G’day! ARRA, Australian Romance Reader Association, is bringing us for a visit down under this March.
Here are the dates:
. Sat 13 March 2027 ~ Melbourne
. Sun 14 March 2027 ~ Canberra
. Sat 20 March 2027 ~ Sydney
. Sun 21 March 2027 ~ Brisbane
ARRA says: Mark your calendar to save the date! Tickets will go on sale on 16 October (8 pm AEDST).
To stay up to date you can join the ARR mailing list here or the FB Attendees group here.
As you can see, we will be there for two weeks, and we will be buying the airplane tickets as soon as we can figure out which business traveler visa to apply for. We are there at ARRA’s disposal. And the beach. And also I want to see a kangaroo. That can happen, right? But back to two weeks: we want to make sure that we use this time as best we can to meet as many of you as possible.
Dear Aussie readers, ARRA is asking for your help:
Aussie horde assemble!
I’m sure you’ve seen the news here and elsewhere – Ilona and Gordon will be visiting Australia in March 2027 for ARRA’s series of ARR events (Melb, Cbr, Syd and Bris).
ARRA is considering whether to add additional events for the BDH before or after these currently scheduled events and we’d love to hear from any of the BDH who live in Australia. (Note: these are *proposed* events at this stage)
Please fill in their quick survey here: https://forms.gle/qvnywANRiKGdHXJq9
If you don’t know about these events, you can find all the details here: https://australianromancereaders.com.au/events/arr2027/Tickets go on sale on 16 October (8pm AEDST)
We are also asking for your help. We will be sending a box of swag to these events. We will either be printing it there or mailing it there, and we will be sticking mostly to paper goods, because a lot of these will be giveaways. Some of it, like vellum sets, maybe available for purchase. We are not sure yet how this would work.
We need you to vote on what you would like. The poll allows you to select multiple answers, but please try to stick to the one you want the most, because shipping big boxes to Australia is expensive and we need to prioritize.
Below you will find a catalog of our designs. Please look through them and see what you would like. There are 8 pages: put your cursor over the bottom of the pdf window and click the arrows.
We will not be doing mugs for Australia, but if you wanted that design on a sticker or bookmark or some other silliness, please let us know.
Note: You will see some new stuff in the Upcoming Designs. These are sketches, which we included just so you know that you will have chibi options. They are still being worked on by the artist, but we should have them available in the next sticker sheet drop.
If you love something very much, drop us a line in the comments.
Pheew! Must go work on a short with Everard’s aunt. Also, we have a very important meeting this afternoon. Please wish us luck!
First??
Certified
Thank you for indulging a fun horde game 😄 So happy for your Auzy fans!
I wish I lived in Australia and could participate in a session. Have a great trip.
Where do you live? 🙂
Jamaica in the West Indies – I will have to try and see you in a session when you are maybe in Florida, New York or Atlanta which is closer to me than Australia. I love the First Guest artwork – I really have a soft spot for Caldenia. I hope one day you could write a short story with her and Dina meeting and negotiating for her to “stay” at the Inn. That would be interesting given that the offerings were very basic at that time, specially where food was concerned.
I would like to voice support for a Florida date in the future as well. 😄 Maybe Maggie 2?
*waves both hands*
Ditto New England! Please!!!!
Central Florida?!!!
Florida! Please…
I just squealed because I’m a fellow Jamaican. Hii!!!
Fellow West Indian here from Barbados!! So good to see the Horde is alive and well in the region!!
Fellow West Indian from Grenada! The Horde is everywhere!!
Making the region proud BDH!
Horde Member from Haiti!
Good luck with your important meeting!
Woohoo – a two week trip to Australia!!! It’s wonderful.
Good luck at your meeting and I can’t wait to read the short on Everard’s aunt!!!
I just heard all the Australia Horde scream in happiness. Have a lot of fun down there in the Australian fall.
If you haven’t had them, Tim Tams are really good. My brother had friends in Australia send him a package with them in it and shared a few with me.
Well, it’s 4:00 am there, so maybe not, hehehe.
In Aust, we have Autumn not Fall and really since gumtrees don’t drop their leaves not much of that either.
Definitely yes, to Tim Tams, however there’s big arguments over which flavour is the best, I vote for Caramel but the Double Dipped Chocolate are very good as well.
Yeah I was thinking March is not Beach weather really, often get a lot of rain.
But this is around my birthday so will be grabbing a ticket as an early birthday gift or belated Chrissy gift.
Weird, I’m a kiwi and feb/march tends to be settled and fine here (as opposed to Christmas which tends to be rainy). Also my favourite Tim tam was the short lived chilli one.
Can’t go wrong with classic dark chocolate with a cup of tea
You get TimTams in Costco here in NorCal. 🙂
I’ve bought them at Target, East coast US. Yummy! Esp the chocolate ones.
