Great Barrier Reef

The title is pretty self explanatory. Today we went to the great barrier reef :).

While Lizzie was busy taking photos, Rhi and Laura did an introductory dive.

After our snorkelling and diving, we had a huge buffet lunch before going back out onto the reef to snorkel at a different spot. On the way back to Cairns we sat in the sun whilst drinking a lovely free glass of champagne :)

SKYDIVE!, and Cape Tribulation

On monday we did our skydive, falling out of a plane at 14,000ft, and landing on Mission Beach!

Yesterday we travled North to Cape Tribulation. We swam in a water hole and managed to find some ocre rocks. The ones the Aborigionals use to paint themselves. So, obviously, we had a go...

This morning (wednesday), we got up at 5am to watch the sun rise on the beach

This afternoon we swam in a gorge. Swimming up along the side and riding the current back down was crackin' fun, Gromit.

Magnetic Island and Mission Beach

The first night on Magnetic Island, Wednesday, we went to feed the rock Wallabies :)

On thursday we went to a Koala Sanctuary. Here we held a black cockatoo, lizards, a baby crocodile, a koala, a snake, and an echidna, which is what is in the photo below :)

Koalas spend 18-22 hours a day sleeping....

After the sanctuary we made our way over to a waterfall. It was lovely, and we were boiling but didn't have swimming stuff so couldn't get in the water properly :(

On friday we travelled to Mission Beach, met back up with Laura, and spent the evening in the pool.

Yesterday we enjoyed white water rafting in the Tully River. It was absolutely amazing!

Today (sunday): We were supposed to skydive this morning, however, due to broken radios and then rain, we didn't. There's always tomorrow....hopefully....

Airlie Beach and The Whitsunday Islands!

On saturday evening, we went down to our hostel bar to have dinner and a few drinks with the people we we're at the cattle station with. Here is a beautiful photos of us with Lauren :)

On sunday we departed Airlie Beach on our boat, Matador to sail round the Whitsundays. The weather wasn't great, it rained, lots! Dispite this we still jumped off the boat to snorkel with the fishes.

We didn't manage to get to Whitehaven beach because of the weather but we did go to a lookout point, and there it is behind us.

We're back at Airlie Beach now, and will see the guys from our boat again this evening at the bar downstairs :)

Fraser Island, Rainbow Beach, 1770 and Kroombit Cattle Station

We haven't writen for a while as we haven't had reception for internet. After Noosa we went to Fraser Island: the largest island in the world formed from just sand. We travelled the island in four wheel drives and camped next to the beach at night, avoiding the dingoes trying to get in on our dinner!

 Here we went snorkelling in beautiful Lake Mckenzie, we even caught a turtle :)

We also went to other lakes, rivers and creeks. Here we are standing infront of Eli creek.

This is a shipwreck which has obviously been there for a while. This is the group of people we spend our three days on the island with.

Back at Rainbow Beach we visited the sand dunes. There are 70 different colour sands there because of it's location, the sand is washed here from all over the world. Here we also learnt how to throw a boomerang, and went sand sledging down the dunes.

Then we headed onto 1770 and did the famous Scooteroo. We got to ride these 'Mini Harleys', and as you can see, dress up like hardcore bikers!

A cattle station in Kroombit, further inland then turned us into cowgirls. Here is our attempt of lassooing a goat! It proved to be alot harder than it looks. Hahah. We also learnt how to crack whips and tried not to get thrown off the mechanical bull!

Now we're at Airlie Beach, we're going to cruise out on a sailing boat this afternoon to the Whitsunday islands and stay on a sailing boat for two nights. We'll let you know how it goes :)



Glass Mountains and Noosa

It rained all day in Brisbane, but we explored the museum, art gallery and shops in the afternoon, then went out in the evening.

On the way to Noosa yesterday lunchtime we stopped off at the glass mountains.

Noosa is a lovely little beach town, and today we spent time exploring the farmer's market and national park.

Byron Bay, Surfers Paradise and Brisbane

On Wednesday we went sea kayaking around Byron Bay. Unfortunately the waves were too choppy to get up close and personal with the dolphins, but we went snorkelling along the reef metres away from green sea turtles and various schools of fish.

