The Last Few Weeks of Oz

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After skydive town, travelled further north to Brisbane, the third largest city in Australia and the capital of Queensand - the last state we will be visiting in Australia. Arrived late-ish in the afternoon, so just had a quick walk along Brisbane River and then headed to the cinema to see Mr Bean's Holiday, which was a bit of a disappointment I thought. Culture-time the next day - went up the town clock-tower (which was rather loud at half-past the hour) then on to the Queensland Museum and the Queensland Gallery of Modern Art, all housed in pretty much brand new buildings along the South Bank (a lot nicer than the one in London). Next day visited Australia Zoo, famous for Steve 'crikey' Irwin, and a lot of crocodiles. Crocodile Hunter himself was still just about everywhere - on the signposts, on posters and even in the intro video of the Crocoseum (a giant 5000 seat stadium where you learn about some of the animals of Australia). They have a philosophy of hands-on, so you can pat koalas, kangeroos, wombats and even baby crocodiles. Fed an elephant a banana too - their trunks are amazingly nimble and really rough! The whole day the conservation message is being pushed and they are doing a great job helping endangered wildlife around the world by teaching all about them in the zoo. An insanely great day out and its good to see the work of Steve Irwin is continuing. As it was the Easter weekend, Australia pretty much closes down, so went to the cinema a few times - saw TMNT and 300.

From this point on, everything was included in some massive package we had put together, costing less than it would have done to go to Ayres Rock for 2 days. Then travelled further north to a tiny dead little place called Rainbow Beach - apparently the sightly yellow rock of the cliffs made Captain Cook name it so. This was basically the start-off point for our trip onto Fraser Island - the largest sand island on the planet. After a bumpy crossing to the island on a barge, our crazy driver took us along part of the 120 mile-long beach which acts as a highway and a landing strip for planes, is surrounded by shark-infested waters. Bounced along to Lake Wabby, and after a walk across a small desert found an amazing lake surrounded by sands dunes. Then went to the crystal-clear waters of Lake Mackenzie set in the rainforest and back to our resort for buffet dinner and relaxing in the bar playing cards for hours with the only people in our age group on the trip. Next day, explored more of the island and saw the shipwreck of a 1930s cruiseliner - most of it buried in the sand, then up to India Head for an aerial view of the island and then along to the Champagne Pools where the waves come over the rocks and cause the water to go all bubbly like champagne. Also the only coastal area safe to swim in, but im sure a shark could jump the rocks if they tried... Saw a wild dingo in there somewhere too - apparently the purest of dingos in the world because they have not been mixed with domestic dogs. Airlie Creek - a freshwater stream which housed some rather large spiders - was last stop, then back on the barge to the mainland. A really enjoyable trip, if a bit bumpy and very sandy.

Further north the next day to a tiny place called 1770/Agnes Water where it was so relaxed the hostel was bascially a shed with no door and the dorms had no locks. Was awesome place to chill. Got a chance to take a surf lesson and spent over 3 exhausting hours trying to spend longer than about a second standing on the board. So much fun trying, even though I managed to stand about 3 times, topping a dizzy 1 second on the board! The waves were quite strong and the undercurrent insane, thats what I blame anyway! Wicked fun and now I have the 'skills' to surf on my own (have a certificate that says that and everything!), so can hire a board and give it a go anywhere now. That night was pretty rubbish as spent the whole time on a night bus that took over 12 hours to reach Airlie Beach, but did stop in the middle of absolutely nowhere for about 1/2 hour, where the stars were the clearest I have ever seen - you could actually see the Milky Way galaxy (which slightly messed with my head as we are in it), but totally amazing - wish my camera could have taken a few shots.

Airlie Beach is the starting point for sailing trips to the Whitsunday Islands. Our 83 foot, 110 foot high Maxi sail boat was called the Boomerang. Only 26 people on board (others pack on over 40 onto the same size boat). Impressively large on board - over 6m wide - and pretty smooth sailing (via sails and everything) for about 2 hours. Then came across the most almighty rainstorm known to man and we had to hang on on top of the deck to anything we could find while getting soaked while we dipped into and through waves over 3m high. The sails were still up, and we sailed at about a 45 degree angle with the side of the boat (less than 5m from where I was hanging on) dipping in the water. Needless to say, it was the greatest experience on the water ive ever had, although that evening was a bit rough and felt quite green for most of the time as the boat rocked and swayed the whole night. Next morning visited Whithaven Beach, an amazingly white sandy beach with the bluest sea imaginable, until it rained and we had to take cover in the forest. So wet, the dye came out of my towel - a rather heavy downpour. After that the sun came out again and we sailed to Border Island and headed out to sea for some time, then back into Stonehaven for the night - much smoother than the night before and played 'the Seafood song' with International Drinking Rules. Next morning sailed back into Airlie Beach, leaving the stunning Whitsunday Islands on the day of the 3rd calander month away - gone so insanely quick and come quite a long way.