The trick with Tim Tams is to use the original flavour for a “tim tam slam”. Nibble opposing corners, use it like a straw to suck up coffee, then the minute you can taste the coffee quickly put the whole biscuit in your mouth so it disintegrates delightfully like a melted chocolate moccha. Not messy if you’re quick!
That sounds like a blast. Any chance you are coming to the northeast??
Good luck on your meeting! And the Chibi characters are the cutest thing ever.
+1
I voted for Maggie because it is your most recent work. I like everything you write and especially love the Kate Daniels and Innkeeper series! I voted for stickers because they seemed to be something that would be lighter to mail so you could send a whole lot of them. You get to visit another continent! Yeah!
Pretty sure a visit to Australia doesn’t count if you haven’t seen a koala.
They might even see some drop bears!
I am reading this as I wake up in NZ and your comment made me feel very happy and willing to explore the day (even if we don’t have drop bears here).
All the best with the meeting! (And hooray for our Aussie BDH!)
Good luck on your meeting! I hope you get some time to explore in Australia. It was absolutely amazing to visit!
Good luck on your meeting!
I refrained from voting, as I’m not in Australia, but really wanted to click an option. 😄 We need a “Doesn’t apply to me, but I want to vote too!” button. 😁
Congrats to all the Aussie members (and surrounding areas that can easily travel there) to get the option to meet you!
I hope you get to rest and enjoy some down time while you’re there as well. Plus see kangaroos and koalas! Fyi, the San Antonio zoo let’s you go in with kangaroos and pet them, if they’re so inclined (we were able to, but wouldn’t have if they seemed uncomfortable).
lol same here with the voting. Hope everything goes well with the meeting and happy for the Aussie BDH members who will be able to meet you.
Would love it if you could come to Las Vegas, NV or at least anywhere closer to the West coast lol
Good luck! 🤞
Take all the best luck!!
I always dreamed of traveling to Australia and New Zealand! Have a wonderful trip!
Good luck with the meeting, Everard’s aunt, and the Australian branch of the Horde. 🙂
+1 Sounds like a good time will be had by all!
I’m not freaking out, YOU’RE freaking out! Is there any chance you will also come to New Zealand, even just for leisure? No pressure, but if a kangaroo is on your bucket list, kiwi and kakapo should be too!
Considering selling my left kidney for flights to Aus and a ticket to this to meet my favourite authors 😍
I know how you feel! I live in Australia but in Darwin (3500km away) and the flights are expensive!! So I won’t make the event.
So side note: if you guys decide to come to the ‘Top End’ you’ll have to let us (me) know!!!
Same!
Qantas New Zealand sale is on….
Yes, please consider a side quest to NZ!!!
There has to be some holidaying in there too. I mean, you can practically see New Zealand from the east coast of Australia… so close to pop over the Ditch.
Actually came to the comment section just to point out how very close New Zealand is to Australia. Not surprised another member of the BDH got there first! But, Auckland is closer to Brisbane, Sydney and Mebourne than Perth is… just saying… it would be shame to go home without hopping over the ditch and seeing the Kiwis… (feathery and non-feathery alike)
I’m in New Zealand so started looking at leave and travel dates as soon as this was announced! hoping I’ll get tickets this week.
Honestly, I want one of everything, but I really love Kate and Maggie, voting mostly for them.
same!!!!
++ votes for a short trip to nz for the author lords!!!!
most zoos here have a kangaroo area you can go in and pat them. I hope you’re giving yourselves time to have a bit of a holiday! while you’re in Brisbane check out Southbank. The sunshine coast also has beautiful beaches and very artsy vibes if you’re looking for somewhere to relax for a few days after your hectic schedule.
2 weeks will never be enough. If you are coming all the way here, have some fun between the work and explore as much as you can. At least a month if you can swing it. And definitely visit a zoo, I’m partial to Steve Irwin’s zoo in Queensland, the crocodile show is always fun.
Good luck!🍀
Cries in Canadian. Could it be time for me to go tussle with kangaroos and disturbingly large arachnids? Happy for the Australian horde though.
+1
+1
I was lucky enough to visit Sydney once for work. As it was a government sponsored organised cultural event, we got to visit the Sydney botanical gardens with a local guide. I thought that was absolutely amazing (and I don’t even like gardens per se, but the history that was tied in with it is what I found so interesting) so if there is any way you could do that, I would definitely recommend!
Good call! The Royal Botanical Gardens in both Sydney and Melbourne are incredible if you have any interest in botany/ nature and are a beautiful walk regardless of your interests. I love all the little zones and grottos.
(And I love how this comment section has turned into a tour guide for anyone visiting the east coast of Australia – better than google these days)
This is the best news ever!!! Cannot wait to see you in Melbourne!
lots of places to see roos in Canberra, I have seen more living in Canberra than I have living in the other cities.
