Australian supermarket, savoury foods and sweet treats. There are also some foods which despite not being specific to Australia, have become part of the psyche of being an Australian or have attained some cultural significance.
Aussie Foods You Can Buy at the Supermarket
These are all commonly available at any Australian supermarket
Vegemite
No visitor to Australia can rightly say they have experienced the country without trying Vegemite. Firstly, a few words of warning. This is NOT Nutella. Vegemite is NOT SWEET. Do NOT spread it generously on your toast or eat it by the spoonful from the jar. You are CRAZY and will HATE IT! Vegemite has a salty, umami flavour. It is very high in Vitamin B’s and is made from a yeast extract. (The British equivalent is Marmite.) For those new to the country, it’s best not to buy a whole jar as it is certainly an acquired taste. This is a staple in most Australian households and they will be happy to allow you to try a little mostly because the reactions from first timers are usually hilarious.
Recommendation: Butter your toasted bread and take a little vegemite on the tip of your knife and spread it very thinly over your toast. It’s OK if you don’t like it at first. Most Aussies grew up eating Vegemite every day for breakfast. You can build up to it bit by bit.
Vegemite. Image from https://vegemite.com.au/our-range/
Tim Tam
Unlike Vegemite, it is absolutely impossible not to love Tim Tams! These are two biscuits which sandwich a cream filling and entirely covered in chocolate. These are Australia’s most loved chocolate biscuit. If you bring these for your overseas relatives or even to your work morning tea, everyone is your friend!!
Recommendation: Just eat them! They are yum! After you have demolished your first packet in the original flavour, you can try their other flavour variations or try the Tim Tam Slam. To do a Tim Tam Slam, you bite off opposite corners of a Tim and Tam and use it as a straw to suck a hot beverage through e.g. coffee or hot chocolate. The biscuit softens as the hot beverage channels through it into you mouth. Pop the whole lot in your mouth before it softens to the point of total disintegration!
Tim Tam Original. Image from https://www.arnotts.com/products/tim-tam/classic/original
Fantales
Fantales are an iconic Australia lolly. Lolly is the Australian way of saying sweets or candy. Fantales are chocolate covered chewy caramels. The wrapper of the lolly is literally a “fan tale” i.e. a brief biography of movie stars.
Recommendation: These are a chewy delight! Best not to pop one in your mouth if you want to say something in the next few minutes because your mouth will be glued shut dealing with all this deliciously chewy, chocolatey, caramel-ley yumminess!
Packet of Fantales. Image from https://www.woolworths.com.au/shop/productdetails/348170/allen-s-fantales-family-bag-lollies
Cherry Ripe
Onwards from Australia’s most iconic lolly to Australia’s most iconic chocolate bar. The honour goes to the Cherry Ripe. This is a bar of cherries and coconut wrapped in dark chocolate. This is Australia’s oldest chocolate bar dating back to 1924.
Recommendation: These are lovely, especially with the dark chocolate exterior.
Cherry Ripe. Image from https://www.woolworths.com.au/shop/productdetails/320108/cadbury-cherry-ripe
Arnott’s shapes
These are a line of very popular savoury biscuits. Flavours include BBQ, Pizza, Savoury, Chicken Crimpy and many others. These come in boxes which are great for a snack during a long road trip or to stash in your luggage if you fear starving in a foreign country. They are also sold in small packets which are usually used for kids lunchboxes. These are very common at Australian parties, served up in a bowl to nibble on. New and/or limited edition flavours are regularly released.
Recommendation: My guess would be that the most loved Shapes flavour was a toss up between BBQ and Pizza but the internet tells me that, based on a poll, Chicken Crimpy has been officially voted the best flavour!
Arnott’s Shapes. Image from https://www.taste.com.au/articles/arnotts-shapes-most-popular-flavour-pizza-bbq/lqcc6w19
Savoury Aussie Foods
Aussie meats
There are many jokes about being the only population that will eat our coat of arms. The Australian coat of arms features the emu and the kangaroo. Whilst the consumption of kangaroo meat is commonplace, it is much harder to find emu meat.
