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We have just had the best time!! We left Bundaberg and our Home Exchange people and headed to Hervey Bay. We stayed at another wonderful Big 4 Tourist Park and signed up for a day tour of Fraser Island. We have been tossing around how we are going to see Fraser Island. Fraser Island is the largest sand island (I think) in the world. It is a 4WD vehicle place only because there is only sand, no pavement etc. There is some accomodation over there but not a lot of choice. In the end, we opted for a 1 day tour of Fraser Island on a 4WD bus. The bus picked us up at 7:30am and dropped us back home about 5:30pm. Fraser Island really was spectacular but you would not have believed the rain. It poured all day. Some people still swam in the pristine, fresh water lake on the island, we did the rainforest walk in the pouring rain, drove the 75 kms sand in the pouring rain. It was amazing. We had driven the sand in Cape Reinga on the North Island of New Zealand but this was much more amazing. Cape R was very compact, firm sand.
Fraser Island sand was soft and not compact. The driver worked very hard. Because the weather was so bad, the tides changed much quicker then anticipated so we had to drive very high on the beach and the little creeks that crossed the beach were much larger and we often had to wait for a wave to go out before we deeked around a rock on the beach. It was cool. I was not nervous. The driver was very confident but not cocky.
We left Hervey Bay and drove to Noosa Head. It was raining buckets. Roads were beginning to flood and watching the news later on in the evening we realized that if we had not left Hervey Bay right at that time we probably would have been flood in for a day or so. Because the ground is so dry the rain water tends to roll off the top rather then sink into the ground like it would at home.
We stayed with Chris and Brian in Noosa Head. I had to go back and read all my emails to see how I connected with these people. It started long ago when I was
exploring Home Exchanges. Chris and I exchanged tons of emails but an exchange could not be made. They have adult children moving from England back to Australia and of course, they were wanting to make sure there was a home for them to come to. To make a long story short, the kids have not moved yet so Larry and I stayed 2 nights with them in their lovely home in Noosa Heads. They took us on a tour of the area, fed us and generally we enjoyed each others company alot. They are planning a trip to Vancouver, Victoria, Alaskan cruise and then back to our place for 5 days in September. Noosa Head is a beautiful place. Very touristy and a highlight for people seeing the East Coast of Australia.
Left Noosa Head and drove to Australia Zoo. This zoo is Steve Irwins zoo. The late Crocodile Hunter. We were waffling whether we would go there. The weather was very cloudy and it had been raining for a couple of days but when we arrived it was not raining but I think it was the same minute we laid down our $104 to get in the skies
opened up and it never stopped. We saw it all. The Crocs, the elephants, tigers and cubs, kangaroos, Koala's etc. It was good but could have been so much better if we weren't dripping wet. We left there in the late afternoon and drove another hour down the road to Brisbane. We rolled up to a beautiful home in a suburb of Brisbane (looking like drowned rats!!) to be greeted by Trevor and Paula, people we met in Agnes Water, and were introduced to their friends John and Cheryl. John and Cheryl are friends of Trevor and Paula and they had invited us to stay with them in Brisbane so we could see the sights. They also invited Trevor and Paula for dinner and to spend the night since they live about 1 hour south from Brisbane. We had a lovely dinner with these 4 plus John and Cheryl's son and daughter in law and their 2 children. A real family night and it was wonderful. The kids are beautiful and so cute. The next day in the pouring rain John took us on a whirl wind drive around Brisbane. The rain never let up. I think Brisbane is a
very beautiful city but under a cloud and in the rain we had to have a good imagination. We drove up to their lookout. We were absolutely in the clouds. There was no point even getting out of the car. John showed us his business and we met another one of his kids. That evening we took John and Cheryl out for Indian food. The food was good but the company even better!! It is amazing. We had never even met these people before. They were friends of Trevor and Paula's. The minute the door was opened, it was come on in, what would you like to drink, here is your bedroom, we are so happy you came!! A wonderful example of auzzie warmth.
The next morning we hopped in the car (in the sun) and drove 1 hour down the road to Trevor and Paula's. They too, have a beautiful house in a small town named Benowa. Benowa is very close to Surfer's Paradise, another very touristy, backpacker type place. Surfer's Paradise has huge highrises. We went on a tour of all the Gold Coast cities. These are many small towns that hug the waters edge. Just spectacular
scenery!! Back to their house for a lovely dinner and looots of wine. Trevor is a real wine buff and he and Larry got along like a house on fire. The next day we travelled with Trevor and Paula up to Mt. Timarind?? It was a very cute little old town. Lots of kitchy type shops, nice restaurants etc. We drove to their favourite restaurant for lunch. Sat on the deck overlooking a vast rainforest type area. What a lovely day!! BBQ'd steak, drank more wine and another lovely evening with great company. Left Benowa the next day. We still have about 800 kms to get to Sydney. We met alot of Trevor and Paula's kids. They are very family oriented. Lots of celebrations, dinners. Any excuse is a good one. Reminded me of home.
Evan and Hiroko are back from Japan. They had a great time. They stayed with Hiroko's mom and dad and were busy everyday. See the pix.
Right now we are in the Hunter Valley. This is a wine area on the East Coast just about 200 kms from Sydney. Larry is planning his wine tasting route for today. I will drive today so
he can taste. First time for me to drive in 5 months let alone on the other side of the road.
We will leave here tomorrow and drive back down to Sydney. We are having lunch with our Port Douglas friends and then Rick our home exchange friend will pick us up and drive us to his place where we will stay until Tuesday when we fly home.
We are ready to go home. We left home Jan 13th and get home June 10th. It has been along time. I miss all my babies, big and small!!
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