Bye Bye Australia

Well it is the end of my last day in Australia. Highlights and lowlights include:

Highlights:
Becoming an Auntie :) - on the day I arrived in Perth :(. Baby and sister doing very well
Keeping in touch with family and special friends by text, email and, best of all, by phone at Xmas and New Year
Sunbathing alone (and top..ss) and playing in the waves of the Southern Ocean on the 3 mile long D'Entrecasteaux beach in WA
Swimming with no fewer than 3 manta rays at Coral Bay, WA, and then snorkelling over the coral Ningaloo Reef the same day; drift snorkelling at Turquoise Bay the next day
Taking a natural mineral water spa under the stars near Monkey Mia on the Western Exposure WA trip
Meeting and getting to know cousins and relations I haven't seen since 1970 when they came out as 10 pound poms to Perth
Coogee Beach, Sydney, watching the huge rollers created by the tropical cyclone up north coming in from the southern Pacific
Manly Beach: walking above the bay, texting home, and photographing flora and fauna
New Year's Eve in the Botanic Gardens in Sydney, watching the awesome fireworks
Creative photography in Sydney, especially of the Opera House and Bridge, and The Rocks area, as well as many plants and flowers in the Botanic Gardens at sunset
Adelaide: seeing my first koala, about 3 ft away from me, and then making acquaintance with many of his 'cousins' in the trees of the Wildlife sanctuary.
Seeing many platypus on nocturnal walks
Sunbathing on Glenelg beach, with a surprising outcome
Making the snap decision to go to Uluru, Kata Tjuta and King's Canyon and having the best 5 days since New Year.
Sunset AND sunrise at Uluru this week
Sleeping in a swag under the stars and moonlight in the bush camp in the Red Centre

Lowlights:
Rain, rain, rain in Sydney for the first 5 days I was there :(
Missing out so much scenery in WA as I didn't do my research properly!!
The Wildlife sanctuary not quite turning out as expected, but that has its advantages too (went to Uluru, Kata Tjuta and Kings Canyon via Alice Springs instead!)
Saying goodbye to a friend in Adelaide

Accomodation in order of quality
Aunt's house in Perth!
Swag in the desert
Adelaide YHA
Sydney YWCA, Hyde Park
Augusta YHA
Albany YHA
Coral Bay YHA

Pemberton YHA - do not even mention that dump

OK, that's it. I hope you have enjoyed reading my Australia posts.

Tomorrow I go to New Zealand for 6 weeks, on the road with Kiwi Experience. For my route see www.kiwiexperience.com and find the ticket named "The Whole Kit and Kaboodle", starting in Auckland

G'Day and see you soon