Kangaroo meat is highly nutritious. It’s very lean and is high in protein and iron. Kangaroos are plentiful in Australia so they can be harvested for meat in a sustainable way (although that doesn’t stop some people around the world from being concerned with eating them). Due to the low fat content, it is easy for kangaroo meat to be tough and chewy once cooked. It is much more suited to being slow cooked or in very fast stir fry. Kangaroo meat and meat products are sold in Australian supermarkets. It is easy to get kangaroo sausages, burger patties, steaks etc. These are healthier than their beef counterparts and much cheaper too! The only issue is their bold flavour which is stronger than either beef or lamb and can sometimes be too much! If you like the flavour, kangaroo meat is a very healthy choice for the frugal environmentalist!
Emu meat has yet to take off in Australia. It is purported to be tender, lean and high in protein and iron, making it a very healthy choice. It would be worth trying if you see a specialty butcher selling it!
Crocodile meat is quite hard to buy. I’ve only seen it sold at a crocodile park or at a few restaurants. It tastes and looks like a cross between chicken and fish. There are no shortage of crocodiles in the Northern parts of the country, but crocodile meat and leather products are only obtained from crocodile farms.
Feral camels are a pest in outback Australia. There is a large population of them roaming wild in the outback. As they are not indigenous, they damage the land and can foul waterholes. Unfortunately, despite this, camel meat is not widely consumed in Australia. It is generally only consumed amongst people of Middle Eastern and African heritage who have come from a culture of eating camel meat. This is hopefully changing as evidence by the Lakemba Ramadan Night Markets in Sydney where the queue for camel burgers snaked a great distance down the street.
Barramundi
Barramundi is a salt and freshwater fish which is native to Australia. It is a tasty eating fish as it has a mild flavour and lovely white flesh. You can buy fillets from Australian supermarkets and it is often on the menu at Australian restaurants. I find barramundi a little hit and miss. It is easy to overcook and can be dry. When cooked perfectly, it is a really beautiful eating fish.
Barramundi are also prized by the fishing community. In the Northern Territory, there is an annual competition held every year called “Million Dollar Fish” where people fish for “barra” in the hopes of reeling in the tagged fish that will win them 1 million dollars! No one has yet caught the million dollar fish and there are currently 8 of them swimming in the Northern Territory waterways, waiting to be caught (or possibly having already been caught by a big croc). There are smaller prizes with some people having caught barramundi fish tagged to win them $10,000.
Meat pie with Tomato Sauce
The first thing that came to mind when someone asked me what is Australian food recently was Meat Pie with Tomato Sauce. It is somewhat embarrassing to say because it isn’t a high class culinary delight and is often subjected to a lot of derision about being filled with “snouts and arses.” There are often rumours that the low quality meat pies are filled with mystery parts and waste meat. Nevertheless, the humble meat pie is an Australian food icon, and in fact with the growing sophistication of the Australian food scene, there are some really great pies now available.
It is available in every fuel station as it is a great favourite of truck drivers, trades people and road-trippers. It is also available at sporting events to be consumed with a pint of icy cold beer whilst cheering on your favourite team. Australian bakeries often enter competitions to be bestowed the coveted prize of having the best meat pie. The basic version is pie of flaky pastry in a portion for one filled with diced or mince meat with a rich brown gravy. Many variations exist but for newbies, you should always try the original first. Variations include curry chicken pies, steak pies, pepper steak pies, steak and mushroom pies, steak and kidney pies, lamb pies, bacon and egg pies, scallop pies etc. The list of variations is only limited by the imagination of the baker.
Plenty of parties and morning teas would be incomplete in Australia without some party pies and sausage rolls. Party pies are small, two bite version of the standard size meat pie.
Recommendation: Support a small town bakery by buying a good quality pie. Don’t forget to pay extra for tomato sauce. The tangy bite of the tomato sauce cuts through the richness of the meat gravy and is absolutely essential.
Meat Pie. Image from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meat_pie_(Australia_and_New_Zealand)
BurgerS with Beetroot
One final thing to end this savoury section. Australia must be the only place that puts a piece of canned, sliced beetroot into their burgers. This is not found in all burgers but when you see a burger called an Aussie burger or similar, the “Aussie” part is the addition of the beetroot.
Recommendation: Don’t knock it till you try it, then you can quickly try and forget about the whole embarrassing experience. You might not be able to if you have stained your clothes with beetroot juice! The addition of beetroot adds a nice tang to the burger to balance out the richness of the meat.
