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Dirty-South Blues Harp forum: wail on! >
Australia
Australia
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Baker
168 posts
Oct 18, 2011
5:45 AM
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Hi, this is a message for all you guys and gals in Australia, or anyone who knows the place...
My sister is getting married in Perth at the end of March next year (2012), so I thought I'd take the opportunity to see a bit if the land down under, as I've never been before. :)
I'm flying into Melbourne on the 11th March and out of Perth on the 26th. The time in between is all mine, I want to travel around a little, probably on the East side for a bit before I go to Perth for the wedding.
So I was wondering if anyone could recommend any music/blues clubs, blues jam's etc. that would be worth a stop.
Also any other suggestions of what I should do/see while I'm there?
All suggestions greatly appreciated.
Many thanks!
Last Edited by on Oct 18, 2011 5:46 AM
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BronzeWailer
272 posts
Oct 18, 2011
1:42 PM
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If you like diving/snorkelling, try the Great Barrier Reef, accessible from Brisbane (1.5 hr flight north of Sydney). I like Lady Elliott Island, which has resident manta rays, as well as tropical fish of all kinds, rays, sharks etc. and a huge bird population. It is right on the reef so you can stroll from your room and start getting into nature within seconds. It is also reasnably priced for a tropical island.
West coast has whale sharks (Ningaloo)which are the world's biggest fish.
Sydney has a great zoo, Taronga, with the usual Aussie icons and a fantastic free flight bird show. Sydney Aquarium has sharks if you want to get up close with a toothy creature while staying dry.
I don't know Melbourne, but Bondi has a jam every Monday night (haven't been, but I have jammed with some of the boys on the streets). Bald Faced Stag Hotel in Sydney has a jam every Wednesday night. I don't go because I am playing the streets and lately have been sitting in with a bluegrass band who have a regular gig at Madam Fling Flong's in Newtown. A lot of my harp friends go to the Bald Faced Stag. The Gladstone Park Bowling Club has a jam 1st and 3rd Tuesday of the month. S'posed to be blues but music content is mixed.
They do have a resident blues band with drums, bass guitar.
Cheers
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didjcripey
144 posts
Oct 18, 2011
3:00 PM
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Australia is pretty expensive for a tourist, so a lot depends on your budget; whatever, bring your money with you!
The Top End (Northern Territory) is pretty amazing, and one of the last frontiers, check out Kakadu National park and Uluru (Ayers rock) if you can. Watch out for crocs and box jellies.
Far north on the west coast, Broome is worth a look and the Kimberley country absolutely amazing, but you'd need some serious expedition gear and vehicle to check it out (or go on an organised tour).
On the east coast, Byron Bay is pretty cool, but a lot more commercial than when I used to hang there; there are still some unspoiled secret spots on the east coast, but I'd have to kill you if I told you about them.
Around Sydney, the Royal National Park and the Blue Mountains can give you a taste of the bush (watch out for drop bears though).
If you make it up to the far north (Cairns and above) the rainforests of the wet tropics are unique, and we have some of the best sections of the Great Barrier reef too. There is some live music venues in Cairns, but sadly Johnno Johnsons world famous Blues Bar and Gong show is no more (the Fun police got into him, but you could still catch him busking at Rusty's market and other places and he'll happily jam with anyone).
If you do get that far north let me know and I'll give you more specifics.
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Lucky Lester
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Jehosaphat
109 posts
Oct 18, 2011
3:09 PM
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Google Perth Blues Club :they are very active and run a jam and Gigs.
Perth is a lovely city set on the river ,north is real outback country but has some great tourist stuff.Monkey bay has swimming with/feeding the wild dolphins and Broome has a great vibe to it.
I live in Newzealand but have spent a lot of time as a tourist there ..great place and lots to see/do
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Steamrollin Stan
117 posts
Oct 18, 2011
3:40 PM
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Are you going to be on a backpacker budget or do you have loads to spend, it takes 4 solid days to drive from Sydney to Perth, or 4 hrs in the jet, i prefer Sydney as there's usually something to do, Melbourne is ok as long as you like colder climates, Perth is good but the locals think they should be a seperate state and appear somewhat behind the times,(they have a complex problem...lol) if you have the money hire a car and drive at your own pace from Melbourne to Brisbane and explore the places along the east coast, then fly from Brisbane to Perth about 5 hrs and bingo!! enjoy your visit to Perth. Sydney has a wonderfull harbour and a lunch cruise is a must to do. BTW, i live in various states and really don't know which one to call home.
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Aussiesucker
934 posts
Oct 18, 2011
5:15 PM
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No doubt their are blues/music venues in every major city. Perth is a beautiful city, then again so is Sydney, Brisbane etc. Distances are vast. My wife and I have travelled the length & breadth of Australia over the last decade in annual trips taking upwards of 3 months and there is still a lot for us to see.
If your budget allows and you want to be travelling every day by plane then you might cover a lot of distance but see nothing. If it were me I would do:
Sydney 2-3 Days. Lots to do & would be blues venues to visit at night. Day trips to Harbour, Blue Mountains, Opera House & great Sydney beaches like Bondi & Manly which should still be invitingly warm in March.
Then fly direct to Perth. No doubt your sister will tell you/ show you around Perth & Fremantle. Great city.
From Perth 1) explore/see some great places like the Margaret River Region and travel South East to Albany & Esperance where there are fantastic scenic areas and some of the most spectacular coastline and pristine beaches on earth. Or 2)head North from Perth to Exmouth and take in Ningaloo Reef & further South the Coral Bay World Heritage area. Even so you would be stretching it as distances are vast but the roads in West Australia are good.
My take and my likes may be totally different to yours. Essentially I now avoid every city if I can. In a former life (before retirement) I travelled extensively to cities & in my view they are pretty much the same everywhere. The great things to see often are a long way from cities & in some cases so remote that one needs to drive for days over rugged tracks in a high clearance 4WD then get out and walk for hours....
And Steamrollin Sam, I don't know where you have been hiding these past 100 years but Perth is in a different State - West Australia. The West Australians & Queenslanders generate most of the wealth for our vast country. Perth is not behind the times but simply in a different time zone that puts their clocks back a few hours.
This old video is one of our trips with ca 90% of it in West Australia:-
http://youtu.be/1a9qWU0Iszo
HARPOLDIE’S YOUTUBE
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Steamrollin Stan
118 posts
Oct 18, 2011
5:49 PM
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@Aussie, meant seperate state, just stirrrring the pot!!
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Baker
169 posts
Oct 19, 2011
7:31 AM
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Hi. Thanks for the great suggestions. Lots to think about!
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