Magnetic Island

That's us on Magnetic Island at the moment - just off Townsville, QLD. We got the bus down from Cairns yesterday, passed by loads of sugar and Banana plantations on the way. Apparently it is the place in Australia which gets the most Sunshine per year - 320 days! Its certainly been very nice weather here today, been up at Horseshoe Bay enjoying the sun, then went on a walk to Florence Bay and on the way I saw an Echidna - kind of like a Hedgehog (Native to Australia I think). Hostel here isn't very nice, we're setting off tomorrow, heading down to Airlie Beach and the Whitsundays.

The plans so far are:

• Whitsundays 29th June


• Brisbane 3rd July


• Gold Cost 6th July


• Byron Bay 8th July


• Sydney 10th July

So it's all a bit of a rush but hopefully we'll see the main sites!

On Tuesday we went Snorkelling on Fitzroy Island (on the Great Barrier Reef), it was absolutely amazing. There were loads of fish all around, and the colours of the Coral were great. Definately one of the best things I've done out here, the water seemed quite cold but you soon got used to it once we got in! Saw one of those Clownfish (like Nemo) hiding in a bit of coral and there was a shoal of fish which seemed to have thousands of fish kept swimming around us.

Anyway I've just been uploading a few more photos to flickr. We're planning to book a Camper Van for New Zealand shortly, going to be there for around 3 weeks, so it will be a long time in a small space!

Here's a snap of me in my Snorkeling gear on Fitzroy Island!

Cairns and the East Coast

That's us in Cairns now. Arrived yesterday and planning to leave on Wednesday. Had a look around the city yesterday, its a nice place but there isn't a lot to do as it is really only a base for tours to the Great Barrier Reef. We're planning to do a daytrip to Fitzroy Island, an island in the reef tomorrow.

Darwin went well, our last day there was really hot so we got to see a bit of the real heat!

We've ordered a bus pass with Greyhound today to travel down the East Coast from Cairns to Sydney with unlimited stops. It's a huge distance but hopefully with plenty stops it will be manageable!

I'm uploading my photos now so they should hopefully be up on flickr shortly. Heres a photo of Cullen Bay in Darwin to show off how tropical it was looking!

Kakadu, Litchfield and Mindil Beach Market

Been a busy few days these last couple of days! On Wednesday we went on the Tour Tub (Open-Sided bus) and did a circuit of the main sights in Darwin. We went to the Museum which had a really good exhibition about Cyclone Tracy which came here in 1974 and almost totally destroyed the city. Then we went to the Botanic Gardens, Fannie Bay Gaol and some WW2 Oil Storage Tunnels. Wednesday was apparently the coldest June day on record in Darwin - it was 22 degrees! There's also been a little rain and the locals can't believe it as usually in the dry season (April - November) they get absolutely none. It does mean theres been more rain in the waterfalls and things so it's fine in a way. It's getting steadily warmer and the forecast for tomorrow is 31.

Yesterday we went to Kakadu National Park. It's a vast park in the Northern Territory (bigger than Switzerland apparently). We went to a few cultural centres there, as there are still a lot of Aboriginals living there. We saw some ancient rock paintings, and we did a cruise on the Yellow Water Billabong. Saw loads of birds and a few wild crocs - one really big one. On the way home we went by Mindil Beach Market which is a night market which runs until 10pm at night. It had a real asian feel about it, and the temperature was quite nice for a walk around.

We went to Litchfield National Park today, a much smaller park and closer to Darwin so we didn't have to get up so early! We went on the Adelaide River first and saw some Jumping Crocodiles then went into the National Park and saw Florence Falls, Wangi Falls and Tolmer Falls. They were pretty spectacular and there were lots of folk swimming in the plunge pools (apparently they are thoroughly checked for Crocodiles before they are opened for the dry season!).

I'm going to try and upload my photos once I get a faster internet connection. Planning to have a look around Darwin again tomorrow, go to Cullen Bay and look around the centre.