Sweet Treats
ANZAC BiSCUITS
ANZAC stands for the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps. The Anzac biscuit is a sweet biscuit made with golden syrup, oats, flour, sugar, baking soda and butter. There is an ongoing debate as to whether they should be crispy or chewy but they are delicious either way.
The story is that these biscuits were sent by wives and women’s groups to soldiers abroad in World War 1 because they do not spoil during the long journey. Another story is that these biscuits were baked and sold to raise money for the war effort which led to them being called Anzac biscuits.
Recommendation: Make your own at home or buy them from a bakery or the bakery section at Coles or Woolies (Woolworths). These bikkies (biscuits) smell of oats, butter and golden syrup and are the perfect accompaniment to your morning “cuppa”, cup of tea. They are not a flashy biscuit but the simple ingredients shine in this humble sweet treat.
Anzac Biscuits. Image from https://www.taste.com.au/recipes/traditional-anzac-biscuits-2/5229a179-7755-46ab-925a-fd55081833d8
Damper
Damper is a bread made in a cast iron pot with a lid, called a camp oven. The pot would be covered with hot coals from the campfire. It is usually made with flour, salt, water and soda as the leavening agent. It was traditionally prepared by early European settlers to Australia.
Recommendation: Damper is quite easy to make and should be attempted whilst camping. If you don’t have a camp oven, you can wrap some of the dough around a stick and hold it over the fire. It is most delicious fresh and warm from the fire and with some golden syrup as the traditional topping. Variations can be made with the addition of sultanas to the dough or savoury ingredients to make it a savoury bread. Share it warm with your new-found camping friends because the next day, it will likely be hard as rock!
Damper in a Camp Over. Image from https://www.freecampingaustralia.com.au/cooking/recipes/breads/camp-oven-damper.html
Fairy bread
No Australian kid’s party would be complete without fairy bread. This is white bread spread with margarine and sprinkled with multicoloured sprinkles called “hundreds and thousands”. This colourful creation dates back to the 1920s in Australia. It’s inexpensive to make and kids love it, but has almost no nutritional value!
Recommendation: There is probably no need to try this one unless it is in front of you. You can imagine what is would taste like with the white bread and the slightly crunchy, sweet sprinkles. It taste like childhood when life was just simple and sweet!
Fairy Bread. Image from https://www.sweetestmenu.com/fairy-bread/
Vanilla slice
A vanilla slice is a sweet treat where vanilla custard is sandwiched between two layers of puff pastry. The vanilla slice is sometimes called a “snot block” but that’s not very nice considering how decadent a simple vanilla slice can taste. It has been compared to the French mille-feuille but the Australian vanilla slice is a much more humble treat.
Recommendation: This is a must try because you will love it! Support a small town country bakery and buy a vanilla slice to try! Extra points are awarded if you manage to avoid spilling squirts of custard on yourself when you bite into it.
Vanilla Slice. Image from https://www.theflavorbender.com/the-perfect-pavlova-recipe/
pavlova
And now, for the most famous Australian sweet treat, the pavlova! Yes, the debate still rages about whether pavlova originates from Australia or New Zealand. In this post, it is a much, beloved Australian dessert. Pavlova is a dessert made from whipped egg whites and sugar. It is topped with whipped cream and fresh fruit. It was named after the Russian ballerina, Anna Pavlova as this delightful confection is as light as a ballerina.
Be aware not to mix up a pavlova with meringue. Whilst both are a combination of whipped egg whites and sugar, meringues are baked until they are crispy and airy throughout. The beauty of the pavlova is the crisp exterior and the soft marshmallow-like interior.
It is traditional to have pavlova at Christmas time. They are a perfect light dessert to have on a hot summer Christmas day after a big main meal. They can be made ahead of time and stored in an air tight container. Cream and fruit should always be applied at the last minute so the pavlova stays crunchy on the outside. Traditional pavlova is topped with kiwifruit, strawberries and passionfruit although variations are unlimited. Homemade pavlovas almost always crack or sag during or after baking . They will never look as good as store bought pavlova’s. Nevertheless lashings of whipped cream and fresh fruit will hide every sin and your homemade pavlova will still taste awesome and be the hit of the party.