Good luck, and I can’t wait to see you in Brisbane. Seeing a kangaroo in the wild should not be a problem outside any of our cities, but we also have plenty of zoos. Please schedule in some time off. March can be windy, it is autumn , and it is a big country. Yesterday it was 30 degrees Celsius here, and snowing in Tasmania. Pack layers
While you’re in Sydney, consider visiting Symbio Wildlife Park. It’s only about an hour’s drive away, and you can not only see the kangaroos, but feed them by hand (for only the general ticket price, plus a bag of feed). They have a mix of animals (Australian and otherwise) and they also do animal encounters with some of them. Although, as a local, I’d really suggest just seeing the koalas, not paying for a hold of one. They look like teddy bears, but the claws are sharp and they can be a bit smelly. Much cuter to just look at.
https://symbiowildlife.com.au/
It’s a great place to get up close with the animals.
I’m so excited. So many years of waiting! I’ll be attending any Melbourne event I’m lucky enough to get a ticket to. Since you’ll be up in Brisbane hopefully you’ll have time to go to Australia Zoo, but there are wildlife sanctuary everywhere, you’ll definitely see a kangaroo. If you had time to go to the bush,like Grampians, you’d see them in the wild. When we stayed at a campsite , they came right up to cabins at dusk. Hopefully youlll find our tea is as good as our coffee!
Woohoo I can answer all kangaroo related questions.
I live in Melbourne but have been to all those places many times.
March is a wonderful month. I recommend sfter Brisbane adding some Sunshine Coast (Noosa) and Australia zoo.
that’s the week after Lucy Darling is in Melbourne! That’s going to be a busy month!
Fab news that you’re coming to Melbourne! I live in Melb!! I’ll be there!!
I clicked on the Google forms survey link, and it’s requiring me to sign into my Google account before accessing the survey. Is that intentional please?
I am wishing you all the luck! The bestest luck! The luckiest of luck! Good Luck! 😊
So sad there’s soooo much ocean between San Francisco and Australia 🙁. Happy travels!
Ohhh I wish I could select all of these! 🥹 Would dearly love all the vellums, I was able to get it forwarded to me last time, but regret not buying more.
Also, *must push Innkeeper merch up* I adore maggie, but hoping we can some innkeeper love too.
I am so excited but also lowkey scared the tickets will sell quick. 😥
Beaches will be pretty easy to knock off the list, we’ve got plenty! Hehe
Sooooo many kangaroos to be seen, not in the streets but in nature and the zoos.
While in Brisbane you should go see the Lone Pine Koala sanctuary. Lots of Koalas and you can pat the kangaroos!
Lone pine was amazing, will never forget the zookeeper taking a wombat out for a vigorous waddle
March is a great time to visit Canberra. Looking forward to your visit.
surely a Horde member experienced with shipping to/from Australia can help or maybe bdh travellers can fill their suitcases with goodies lol
or someone with a cricut can print print print for the cost of shipping a box 😉
I took a trip to Australia, loved it so much. Beautiful country, kind and friendly people. Met up with friends, saw koalas up in trees during nature walks, and so many busy kangaroos on golf courses! (Roos not playing golf, just enjoying the manicured grounds)
If you have time, the tour of the Sydney Opera House was great, then sit outside the complex and instead of pigeons, see white cockatoos milling around lunching visitors! No zoo trip needed. Enjoy!!! So worth the travel time.
Very excited to hear you’re coming to Aus! You guys will no doubt have such a wonderful time.
You’ll very easily be able to visit a beach and kangaroos on your visit. If you wanted to do that in every city you would be able to. Many zoos/wildlife parks allow you to feed and walk around inside enclosures with kangaroos and even hold and feed koalas too.
Sydney has an awesome zoo, Taronga across the bay from the opera house that is pretty wonderful and Manly beach is a nice tourist beach to visit with a short ferry ride from Circular Quay(again, Opera house side).
Perth and Brisbane also have beautiful beaches a short trip out of the city and Melbourne has Fremantle beach but it’s probably the weakest of the beaches (NO OFFENCE MELB!)
While I completely understand you don’t have time for Adelaide I’m super sad about it. We have some of the most sheltered and beautiful beaches and several lovely wildlife parks (not to mention wineries and an excellent Central Market and dining) so I hope you’ll consider us on another trip.
When will the dates/locations be confirmed? Sounds like they’re calling them ‘proposed dates’ at the moment?
I’d love to fly in for one of the events once things are locked in.
Super excited to have you guys down under and appreciate shipping here sucks and carrying a suitcase full of merch sucks even more. Saving your backs is important!
Safe travels and SQUUEEEEEEE!!!
Off to look at flights and accommodation in Brisbane, thank you for coming to Australia.
It’s been a while since I lived in Brisbane, but Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary was a favourite place to visit.
If you can swing it, try to go down to New Zealand too. It’s so beautiful and fairly close. But, both of those countries probably need a full 2 weeks to enjoy. Have a wonderful trip!
