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Published: December 13th 2007
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G'Day All! Well we've been a Australia for a week and a half now - seems like so much longer tho coz we've been busy busy everyday! Started off in Brisbane for 4 days - its a lovely city everywhere is so clean and well kept. Wandered round the city on the first 'real' day (day before we slept the whole day recovering from the jet lag!) - got the ferry up and down the river and went over to the city beach which unfortunately was closed for refurb! Next day we went to a koala sanctuary (some of you may have seen the pic) which was cool - we cuddled a koala (so cute, i wanted to smuggle it out!) and fed kangaroos - saw one with a baby in its pouch too! Was funny coz we were feedin the 'roos when a mad storm started to brew and they all went wild - about 50 of them were tearing around us then an emu joined in (which are evil animals - you can see it in their eyes!!) & started to chase them - it was crazy!! We also went to North Stradbroke Island for the day which is
about an hour and a half away from Brisbane - walked along the cliffs and saw dolphins swimming just below us - they were playing in the waves swimming up with them and then jumping out when the waves broke - it was amazing to see! Also saw sea turtles sticking their heads out of the waves! The beaches there were pretty amazin too - was a good day out!
From Brisbane we then flew up the coast to Airlie Beach to sail around the Whitsunday Islands. We did want to do an overnight trip but everything was fully booked or mega expensive so we did two day trips instead. The first day we got a boat out to the Great Barrier Reef where there is a pontoon anchored at a part called Knuckle Reef. The pontoon was cool - you could snorkle around it, there was a submarine boat which took you out and even a water slide (which we loved!!) I did a dive which was cool - the coral is pretty amazin - lots of different formations - one looked like a giant underwater flower! Saw a few fish - was expecting to see more i
think but i was at a bit of a disadvantage coz im pretty blind without my glasses & when we went in the sub we saw loads of different fish! Saw a ray tho which was ace and a big massive Maori Ras fish which came up to us and I stroked it! While I was in the water Chris was watching from the underwater windows and saw a reef shark - amazin but a little scary seeing as i was underwater!! The next day we went on a sailing boat trip round the islands which are beautiful. Went to Whitsunday Island itself with the famous Whitehaven beach - it was amazin - the clearest bluest sea we have ever seen! Also saw sea turtles round there which were massive! Unfortunately there was no wind so didnt really do much sailing - did attempt it but think it would've taken us til the next day to get back to land!!
From Airlie Beach we travelled overnight on the bus to Hervey Bay which is the gateway to Fraser Island - the worlds biggest sand island. We booked to do a 3 day, 2night self drive safari which meant we
were put into a group of 11, given a big jeep, a map & a wave onto the ferry! It was ace - the inland roads were pretty bumpy (our bums were hitting the roof at one point!!) When we arrived you wouldnt have thought it was a sand island at all - there were loads of forests and everywhere is green then you just see a massive sand dune in the middle of it all! When we arrived we drove to Lake Mackenzie which is a big freshwater lake & it amazin - the water was crystal clear and so fresh - pure white sand and turquoise water! Then we drove onto the beach and went to the Maheno shipwreck which is a massive ship that washed up in 1905 and is still there - was cool to see! We then went to our campsite which didnt actually involve any camping as we had a big rotunda with camping beds!! Howere we did have to sleep with the resident Huntsman spider which came to say good morning & scared us all to death - it was MASSIVE - biggest than my hand! Apparently its a good thing tho as
it eats the poisonous spiders which were everywhere - it was like spider city (think arachnophobia - yuk)!! The campsite itself was in an Aboriginal area so we had our bbq & a few beers round the campfire with the locals! Second day we went to Eli Creek which is a river which flows thru the forest into the sea - we walked upstream & then floated back down! Next Chris drove all the way up the beach to Indian Head which is a big cliff overlooking the sea - the view was ace! We walked to the Champagne pools - like a big rock pool where the sea crashes in over the rocks to make the water look like champagne - again an amazin place! After that it was back to the camp for drinking games before tea - never a good idea - we were all smashed by 6! The Aborigines danced for us in their traditional dress with painted face & body - we joined in but the only line we can remember is 'Gary'!! This moring was our last day and girls day for driving which actually just meant me as i was the only one
with a licence out of the 7 girls!! It has to be said that the boys had it easy as we decided to leave at 9am which is half an hour before high tide and only the insane drive at this time on the beach! Put together with that it was raining so it was quite a hairy ride but lots of run (i wanna be a rally driver!!) At one point the sand disappeared in front and we literally had to drive through the sea to the other side with the water washing right over the car (I chickened out tho & Rossy, still drunk from the night before took the wheel instead!!) I then jumped back in & we were going along nicely until there was a hissing noise from the gas cannister on the roof and everyone started shouting "Stop, get out get out!!" In a panic i slammed on the brakes and all 11 of us hurtled out - after Chris stopped the car from rolling down the hill as i had left it in neutral instead of in gear!! After that slight drama we all piled back in and eventually got to our destination, Lake
Wabby. After walking for 40mins thru the rainforest we came to a big lake which on one side was surrounded by tress and on the other a huge sand dune - it was like a mini desert! The whole island is so cool - like nothin you'll find anywhere else & really hard to believe the ground is just sand! So, after that we drove back to the ferry and back to the hostel.
Tomorrow we are getting the bus to Mooloolaba which is just north of Brisbane on the Sunshine Coast - gonna spend the day lazing on the beach then on Sat we are going to Steve Irwin Zoo to see some crocs!! After that we are travelling down to Sydney, stopping in Byron Bay & Coffs Harbour. So, havin a great time so far! Time is still speeding by tho - apparently its only 12 days til Christmas now - doesnt really feel like it here coz havent really seen any decorations and of course its hot which is all wrong!! Good tho as we hear its been down to -3 at home!! Sent the pics back from Thailand so hopefully you will get them before
Christmas! Missin everyone as always!
Lotsa love & hugs xxx
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Clair
non-member comment
Jealous!
Hey you two! Just read your most recent entry. Sounds like you're having an amazing time (I'm so jealous!). Both looking nicely bronzed I see, beats my pasty winter complexion hands down. Not much to report here. I've got my graduation tomorrow (Friday), and I haven't got a clue what to wear (no change there then!). My PhD's going OK so far, but I can't wait to finish for crimbo now - only a week left at work, yipee! Anyway, have fun on your adventures. Take care. Love Clair xxx