1770 and Airlie Beach

To break up the journey between Hervey Bay and Airlie beach I opted to stop off at 1770 for a night. However the hostel was so lovely and the people there were amazing that I ended up staying for a couple of nights in the end.

We had dinner cooked for us for $5 each evening, a camp fire that we toasted bananas and chocolate on and a lovely beach that I spent two days tanning myself on. Plus I managed to avoid getting burnt.

As we were there on a Saturday night we decided to head to the one and only local pub after being promised a lively evening. It was hilarious. Beside the three of us, there were very few other backpackers in there and we spent the evening being chatted up by a mixture of lads who claimed they were 18 but were more likely 16 and a couple of guys in their late 40's and 50's. It was certainly different from the backpacker scene we are used to plus we got a couple of free drinks too.

The night bus to Airlie Beach was not so fun as for the first time it was packed so we didn't get a seat to ourselves and it was freezing. By the time we arrived at 6.15am in the morning we were exhausted and in need of a sleep on the beach.

The name Airlie Beach is a bit of an over claim as there really isn't a beach as such. Instead there is a man-made lagoon (similar to the Brisbane one but on a larger scale) for swimming in and a bit of nearby sand. Besides this there is not much to do in the day so when the weather is overcast like it was this morning, lying in bed is the best option.

It did clear-up however so I managed to catch a bit of extra sun and top up my tan in preparation for the Whitsundays boat trip tomorrow. As Airlie is known for its night life we have also checked out some of the nearby bars but am having a quiet night tonight as am not keen on having a hangover on the boat especially if the water is rough.

Still debating whether to do an intro dive or just kayak and snorkel but either way I can't wait. Fingers crossed the sun keeps shining. Will update you on the Whitsundays when back on Saturday.

Fraser Island

I wasn't sure that Fraser could really live up to the hype as everyone says that it is definitely one of the most incredible and diverse landscapes that you will ever encounter. However they are right and I have just spent two amazing days on the island.

Fraser is the largest sand island in the world and to think such an array of vegetation survives in this sandy terrain is quite remarkable. From rainforests to freshwater lakes and sandunes.

The island is only accessible by 4WD vehicles and you have the option of either doing a self-drive and camping on the beach or taking a guided tour. Whilst I don't mind camping I was worried that I might be paired up with a group of young lads who just wanted to get pissed and party by the lake, so opted for the guided tour. What's more when I arrived into Hervey Bay I found out that my tour wasn't running and instead I had been upgraded to stay in a nicer resort on the island which obviously I was really pleased about.

The whole experience was fantastic. There were 13 of us in total and the guide was great so not only did we see all the main attractions but learnt about the history of the island and why it has such a diverse ecology too.

On the first day we went to Lake McKenzie, an aqua clear blue lake with fine white sand which was breathtaking. We also walked through the rainforests to see king ferns and huge trees as well as visiting Lake Birabeen which boasted a beautiful reflective surface.

On the second day we drove along the 'ocean highway' otherwise known as the 75-mile beach stopping off to see the bats, python and dingo along the way. We paddled in Eli creek, took photos of the Maheno shipwreck's rustic hull and saw various coloured sands.

After that we walked up to Fraser's renowned look out 'Indian Head' to watch the dolphins and whales in the distance before going for a dip in the Champagne Rock Pools.

All our meals were included in the trip so we didn't need to worry about what to bring as there is vary little on the island itself. In terms of accommodation we stayed in cabins on the grounds of the exclusive Kingfisher Bay resort and whilst basic they were warm and we got to watch the sunset in the resorts jacuzzi!

The 4WD experience was unreal with at points you actually bouncing off your seat or thinking the truck is going to tip. We saw a couple of vans who had become stuck in the sand and needed pushing/towing out. To think that there are no paved roads with the main route on the east side via the beach itself, with the tide washing under the wheels is something I don't think I will ever experience again.

I am now back in Hervey Bay catching up with washing, emails etc before catching a bus up to 1770 this afternoon reminiscing about the last two days.

Noosa

Noosa is a stunning beachside town. I stayed at the YHA which is a beautiful colonial style lodge (now a listed building) right in the heart of Noosa Heads only 100 metres from the beach.

