CDU 2202 The Best of Australia

14 Dez 2022

/Axel Gert Schneider

/Michaela Achatzi

Welcome To: The Best of Australia With Michaela and Axel . Welcome to breathtaking adventure in Down Under with Edelweiss Bike Travel. Michaela and I are looking forward to meet our Group tomorrow at the Welcome Briefing. What means actually to ride in Australia!? Well, in the next 14 Day´s we will leave Sydney and from there on you should stay tuned on our Blog, because we will see: the snowy mountains, the capital of Australia, we will take a ferry to Tasmania and will ride along the Great Ocean Road and many places more. And I got the feeling we will have a really good time down here. So if you want to know what’s going on in Down Under in between kangaroos and wombats!? Just follow us!! Michaela and Axel Sydney at night or over the day it is and will be always a place what you will remember!!! And specialy now - because we are close to chrismas and for Michaela and me who are used to have snow and chrismas trees is that still strange to see the degoration in this summer flair

+ Day 3: Jervis Bay to Jindabyne Good Morning or Good Evening -What ever your Time Zone is at the moment Hallo again from Australia. Today we woke up with perfect riding weather – blue sky, no clouds, and a highly motivated group of riders. After the morning briefing we went out and after a some kilometers we dived in the Morton National Park which is a high Limestone Plateau, covered with thousands of Eucalyptus trees and for Australia actually also a verry high spot – around 700 m high. The sun was shining, the roads started to guide us with nice sweepers through the park and on top we saw the first Kangaroos and Emus. I would say this start was not to bad. Temperature wise it was fresh around 15 C so If you are here in this Time of the year you should have some warmer clothe with you as well. As we dropped down on the other side of the park it was time for the first coffee stop. And from there on we went through valley´s where we have been more then less alone on the road – except from some big Trucks which got a good speed over here. The road what we have been taken has been scouted from the Aborigines in 1830 and I would say they did a great job. Nature surrounded us all day long. On the way to Canberra which has been our next highlight on this day you got already an impression how big or better how endless Australia is. What I mean you could see on some pictures, compare to Europe where you look to the right or left side of the road, you will always see houses people industry… But here, there is sometimes a Farm and then, well just breathtaking landscape – and that is Australia. Even when we came to Canberra the capital city. Usually when you say that you will ride into a capital you are expecting a lot of traffic and people, the totally opposite of our morning ride. But Canberra is totally different and why – well for this you should come on this tour, and I will tell you why. In Canberra himself we stopped at the War Memorial before we went down in the heart of the city. After we have seen this – let´s say kind peace of art – we got to move on because we made just the half of the kilometers of the day so far. And as I mentioned before – the open shir endless fields to the left and right side of the Road are just stunning. The place to be for tonight are Jindabyne which is in the Snowy Mountains – Snow!!!! – yes Australia got a lot to show of with!!! In this case it is like a mix out of mini-Alps and Australia. Why? From Canberra to Jindabyne, you don´t feel it but you constantly climb up so that you up to 1200 m over Sea Level. And on top the mountains in front of you they still got some snow on the Top´s. So, for me who lives in Austria it feel (a little) like home. Well, that was our first long riding day down here. And if I look in the eyes of all the riders: I think they liked it a lot today. Time to show you some pictures. See you tomorrow Michaela and Axel Welcome in the Snowy Mountains in Australia If you are once here in Australia - you got to go to this place - And how beautyful it is we wil show you tomorrow because we will ride throught the mountain range.