Then spent the next day travelling north to Cairns - the bus was 3 hours late, so sat there slightly boiling for a while, followed by over 10 hours on the bus. Big waste of a day and shows how big Australia is. Spent a day exploring Cairns - not very exciting - then headed north to Cape Tribulation - basically the jungle part of Australia. Stayed in a fanstastic wooden hut surrounded by rainforest and also so fairly impressive wildlife - like the deadly 2m+ long and extremely fast snake we met walking in the pitch black to dinner. Brilliant noises at night when all the wildlife wakes up. Next day headed out on another sail-boat called the Rum Runner to spent the day on the Great Barrier Reef. This part of the reef is the most unspoilt (as there are far fewer boats in this part) and great for snorkelling. We were very lucky to have about only 16 people on our boat (some out of Cairns have 200+ people jumping in the water ruining the coral). The Reef is the largest living organism on the planet and managed to snorkel for over 5 hours (pretty exhausting) on one of the most unspoilt sections. The coral was the most amazing spectrum of colours, shapes and sizes you can imagine, with fish to match. Schools of over 30 fish and all viewed through a prescription mask so i could actually see it all clearly!! So relaxing just bobbing along, viewing all the fish and coral as it goes about its life, oblivious to these funny people above staring in awe at them from sometimes less than 1m away. Great experience, but sadly couldnt do intro scuba dive as I had a cold and apparently your sinuses can explode while diving with a cold. After spending the day on the reef, went back to dry-land and sampled some local kangaroo for dinner (very cute, but quite tasty too). On the last full day in Australia, began with a little jungle surfing - bascially zip-wire through the canopy, sometimes upsidedown - while getting taught about all the trees and the creatures living in one of the oldest rainforests on the planet. Even licked the arse of a green ant, which the Aboriginal people boil up to make home-made Lemsip, and was insanly acidic through concentrated vitamin C. Quite tasty, but im sure the ant was probably slightly disturbed by the whole encounter.

Got back to Cairns later in the day and packed to leave Australia and head to Asia, where things will no doubt become a lot more complicated! Sad to leave Australia behind, been a fun 6 weeks, although a little manic covering so many miles in that time. Australia different to what I expected - people not quite as friendly as in New Zealand, especially in Sydney and it is far more like America than the UK, whereas New Zealand is more like the UK in many ways. However, glad to have done it, but next time will do Western Australia, the red centre and the Northern Territory as really want to see Ayres Rock.

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Photos

Lazy Dayz on the Whitsundays
Caught this amazing shot as Max (deckie on the Boomerang) sped past at sunset after collecting us from the beach. Totally summaries the mood of the trip on Boomerang (when it wasnt raining).

Patting a Koala at Australia Zoo
They really are as fluffy and soft as they look

Patting a Kangaroo at Australia Zoo
Although it looks like it, he wasnt about to head-butt me. As a side note, kangaroo is very tasty!

"Surfing"
This is the moment I got onto the board for the first time, closely followed by not being on the board any more. I blame that silly person in the way personally...

Boomerang
Looking fairly fantastic as the sun was setting - our home for 2 days around the Whitsunday Islands

Whitehaven Beach
It looked so nice before the rain came

Sunset on the Whitsundays
Even caught a sailboat in that one too

Jungle Surfing
Luckily didnt fall off this one as i was 20m+ up in the air. And yes, i am hanging upsidedown

Comments

[LittlePika]

Wow Rex, your blue thongs look really good on you! lol on a more serious note..how cute is that koala! it's so cool the whole hands on approach to the zoo!!! *hugs*

[Rexxor]

Thongs...
Really have to wear them out there as it is so hot outside in the daytime your feet not only get insanely hot in trainers, also a bit stinky

[simone]

Hey! Still sounds great what you've been up to i wish could even say something exciting has happened to me! I would have found the zoo sad seeing Steve everywhere but their whole idea is fab. the photos look gorgeous!! love sim: )