On my first day I went to Australia zoo. I wasn't sure as I had already been to Taronga zoo in Sydney and seen some koalas and tigers at Dreamworld but as was one of the Sunshine coast's major attractions (which has no doubt increased in popularity since Steve Irwin's death) I thought I should check it out. It was actually well worth it. There is so much more interaction with the animals than any other zoo, with the chance during your day to feed an elephant, stroke a baby crocodile, hug a kangaroo or walk a wombat. The shows were also really interesting and informative with loads to see and do, making it a great day out.

The next day I headed off into the national parks at Noosa Heads to walk along the headlands to the various secluded bays and also try and spot a koala in the forested areas. Sadly I didn't. Good job I went to the zoo!

Unfortunately it started to rain in the afternoon so I was unable to enjoy the beach so instead wandered around the lake and shops before leaving for Hervey Bay.

Brisvegas!

Ok so I was warned that Brisbane didn't have that much to offer but with a population of over 1 million people I thought there must be more to it than what I had heard. I decided to stay in a hostel right in the centre just behind the main shopping district. Whilst this was great in terms of location the hostel was the worst yet, dirty and in need of a makeover. Needless to say it had just been taken over by Base. Not as bad as Hot Rocks in Rotorua but a close second.

During the short time I was in Brisbane I think I covered off just about all of its main attractions with the exception of the museums which didn't interest me. I headed over to the South bank adorned with cafes, shops, market stalls, an artificial beach and nice walks along the river which was by far the highlight. Next stop was the Botanical gardens which were sadly very disappointing.

The shopping area was great with all the main stores and malls situated on one street, but I hadn't really come to Brisbane to shop. Well if I had any space in my rucksack I might have.

The next day I headed out to Mount Coot-tha to admire the views over the city and surrounding area but sadly even that was a bit underwhelming and after less than 24 hours I was ready to continue up the East Coast.

Springbrook National Park and Whale Watching

Whilst I knew that I was unlikely to beat my hot air balloon ride I was determined to make the most of my time at Surfers and so yesterday took an Eco trip out to the Springbrook National Park. First stop was the Natural Arch, a magnificent natural arch (funny that!) and waterfall cascades which were really impressive. We then headed on into the heart of Springbrook for a walk to Rainbow Falls and Twin Falls. The track to Rainbow Falls was shut as the track was unsafe however our guide assured us it was fine as long as we were careful. Trust me to slip just as we are crossing the actual waterfall and land on my bum!

After a picnic lunch we headed up to a spot called ‘the best of all lookouts’ quite a claim, yet the view was incredible. You can see as far as Byron Bay with clear views of Mt Warning and the surrounding terrain.

Before heading home we stopped off at a glow worm grotto. Not as impressive as the Waitamo caves in New Zealand as the grotto was tiny in comparison, yet still worth a short visit. The day trip was really informative and it was nice to see a bit of the surrounding area rather than spending all my time on the beach.

Today I was once again up early (I am in need of a lie-in!) to go whale watching. We headed out into the sea via the Gold Coast Canal and were shown the homes of the rich and famous and the areas best architecture.

It took about an hour before we were far enough out to spot a whale and the ride was very rough, with quite a few people suffering from sea sickness. Humpback whales are the 5th largest of all great whales and the most surface active. Unlike dolphins they are found in much smaller pods typically between two and fifteen. Today there were three of them (Sadly not Migaloo the albino whale) that we watched play in the water.

I couldn’t get over just how massive they are, shaking the boat as they swam past. Whilst they kept surfacing about every three minutes they only jumped once (I missed it) and flipped their tails twice. However it was still a great morning seeing these amazing animals in their natural environment. I think it is incredible the crew can spot them amongst the waves within such a vast area.

Am off to Brisbane tomorrow but don’t plan on staying long as have been warned there is very little to see and instead I should just stay a night and continue up the East Coast. I will keep you posted.

