Blogs from Australia, Oceania - page 4007

We have been based in Launceston, with our friends Adam and Kylie and their family who have been very kind, both in looking after us, and by enabling us to have a fantastic adventure travelling all over Tasmania as they lent us an estate car (much better than the lemon..!) and their big family tent and camping gear. Our adventures exploring Tasmania have probably been the highlight of our time in Australia so far... We have the 10 days of touring and camping to catch up on, but first our time in Launceston (or Lonnie to locals) and adventures with Adam (Kylie was in new Zealand when we first arrived) need writing about.... Launceston Launceston is a small town which has an amazing asset, that of the cateract gorge. Right in the middle of town, the ... read more

OK, I've officially been here a week now. I know, I know... slow with the pictures. I'll try and rectify that but it's an absolute pain uploading them onto this site. Quick recap: * mosquito bites = 10 * giant lizard sightings = 1 * kangaroo sightings = 0 * koala sightings = 0 * Bridge Climb = 1 * sugar plum consumption = ??? (but I got restocked today YIPPEE!) * people who can't understand me because of my accent = 3 (not bad) * days its rained = 3 (including today) * frying pans burned and replaced = 1 * Tasmanian cherries left to eat = 15 Because of the torrential downpour today, my plans to go to Bondi Beach got kaiboshed. So I've spent my time blogging and going to the mall. Oh ... read more

AUSTRALIA ZOO This zoo was brought to life by Steve Orwin and includes animals only found in Australia. Situtated near the Glass House Mountains it is a spectacular zoo unlike any i've seen in the US. The animals have large environments to meet their needs and are also taken out of their caged environment during the day while they walk either amongst the people (with a professional of course) or go elsewhere. You can see a true love for the animals here. The show, too bad I couldn't have seen the true master, was entertaining but we ran down afterwards to get a photo holding a koala and python. ... read more

Have spent the day chilling by the pool and exploring what Cairns has to offer including the shopping malls! i must remember to budget, its so hard. Its really hot and sunny. There are loads of jellyfish in the sea off cairns so you can't swim in it. There is a lagoon on the coastline where you can swim. Have booked on to some tours: am doing Great barrier reef snorkelling on wednesday, then on to sail around the whitsundays, 4x4 tour and camping on fraser island and then down to brisbane. at least we have the next couple of weeks orgainsed! I have come to realise i'm not a slummin it kind of girl and neither is Jen so we booked the most luxurious boat there is to sail around the whitsunday islands! even has ... read more

Ok, well I supposed today would be my last day here in oz.....an like I promised I will post some pictures. Yesterday we went to the blue mountains, which is comparable to driving to Jasper...the kanagroos are also equivalent to the deer we have....just grazing along the side of the road as all the tourists come and take pictures....he he that was me!! (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Mountains). You should be able to click on that link to see them, or here (http://www.bluemts.com.au/tourist/thingsToDo/threeSisters.asp). So this is a pretty big thing here, but I do have to say they don't compete with our good ol Rocky Mtns!! Some of the pictures are at the zoo, on the ferry, and some from a the pub crawls. I am off to Bali, and not sure if I will have suc available internet access, ... read more