Blogs from Australia, Oceania - page 4009

I'm grouping all these days together as so much as happened! We left Airlie Beach on 16th Feb and went down to the arena to get our boat to sail the whitsundays island. Our boat was called The Whitsunday Magic, it was a huge delux sail boat. Trust me to pick the most expensive boat there is! It was very luxurious, all with our own cabins etc. We set sail with some champagne in hand off into the sun! We watched the sunset and had a fabulous dinner prepared by a the chef who had asked each of us what type of food we liked and didn't like. Day 2 on the boat started beautifully. Breakfast buffet and then quickly rushing out to grab the sunbeds before they all went! some people wanted to help put ... read more

Travels in Tasmania February 9-16 How does one describe Tasmania, the smallest state in such a huge country? Much like our own Newfoundland, Tassie (as it is called in the usual Aussie shorthand) is often the brunt of barbs and jokes…the backward state. However, Tasmania seems to be a microcosm of all that this great country has to offer-stunning sea scapes, rolling hills, fertile valleys, magnificent scenery, terrific fresh seafood and produce and friendly people. Our first week here has continued to provide a variety of experiences that have made each day different. The three and a half hour drive from Devonport, where the ferry landed, to our beach house home in St. Helens was broken by our first taste of the fresh food that has become a highlight of our visit. The best muffins we ... read more

Our time out on the Whitsundays... read more

We touched down down under and were convinced we had made a massive detour back to the UK. Rain was bouncing off the runway and our little faces dropped. Our sunshine adventure seemed all but over. Rosie didn't even have a waterproof :( Nevertheless we battled on and spent 2 days in rainy Cairns, mostly drowning our sorrows. One night we ended up having a lock-in in a bar/internet cafe where we had spent a lot of time. As the live music ended for the night, the musicians and bar staff gradually congregted around the prettiest(/only) girls in the bar and the real entertainment began. We were treated to some genuine Aussie tunes and banter, ranging from 'Give me a home among the gumtrees', complete with ridiculous actions, to Britney, to Savage Garden, to Adam Sandler's ... read more

Our last day on the GBR - a sad day. However, we had an early start with a 6:00am dive briefing and then the dive itself. Saw a shark and turtle - possibly two of each (or the same one twice!). Our second dive was ok - a poor start but the dive got better and better - the GBR is really amazing! And often the best sights are closer to the top, so the guys who snorkelled probably saw just as many amazing sights. Our final dive was great as it ended as we began - with a shark! The trip back to Cairns was ok - making the most of being out at sea. The crew made the transition from ship to shore easy, altho' we both felt a bit wobbly for the next ... read more