So excited my daughter and I are huge fans we live in Melbourne your first stop , please don’t underestimate jet lag come to Melbourne early to acclimatise; there’s lots to do. Victoria also has a fairy penguin parade as well as the expected kangaroos, koalas, wombats, echidnas.
Happy to help in any way, we just want you to have a fantastic time in our country in a big thank you for the enjoyment we all get from your books and engagement with the BDH.
I’m not in Australia, but have a request. If the “if the sky could dream, it would dream of dragons ” artwork could be used on stickers, mugs, mouse pads or, dare I hope, lovely glicee prints suitable for framing, I would buy one of every single thing. I just love that artwork, it speaks to me.
I tried to find the article for you, but maybe it’s been archived. I wasn’t good enough to find a link to the artist on this site (I thought maybe there was a page of artists links, but no luck).
If I remember correctly, the artist that made that had a page where you could order things with that on it. Hopefully Mod R will chime in with the answer for the win!
i would also like the quote to have the definite article “the” as in “the sky”. not “if sky could”
So excited you are coming. You need to see the monotremes (echidnas and platypuses)!
All the luck!!!!!
OMG a short with Everard’s aunt sounds like so much fun!
Australia is big! Stay on the East Coast and do that well instead of trying to do all of it and get exhausted I reckon.
As Sara said, Melbourne has the worst beaches (but I’d argue the best food and shows).
In Sydney, the day and/ or overnight trip to the Blue Mountains is a classic experience if you like seeing those kind of spectacular natural sights in person.
The day out at Circular Quay/ Taronga Zoo is another classic (I’d rate above Symbio, which is… fine? I grew up near there so maybe I’m jaded). The public ferry from Circular Quay to the Zoo is genuinely the best view of Sydney Harbour (don’t worry about the expensive private companies – it’s the same trip!) and the Zoo is incredible – both for Australian animals and animals from all over the world.
In Melbourne there is always a live music show and/or comedy show on, so recommend exploring that and getting tickets. Can be fun to shop and eat through the laneways of the CBD (central business district – the acronym for city centre commonly used in Australia) if you like walking.
Canberra, similiar to Ottawa, is one of the safest and most boring cities in a world, as a compromise capital between Sydney and Melbourne. It has great museums that I’d highly recommend, but you don’t need to spend any additional tourist time there.
In terms of investing tourist/ travel time, if you get a chance, get to the Great Barrier Reef. It’s quite a trek from Brisbane although in the same state – you’d want a different city as a launching point.
Wish you’ll come to Canada someday! I live in Montreal, it’s mainly french speaking but i’d be willing to go to Ottawa or Toronto to meet !! I’m having hardcore FOMO regarding the meet and greet and the velums 😭
Hi,
No one says G’Day apart from people winding up tourists. Hello, Hi or ‘How’s it going?’ , last is moe from older people.
In Victoria, to see kangaroos go to https://moonlitsanctuary.com.au/ , you can feed them and they are hopping around you. I did a night tour which was great but during the day would be fine too.
In Melbourne there are many great craft markets and some have lovely home dyed wool for knitting….. I’m just saying 😀
Also to combat jet lag, arrive in Melb a few days before.
Even better arrive a week before and have a weeks holiday first
Unless you’re from the country . . . lots of people still say g’day, I know I do. But it would be odd from visitors.
Jet lag should be worse returning to the US, due to the direction.
Lots of places to see wildlife, if you head down the south coast you can see kangaroos on the beach. You could do Jervis Bay as a day trip, Blue Mountains another day trip. If you want to learn about Indigenous culture there are tours in Sydney which will be led by Indigenous people.
Foodwise try pavlova, lamingtons, musk sticks, and of course vegemite toast.
It will either be crazy hot or freezing, being autumn, you can never tell. Probably both.
Yeah, living in the regions I still hear g’day – and say it myself as well!
Absolutely, G’Day is pretty standard out here in the Wheatbelt of Western Australia. Perhaps we’re not as cultured as the Melbournians? Tongue very much in cheek here. Also, Melbourne has great food and interesting things to see. I’d have to say though a trip outside any of the major cities even for a day is well worth it, most of Australia isn’t on the edges. It’s worth a little look 🥰
Just letting you know, here in Brisbane, there is the Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary. Not far to travel from the city centre and has all the delights of Kangaroo, Koala, Tassie Devils, Wombats, Platypus and Reptiles. Check it out – Enjoy!
Oooh! I know this is a work visit, but have fun. I enjoy planning and researching more than actually executing it all on a trip.
I say go for the most cost-effective item, which I think is stickers. Patches of designs may actually be good, so people could make their own gear, but those can be pricey. Outpatch is one vendor but I haven’t ordered from them before.
Hi! I am in Brisbane! Best place to feed and pat Kanagroo is the Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary!!! So much to do in Brisbane, what do like to do? Museums, gardens, Historical places? Oh we need to take you to a fish and chip restaurant and experience BBQ at the beach.