 We left Byron Bay early thursday morning and headed to Surfer's Paradise, our first stop in Queensland where we set our clocks back an hour. We spent the afternoon relaxing on the beach (again!) and went out in the evening. There was an almighty storm and we got absolutely soaked coming home!

The rain continued today as we moved up to Brisbane. We browsed through the shops, museum and art gallery and are off out tonight. Tomorrow we head up to Noosa.

Spot X Surf Camp to Byron Bay

We haven't posted since the Blue Mountains, the internet stopped working!
Since then we've been to a Surf Camp and had loads of fun surfing. We both managed to stand up :)
We don't have photos because they were taken by the company and we had to pay for them, booo!
They are on here, however...
http://www.mojoaustralia.com/photostore/details.php?gid=7363&pid=511928
http://www.mojoaustralia.com/photostore/details.php?gid=7363&pid=511985
:)

We're in Byron Bay and loving it here. It's the most Easterly point in mainland Australia, and one of the places where the Hippy culture is still prevalent. Everyone's really chilled out but the atmosphere is still buzzing!
We went out to Cheeky Monkies last night, they gave us lots of free drinks and we danced on the tables which is always good fun :)!
Spent the day on the beach today, and tomorrow we're going kyaking in the sea to see dolphins and turtles :D

Blue Mountains

Today we took a two hour train journey from Sydney to Katoomba to go to the Blue Mountains and see the 'three sisters'. (The big rocks). There is a story behind why they are called the three sisters which the aboriginal tribes believe. The story goes along the lines of a magic man took his three daughters hunting, and they were about to get eaten by this scary creature so he turned them into stone with his kangaroo bone. The creature then chased him and cornered him into a cave where there was only a tiny hole to escape, so he turned himself into a lyer bird and got out. They also believe that when they see a lyer bird, who looks like they are searching for something on the ground, this is the magic man trying to find his kangaroo bone so we can turn him and his three daughters back to humans :).


Here we are on the lookout to the three sisters.

Us in some rocks....

Climbed up a waterfall :)

This blog is turning into Liz, Rhi and Laura in Oz! :)
We're going to Spot X, Surf Camp tomorrow! So excited!
10 hours in a bus, starting at 6am. Yay.

City Walk, Sydney

Today we walked all around the city in Sydney. We went to a war memorial and cathedral in Hyde Park, The Botanical Gardens, Government House, Opera House with the view of Sydney Harbour Bridge, ferry to Manley Beach, and back down to our hostel :).

In the Botanical Gardens with Laura and Jo

Sydney Opera House :)

After dinner, we're going to walk round Darling Harbour, which we're looking forward to :).
Rhi is feeling much better today, so hopefully she'll be fully recovered by Surf Camp!

Sydney Beaches

Today we went on a beach tour in Sydney with the hostel we're staying in. It was fun :), we went to the famous Bondi at the end. Then when we got back to our hostel we got free beer :).

In the evening we met some friends for dinner (seperately), who we both knew from out of Oz :)

Sydney

We are still yet to see Sydney properly. Pig is not feeling very well so she is resting in bed. Meanwhile I have made a really fun trip to the supermarket with our friend Laura, who we met on the Oz Experience bus! We're going to go to 'The Gaff' tonight and meet a few of the other guys from the bus. It should be fun.
Haven't taken any photos today.. The supermarket wasn't very interesting.. Just expensive!!!!!

Thredbo and Canberra

Yesterday we climbed the highest mountain in Australia, Mount Kosciuszko.
Here we are at the peak :).

Today we drove from Thredbo to Sydney. We stopped of at the capital, Canberra, on the way.
Overlooking the city.

A big sheep on the way to Sydney from Canberra.

Holding his huge balls :)

Lakes Entrance

Tonight we are staying at a youth hostel in Lakes Entrance.
It was a long journey here today but we had lots of stops on the way including going to Squeaky Beach, with a small 'mountain hike', searing for Kangaroos, which we saw! Lot's of :), then fish and chips for dinner with the rest of the guys on the bus. Then we just hung out of the beach for a while at Lakes Entrance, as you do :).

Melbourne

Lizzie has enjoyed the first few days here in Melbourne visiting relatives in Doncaster.
Been spoilt rotten, and went out to celebrate the last day of Chinese New Year on thursday evening :)

We're now together and excited about starting our travels up the East Coast in the morning! AHHH!
First stop.. Lakes Entrance :)