Recommendation: Trying a pavlova is an absolute must in Australia. It tastes of sweetness and fresh fruit, with the irresistible contrast of the crunchy exterior and soft interior. It is mostly air so it’s very light and easy to eat even after a rich, heavy meal.
You could purchase one from a bakery. It is reasonably easy to make one. It may not be beautiful but it will be tasty. An electric beater is highly recommended although it is possible to whip those egg whites by hand if you are willing to take on the challenge. The key thing is to ensure all your bowls and beaters etc. are spotlessly clean otherwise your egg whites won’t firm up. The alternative is to buy a pre-made pavlova from the supermarket. Whip up some cream and cut up some seasonal fruits to decorate.
Pavlova. Image from https://www.theflavorbender.com/the-perfect-pavlova-recipe/
Foods With a Cultural Significance
There are some food in Australia which we cannot claim to “own” but has a cultural significance and is part of the psyche of being an Australian.
The Bunnings Sausage Sizzle
The weekend has come! Finally! Time to get on with some chores around the garden and the house. Then you find that you’re missing an essential tool – this calls for a Bunnings Run! Bunnings is a nation-wide chain of stores (practically a monopoly) selling hardware, plants and other household items. It’s massive and it is a common joke that most people go into Bunnings to buy one thing and come out with ten things! Nevertheless, a weekend trip to Bunnings in the morning is usually accompanied by the smell of barbecuing snags (sausages) and onions. For a few dollars, you can get a slice of bread, a snag, some cooked onions and a squirt of sauce. Just perfect to keep you from being “hangry” and to help you stay focus on your weekend job list! The sausage sizzle stall will usually be run by a charity organisation and the profits from your sausage sizzle will go to a good cause (better buy two of them then).
Never underestimate the power of a sausage sizzle! At the last Australian election, a contender for prime minister made the news by being photographed eating his sausage sizzle from the side of the sausage instead of the end! This confused the Australian public and may have hurt his chances in the election as it made him look totally out of touch with the humble, working class.
Recommendation: It’s not fancy, high class food but it is only a few dollars and it’s an Australian tradition. So try one!
Bunnings Sausage Sizzle. Image from https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-6145595/Bunnings-reveals-secret-perfect-sausage-sizzle.html
Smashed Avo
Smashed “avo” or avocado hit the news in a big way in 2017 when a demographer commented in an opinion piece that young people should not be ordering smashed avo in cafes at $22 a pop but be putting that money towards a house deposit instead. This started a furious debate about housing affordability in Australia as millennials took great offence. Regardless of the housing affordability debate, smashed avo is a tasty dish with a multitude of variations. The only common thread is bread of some kind and smooshed up avocado. There could be an egg on top or fetta mixed through, or chilli flakes etc.
Recommendations: Avocado is an expensive fruit. Buy it at the supermarket when the price is good, anything around $1 per fruit is OK, and smash it into some good bread. Sprinkle with some salt and pepper and et voila, homemade smashed avo.
Smashed Avo with Fetta and Tomatoes. Image from https://www.goodfood.com.au/recipes/the-fat-smashed-avocado-and-feta-on-toast-recipe-20161019-gs5sm9
Coffee
Australians are very proud of their coffee. It is a known fact that Australian cafe’s make the best coffees in the world (or so some would say.) This is the reason that the American coffee behemoth, Starbucks just cannot get a decent foothold in the Australian market. Australians are much too discerning with their coffee. No café will survive in Australia if it cannot make a decent coffee. Australians seem unable to start the day without their caffeine injection and it cannot just be any rubbish. White collar workers are often seen in the mornings, lining the sidewalk at their favourite hole-in the-wall cafe. They have spurned the free coffee they can have in their office kitchens to walk out, rain or shine, to spend $4 to $6 on a barista made coffee.
The coffee language in Australia is also quite complex. Types of coffees include the flat white, latte, double espresso and the long mac which has a different meaning in different states. Errors with a person’s coffee order can result in even the most mild mannered Australian to turn into a ranting cranky-pants. This is not to mention the multitudes of different milks there are.
Recommendations: If you are coffee drinker, cafes are everywhere and many are lovely small businesses. Support them and enjoy your coffee!
