I’m flying through the rainforest upside down and having the time of my life!

Jungle Surfing (called “zip-lining” in the States) near the Daintree Rainforest in Northeast Australia is a great adventure for young and old. My almost-Medicare-age body did just fine but my adrenaline reserves took a big hit.

Idyllic…exotic…sun-kissed…pristine… I’m on Dunk Island, a tropical rainforest island in “the world’s greatest natural wonder,” the Great Barrier Reef.

An 18-foot crocodile hurtled vertically six feet into the air, about an arm’s length away from us. No cages, no glass, no barriers of any kind.

At the end of Summerland Peninsula, 78 miles south of Melbourne, Phillip Island’s rugged coastline and mountain peaks are an awe-inspiring sight. Off the southwest coast are rock formations known as the “Nobbies,” where colonies of shearwaters, known as muttonbirds (because they reportedly taste like old mutton), nest. In the distance, Australia’s largest colony of fur seals basks and plays in the lazy summer sunshine on Seal Rock.

Tasmania has been dominating the “real estate market hot spots” section of The Australian newspaper recently. Unprecedented values are being achieved across the island, with properties in many areas doubling in value in less than a year. The upgraded ferry service to Melbourne, and now Sydney, along with more frequent and cheaper flights, has helped create great interest in “Tassie” among mainland buyers quick to recognize its attractions.

This year’s annual London-based Economist Intelligence Unit (www.eiu.com/) survey ranks Melbourne, along with Vancouver and Vienna, as the best cities for expatriates. The award is based on a survey of each city’s infrastructure, access, education levels, crime rates, focus on the environment, culture and events, diversity, and how connected it is with the rest of the world.

To escape the Melbourne heat, my husband and I enjoy a day-trip through the cool Dandenong Ranges and the lush Yarra Valley, one of the finest grape-growing regions in Victoria. The highlight is a trip aboard the two-foot-six-inch gauge Puffing Billy, Australia’s oldest operating steam train.