Darwin

Made it to Darwin on Monday. Flight was fine - much quicker than the train! On Monday we just had a look around the centre and got settled in. It was really warm on Monday, a bit like Singapore again. Yesterday we went to Aquascene in the morning - which is a place where you can hand feed all kinds of fish, they come right into the pier and swim around your feet. That was pretty good, then we went out to Crocodylus Park which is like a Crocodile Farm. They had hundreds of Salt water and fresh water crocodiles, which they farm for their meat and skins. We made it in for a feeding so that was really good, they seem so docile then all of a sudden they turn a bit crazy! There was also a little Zoo at the park so we saw lots of different native animals.

Today we're planning to get the Open Top Tour bus and go out to the Museum and Botanic Gardens and a few other sites. Then tomorrow we're off to Kakadu National Park and on Friday we're going to Litchfield National Park and doing a Jumping Crocs tour where they feed wild crocodiles off the side of a boat and they jump out of the water for their food!

I've put some new photos on flickr but haven't had time to title them yet!

Uluru and Kata Tjuta

Me at Uluru

Got out to Uluru yesterday. We did a day tour, left at 6am! Started off by going to Mount Ebenezer, then past Mount Connor, then to Yulara (Ayers Rock Resort). Saw some 'Brumbies' (Wild Horses), Wedge-Tailed Eagles and a Kangaroo on the road out. Got into the national park and went to Kata Tjuta (The Olgas) first. They were pretty spectacular. Had a walk around them, then headed to Uluru. We got a few walks around the base and some of the caves and things are impressive and the rock paintings were quite good (although our guide told us a lot of them aren't very old). It is quite strange how it just rises out of nothing! We watched sunset over the Rock while we had a BBQ and it was pretty spectacular the way it changes colour at sunset.

Anyway the photos are up here.

I've also put up some Panoramas here

Been around Alice Springs today, we went to a baby Kangaroo rescue centre and held some baby Kangaroos. Planning to go to the Flying Doctor's Museum tomorrow. We're moving hostel as the one we're in at the moment (Annie's Place) isn't terrific!

Adelaide and The Ghan

Just arrived in Alice Springs today. First impressions aren't too bad, seems a bit rough around the edges!

Adelaide was good, went out to Glenelg (a beach-side suburb) on Monday, but as it was a public holiday lots of shops were shut. We went on a wineries tour on Tuesday which was really good, went out to the Barossa Valley and saw Jacob's Creek, VineCrest, Richmond Grove and Bethany Wines. Lots of samples at all of them! Saw Shrek 3 at the cinema in Glenelg - would highly recommend it!

Got the Ghan up to Alice Springs yesterday - got on at 12.20 got off at 13.40 the next day! It was a long trip but the time seemed to go by quite fast. There's a restaurant carriage and a lounge so you're not stuck in your seat all the time. It got dark quite early so we didn't see all that much until this morning, but it really gave the feeling you were in the middle of no-where!

We've booked a tour to Uluru (Ayers Rock) tomorrow - leave at 6am and get back at Midnight. Also thinking about going to the Devils Marbles on Saturday, but it depends on if we can find someone willing to hire us a car!

Great Ocean Road

Me at Great Ocean Road Memorial Sign

We're now in Adelaide, got the overnight bus last night from Melbourne. We're staying at a Hostel in the centre of town. Tomorrow is another public holiday-Queens Birthday this time! We're hoping to do a Winery tour, but not sure if it will be running because of the Holiday.

Great Ocean Road was really nice, we stopped the first night in Apollo Bay and the second night in Warrnambool. Saw all the main sights, and had plenty time compared to Tasmania. We hired a car again and did around 700km. The weather was ok, but not spectacular - only to be expected as it is Winter here now. The Twelve Apostles were very impressive, and there were lots of Arches and Gorges around the coast. Anglesea Golf Course was a highlight - as there are loads of Kangaroo's all around the course! My photos are up on Flickr

Heading upto Alice Springs on The Ghan on Wednesday.

