Tom and Sheila

Today marked the halfway point of our adventure down under! We spent the day exploring Mornington Peninsula, south of Melbourne, and adding more laugh lines with new friends! Great wine tasting (and an impromptu haircut in a vineyard!) So, here is our journey in NUMBERS, thus far: 11 Weeks 77 Days 7 Home exchanges 1 Monohull sailboat 22 Different beds …

Hobbiton!!! Yes, it’s just as magical and special as you might imagine! Actually, a bit more so for me. I had expected to see more of a “set”, yet Hobbiton Movie Set is actually many acres with the whole shire setting with 44 hobbit homes and their community, including gardens, furniture and laundry drying on lines. We lucked out with sunshine and had a great time exploring and learning about the set. It’s truly a gorgeous area!

12 difficult miles (7 hours) over volcanic terrain including views of Mt. Ngauruhoe (also known as Mount Doom from Lord of the Rings). This is considered the top day hike in New Zealand and we can see why – truly a life experience!

Their Sydney home for our Denver home – an exchange in January meant snow for them and sunshine for us! A nice family from a suburb north of Sydney wanted to go skiing in Colorado and we were happy to exchange for warm weather and an Aussie adventure.

As fans of the home exchange experience we’re often asked for tips. If you have experienced the pleasure of a successful home exchange, you’re likely excited to do more. If you’ve never considered home exchange you may enjoy our story about exchanging your home with strangers. Now, what about scheduling several home exchanges in a row for one unforgettable trip? This may seem daunting to organize, but with these tips you’re only limited by your imagination!

Skane, Sweden – Don’t overlook this outdoor playground with Swedish style southern hospitality. Cycling, coastal villages, beaches, waterfalls, farmlands, golf courses, hiking, unique meeting/conference facilities, wonderful food and warm, genuinely nice people…