Ooh, I’m so excited about this news! 🥰
Please come to Adelaide if you can! My hubby & I will travel to see you, but it would be a lot easier (& cheaper ) for us if you came to SA.
Would you consider transfers that can be put on t-shirts, bags etc?
I live in Idaho, but will be in OZ on those dates! We will both be in Brisbane on the same day. Weird the way the world works.
Very in love with the ‘welcome to the breach’ KD deskmat. Are deskmats flat enough to mail over?
Maggie is definitely the most popular work right now, but I can see the Book Horde and Roman/evil-leaning designs being incredibly popular as stickers, even with people who haven’t read the books.
Kangaroos will be easy to spot, they have no boundaries and love the roadsides and backyards and fancy golf courses and just about everywhere they shouldn’t be.
Practical Australian here, its a long haul flight, wear comfortable clothing, first day try and stay awake until nightfall, so your body gets in tune with the sun. Important fact, our power points are different to the USA, you’ll need a power plug that fits. You know what your body likes, so bring painkillers, sunscreen , you’ll be offered some strange food, indigestion/heartburn tablets will be useful. If prone to hay fever, bring those tablets. Couple of things you might find useful, Aloe Vera will take the sting out of sunburn, and Tea Tree Antiseptic Spray will ease itching if a bugs bitten you. If possible wear a hat at all times outside. Apart from that, expect to take hundreds of photos, and remember we aussies are a friendly lot, just ask, and someone will know the answer, ENJOY YOURSELVES IN MY WONDERFUL COUNTRY.
Hi Ilona and Gordon
Absolutely thrilled that you are coming to Australia.
Can’t wait to see you
Suzanne
The Melbourne zoo is beautiful and very close to the CBD – you can hop on a tram from town and get there in a few minutes.
Or if you’d like to get away from town, the Healesville sanctuary is gorgeous. As well as kangaroos and koalas, they have a birds of prey performance that my family loves. Also Healesville has a Beechworth Bakery – the beestings are worth travelling for!
A day trip along the Great Ocean Road is also lovely – but not a road to drive yourselves on if you’re new to driving on the lefthand side of the road.
I think you will absolutely love Australia.
I’ve been to Australia five times and have visited the Taronga zoo in Sydney, an animal sanctuary (cannot recall the name) on the way back to Sydney from a day trip in the Blue Mountains, which was stunning.
In Brisbane, there is the Lone Pine koala sanctuary, which is fabulous! And just north of Brisbane is the Australian zoo which is owned by Steve Irwin’s family i.e. Bindi, her mom and Robert. It is one of the best zoos I’ve ever been to in my life. I highly, highly recommend it. But it is about an hour drive north of the city.
If you can only do one, Lone Pine Koala sanctuary is the one I would recommend.
I hope you both have an amazing time down under. I have recommended your books to several Australian friends and they are now addicted. Thank you so much for all you do for us, the shameless BDH. Lol
We sooooo appreciate you!!
Good luck from Sydney Australia!
You will love it here! I would if you can make your way about an hour north of Brisbane to the Sunshine Coast. It’s really in the name – stunning weather and miles of absolutely stunning beaches (way better than the tiny Bondi) and if you’re keen to see a Kangaroo (plus every other Aussie animal), you can hop right to Australia Zoo – Steve Irwin’s old haunt. It’s really worth the trip. Look forward to seeing you both at the Brisbane meet! PS – love all the series, esp KD but I think Maggie’s the new one so promo that!
Any chance that while you’re in the Southern Hemisphere, you might also hop “across the ditch” and visit the land of The Lord of the Rings — aka New Zealand? (˶ᵔ ᵕ ᵔ˶) ‹𝟹
I wanted to see a kangaroo too but the first ones I saw were skeletons at the side of the roads! So sad!
Yeah!! I’m so excited you guys are coming to Australia. I will see you in Canberra hopefully. You don’t need to go to a zoo to see kangaroos-there are plenty of places in Canberra where you can see them in the wilds (of suburbia 😄). It is called the Bush Capital. Trying to see a platypus, now that is the challenge
would love the Sky dream design on a sticker
Always wishing you both the best of luck!
Ok, that last poll was just mean. Maggie…umm, wait…Dina, no, no, KATE, of course.. no Maggie…shoot … Yeah, BDH. nah…but there is a pic of the Inheritance. what about Rogan, oh crap. screw it, what ever the hoard decides, I’ll buy it! wait that dragon is so cool…grrr I WANT THEM ALL!
💜💔💙💔💚💔💜
the broken hearts are cause I know I can’t have them all. 😔
love you both good luck to the meeting even if it was yesterday!
If you want to see as much Aussie wildlife as you can while you’re here, check out Australia Zoo or Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary while you’re in Brisbane 😊
Highly recommend Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary for all the Kangaroos! Very close to Brisbane city.
