Spin-off: American and Australian/New Zealander culture thread.

[Buzz Rules]

It's a massive diverse country with a LOT to see and do that is all very far away from each other (not unlike the US). So the short answer is it depends on what you're interested in.

The slightly longer answer, on the assumption that most international visitors to Australia want to tick off the major iconic features:

• Fly into Sydney, you can see the Sydney Harbour Bridge, Sydney Opera House, iconic Sydney beaches and take a cruise on the harbour. Maybe Blue Mountains if there's time.
• Fly up to Cairns and take a cruise out to the Great Barrier Reef and drive up to the Daintree Rainforest.

Depending on your preferences, I would then suggest any combination of:

• Uluru/Alice Springs if you're interested in the Australian outback and Aboriginal culture.
• Melbourne if you're interested in food/coffee/bar culture and/or sport. Or if you're keen to drive the Great Ocean Road.
• Tasmania for something a bit different if you're interested in scenery/wildlife, hiking and/or historical convict-built estates.

Most of these places are very far away from each other and will take several hours to fly between (except Sydney and Hobart are both about an hour's flight from Melbourne).

Thanks. I'm thinking of coming to visit for the 2032 Olympics. Are there places you would want to visit in the USA? Congrats to the Socceroos on their win by the way.

 

[nherbert]

Are you a soccer fan or just watch the socceroos when you can?

I am a huge soccer fan, but DH isn’t so normally have to get up in the wee small hours to watch recordings. It was a great game, go socceroos.

 

[Buzz Rules]

I am a huge soccer fan, but DH isn’t so normally have to get up in the wee small hours to watch recordings. It was a great game, go socceroos.

Are you planning to come to the 2026 world cup?

 

[nherbert]

Where are the best places for Americans to visit in Australia in your opinion?

Zanzibar138 has answered this well. I agree fly into Sydney stay a few days and see the big sights like opera house, bridge, take a day trip to blue mountains, depending on time of year take a cruise even a Disney cruise. But don’t stay too long in capital cities as the best things are more natural and you want to be outside.
The Olympics are in Queensland so that takes you closer to Great Barrier Reef, but know that it is not close to Brisbane, in fact if you come up from Sydney it is only about half way. So recommend a few nights in cairns or even better port Douglas and day trip out to the reef - if this is a once in a lifetime trip to Aus don’t miss the reef.
If you live in a hot place, annd want something different annd cold, and love bush walking and all things nature then recommend coming to Tasmania. There are spectacular bush walks here. We also have Mona (art) and Salamanca Market (world class market) and if you like fish n chips tasmania has the best in the world.

Where are the best fish n chips in USA?

 

[Buzz Rules]

Zanzibar138 has answered this well. I agree fly into Sydney stay a few days and see the big sights like opera house, bridge, take a day trip to blue mountains, depending on time of year take a cruise even a Disney cruise. But don’t stay too long in capital cities as the best things are more natural and you want to be outside.
The Olympics are in Queensland so that takes you closer to Great Barrier Reef, but know that it is not close to Brisbane, in fact if you come up from Sydney it is only about half way. So recommend a few nights in cairns or even better port Douglas and day trip out to the reef - if this is a once in a lifetime trip to Aus don’t miss the reef.
If you live in a hot place, annd want something different annd cold, and love bush walking and all things nature then recommend coming to Tasmania. There are spectacular bush walks here. We also have Mona (art) and Salamanca Market (world class market) and if you like fish n chips tasmania has the best in the world.

Where are the best fish n chips in USA?

Thanks for the information. I have several local places I go for fish and chips (they are always the best in the spring and summer though). The best general answer I can give is any state near the coastline will always have great seafood options (including fish and chips). There plenty of chain restaurants that do great versions too. For a true local taste, look up cities and towns you would plan to visit. We have pubs/tavern restaurants here just like Europe. Each have American and another ethnic group's cusine, creating melting pot pubs that are uniquely American (but all on the coasts will have fish and chips on the menu). I'm from the Hudson Valley and we have a lot of fresh fish come in through NYC, Boston, and the Atlantic Ocean in general. On the Eastcoast, New England will claim they are the best at seafood and in the Southern USA Maryland, Louisiana, and Florida will all claim they are the best. On the Westcoast, California, Oregon and Washington will claim they are the best. The Midwest is also known for seafood restaurants but it is almost all imported from the coastlines unless the local rivers are used for commercial fishing. This is the USA tourism website:

https://www.visittheusa.com/

Each state has their own tourism website and you can find more details on the cuisine culture for each state. Also all our territories in the Caribbean and Pacific have great seafood as well (or so I have heard).

 

[zanzibar138]

Thanks. I'm thinking of coming to visit for the 2032 Olympics. Are there places you would want to visit in the USA? Congrats to the Socceroos on their win by the way.

I only discovered that Australia was due to host the 2032 Olympics on Friday lol! Not sure how long it's been on the cards. I was actually in Hong Kong the last time the Olympics were in Australia. Obviously I am NOT a sports fan at all

I've been to the US a few times so am lucky enough to have visited many of the places I wanted to. There are some places I would love to go back to, and some still on the list of course. Ticking off Death Valley on the next trip and interested to spend a bit more time in Vegas. I actually really love the US desert - it's so much more interesting than ours!