Flat White Coffee. Image from https://www.baristainstitute.com/how/how-make-flat-white
Chicken Parmi
After 14 months of road-tripping around Australia, what is the dish that is served in the pub of every small town, right across this massive country? It’s the chicken parmigiana! Chicken Parmigiana or Parmi or Parma or Parmy is served up with a side of chips and salad is a pub stable around Australia. It is a chicken breast pounded flat, crumbed and fried into a schnitzel. This is then topped with tomato sauce and melted cheese. Sometimes there is a slice of ham under the cheese as well. It’s a delicious and filling dish with the crunchy chicken schnitzel, tangy tomato sauce and rich, melty cheese. There is also a “wow!” factor when receiving a good pub parmi. Sometimes the chef will beat a large chicken breast so flat and wide that the resulting schnitzel is as big as a large dinner plate!
Even though Chicken Parmigiana sounds like an Italian dish, it is not a dish traditionally made in Italy. This is similar to why spaghetti bolognaise can’t be found in Italy and why butter chicken is not actually from India. Chicken Parmi may have originated from a breaded eggplant or breaded veal dish in Italy. Chicken Parm was originated in the US from Italian immigrants before coming to Australia in the 1950s. These days, Chicken Parmi is a staple on all Australian pub menus and there is fierce competition between pubs to be crowned as the one serving the best parmi!
Whilst researching this section, to my surprise, there is a debate about whether the chips for a parmi should be served on the side or underneath the crumbed chicken! I had no idea! I think the chips are best on the side so they stay crisp but sometimes the parmi is so large that there is no choice but to put them underneath!
Recommendation: When ordering food in a small country pub, steer away from exotic sounding dishes and veer towards the pub staples of a chicken parmi and chips or steak and chips. The pub likely serves many servings of these in a day and they will usually be good. The chicken parmi is so ubiquitous, good value, filing and damn tasty, there is no reason not to partake in a few accompanied with some cold beers when visiting Australia.
Chicken Parmigiana. Image from https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-07-05/chicken-parmigiana-helping-drought-affected-farmers-at-the-irym/11277578?nw=0
The Aussie BBQ
Having a BBQ is synonymous with the laid back Australian lifestyle. Do not mistake the Australia BBQ with the American style BBQs. American BBQs are all about cooking low and slow with complex rubs and marinades. They are much more long winded. Aussie BBQs are more about speed and slapping some dinner on the table quickly. Often times, a quick dinner would be to chuck some protein on the BBQ and whip up a quick salad. Most households would have their own BBQ. If you go to a friend’s house for a meal, it is quite likely to be a barbie (BBQ) as it is a very easy way to feed a crowd. It’s easy to cook a heap of meat on the barbie and put out some bread, salads and sauces on the table. Job done, dinner served, let’s get into the beers!
Common items cooked on the BBQ include sausages, steaks, pork chops, lamb chops and chicken skewers. More adventurous foodies may cook a whole fish wrapped in foil, corn, haloumi, beer-can chicken, vegetarian skewers and prawns. It is not uncommon to smell BBQ at dinner time wherever there are people in Australia. There are likely to be beers there too!
For some strange reason, cooking on the barbie in Australia is the domain of men whilst the women make the salads. In an Australian barbie, it is not uncommon to see a group of men clustered around the BBQ, with beers in hand, engaging in some banter, usually speculating about whether the sausages are cooked enough. In contrast, the women will be grouped together with wine glasses in hand having a chat. This is a generalisation of course, but have a look next time you are at a barbie. Am I right?
Recommendations: Free gas powered BBQs are available in many parks and caravan parks around Australia. So chuck some snags or chops on the barbie, get your friends together, crack open a beer and enjoy the laid back Aussie lifestyle.
Aussie BBQ. Image from https://www.australian-information-stories.com/australian-bbq.html
Beer
Australians and Beer go hand in hand. Australians drink a lot of beer and beer drinking is quite an integral part of being Australian. Beers lubricate plenty of social events e.g. sporting matches, house parties etc. A BBQ in a friend’s home is almost certainly to have an esky filled with ice to keep the beers cool. If you are invited to a BBQ in Australia, it’s usually polite to turn up with some beers (or other drinks) and maybe some nibbles e.g. a pack of chips, dips, cheese etc. This reduces the load and cost on the host and it’s just nice to turn up with something to share.
