My holiday was a huge dissappointment

the whole ozzie trip sucked apart from the Grand Prix
I spent most of my time driving or lost
bugger navigating using a map the size of a phonebook whilst trying to navigate city traffic in the middle of the largest citys in australia

conclusions
1) next time take someone else with me

2) fly streight to melbourne on the thursday and take 2 weeks to drive up to brisbane

3) plan sightseeing more extensively

4) get better maps earlier

5) bugger the bloody rental car companys never leave the country til they are sure they are done with the car's post hire checks

Day 4

I have finally found somewhere with internet access, The Wangaratta Library, I is unbeleaveably hot here almost unbearable. Today i visited a town 260kms from the sea with a submarine in the middle of town??!!
It turns out its a decomissioned ozzie sub purchased buy the town to show the world their special connection to the australian navy submariners. The town is named after its most famous son the commander of a WW1 sub who recieved the Victiora's Cross for his efforts against the turks in support of the troops on Gallipoli.

First Australian Update

Hello from the land of Oz. Tonite I'm staying in a 4.5 star
motel in Wagga Wagga. Its pretty hot over here today 37C. I
was a little dissappointed today I went to RAAF Wagga museam
but when I arrived it was closed for referbishment.

Australia's capital

Today I visited Canberra. Another impressive city and once again I got lost trying to find my way back to the freeway out of town. When I got into Canberra I had 5hours before I had to check into my motel which was 1/2hr up the road at Yass. I called into the visitor information center to find some ideas to kill some time. The National War Memorial and the national museam both looked interesting. I decided to check out the War Memorial first. It is verry impressive a great big museam of all things Australian and War related. A brilliant aircraft display and it also currently has an exibit "australia under attack" featuring a japanese minisub sunk in sydney harbour. I spent so much time there that i didnt have time to visit the national museam.

(belated) First Ozzy Update

I have arrived in Oz. After geting through the airport I decided I had time to kill so I went to see the Opera House and the Harbour Bridge. Both are very impressive, as is the size of Sydney as a whole. I got lost for two Hours trying to find my way out of the central city. I'm staying it Goulburn tonite and on to Canberra tomorrow.

(actually posted 01/03/05

Day Before Departure

I'm feeling rather nervous at the moment, heres hoping I've thought of everything and that I've got everything packed.

I havent been able to get my hands on a laptop like I was hoping to. this just means that I'll be posting text only updates from internet cafes while I'm in Oz.

I have a video camera I'm borrowing from Nick (they used this type of handy cam to make the "blair witch project" movie) so I'll arrive home with acbout 200 hours of footage to edit and over 1000 photos to sift through.

The Master Plan

Itinerary for Simon Walker
For Travel from 26/02/2005 to 13/03/2005

Date Time

26/02/2005 5:25 a.m. Christchurch
Christchurch International Airport Departs
Pacific Blue Flight DJ71

26/02/2005 8:55 a.m. Sydney
Charles Kingsford Smith International Airport Arrives
Pacific Blue Flight DJ71

26/02/2005 12:15 p.m. Sydney
Charles Kingsford Smith International Airport Pick Up
Europcar Car Rental

26/02/2005 7:15 p.m. Goulburn
Willows Motel Goulburn Check In
1 Nights Accommodation

27/02/2005 4:15 p.m. Yass
Yass Motel Check In
1 Nights Accommodation

28/02/2005 4:15 p.m. Wagga Wagga
Townhouse International Check In
1 Nights Accommodation

01/03/2005 2:15 p.m. Wangaratta
Best Western Warby Lodge Motor Inn Check In
1 Nights Accommodation

02/03/2005 4:15 p.m. Frankston
Frankston Colonial Motor Inn Check In
1 Nights Accommodation

03/03/2005 10:15 a.m. Melbourne
Albert Park Grand Prix Curcuit Starts
Australian Formula One Grand Prix

03/03/2005 2:15 p.m. Melbourne
Quality Batmans Hill on Collins Check In
4 Nights Accommodation

06/03/2005 9:15 a.m. Melbourne
Quality Batmans Hill on Collins Check Out


07/03/2005 6:15 p.m. Sydney
Comfort Inn North Shore Check In
1 Nights Accomodation

08/03/2005 4:15 p.m. Port Macquarie
Best Western Palm Court Motor Inn Check In
1 Nights Accomodation

09/03/2005 2:15 p.m. Surfers Paradise
Quality Mermaid Waters Hotel Check In
2 nights Accomodation

11/03/2005 3:15 p.m. Brisbane
Diane & Hari's Place Check In
1 Night with Brats

12/03/2005 6:35 a.m. Brisbane
Brisbane International Airport Return Car
Europcar Car Rental

12/03/2005 8:35 a.m. Brisbane
Brisbane International Airport Depart
Pacific Blue Flight DJ2

12/03/2005 3:00 p.m. Christchurch
Christchurch International Airport Home
Pacific Blue Flight DJ2

Introduction to my blog

This is the online journal of my trip to Australia for the 2005 Melbourne Grand Prix.

Basically I hope to be able to post daily updates of my progress on my roadtrip and from the Grand Prix itself.

My trip starts when I hit the tarmac in Sydney where I pick up my hire car and drive the Hulme Hiway to Melbourne. Then after the Grand Prix I drive up to Brisbane and fly home again.

The road trip has stops in Goulburn, Yass, Wagga Wagga, Wangaratta, Frankstown, Lane Cove, Port Macquarie and Surfers Paradise.