bobnkez

We caught the shuttle bus to Brisbane Airport at 21.50pm - in the queue we discovered we were the only people on our flight with our original flight - everyone else had been delayed by the volcanic ash! As our flights had been changed over Christmas we were dreading this return journey even more! We were due to wait in Bandar airport for 14 hours! YUK! However, once we had checked in and received our boarding passes we were told to go to the helo desk where an envelope had our name on??? Result - we have been booked into a hotel in Borneo and will be shutttled to and from the airport for connecting flights. The flight went without a hitch and we were soon waiting outside for our first shuttle bus. The hotel was ... read more

We wake up with a mixture of emotions it is good to be back, but also sad as it is our last week before we return back to the real world - starting the job search! We walk around Brisbane and reacquaint ourselves with the surroundings. First stop the town centre for last minute souvenirs, then lunch then onto South Bank for a quick dip to cool off. 22/04/10 Today we are going to try and get the train to Surfers Paradise - easier said than done! Eventually we arrive and are shocked by the pure size of the buildings surrounding the beach - beautiful but not what we expected! We walk around and look in the local shops - the place is heaving - much busier than Bondi however, it is not as family friendly! ... read more

Both of us are tired but unable to sleep. Kerry people watches and Rob plays on the arcade games. Rob snoozes for 45 minutes and when he stirs Kerry takes the opportunity to switch places - flat out for about an hour! I get a pleasant surprise when I wake - Rob is sat talking to Claire and Rich - a couple we met when sailing in the Whitsundays. At 3am we go to stretch our legs - choosing to get a trundler (trolley) as we have no energy to carry our bags! (Kerry's weighs 14kg and Rob's weighs 18kg). Once our bags are checked in we head to the departure lounge - time starts to fly and before long it is time to board. Two and a half hours later we arrive in Melbourne - ... read more

Following another restless night we both wake up with a mixture of feelings. We are ready to move on, sad o be leaving Taupo and worried about the cancelled flights to the UK - due to the Icelandic Volcano! We have been told this could last up to 2 weeks - we are due to fly in 8 days! On that note Rob decides to lighten the mood by suggesting we walk to the bungy site however, once we arrive he is unsure whether or not he actually wants to jump! We talk about why and the possibility of getting dunked proves to tempting to miss! Rob signs in,gets weighed and goes off to the pod. He is talked out of going backwards as it makes hitting the water impossible. 3,2,1 . . . bungy! - ... read more

We both have a restless night - waking up with aches and pains and also very dehydrated. Once up and alert we decide to take a shower to try and loosen our joints! We go to Bodyfuel for breakfast and see a cute labradoodle puppy! A walk around the town sees us looking for trainers for Kerry - to no avail! Back to the hostel - where Kerry sleeps for nearly 3 hours! Rob finds several ways of amusing himself. Once Kerry stirs she realises how long she has slept for and tries to make up the time - packing the bags and getting rid of any rubbish. At 6pm we have a walk to the indian where we have yet another delicious meal! Back to the hostel where Rob watches Pirates of the Carribean and ... read more

Up again at 5.20am, picked up again at 6am, this time we are on a 50 seater coach instead of the 15 seater shuttle bus we were on yesterday. We can tell straight away how different the weather is - it starts to get lighter and the sun starts shining. Another tell-tale sign that the walk is going ahead is the fact that the lady comes around the bus to take our money! In the car park by 8am, Kerry goes to queue for the toilet, 20 minutes later she returns - not at all impressed by the long drop! As we are unsure of what lies ahead we set off in good spirits - laughing and joking. This walk has been described as the best 1 day hike in New Zealand, it provides opportunities to ... read more

Happy Birthday Kate! We wake up at 5.20am and get ready for the day ahead of us. We are picked up outside of our hostel. The first shuttle bus is someone who goes around trying to steal customers from the people we have booked on the expedition with - very confusing at 6am! A 4x4 arrives and takes us to an awaiting shuttle bus. The lady is bonkers but lovely at the same time. We pick several people up before driving for an hour and a half. As we are very alert (nosey) we realise the walkie talkie is being used a lot - it turned out to be for a very good reason. There are low lying clouds and winds reaching 85km/h! The driver takes it upon herself to pull the plug on todays trip ... read more

As we are having to wait for the blackwater rafters we are told to check out at 10am and be on the bus ready to depart at 11am. We went for a walk around the Ruakuri Cave Scenic Reserve (to pass on some time) and also went to our first free activity! This in itself was quite bizarre. In a little shed we saw a lady shearing an angora rabbit! This was done on what looked like a torture implement. The fur is spun to make wool - very warm and soft. The rabbit was kept near a fan before being sheared to stop it from overheating! As Taupo is only a 2 hour drive from Waitomo we do a straight through drive. Once in Taupo we stop briefly at Huka Falls - which we are ... read more

Happy Birthday Sam! . . . So much so - we nearly slept in! 7.30am and we are on our way back to Rotorua. We stop off at the Karangahake Scenic Reserve. Our driver gives us directions to a walk which will take us along the river, over two swing bridges and through a 1km railway tunnel. Back on the bus to Paeroa - a place which makes its own lemon and paeroa spring water soft drink. Kerry takes it upon herself to try it - YUK - it tastes like lemsip! Back through Matamata (again) for lunch and a toilet stop Finally we arrive in Rotorua, first stop maori tour village, second stop the Te Puia thermal spa, third stop the luge and gondola and finally we are taken to the hostel. We are in ... read more