Good luck HA!
I wonder if Sydney will still be in the grips of the Great Moth Horde?
Ok so I live south of Brisbane – we have roo’s in our yard daily – more than happy to host you guys if you want to see them in a non-zoo setting.
They are wild though – so no touching or feeding – just looking and ooh-ing and ahh-ing 😉
NEW SHORT!!! Ahhhhh!
I’m very excited yiure coming to Auatralia. Just sad that WA and SA lose out 🙁
Please forgive me? Not an Aussie. I wanted to share that flying to Cartagena or Lima and then on to Oz has many advantages. The flights are substantially shorter. The combined costs of flights from Texas are much less. It is true that the choice of non stop looks better. The savings in dollars, and flight duration have true value. Don’t believe me? Google it.
Please consider coming to Perth (Western Australia)! Do a quick trip to Rottnest and take a selfie with a quokka 💕
We have so many beautiful beaches in Australia, just remember to swim between the flags. Australia Zoo is on the Sunshine Coast and everyone loves it but if you cannot take the time to travel then I can highly recommend Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary, its less than 30 minutes from Brisbane’s CBD, its not fancy but they have this area where you can wonder around and pat the kangaroos and emus, its nice because the animals are so chill.
I’ve always wanted to go to Australia. I’m excited for you and the Aussie BDH.
Kangaroos and all of their kin, koalas, wombats, all the variety of possums, the birds – cockatoos, etc. Get to as many zoos and wildlife sanctuaries as possible. Oh, and alpacas and llamas are big in farming – fiber production for yarn!!
(Promo for all the animals I follow on FB!!)
If I lived there, I’d be the lunatic American who planted roses not to have a garden, but as forage for the possums.
How wonderful to go to Australia!
Wish I could join you.
I’m really just here to express my excitement at the mention of a short with Everard’s aunt!
So glad for you, never been to Australia ,on my bucket list of things I’ll do someday.
My son and his chamber group did a competition in Melbourne, they are serious foodies and they absolutely loved the variety of food available, and they have been to plenty of food mecca places!
kangaroos from what I am told if you get out of the city can be found all over,they wander freely,they are like squirrels where I live .
one thing everyone says, if you can swing it do business class seats, coach is difficult on such a long flight.
If you love opals, please go visit Eric the opalized plesiosaur at the Australian Museum. He is amazing.
To see kangaroos and other wildlife, a trip to Featherdale Park in Blue Mts is worth a few hours.
Be careful… drivers are in the left lane. You could step off a sidewalk and get hit… I almost did!
Also, remember their seasons are opposite of ours!!
By the way, For fans of Tim Tams (cookies great dipped in tea or coffee), I have found them in Krogers stores in the US.
Our week long trip to Sydney in 2005 left me rating Australia as one of the friendliest places and most beautiful ones in the world. The Pacific coast around Sydney is magnificent. We hiked along the coast around the beaches and saw cemeteries of British settlers transported to AU for petty crimes hundreds of years ago.
Good luck with your meeting!!! Also, SO excited to meet Everard’s Aunt 😁
As a US-dweller I shall not vote in our Aussie BDH’s choices and let them pick!
But I had to share that MY ability to even has been severely compromised by the cuteness of those chibis. Holy smokes. Epic talent on that artist, cannot wait to part with dollars to obtain them!!
*Waves from the Philippines* Would travel to other countries in Asia (eg Singapore, Thailand, Japan, Korea) for the chance to see Ilona and Gordon 😊 Just putting it out there 🙏🏻
Aussie here, so pleased you will be making your way down under. 2 weeks will be a whirlwind hope you get to have some R@R so you get to enjoy and see what Australia has to offer.
Australia! yay! I’m in Brisbane. And yes, you can definitely see Kangaroos. They are the Australian equivalent of deer and rather numerous. I recommend putting aside a day to visit Australia Zoo which is located in the Sunshine Coast Hinterland north of Brisbane. It is hands down the best zoo in Australia (I’ve been to most of them!). It was created by the Irwin family, you may know of Steve Irwin “Crocodile Hunter” – Steve himself was tragically killed a few years back but their efforts in wildlife conservation is outstanding and the zoo reflects it.
Yay!!
We see kangaroos daily, they’re often chilling in our backyard.
We’re in the Scenic Rim which is an hour’s drive from Brisbane/Gold Coast. All you’d need to do is stay at a property with plenty of green space and voila!
IT’S MY BIRTHDAY AND I JUST READ THIS NEWS!! What a birthday present!! Will go do the survey now! Can’t wait eeeeee
Also good luck at your meeting got too excited and didn’t read the whole blog post the first time!
Good luck🤞
What..
