An Independent Trip to Australia: Exploring Unique Rock Formations and Sailboat-like Architecture

　In March 2009, while my son was studying abroad at the University of Adelaide, I took the opportunity to travel independently to Australia. I flew from Narita Airport to Sydney with Japan Airlines, and although I had some concerns about the connection, I successfully transferred to a Qantas domestic flight in Sydney and headed to Adelaide, the capital city of South Australia. Adelaide is the fifth-largest city in Australia, after Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, and Perth, with a population just over 1 million. It is a very livable, mid-sized city. I explored the city and also visited the nearby Glenelg Beach. After that, I flew to Melbourne with Qantas. Renting a car, I drove with my son to one of the spots I had been wanting to visit: the Great Ocean Road, known for its breathtaking coastal views and unique rock formations. From Melbourne to the famous rock formations called the "Twelve Apostles," it’s about 200 km, a 3-hour drive. Although tours of the Great Ocean Road are now commonly offered by Japanese travel agencies, around 10 years ago, it was a destination you had to reach on your own. Next, I moved on to the final highlight of the trip, Sydney, where I visited the Opera House. It was a fulfilling trip, with stops in Adelaide, Glenelg Beach, the Opera House, and the Great Ocean Road.My son lived in Bundaberg for a year on a working holiday. During that time, he obtained his scuba diving certification and often visited the Great Barrier Reef. He also had many photos of Bundaberg.

[Adelaide]

[Great Ocean Road]

[Melbourne]

[Sydney]

[Bundaberg]