Day 6: Devonport to Queenstown Hello Again from Tasmania. Yes Tasmania as I said last time. The Ferry brought us over night to Tasmania and we reached Devonport by 5:30 isch, so it is as a early start. After we came down from the Ferry it was time for a breakfast and a strong coffee to open up our eyes for the ride. The first highlight of the day was the Cradle Mountain and the Tasmanian Devil station. The first downside of the day has been for sure the temperature because we went down to 7 C and clouds. So a frosty start in the day has been ours. The road to Cradle Mountain is just beautiful and the landscape what is surrounding this nice narrow road is totally different to Australia. Yes the forest is similar from the plants but the trees in the forest himself are so close to each other that it looks more than less like a green wall. Arrived at Cradle Mountain we needed one more coffee to head up again – some of us bought new hats to get warmer. Sometimes it is just crazy how quick the weather changes. Because of the weather and the clouds there was the question already answered – if we go up or not. So, we went straight to the Tasmanian Devils location where we get in touch with these little fellers. After figuring out what’s cute and not cute on this Devils and how they build the caves and what they cut make better, by the way we got on the tour - a cave specialist - who explained us the important things – what you have to watch out if you build one….. and somtimes you had the feeling that he got a conection to the devils and wobads ;-). Anyway, it was time to move on and until the next highlight the Weather changed complete. So, today we went from almost snow to 20 C in the shade. Not bad for one day. So the next Photo stop has been the Henty Dunes, close to Strahan, where we went up. I can tell you, this was a challenge but worth it!!!! On side, I got to say – Paul went up the dunes, as he would do this every day – so, thanks Paul that you gave us some head start before you went up. Now it was time for some lunch and in Strahan we found the right spot with right food and on top a porch where we enjoyed the beautiful weather and sun with the view over the harbor of Strahan. From here on we had just 1 h hour to ride to Queenstown where we stay for tonight. But this road was once more a big pleasure – curves curves curves – all what we needed. Because of the early start today we arrived also earlier as usually and that why some of our group went out to have a look around in this old mining town and the museum. That has been day 6 and by the way: if you are once in your live here!!! Never trust the weather forecast on the west coast – here is everything possible Time to check the pictures, so see you tomorrow with the highlights on the way to Hobart Michaela and Axel

Day 7: Queenstown to Hobart - Through The Green Heart Of Tassi - Goodbye Queenstown and let´s start the engines into a new adventure, called Day 7. Today our journey start with the sun in our faces and a mountain range directly to the start of the day. On the way out of Queenstown we stopped after some kilometers on an old mining ground, where got a breathtaking view over the valley and a small idee what we will be riding through, in the next hours. As I said only an idee!!! Dropping down from the hill into the national park Franklin River was such a fun!!! Imagine, almost no traffic and a winding road, which has been built in into the valley – no bridges, no mountain which has been moved – just the road who was like a sneak in the nature. The tarmac was great, and we could just enjoy the run. First stop after the fun run, has been a Tasmanian rainforest, where we make a walk to get in touch with the element. Everybody who you ask what how a rainforest might be will answer something like: A lot of animals and the sound of their communication ….. But here it is totally different you will hear the water of the river and suddenly some noise from a bird – but that’s it. Silence all over the place. After the little like it was time to move on and cover some more kilometers until we stopped for part 2 – Lake St. Clair. A beautiful Lake which is surrounded by mountains and on some are still some snow patches. Besides the view it was also time to have some coffee and, in this case, the first real coffee on this tour but we got also Sugar man on Tour – so, he got his piece of cake on top. From here on we had to cover some kilometers and sometimes you will take some highway so that you got more time for the nice spots. But here in Tasmania there is no Highway on this day – there is only one never ending curvy road where are we on and that is good or better just perfect!!!! The ride to the Lunchtime spot and also the next Highlight took a while – but on the end we will never forget this national park where we have been riding through. It was a great ride. After we recharged our power level we moved one more time on towards Hobart where we will stay for the next 2 days. All in One – the words: another day in Paradise could not fit better then here on this Tour. And as usual!!! Now you will see some pictures what we captured today. Michaela and Axel

Day 10: Launceston to Fähre Devonport - Melbourne Hallo Hallo – A nice riding day is just finished and we are on the ferry to Geelong/ Melbourne. But let´s start with the morning/ yesterday evening. We got an awesome dinner at the country club where we stayed overnight. And today we started with a good breakfast and then – well then we hit the road and this road today was from the start until we went on the ferry just what we needed after yesterday. When you travel a lot – you might understand what I mean by writing this. Sometimes when you travel the world, besides all this politics’ problems, is just feeling perfect, and today was one of this day´s for me – even if I was riding the support van behind the group. The landscape was not boring for one second and when you got the right playlist on the speaker – well there is nothing what can stop you. What I mean with the landscape is: imagine you riding along a twisty curvy road in almost perfect condition and then you see all day long on the right and left side of the road the stunning landscape of Tasmania, which is taking your breath away with all this open fields, forest which been colorist in green and red, then all the cattle ranges, where you see the happy steaks walking around and having a good time. You see it is hard to make a point with all these impressions from the day. I promise you if you are once down here in Tassi – You Will Love It!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Later on the day we went down along the coastline to cover all the sceneries which Tassi can bring up. And then – well- it was time for lunch and today we surprised the group with a Picnic on the seaside. Surprise surprise !!!! The Highlights of the Day has been the mother nature of Tassi and the roads which has been guiding us through this landscape and tonight we will start to miss Tassi because the time over here is over – the ferry will bring us back to the mainland of Australia where we will take on the Great Ocean Road. I don´t want to spoil to much but it will be great in the next day´s!!!! No we deserve a beer at the bar on the ferry where we salute to Tassi and will say Thank You for treating us this well. Tassi we will see you one day again!!! But for now – our thoughts drifting already towards Australia and all the places which we will see in the next day´s. See you later over here Michaela and Axel