What? You are coming down under? There is an Oz romance association…. Cannot compute…rebooting. Looks like I have a new guild to join! Looking forward to seeing you and Gordon in person. Kangaroos to be had at Wacol, Brisbane – they congregate at the mental health facility outside the golf course. If not there is always zoos e.g Australia zoo. I’d also recommend trying some kangaroo meat, which is better rare. Visit the Sydney opera house, do the wonderful guided tour and have lunch or dinner at Midden by mark olive where you can sample Australian bush Tukka inspired food inc kangaroo. Yay! I woke up, checked the email and see Ilona Andrews is coming down under… what a start to the day!
Quick pop over to New Zealand as well while you are in the area?
the Melbourne zoo is one of the best in the world. if you like elephants, try booking in advance to work with the babies
also rent a car and drive on the Otway or great ocean highway outside of Melbourne and see koalas in the wild
If you’re wanting to pet kangaroos, see koala etc. I can recommend the Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary in Brisbane Queensland.
https://lonepinekoalasanctuary.com/
Make sure to hit the beaches in Queensland, they’re all amazing so you’ll be spoilt for choice.
Aussie fan here! If you want to see kangaroos you should head to Australia zoo while in Brisbane, or drive an hour south to the Gold Coast and go to Currumbin wildlife sanctuary 🙂
…or just head anywhere west from the beach and you’ll see them in the wild
Ok so the locals tip if you want a wonderful alvo in Sydney is to catch the ferry to Taronga and **walk amongst the kangaroos and emus*** at Taronga’s Nura Diy trail, and you can also see koalas and platapuses while you’re there. This option is the best because when you get the ferry back to the city via Circular Quay, the iconic Sydney Opera House and the Harbour Bridge will be in front of you so you can talk a selfie with both of them behind you in the one photo!
https://www.taronga.org.au/sydney-zoo/habitats-and-trails/nura-diya-australia
In Canberra you can do the same style of walk for free in the Jerrabomberra Wetlands Nature Reserve. During the day there’s a lot of native birds and wildlife like rosellas, pelicans, cockatoos, kookaburras and black swans and I’ve also seen the odd echidna there. But to be honest, around dawn/dusk you’ve got very good odds of seeing the local kangaroos at any of the nature reserves and parks (eg Weston Creek, Mt Ainslie or head out to Tidbinbilla for longer walks). The national zoo is not bad but you can also see some of the harder to spot wildlife in a smaller group setting with the rangers who run Mulligan Flats’ twilight tours. https://www.wildbark.org/tours-experiences
I host a lot of international visitors so happy to provide advice/tips if it helps with planning! 😉
Forgot to add, should you want to see something at ‘the House’, there’s guided tours but also the Magic Flute and La Bohème are both on at the Sydney Opera House in the lead up to your Sydney dates.
But if you’re short of time, go for a relaxing stroll through the historic Rocks area, past the Museum of Contemporary Art and then finish up with a glass of wine/beer and a snack at Opera Bar with the Harbour Bridge and Opera House around you and live music on Friday/Sat evenings.
https://www.sydneyoperahouse.com/tours
https://operabar.com.au/
Eeeeeeee!!!! Not first but absolutely a card carrying member of the Aussie BDH and beyond excited!! Seriously, it’s 6:00am and I am doing a happy dance in my kitchen while my coffee brews. I am also so glad that you are coming in March, A it will not be as hot! B, I will have moved to the Eastern states and will finally have an opportunity to attend! Divine intervention. Kangaroos are easy to see and beaches.
Aussie here……….this is great news. Kangaroos are literally everywhere. We live 20mins from major suburbia and we have lots around. At the resevior near here they head to the kids play area near dusk and vacuum up crumbs. We are semi rural and it isn’t unusual to have a wombat wander down the street in the dark or if really lucky an echidna crossing the road. Not all our animals are trying to kill us. Heaps are cute and the house huntsmans keep the bad ones out.
If you can’t come to Perth, then I’ll try to come to Canberra or Sydney. Perth is awesome! And if Gordon and Ilona come to Perth they can visit Rottnest Island, where they can see quokkas up close and personal. Quokkas are smaller, cuter, happier versions of kangaroos. You can only see them on Rotto and I swear they were Anne Bishop’s inspiration for sproingers.
Ooh yes, Quokkas are wonderful critters. They definitely feel like sproingers too. If they came to Perth I could justify flying south from Broome, but I can’t justify the cost to the east coast.
Oh wow. I wish i could go to Australia. I’m sure they will fit in a kangaroo or a koala siting for you. They have to make some fun time for you. See a wombat for me, they have square poop!
Yesss!! I am beyond excited for you both, and the Aussie BDH. I’ve had my fingers crossed since meeting you both at Dragoncon 2024 and chatting about wanting to come to Australia. The big decision now is whether to attend my home town event, or try to make all of them 😄
I’m still waiting on the “I do all my shopping at Baha-Char!”sticker/mousepad.
