http://www.travelblog.org/Bloggers/Keith Julie/ Travel adventures in journals and photos from Keith Julie en-us Sun, 23 Nov 2008 09:36:07 UTC Sun, 23 Nov 2008 09:36:07 UTC So Keith did it He was able to go scuba diving in the great barrier reef. I snorkelled beside him. It was a hot clear sunny day and it was easy to get sun burnt. We couldn't have asked for better weather.Both Keith and I held and touched some of the crazy creatures living there don't worry we were allowed. They turned the Great Barrier Reef into a National Park in 1979 I believe and th http://www.travelblog.org//Oceania/Australia/blog-137397.html We are all done our travels and getting sad.We will be arriving in Toronto on Wed. March 14 early in the morning 615am. We are thinking of staying in Toronto for the day and will be heading to Kingston on Thursday morning so Jenn and Randy you can expect us then I hope that is ok.See everyone soon. http://www.travelblog.org//Oceania/Australia/blog-137396.html Back to more hiking We spent a full 3 days in Sydney. We did so much in Sydney it just flew past. On our last day there we went to Bondi Beach and checking out the surfers well I checked them out at least. We also went to Sydeny Olympic Park where we visiting the Aquatic Centre amazing and well no wonder Australians do so well in the Olympics.Anyway late that evening we picked up the http://www.travelblog.org//Oceania/Australia/blog-135871.html Not the best experience. We quickly upgraded to a much better hostel. Sydney Central YHA. Today we went to the Tongara Zoo saw a variety of Australian Wildlife. Last night we went to the Aquarium. Tonight we are doing an evening cruise around the Sydney Harbour. Trying to pack in as much as we can here in Sydney in only 3 short days. We are off to the Blue Mountains tomorrow and really loo http://www.travelblog.org//Oceania/Australia/New-South-Wales/Sydney/Sydney-Airport/blog-135170.html Got in late last night 830pm and we were a little worried that we wouldn't be able to find a place to stay. It was Mardi Gras here last night and everything was fully booked. Gotta go http://www.travelblog.org//Oceania/Australia/New-South-Wales/Sydney/Sydney-Airport/blog-134700.html Best spur of the moment and free activity we didStopped at the side of the road and found a cave we could climb through for 600m just before Arthur's Pass We had one flashlight and changed into our water clothes and just went for it. It was pitch black Could not see a thing without the flashlight. The water went up to our waists at times and there were a few little water falls little and i http://www.travelblog.org//Oceania/New-Zealand/South-Island/blog-134357.html We got our new passports So everyone can give a sigh of relief about that. We have them in our hot little hands and hanging on to them for dear life. http://www.travelblog.org//Oceania/New-Zealand/South-Island/Christchurch/blog-134155.html Only 2 more days in New Zealand There is about a 90 chance that our passports should be at a post office in Christ Church when we get there tomorrow which means we should be able to fly to Australia on the 3rd of March.We made it up to Kaikoura a couple of days ago leaving from Dunedin and stopping in Christ Church along the way. You know how hard it is to wake Julie up haha so I ended up http://www.travelblog.org//Oceania/New-Zealand/South-Island/Kaikoura/blog-133791.html Happy Birthday Karen and very Happy Belated Birthday to Yvonne and DAD Love you all and sometimes think about you on my travels http://www.travelblog.org//Oceania/New-Zealand/South-Island/blog-133193.html I wrote an entry earlier but it accidently got deleted before I could publish it then of course my internet time was used up very frustrating.Anyway we went to Franze Josef Glacier where apparently the lighting of the beacons in lord of the rings was films. It was huge and it was a nice day walk to go view it. We considered spending 150 dollars each to walk up the glacier with a tour bu http://www.travelblog.org//Oceania/New-Zealand/South-Island/Franz-Josef/blog-133192.html This was definitely the highlight of my trip so far. In Queenstown Keith and I went to the top of the Skyline Gondola where I did a tandem paraglide with pilot Dan. I wanted to do at least one sky thing and this was absolutely amazing. I have some great pictures and a couple of videos of me actually controlling the paraglider. Best way to view Queenstown that is for sure. We also did a luge http://www.travelblog.org//Oceania/New-Zealand/South-Island/Queenstown/blog-132811.html Another Day HikeThis one was incredible. Took us exactly 6 hours. We had a perfectly clear day. In our tramping book they describe this walk as possibly better than the Tongariro Crossing debatable but we are just glad we could do both. The view from the top of Avalanche Peak 1833m was spectacular and I don't think our pictures or video camera will do it justice. We had views of the http://www.travelblog.org//Oceania/New-Zealand/South-Island/blog-130856.html First stop in the South Island was in Picton. Stayed at a beautiful Lodge. Keith was most excited about the TV in the room.Drove to Marahau where we stayed. Had a wonderful fish and chips dinner right on the ocean great view. From there we went to a campground where the only accomodation that was available was a Teepee literally. Next day we took a water taxi to Bark Bay. It was great t http://www.travelblog.org//Oceania/New-Zealand/South-Island/Abel-Tasman-National-Park/Marahau/blog-130853.html Off to Tongariro the same day our car got broken into. We didn't want anything to slow us down. We stopped in at Tauranga for a new car from Avis. We received excellent customer service from Avis there. They helped us get on our way fast. We stayed at National Backpackers that night in National Park a town outside of Tongariro National Park we were confused by that. I really liked the roo http://www.travelblog.org//Oceania/New-Zealand/North-Island/Tongariro-National-Park/blog-127552.html We haven't wrote for awhile so be prepared to read a lot.When Keith and I arrived in Auckland we hopped on a shuttle bus downtown. From here it was fairly easy to find a place to stay. We wanted to stay at the luxery Basebackpackers but there was nothing available so we settled for Queen's Street Backpackers which was fine.The next day we decided to hop on a ferry to Rangitoto Island where http://www.travelblog.org//Oceania/New-Zealand/North-Island/Coromandel/Thames/blog-127544.html Hey EveryoneJust read your comments Mom and Dad I am alive haha and getting accustomed to this whole idea of travelling. The best part of course is talking to as many people as you can about their trips and of course talking to true Fijian's to get an idea of how their quality of life is here. We will try to write about that later.So far we have run into a bunch of people from England. So http://www.travelblog.org//Oceania/Fiji/Viti-Levu/Nadi/blog-124863.html Hey Everyone So we arrived in Fiji Jan. 30th at 500am. Great flight with Air Pacific would definitely recommend a flight with them. When we got into the airport we were escorted up the stairs with a women who was going to help us book some resorts on the island. The original plan was to go to Nacula Island for 3 nights. The ferry is very expensive here to get to the tip of the islands is http://www.travelblog.org//Oceania/Fiji/Mamanuca-Islands/blog-124516.html Ahhhhhhh how frustratingSo everything was going smoothly we had a lot of time to check in go through customs and drop off our luggage. An hour before it is scheduled to leave it get's cancelled freezing rain apparently however we saw other flights leaving. Everything about our experience with Air Canada has been frustrating. Being sent to one line to wait an hour to get to a phone to http://www.travelblog.org//North-America/Canada/Ontario/Toronto/blog-123180.html First EntryHey Everyone just testing everything out before we leave for the South Pacific. Keith and I are all packed and I guess both are having a hard time sleeping. I am hoping we will be able to add a lot of pictures and keep you all well updated on our travels. Plans are to be back on March 13 but you never really knowFirst stop Fiji 5 days and don't expect to hear from us for a g http://www.travelblog.org//North-America/Canada/Ontario/Fonthill/blog-122953.html