Due to the hot climate, beers in Australia are served with a stubby holder. This is a cylinder made of flexible but dense foam which surrounds your beer bottle or can. It keeps the beer colder for longer and stops your hand from getting too cold.
Recommendation: When visiting Australia, go into a local country pub for a beer and parmi and soak in the atmosphere.
Wine
In recent years, the consumption of wine has exceeded the consumption of beer in Australia. This caused a great deal of consternation at the time until the nation gave a collective shrug and got on with getting wasted. Australia has become a large consumer and even larger producer of wine. Australian wine, without being burdened with a weight of tradition, has in many instances, turned out to be superior to some of the ancient wine growing regions of the world.
Recommendation: Drive around the countryside and take in the beauty of the wine regions of Australia e.g. Margaret River, Clare Valley. the Barossa Valley etc. Drop in to a winery for a sun drenched long lunch with matching wines, a wine tasting or just to look at their beautiful landscaping. Disappointingly, wine tasting at vineyards now often attracts a fee, but if you ask around you may be able to find one which still offers the service gratis. The wine tasting charge accrues twice, since once you’ve paid to sample the product, you then get the privilege of paying a premium price for your bottle(s) over and above what you would be charged if you went to one of the many liquor stores around the country.
Sunday Roast
It is not uncommon for families to get-together on a Sunday for a roast. Of the various meats that can be roasted, an Australian favourite would be roast lamb. A whole leg of lamb, pierced in places to stuff it with cloves of garlic and rosemary, rubbed with olive oil and slow roasted till it is falling off the bone. Served with gravy made with the lovely, meaty juices and all the usual vegetable sides.
A pork roast with crispy crackling is also very popular.
Recommendation: Craving a roast without the effort, most pubs will do a Sunday roast special.
Leg of Lamb Roast. Image from https://www.australianlamb.com.au/recipes/thyme-and-garlic-lamb-leg-roast/
Summer Christmas
For many Northern Hemisphere travelers to Australia, one of strangest things is to celebrate Christmas in the height of the Aussie summer. Australian Christmas foods and traditions are therefore a little different from the cold, winter Christmas celebrated in the northern hemisphere. Christmas in Australia might be celebrated with a luxurious picnic on the beach to cool off and enjoy the weather. Usual Christmas foods here are lighter and cooler to account for the extremely hot weather. No one wants to slave over a hot oven on a hot day and turn the house into a sauna on Christmas day. As a result, seafood such as prawns, oysters and salmon are very popular on Christmas day, as well as cooking outside on the BBQ so the house stays cool. This might be accompanied with salads which are more luxurious than normal perhaps including smoked salmon or stone fruit. The cherries are in top condition around Christmas time as are the mangoes, peaches, nectarines and apricots. Dessert will usually be a lovely, light, fruit topped pavlova.
Recommendation: What is not to love about summer in Australia? Blue skies, beach days and Christmas holidays! Enjoy it!
Salmon Bay Rottnest
Conclusion – so what is Australian Cuisine?
It could be said that Australia is a cultural desert when it comes to it’s own distinctly, identifiable cuisine. I prefer to think of Australian cuisine as a reflection of its island geography and its diverse people. Here is the diversity and beauty of Australian cuisine wrapped up in a series of observations
Smelling BBQ wafting in the evening air and friendly people waving to you with a beer in hand.
Eating oysters in Coffin Bay right by the ocean where I can see them being grown.
Crowding with the Australian Asian aunties in the humid Rapid Creek Markets in Darwin haggling over the best local produce the tropical climate can provide.
Savouring plump, perfect, local, dark cherries in Tasmania at the Salamanca Markets in Hobart.
Having a noisy discussion with your friends about whether to have Thai, Mexican, Malaysian, Seafood, Vietnamese, Tapas, Indian for dinner tonight! Too many delicious choices!
Eating a whole trout in a riverside brewery caught just a little further downstream.
Seeing some white Australian kids ordering Shanghai soup dumplings using their Mandarin name, “Xiao Long Bao” with a perfect accent and without a shred of awkwardness at a Chinatown Night Market stall in Sydney.
Eating fresh fish and chips by the water whilst watching the sunset with friends.
Going home to family and tasting the authentic dishes of my heritage.
