Who: Kathleen Torkko, Greenwood Village
Where: Twelve Apostles on the Great Ocean Road, west of Melbourne, Victoria
Best meal: Kelley’s seafood restaurant in Hobart, Tasmania. The restaurant is in a renovated house in the historic Battery Point area of Hobart. I had the catch of the day, Pink Ling, a mild, slightly sweet white fish. It was pan-fried and served over a bed of crisp salad vegetables (slivers of beet, cabbage, lettuce and carrot) with a lemon butter sauce. The meal included a lovely crusty roll with a pot of butter and a bowl of chips (french fries). I also had a glass of house Tasmania pinot noir. For dessert, I had brandy snaps with honeycomb ice cream and strawberry sauce.
Best deal: OZ Call (or similar) phone card. To make inexpensive phone calls home, go to any newsagent and ask for their best international phone card. I could call home and chat for 15 minutes for less than $1.50 (including the cost for a local phone number).
Best time to go: Summer (December-February) can be quite hot and humid. Winter (June-August) can be quite chilly, especially in the south (Melbourne, Tasmania). Many private residences and cheaper hotels/motels don’t have central heating, making for chilly nights (when electric blankets are heaven-sent). Spring or fall are probably the best times, although I would say that Australia is wonderful any time of the year. Choose the best time for the activities you prefer.
Best travel tip: Take a plastic hanger and clothespins for hand laundry. I try to pack as lightly as possible, thus requiring that I do some laundry on the road. My plastic hanger was light to pack, and I could easily hang two pairs of underwear and socks from it to dry.
