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Published: June 18th 2009
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Hello everyone!
Well, this is our last Australian entry 😊 We're back from the second leg and it was class!!! First hit was Coffs Harbour but only there for a night on the way to Sydney. Seen the Big Banana - there big things all over the shop here, seen the big prawn too. Claire doesn't like prawns though - the eyes are freaky!
Stayed over in another of Claire's relations in the bush. Scary Kangaroo's & Wallabies there. In the middle of nowhere, with no way out 😊 Can be scary when things move around at night. Only stayed a night here too.
Road trip to Sydney the next day. Came across a town called Mooney Mooney. HAD to have a picture of a Mooney in Mooney Mooney 😊 Cool driving into Sydney over the Harbour Bridge. First stop was Bondi for a place to stay. Found a great spot, it was like a hotel but at hostel prices. We even got upgraded to a family room at no extra cost. First day in Sydney was all about the sight seeing. Went down to the Opera House, walked across the Harbour bridge and went to the biggest attraction - Scuffy
Murphy's. Got on a hop-on hop-off bus and toured around everywhere for the day. Got to see everything and the weather was brilliant. The next couple of days were all about shopping - Claire was chuffed. Down to the Paddy markets for a couple of bargains - Colm picked up a top to blend in with the locals. Mad yellow with Australia written across it. Claire was mortified but got used to it (eventually). Bondi is one cool spot but not as big as you'd think at all.
Got up early for our next trip. Headed for Canberra first as the midway point to Melbourne. Due to the fact that it was a planned city, getting in and around it was very easy. Got there a bit late so didn't get to see much but did get to see parliment house. Looks very much like it should be the capital of the country - very impressive. Got up early the next morning to head on to Melbourne and nearly fainted - there was ICE on the windscreens of the car. Didn't think we'd see much of that in Australia!!! Again, got to Melbourne late afternoon, found a place to stay
and seen what Claire was really looking forward to before coming over - Neighbours day trip and night out. Unfortunately, it's only once a week on the day we got there so we decided to do it the following week. Went around Melbourne on the FREE (not something you hear very often) hop-on hop-off tour and seen the sights. Suprisingly chilly in Melbourne, but being Irish, Colm only wore a T-shirt. Not the next day though. It was freezing!!! Got on the other free sight seeing way of Melbourne - a free tram. Melbourne has the most extensive tram network in the world apparently and it was pretty scary driving in beside them on the roads, as you cant pass on the left hand side of a tram but they travel in the middle of the road!!!
Decided we'd head down the Great Ocean Road, spend a few days at the end of it and come back for Neighbours night. It's a very nice drive altogether. You could get to the end of it in half the time on a by-pass but you'd miss so much. Got to see a big attraction - the 'Round The Twist' lighthouse 😊 and
the coastline is class. From the Twelve Apostles to London Bridge - Really nice. Got to the end of it and we were wrecked. It was nice to find a nice quiet spot to realx for a couple of days before heading back. We wanted to go whale watching but we were just a bit too early for it. There had been one sighting of whales off the coast about a week before but nothing was expected for a few more weeks 😞
Got on the road early enough to head back to Melbourne - why does the trip back always feel quicker? Got back early though and went out for a nice meal and into P.J O'Briens for a couple. It's a hard life huh? 😊 Woke up the next morning - dying!!! Lucky we had that day to do nothing before the big day out to Neighbours. Colm was in bits all day. Claire felt grand in the afternoon. And dinner wasn't as fancy as the night before - Mickey D's. Nice. Up early the next morning, got the bus and a guide (an Irish guy - Gerry) who knew absolutely everything about the show. And the tv
blasting out the Neighbours tune along with the Sharleen and Scott wedding. Cheesey!!! Went to the famous street and got a few pics then to the studio, where Claire got to meet... wait for it... Lucas!!! He's lovely 😊 After the tour was over, it was back on the bus for a bit more cheese. Back to the hostel to get ready, then out to Neighbours night. Had a trivia quiz with four of the stars - Karl Kennedy, Lucas, Rachel & Steve. Then, when everyone was nicely toasted, the Karl Kennedy Band started. Paul Robinson came out to sing a few tunes, followed by Karl. It was a great night out. Recommend it to everyone.
On the road back to Brissie the next morning. Have a couple of stop offs first, of course. On the road out of Melbourne we stopped for lunch at a picnic area and before we got on the road again, seen the scariest old woman in the world. Tim Burton couldn't have made her scarier!!! She just stared at us as we were leaving. Colm didn't care about the speeding fine. Freaky. Then on to Wagga Wagga (yes it's a real place) and stayed
in THE scariest hotel ever. Reminded us of 'The Shining'. Thank God that was over quickly. On the road then to the next spot - Summer Bay.
We travelled past the Blue Mountains on the way - impressive scenery. Almost didn't find Summer Bay though. Had to ask a local where exactly it was and he told us while looking at us for the geeks we are!!! Got to see some filming though. A crime scene on the beach - Cool!!! Took a few pics and headed on to Newcastle. Only one night over here before heading back to Brisie.
Back in Brisbane now and really looking forward to seeing the family and friends again. Will be home soon. We've had an absolutely brill time and can't wait for our next holiday.
See you soon
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harmlessbunny
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Twelve Apostles, guess there were only nine left. :o) good luck buddy!