Geo: -30.2823, 153.129I was up early to catch the Metro Link to the airport to pick up the mini bus and return to the hotel to pick everyone up and, thank goodness for sat nav even if the map was out of date. Once everyone and our luggage was on board we prepared to set off, both Michelle and I both wanted to do the iconic drive across Sydney Harbour Bridge in the end I gave in Michelle drove. As we approached the bridge it was chaos and try as we might we couldn't get in the right lane for the bridge and ended up having to use the tunnel instead! On route to Coffs harbour we stopped for lunch at Shelly Beach Port Macquarie which was supposed to have a number of wood carvings but ... read more

Geo: -33.8671, 151.207We walked from the hotel through Tumbalong Park to Darling Harbour the kids loved the Darling Harbour Children's Playground but we had our first whale watching trip booked so we promised we'd stop on the way back so they'd have some playtime for themselves. Darling Harbour was the first pick up point for our trip and as we were there early we had the choice of position on board so opted for the best seats right up front, breezy but worth it for the views. At Circular Quay we picked up another 30 or so passengers which meant that overall there was plenty of room to move about and see the sights without blocking everyone else's view which was important for us because this is what we'd all come for to see, whales in ... read more

Geo: -35.3284, 149.084This morning we planned to meet up with Heidi a friend from work many years ago and who I recently got into contact with through Facebook, we met at the TwenntyOne Cafe across the road from the hotel, it was strange that despite the years we both recognised each other instantly, we spent a good time talking about our lives since we last met. In conversation it came up about the number of carcass's littering the road side on our way up to Canberra, Heidi explained that if you hit an animal you had to remove it from the highway and if it was a Roo or Wallaby you had to check it's pouch in case it had a joey in there in which case you had to notify the authorities so that resolved ... read more

Geo: -37.8815, 147.983We're travelling up to Lakes Entrance as the midpoint between Phillip Island and tomorrows' destination Canberra. After dropping all our stuff of at the hotel we drove down to the footbridge connected to 90 mile beach and took the opportunity to stretch our legs and walk over the bridge with its lovely views and then along the beach itself, boy was it windy the surf was being blown up into what looks like giant snowdrifts in places, before being blown away to land somewhere else. On the way back over the bridge we stopped to admire the Pelicans & Black Swans before walking back along the Avenue of Honour stopping to view and take photos of the Avenue of Honour Memorial Statues. The trunks of six of the trees that originally formed the avenue ... read more

Geo: -37.8143, 144.963Woke up in the morning with a swelling the size of a pigeons egg on my forehead it looks awful, although the heat has died down and there's no itching or pain other than the tightness of the skin. We're off along the Great Ocean Road today (GOR) first stop though was back to Logan Beach just on the off chance the whales may have turned up, unfortunately they hadn't, much to the disappointment of all. Our first stop on the GOR was at the Bay of Islands once again it was a cool and breezy morning but it in no way diminished our appreciation of the views from the lookout. Surprisingly enough there are few visitors around whether its the inclement weather or they're starting from the other end of the road I'm ... read more