In reply to:

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Do they sell cider in Australia?

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Not anything like the UK (from my experience drinking in pubs in London). Strongbow, which is to UK cider what Fosters is to Guinness, is plentiful however and you can pick up quantities of it in various shapes to take with you on your travels.

However, if you're going from Melbourne to Sydney you need (NEEEED!) to drop off at the Brown Brothers winery, about a half-hour detour from the Hume about half way between Melbourne and Albury/Wodonga. Then you must pick up a case of Brown Brothers Orange Muscat and Flora to drink on your tour, and a case to take home with you. Don't worry too much about this last one, there are several online bottle shops that will happily ship it to you if you feel the craving for this excellent sweet wine again...

The sea is not scary in Australia. While there are dangerous things, they are as scarce as snakes in the UK. As long as you're not doing something completely foolhardy, like swimming beside the "CROCODILES HERE" sign, you won't even see anything to alarm you. The worse you will get is sunburn, as you inevitably forget to put it on before going for a walk or a swim. This is, however, considered a sign of shared suffering.

Also read Douglas Adams' View on Australia. It is all true, especially about wombats.

Looking forward to a Melbourne empeggers meet!

Paul