Kangaroo's at Anglesea Golf Course

Tasmania

Me in King Solomans Cave (With Limestone Column)

Thats us back in Melbourne tonight from Tasmania. Got a flight from Hobart. We're staying in Melbourne International Backpackers tonight then collecting another hire car tomorrow to do the Great Ocean Road for the next few days.

Here's a brief outline of what we did in Tassie! The scenery there was amazing and really enjoyed it, the weather stayed pretty good.

Sunday

Got hire car. We got an upgrade - we ordered a Hyundai Getz and we got a Toyota Corolla. It was pretty good, roomy, nippy and seemed to be pretty efficient on fuel. By the time we returned it we had done almost 1500km! First of all we went to Cradle Mountain, via a little town called Sheffield which had lots of murals painted on the buildings, but it was quite misty so didn't see much of the mountain. We went around the West Coast instead - past Zeehan, Strahan and Queenstown. Then we went to Lake St Clair, which was pretty nice, and drove back to our Lodge in Launceston along a gravel track. It was quite a bad road but luckily we didn't see any other cars - lots of wildlife so we were going really slow.

Monday

Went to Cataract Gorge just outside Launceston - it was pretty spectacular (see the photo). Then we went out to King Solomans Cave which was full of limestone formations, I really enjoyed it. All the sites were quiet as it is winter here so we almost had the tour guide to ourselves! Then we went along to Liffey Falls, again we had to go on a gravel track to get there, but it was worth the drive as it was very picturesque. Then we drove down to Hobart (The Capital) and checked into another lodge. They were pretty ideal as they cost around the same as a hostel but we got our own little cabin with a double bed and a set of bunks, and kitchen, tv etc. They were a little bit out of town but it is fine with a car.

Tuesday

We went out to Port Arthur, on the Tasman Peninsula. There are lots of old penal buildings here from when the UK sent out the convicts. It was quite different, and a nice drive out there. We went back into Hobart in the afternoon and drove up Mount Wellington (1300m) and saw some great views up there. It was absolutely freezing so we didn't stay up top for long! We went into Hobart and looked around the shops for a little while and relaxed at night!

Wednesday

We went to the Cadbury's Factory. They make most of the chocolate for Australia at the factory, and the tour was pretty good. You got right out on the floor of the factory - some of the machinery they have is amazing. Got a few freebies! We went out to Russell Falls in Mount Field National Park in the afternoon, which was pretty nice again. Then we went into town and looked around the shop and returned our car in the afternoon - thankfully in one piece!

Me at Russell Falls

Cataract Gorge

Most of my photos are up here

Panoramic Test

This is a wee test - hopefully there will be a Panoramic of Canberra below!

Made it back!

Kangaroo I saw at the start of my climb up Mount Ainslie.

Made it back to Melbourne last night. Had a good time in Canberra, on my last day I climbed up Mount Ainslie - a Hill (843m) behind Canberra. Got a really good view from the top of it so have taken loads of photos - they're on flickr here. In the afternoon I went out to a shopping centre beside the Airport called Brand Depot - sort of like McArthur Glen in Livingston. Flew with Virgin Blue - they are one of the main 'cheap' air liners out here. Staying in a hostel in the centre of Melbourne now - Greenhouse backpackers, on Flinders Lane. It is really handy as we don't need to get a tram pass, can just walk around.

Heading off to Tasmania tomorrow night, on the boat. I'm fearing it is going to be quite rough as the Bass Strait is supposed to be quite a rough patch of water. We've hired a car (A Hyundai Getz!) for the whole time we're in Tasmania as it's quite a big place - apparently the size of Ireland! We're planning to stay in Launceston one night, and Hobart two. Flying back to Melbourne on Wednesday evening, then we'll be driving along the Great Ocean Road Thurs, Fri and then getting the overnight bus to Adelaide on the Saturday.

Not much else to say at the minute, keep the comments coming, it's good to hear from folk!