Hot Air Ballooning and Dreamworld

I am absolutely loving Surfers Paradise. Whilst it is a lot more commercial than Byron Bay and the coastline is lined with high-rise apartments and hotel blocks there is so much more to do. The first afternoon I spent wandering along the beachfront and mooching round the shops. My hostel is right on the beach front which means I can literally roll out of bed onto the beach – great!

Friday I was up at the crack of dawn to go hot air ballooning. The flight was meant to be at sunrise but we were a little late taking off as we were waiting for the fog to clear. What was meant to be a 30 minute scenic flight turned out to be a full hour as some of the others had paid for an hour so we managed to get the extra half hour for free – bargain!

I was a bit worried at first just how smooth the flight was going to be but was pleasantly surprised and before I knew it we were over 4,000ft high cruising over the hinterland. The views were spectacular and with the fog parting to reveal the national parks below it was truly magical.

Landing was equally memorable but for a completely different reason. As you can’t steer a hot air balloon you have to rely on wind direction and experience. Well this time the pilot didn’t time it quite right and whilst we avoided the tress we landed in a field surrounded by barbed wire, a creek and with no obvious access. It took over an hour for the truck to find a way in and even then we had to navigate ourselves across the fields and creek to the bus. This was easier for some than others. The poor Indian couple in their late 70’s really struggled.

After that we headed over to O’Reillys vineyard for a champagne cooked breakfast before being dropped off at Dreamworld. We were initially a bit worried about not having enough time as we were two hours later than planned due to our landing. Nevertheless as there were no queues we managed to fit everything in.

I was a bit of a wuss and whilst I was prepared to do a sky dive, rides which tipped you upside down were another matter. Instead I watched Ali on those rides and took the photos instead.

As well as the rides we had a tour of the Australian Big Brother studio (we couldn’t go in the house as the contestants are currently in there) and watched a tiger show. We also had our photos taken with a koala and the kangaroos. This has certainly been my best day in Australia to date and it will take some beating!

Byron Bay!

The last few days in Sydney were spent frantically finishing off my work, as well as attending the opening of the Sydney Film Festival and after party, watching Sex and the City and having leaving drinks with friends from work.

Saturday morning I frantically attempted to pack everything up and clean the flat before having a farewell meal and catching the bus to Byron Bay.

Only a couple of slight hitches, firstly I found out that the post office isn't open on a Saturday and leaving everything until the last minute I had a box of work clothes and bits and pieces that I needed to ship home (thank you Anouk for agreeing to send it for me!)

Secondly a 12 hour bus trip is not pleasant at the best of times but combined with a dodgy stomach it is a recipe for disaster, leaving me feeling quite jaded by the time we arrived in Byron.

The weather was lovely on the Sunday when I arrived so I spent the day walking up to the Cape and around the lighthouse, via the various beaches which was bliss - although I didn't spot any whales or dolphins unfortunately. By about 4pm it had started to rain though so headed out early in to town to enjoy some live music at the Beach hotel.

Monday the weather was dire so it was the perfect opportunity to take advantage of the pressie Hausmann had given me as a leaving gift and head up to the exclusive spa resort for a massage and use of their facilities - bliss! Afterwards I wandered round the grounds (set amongst the rainforest which leads down onto the beach) before heading back to Byron for a spot of shopping.

Tuesday took a day trip to Nimbin which was very entertaining and the guide was hilarious. Was a little surprised to discover that Nimbin really did only just consist of a few shacks/shops but nevertheless the characters on the streets definitely made up for it. Stopped off on the way back at some eco dudes house to be greeted by this guy in a filthy dressing gown and wellies who showed us round - very surreal! and then went on the Minyon Falls. Made it back in one piece which is more than can be said for some of the lads at the back of the bus that didn't look to clever after one too many cookies!

Left Byron early this morning and headed up to Surfers Paradise. The weather has picked up so have spent a lovely day on the beach and wandering around Surfers acquainting myself. I can't quite get over how quiet it is as most of the hostels seem to be less than half full and whilst the people I have met along the way have been lovely and great for nights out no one so far is on the same/similar timescale as me.

I intend to pack as much in as I can over the next few days, starting with a sunrise hot air balloon ride over the national parks tomorrow and a trip to dreamworld.