Advertisement
Published: March 20th 2008
Edit Blog Post
Me and my board
preparing to surf at Byron Bay So after a few days relaxing, finally got my act together and hired a surf board. Wasn't very good though, mainly due to bad waves(?!). But wasn't disheartened, going again! After Byron Bay we drove over to Mt Warning which is the first point in Oz that the sun hits when it rises. I hiked up to the top and left Joe in the Van, not a big walking fan!
Lovely walk through jungle and the view from the top (after hauling myself up a near vertical rock face with a big metal chain, different) was amazing. Quick hike back down and then drove over to Surfers Paradise. Wasn't really sure what to expect but it was massive! Loads of huge hotels etc, not really what we wanted, but spent a night there anyway. Basically just checked out the bars and the next day had a wander round before heading off towards Brisbane.
Found a caravan park just next to the motorway so got a site, As I was just pulling up to our space. The van with a mind of its own being an automatic just drives itself, plowed straight through the fence, see pic, doh!
Next
Mount Warning
View from the top day spent the morning in Brisbane, just a big city so carried on up the coast. Stopped in a little place called Gympie in another caravan park. Interesting insight into the world of Caravan parks around Oz!
Next morning drove up to rainbow bay. I wanted to find out about tours to fraser island, but Joe wasn't keen. Ended up booking a tour for a coulpe of days later. Leaving Joe behind.
Fraser Island was amazing, basically they provide a 4 x 4, food, camping stuff etc. and then 11 of us were let lose on the island. Beautiful place and we mainly drove along the beach and also through really bumpy roads inland. First day went to see lake McKensie. Crystal clear water in the middle of the island, really wasn't expecting it, beautiful. Had a swim as the sea is out of bounds due to stingers (jellies) and sharks!
Headed back off to the beach, in a bit of a hurry as we had been given safe driving times, according to the tides. Made it to a suitable place without getting swept away though. Very fun evening, music from the van, steak for tea and
then lots of drinking and dancing etc!
Next day drove up the coast and went to the champagne pools, lots of fun when the waves came crashing over, like being in a huge jacuzzi! Back down and saw the Maheno ship wreck and then Eli creek, which you could float down, very fun! (also when I woke up my camera was broken, got sand in it! Number 3! But just took it to a shop though so hopefully it will work again yet!)
Another fun night with music, dancing etc. I cooked up a stir fry which was good and more dancing etc. had a paddle in the sea, naughtyness. Only later realised that they were actually portugesse man o war jellies! Still here though so all good.
Final day went off to Lake Waddy. Not as good as the first lake but had a swim as it was boiling. Then unfortunatly it was time to go!
Had a quiet night with the gang and next day went to the Bundaberg rum distillery. Next to the town of 1770. Met up with a couple of Dutch girls from Fraser and went for another surf lesson with
them the next day. Finding it easier again, such a simple technique but its so damn hard!
Stayed in Rockhampton that night and then did a big drive all the way up to Airlie Beach the following day. A couple of days spent there not doing alot and then off up to Mission beach.
Stayed in a cool place called the Treehouse which was up in the more jungly bit. Really hot and humid up here! Went for a walk in the jungle and saw a Cassowary!! And had to dodge under a huge spider that had made its web across the track, scary stuff! Another nice view from the top. Just can't stop climbing things, can't wait for Asia, where there are more than hills.
From Mission Beach we bipassed Cairns and went straight up to Cape Tribulation. More jungle and was lots of fun driving along the windy roads until we got to a ford and nearly got swept down the stream. There's been lots of rain and we weren't even sure if we'd be able to get there but lookily most of it had cleared by then. Spent a couple of days up there
Natural Bridge
The cave underneath and went to Port Douglas via a zoo. Just to see some crocs really but was cool to see some roo's up close as we'd only seen a coulpe on the way up.
Arranged snorkelling on the great barrier reef and went the next day. Decided to do an intro dive aswell, which was really good. Loads better without an ear infection!! The snorkelling was amazing aswell. The reef was only a metre away from the surface in some places so you were really close and surrounded by loads of fish. Probably the most beautiful thing I've seen so far! Saw another huge reef shark, was genuinly scared this time, massive!! Spent about 4hrs in the water in total, brill day out!
Next day went back to Carins as Joe had to fly out the next day (18th). Not the most interesting place but stayed in a nice hostel and went out for a few St Paddy beers and an interesting pint of Guiness.
Joe left at 5am and when I finally got up took the van for a wash and then checked the paperwork. Was convinced it was due back tomorrow (19th) but turned out it
Mt Tamborine
Flat plateau with lovely views of the surrounding plains and coast. was due back yesterday! Oh ow! Raced it round as it said $10 charge every hr late! Luckily they charged us for another day and a few hours late charge, $90 though!
After the mornings drama just wandered around Carins and read one of my 10 books! Been collecting them and not reading due to trying to get the old journal completed! Nearly there though, only 2 wks missing from the end of October!
So got a flight to Darwin (19th) and am currently staying just in the centre, not the biggest place but is quite nice. Not as humid which is good although there is talk of heatwaves etc and its about 35 today!
Spending a couple of days sorting stuff out and reading some of my books so I can finally dump most of them and off to Bali on Sunday!!!!! Can't wait! Planning on going straight to the Gili Islands to finish off my PADI. More diving!
Anyway hope that wasn't too much hard work, being in the van made it hard to spend much time on the net!!! Much love!
Advertisement
Tot: 0.129s; Tpl: 0.013s; cc: 13; qc: 60; dbt: 0.0821s; 1; m:domysql w:travelblog (10.17.0.13); sld: 1;
; mem: 1.2mb