You should definitely find time to pet the kangaroos while there! I was able to do it in a Sydney zoo and it was amazing.
CHIBI!!!!!
No Perth? Waaaa. No one really ever comes to my state. I can’t justify the cost to fly to the other side of the country, I’d even have to fly to Perth. [Lots of tears here].
A trip to Australia without going to Rottnest Island and seeing the quokkas?!?! Outrageous!
Also devastated you aren’t coming to Perth 😭😭😭
I intend to buy a ticket and definitely will travel to Brisbane. Long term reader and re-reader and definitely a member of the BDH. I really hope you enjoy your time in Australia.✈️
When in Sydney take a local ferry from circular Quay a half an hour to Manly pass across the Sydney heads opening very low cost and enjoyable as most of the local little ferry trips. From Manly wharf walk up the Corso to Manly Beach on the ocean.Starbucks at the ocean end of the Corso across the road from the beach
I’m in Melbourne! But I’ll be in Europe next March!!!! 😬
The comments where BDH mentions their location makes me think it would be cool to see where everyone was from. I am thinking something like a guest book page where we indicate our location (city, state, country) and it shows as a map on which we can drill down. Side benefit is that you would end up with a comprehensive emailing list of your readers if you ever needed it for the sake of communication.
While you are in Canberra you could go to Mulligans Flat wildlife sanctuary – free bush walking or paid spotlight tours, or for easier access the back of Mt Ainslie off Duffy St – either option should definitely let you see some wallabies and enjoy a bit of Aussie bush. If you have the time and want to see a platypus, wake up really early and go out to Tidbinbilla.
I hope you both have an awesome time over here.
I love all your stories (although Innkeeper will always have a special place in my heart).
Melbourne Zoo has kangaroos! Also, Phillip island (easy day trip from Melbourne) has penguins! Melbourne also has an aquarium, a big coffee culture (they are very proud of it), and nice beaches. Though be warned, Australia’s south coast very much reminds you that it shares a border with Antarctica (bring a sweater, I’m serious, the wind at the coast can be biting), so the water will be pretty cold, especially in Fall.
(Note, I’m not Australian, but between myself and various relatives, we have about 6 years of experience living in Melbourne and Adelaide).
I unfortunately live now on the wrong continent, so can’t attend, but I hope y’all enjoy your stay and have an awesome experience!
G’day- page 4 is blank/greyed out of the 8 pages? So I didn’t want to vote as I could’ve missed something.
Roos will be everywhere (especially the, ah, sleepy ones near roads aka roadkill) you’re travelling. Locals will be happy to suggest spots to see them wild for photos.
If you want a specific local wildlife flavour zoo try Australia Zoo aka Steve Irwin’s fam business (doable from Brisbane on a day trip). Yes not just crocs you can even see cassowaries- picturing a grumpy switchblade-clawed helmeted electric blue and black murder ostrich can’t fully describe it. But then Aussies also respect boomers- being male Big Red kangaroos. They stand at 2m on their toes and weigh up to 90kg which when fighting each other is impressive. Ticked at you or your dog not so much…
Roos you’ll mostly see wild where you’re going to be will be smaller species like Eastern greys or their wallaby cousins. And you can find kangaroo or wallaby meat in supermarket butchers though let a restaurant cook it for you with other bush foods/native spices. (As a very low fat meat timing medium rare to shoe leather is more microseconds.)
You will see a lot of wildlife on a golf course if that’s your thing. Our rules are a little different here- check with the local pro- as hitting your ball into a hazard may not be obvious to you. If you find it’s in a pod (wild roo family group) take the free drop ball. Some water hazards are also not worth it if there’s a local croc. It’s not cheating here it’s smarter than playing the ball where it lies…
I’d skip Sydney’s Taronga for the much larger Dubbo zoo (Taronga Western Plains Dubbo in full for googling) if you’re keen to see a zoo with critters like giraffe and rhinos in a more natural setting, or at least with a lot more room to roam.
Enjoy your trip planning!
Just got page 4 to work- I’d love either the “You’re evil enough” or “Unwelcome Mat” as literal entry mats for my house 😳😳😳
Mother would disown me – copyright infringement aside – could be *so* worth it. Oh wait I’m not a Volhv so I care about doing the right thing and not hurting other people… bollocks
are you guys going to be able to connect with down under authors and maybe do a youtube or podcast? – loved the interview you did a number of years ago with Nalini Singh.
No New Zealand stop? But you’ll be so close by… Did they give you a map without us on it to pick your stops from?
Australian reader reading this post a week late, yes you can definitely see a kangaroo at the zoo while you’re here, in the bush will probably be a bit harder, depending on where you go other than the book events, hope you have a wonderful time!
March can still be pretty hot as the first month of autumn in Sydney and Melbourne, and we still have an ozone hole so bring sunscreen!
And yes timtams are the best.
I voted for Kate daniels merch but really any of the merch would be cool.