Day 12: Apollo Bay to Warrnabool The Day of Pictures and mixed Weather Here we go again on Day 12 How do we start? Well, at first maybe with my nice try to have an impact at the weather – What I mean is – I put official my Rain Dress in the Van and said – tomorrow it will be all right – This was actually exactly working until we cached up to go for dinner, so almost 40 min, and so we had already rain in the Evening. It is not really surprising because we are stay in Victoria’s most rainfall arear in the southwest. Well somethings you just can´t change!!! The morning started slightly better, and we got sun rain sun rain and again sun and rain – temperature wise we thought we are in the fall in Europe, it dropped down to 7 C again – not the best start in day I would say. First Target at the day: We want to see Koalas and so we started riding through the National Park Otway with on eye on the road and one in the trees. But we have been successful as you can see. As an extra highlight we kidnapped our riders to the Giant Tree walk at the park and this is only for people they are not afraid about Heights. Because this walk through the Trees is between 25 & 30 meters over the ground and sometimes shaky!!!! But all this was worth it – on one hand it was a long walk and on the other this rainforest is great. Several pictures later and a long way back to the bikes – we had burned all the calories from all day´s before. I ask Brent how much he hated me for this exercise, and he rated me around 3, I would say – but he also did not want to miss it. Now it has been time for lunch and Michaela surprised the riders with a nice picknick at the 12 Apostel where we stopped for the famous pictures. This surprise just worked out because nobody was expecting anything today. From there on we stopped a couple of times more to see all the famous places of the Great Ocean Road. The Weather, just on side!!!!, went better and better as you can see on our pictures. Now we are staying one night in Warrnabol and tomorrow we must give our bikes back and this tour is just over – crazy how quick the time goes by if you see so many breathtaking places. We wish you fun by look at the pictures and maybe you like to see these places live!!!! Well than we are looking forward to showing you around in Down Under Michaela and Axel .... and Parrots Picknick is ready without rain - Sunshine-Girl is there The new decorations on a BMW

Day 13: Warrnambool to Melbourne Our last Day of riding in Down Under!!!! So quick can it be. It feels like yesterday that we started in Sydney and now we are in Melbourne. But before we come to the goodbye moment – first some words of our riding day today. Michaela made one more briefing in the morning and the way from Warrnambool to Melbourne is not the ride with a lot of highlights as we used from the last day. But it is a ride where we get once more the impression how big Australia is. Along these almost never-ending straight roads with all the cattle farms and sheep farms to the right and left and the view where you get the feeling that you can look day´s ahead, because there are no mountains – just fields it is somehow crazy. In the first moment when you ride you think that is quite boring but on the other hand you got some time to realize what we have seen along this fantastic ride in the last days. You could see in the faces of our riders that this ride had build up some memories for the future. The highlights today have been the 230 square kilometer small lake of Corangamite and the old Gold Mining Town of Ballarat where we had also lunch. The saddest moment of today was for sure the return of the Bikes just before Melbourne because that is the end of the Tour. In this case also a good moment because we had not to ride through the crazy traffic of Melbourne – and I can tell you that feels like Rome/Italy in the rush-hour!!!! Now we are in the heart of Melbourne, and we will catch up one more time for a dinner together. Along the dinner we chatted about all the moments what we had, the places we have seen, and everybody was teasing each other one more time. What a lough we had. Well, and then came to Moment of the first goodbye, because some of us had to catch the plain early in the morning and the rest is staying one more night in town. As in Insider – one of use will have to make a long walk on these day´s and my thoughts are with him – because I know how he love to make more than 20000 steps – Good luck Brent. And we two (Michaela and Me) we have to return our Van to Sydney – So an other road trip is just starting. We like to thank you all for this great ride and all the memories which we have been creating in these 14 days. And we hope we see us again – somewhere – somehow!!!! The end of an Adventure is just the time before the next on will start. Michaela and Axel over and out PS: you will Michaela next in Asia and I´m almost on the way to New Zealand so if like to see more from our Tours just stay tuned. you can't see it, but it's just across the s - Victoria's largest lake - Ballerat She did it - we dit it Our wild bunch of riders from Down Under Once more thanks for the ride