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October 10th 2006
Published: October 10th 2006
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whitehaven beachwhitehaven beachwhitehaven beach

AN amazing beach in the Whitsunday Isalnds,the sand is silica so its like walking on hot snow.Gets everywhere though!
hey guys,

just about to leave Oz tomorrow!Doing this and trying to pack away all the rubbish we have accumaleted since we have been here!just cant find a spot for my digeredoo!Had loads of fun in Oz but looking forward to moving on.
The East coast was cool but was just full of annoying 18 year old kids who were just up for getting hammered.We had crap weather all the way up to noosa but the sun came out and we were able to get on the beach.
Whitsundays was class apart from the skipper of our ship who was an absolute ******!Just really rude but snorkelling was amazing and the isalnds are cool.The islands off queensland were probably the best bit of the east coast.A bit like barbados in ways!
Not doing much writing as hard to condense two months into words so we thought we would do lots of pictures(Its a bit easier for you lot aswell)
West coast was a lot different a lot more barren up to the north and what you would expect oz to look like and the south is really green and really enjoyed margaret river were me and zoe finally had a
Port DouglasPort DouglasPort Douglas

This is looking down onto the main beach at Port Douglas from the hilltop lookout
chance to go surfing.Really enjoyed it and will have to go when we get back.I put some videos on the blog so hopefully they wil work,and i did improve on the old surfing.I did a bungy jump in cairns aswell which was well worth it and harder to do than sky diving.We both did our introductory scuba diving, such a wierd experience. I(Rich) was a bit freaked out to start with and wouldnt let go of the guy but once i relaxed and got into it i really enjoyed myself!

So here is a quick summary of all the places we visited in the last two months...and over 8542m (thats 5302 miles for you guys!). We did 4011 on East coast in a month and bombed it on west coast doing 4531 in 14 days!

East Coast:

Hired campervan in Sydney and drove up to Blue Mountains
Byron Bay
Noosa
Brisbane
Hervey Bay
Airlie Beach
Whitsunday Islands
Magnetic Island
Dunk Island
Cairns
Port Douglas / Barrier Reef
Cape Tribulation
Back down to Cairns for flight over to West Coast

West Coast:

Hired car in Perth and drove up to Cervantes
Kalbarri
Denham/Monkey Mia
Coral Bay
PinnaclesPinnaclesPinnacles

These are loads of limestone pillars that are north of Perth.Thought they would be crap but were pleasantly surprised.The limestone has forced its way up over the years and mother earth has helped to sculpt it.

(all north of Perth)
Albany
Denmark
Nannup
Margaret River
(all south of perth)
Perth

Some parts are stunningly beautiful. Some parts are stunningly boring. Mostly bloody great. We will mainly miss the drive-thru off licences, and jack daniels and coke in a can. Classy!

Check out the videos hopefully they will work.

Worst part of whole trip was the terrible news about Steve Irwin. We were at Australia Zoo (home of the Croc Hunter) the day before he died, and it was such a terrible tragedy. Australia was in mourning for a long while. This blog is dedicated to his memory.


Take care all,

Zoƫ & Rich



Additional photos below
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Surfing!Surfing!
Surfing!

Yup we both did it! look the part eh! Rich did really well.. he can totally stand up on the board now! I only got up as far as my knees but practice makes perfect huh! Newquay here we come!
Blue Mountains - 3 sistersBlue Mountains - 3 sisters
Blue Mountains - 3 sisters

North out of Sydney we drove up to the Blue Mountains. They are calle dblue as all the Eucalyptus trees give off a blue haze! Very beautiful, but bloody cold here in Winter!
Byron BayByron Bay
Byron Bay

The weather was rubbish here all the way up until noosa.Didnt manage to go sufring although should have really as you get wet anyway!
BrisbaneBrisbane
Brisbane

They had this cool lagoon just on the river bank right in the centre.Had a chill here and then watched a fireworks display later on with them going off on the top of the buildings and two F1-11 fighter jets doing a flyby and dumping their fuel so it lit up!
KoalaKoala
Koala

Pretty cute animal and its little baby.Zoe stroked one of them later on,i didnt bother,they can be evil little buggers!
CrocCroc
Croc

Big fat croc but it could move wehn it wanted to!this was when we were at steve irwins zoo,It was the day before he died.God rest his soul!
RooRoo
Roo

I did stroke a kangaroo,i thought he might kick me but nothing happened!His brother tasted nice later on!
whaleswhales
whales

Went whale watching in hervey bay.Absolutley bucketed it down.But spotted these humpbacks,they were breaching and playing around for ages!amazing to watch them so close up!
Fraser sand dunesFraser sand dunes
Fraser sand dunes

Fraser Island (off east coast) is largest sand island in whole world. There is more sand here than in sahara desert! no joke! Really beautiful sand dunes and lakes
Airlie BeachAirlie Beach
Airlie Beach

This place is very commercial and touristy (the main bar specialises in jelly wrestling and wet teeshirt competitions...oh dear!) but you do your Whitsundays trips from here.
Whitehaven from lookoutWhitehaven from lookout
Whitehaven from lookout

Before we went onto the beach we climbed up a nearby lookout for this amazing view. Paradise huh?...
Hook IslandHook Island
Hook Island

The largest island in the Whitsunday group. So beautiful. We walked along here and stumbled across a huge lizard. There are loads of lizards all over the islands of the East Coast, but this one was a huge beast!
MadisonMadison
Madison

This was our yacht for the trip. A really beautiful boat with all white leather interiors (mmm nice!). The skipper wasnt too friendly however which was a little annoying, but still an amazing 3 days. Zoe slept out on deck for first night....really cool!
sailingsailing
sailing

Taken whilst we were actually sailing. Had loadsa fun playing pictionary with the others on the boat...particulalry the french couple who spoke only a little english ("what eees ze name for zee house of horses"!!). Very amusing
Magnetic IslandMagnetic Island
Magnetic Island

Another stunning island off the East Coast. We stayed overnight here in gorgeous bungalows. Lovely beaches.
MokeMoke
Moke

This was the beast we hired on Magnetic Island. The lady who hired it to us actually told us to drive it like we stole it! Well good fun! Rich loved it! This one had Ren and Stimpy on the front!
Strangler Fig TreeStrangler Fig Tree
Strangler Fig Tree

You see these all over Oz. They are these amazing trees that basically grow around other trees and suffocate them! Nasty buggers! Beautiful though!
Dunk Island: Coconut BeachDunk Island: Coconut Beach
Dunk Island: Coconut Beach

Dunk: yet another amazing island. This one has a really exclusive resort on it with its own golf course and private air strip! Unfortunately our private jet was out of fuel that day so we had to get the ferry over with the commoners.


10th October 2006

I am so jealous
Glad your having a fab time... you are giving me and phil inspiration of where to go when we go travelling!! It's tipping it down with rain (and has been for the last week!) and I have got tonsililtis! Joy!
11th October 2006

Hamazing!
Hi! Great to read through all your posts, looks so amazing - all of it! I'm beyond jealous... the latest ones of Aus look stunning as well - paradise is the word. Hope you have a brilliant time in Asia... it's cold and wet here, so enjoy the sun! Andy xx
19th October 2006

jealousy
jealousy is really starting to consume me....please stop having such a good time. only kiddin folks, enjoy it....wish I was there.
23rd November 2006

I am jealous!
Wow, what fantastics pics. Looks like I need to go around Oz before I venture overseas. ... I'm sure you guys are having a ball in SEA... We had a bit of British weather down here with snow in the mts and hail in Melb! then last week back to 38deg! Only in Melb... Enjoy the rest of your trip. X O Edna

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