Traveled today from Sydney, New South Wales to Cairns in Queensland. Just the next state over. Close, right? Not quite.

I forgot just how vast this country is , about the size of the contiguous 48 United States. So the flight was three and a half hours, about 1200 miles, straight slightly west of due north. About the same as Seattle to halfway down Baja.

The distance is an issue of differing climates. From cool, temperate Mediterranean climate of Sydney to the tropical climate of North Queensland. Eucalyptus and Ficus bush country versus mangrove swamp and true primeval rain forests.

A wet, warm slap greets you as you step off the flight. This is a very different Australia.