 

[Buzz Rules]

Any Australians excited for the historic Gold Coast Socceroos WCQ match on September 5th, 2024?

https://www.socceroos.com.au/news/g...rt-next-round-world-cup-qualifiers-gold-coast

https://twitter.com/x/status/1809115465740136728

https://twitter.com/x/status/1820317732677787670

Will any Australians tune in to the soccer match for the first time? As a Stars and Stripes (Team USA ️) fan, I'm rooting for and to both qualify for this upcoming WC. Good luck Socceroos.
️

Also, the Socceroos will play China in Adelaide on October 10th and Saudi Arabia in Melbourne on November 14th in WCQ, just an FYI.

https://www.socceroos.com.au/news/subway-socceroos-play-china-pr-adelaide-oval

https://www.socceroos.com.au/news/arnold-wants-supporters-be-12th-man-melbourne

 

[Buzz Rules]

The USA will also be playing New Zealand on September 10th in Cincinnati. We (Americans) expect to win that match confidently. Mexico plays New Zealand on September 7th in California.

 

[Buzz Rules]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1828694185630744635

https://twitter.com/x/status/1828985817504850026

https://twitter.com/x/status/1829023861607936084

 

[Buzz Rules]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1829314397921231024

https://www.socceroos.com.au/news/subway-socceroos-squad-opening-round-three-qualifiers-confirmed

 

[Buzz Rules]

New Zealand national team news:

https://twitter.com/x/status/1829339675422757263

https://www.nzfootball.co.nz/newsarticle/144801?newsfeedId=1275622

 

[Buzz Rules]

I am a huge soccer fan, but DH isn’t so normally have to get up in the wee small hours to watch recordings. It was a great game, go socceroos.

Are you excited for the upcoming matches? Also, where should Australia build their national training center in your opinion? How's the weather in Australia by the way? It's currently in the 70's F (20's C) here in the Hudson Valley.

 

[Buzz Rules]

Kiwis , when did you guys get the nickname and when is the best time to visit your country?

 

[Buzz Rules]

Questions for Americans?

 

[Buzz Rules]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1830063526687486083

https://twitter.com/x/status/1830416657040474203

 

[nherbert]

Are you excited for the upcoming matches? Also, where should Australia build their national training center in your opinion? How's the weather in Australia by the way? It's currently in the 70's F (20's C) here in the Hudson Valley.

Sorry for slow reply. There is so much sport on at the moment, I hope the socceroos can get some support. Not even sure if the game will be on free to air tv, I hope so. Very jealous of my relatives in QLD who are going to the game tonight. I hope the stadium is built in Qld but suspect NSW/ACT will get it. The weather here is crazy. Spring just started, very windy, cold, arctic weather blowing in (4C yesterday), lots of plane flights cancelled, floods everywhere in Tasmania.

Q: I know you love football (soccer), but are you watching US Open Tennis? - I am currently watching De Minaur (Aus) but he is struggling. Big game for USA tomorrow - Fritz v Tiafoe - who will win?

 

[Buzz Rules]

Sorry for slow reply. There is so much sport on at the moment, I hope the socceroos can get some support. Not even sure if the game will be on free to air tv, I hope so. Very jealous of my relatives in QLD who are going to the game tonight. I hope the stadium is built in Qld but suspect NSW/ACT will get it. The weather here is crazy. Spring just started, very windy, cold, arctic weather blowing in (4C yesterday), lots of plane flights cancelled, floods everywhere in Tasmania.

Q: I know you love football (soccer), but are you watching US Open Tennis? - I am currently watching De Minaur (Aus) but he is struggling. Big game for USA tomorrow - Fritz v Tiafoe - who will win?

Yes. I watch tennis too. I think Fritz will win. The Socceroos match will be on channel 10 in Australia.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1831316809791963264

 

[Buzz Rules]

Sorry for slow reply. There is so much sport on at the moment, I hope the socceroos can get some support. Not even sure if the game will be on free to air tv, I hope so. Very jealous of my relatives in QLD who are going to the game tonight. I hope the stadium is built in Qld but suspect NSW/ACT will get it. The weather here is crazy. Spring just started, very windy, cold, arctic weather blowing in (4C yesterday), lots of plane flights cancelled, floods everywhere in Tasmania.

Q: I know you love football (soccer), but are you watching US Open Tennis? - I am currently watching De Minaur (Aus) but he is struggling. Big game for USA tomorrow - Fritz v Tiafoe - who will win?

I will be watching the socceroos match live on tv tomorrow here in the USA (at 6 am ET).

 

[Buzz Rules]

Sorry for slow reply. There is so much sport on at the moment, I hope the socceroos can get some support. Not even sure if the game will be on free to air tv, I hope so. Very jealous of my relatives in QLD who are going to the game tonight. I hope the stadium is built in Qld but suspect NSW/ACT will get it. The weather here is crazy. Spring just started, very windy, cold, arctic weather blowing in (4C yesterday), lots of plane flights cancelled, floods everywhere in Tasmania.

Q: I know you love football (soccer), but are you watching US Open Tennis? - I am currently watching De Minaur (Aus) but he is struggling. Big game for USA tomorrow - Fritz v Tiafoe - who will win?

https://twitter.com/x/status/1828523032467439833

 

[nherbert]

Yes. I watch tennis too. I think Fritz will win. The Socceroos match will be on channel 10 in Australia.

Terrific thanks, recording set (in case I fall asleep as been up all night watching the tennis here)