Feb 2006

10/02/06 - Today left Townsville and headed towards Airlie beach, on the way we stopped off at the Billabong Sanctary (its like a zoo) We got to feed and touch kangaroos which were just wandering about the place. We also got to hold and have our photos taken with a python , baby crocodile, koala and lizards ! It was fantastic! We saw crocodiles being fed and emus and got told alot about all of the animals at the sanctary. In Australia they have many dangerous and venomous animals. That afternoon we arrived at the BIG4 camspite in Airlie beach. We met a young Australian couple Nelson and Katy in the pool and went out clubbing with them that night. Nelson was actually on big brother in Oz so all night long people kept coming up to him. They were really nice and we had such a wicked night hopefully we'll get a chance to see them again in Brisbane thats where they live. The next day being a bit hungover didnt do too much just chilled out by the pool. That evening we cooked Nelson and Katy a BBQ of burgers and mint lamb steaks it was yum! We then watched Charlie and the Chocolate factory on a massive outdoor screen they have at our campsite. They have loads of cool stuff here a really nice big pool with water slides,crazy golf, bouncy castle, outdoor cinema, a fantastic cinema with loads of BBQ's.
12/2/06- Today went on a boat trip round the Whitsunday islands. The first beach we stopped at was white heaven beach its 7km long and so beautiful. The sand is made from 90% silicone and when you walk on it its like snow and not hot. The next stop we did some snorkelling and saw many fish including a big mauori wrasse, parrot fish and bat fish. Everytime we swam in the sea we had to wear a stinger suit which is like a lycra catsuit!not the most attractive! But its not worth taking the risk not too wear one, if you get stung its so dangerous and you can even die. Had a fantastic day out at the whitsundays and met some lovely people on the boat. The guys that worked on the boat even gave u sthe left over food to take with us. Australian poeple are so friendly and really kind, nothing like the English. They all wanna chat to you and are so helpful. That night we made sausage and cheese omlettes with the leftover food we'd been given and weeny played tennis with a guy who'd been on the boat trip.

9/2/06. Left the camspite early morning and headed towards Townsville. Walked around the town and then visted the reef HQ aquariam, which was great. They have the largest living coral reef aquarium in the world, its home to thousands of incredible reef creatures. We saw sharks, turtles, sting rays and thousands of differnt types of fish. That evening found a BIG4 carvan site to stay at and we even had our own private toilet and shower!

1/2/06 - Arrived in Cairns around 10.00am after a whole day of travelling. Very excited but so exhausted. Oh yeah and the airline lost my luggage!Wasnt to bothered was so happy to be here! Got a cab into Cairns city centre and its such a beautiful place so green, palm trees everywhere, very clean and lovely and sunny. They have this beautiful man-made lagoon in the city centre for swimming and a small beach. There are BBQ's there you can sunbath, swim, play sports its so cool. At the moment in Cairns its their rainy season, but since we've been here its been lovely and sunny around 35 degrees everyday. Its not so busy either because its the off season. First two nights we stayed in a hostel called the Bellview. A very clean friendly place, we had our own room with en-suite, fridge, kettle and fan. The first day we arrived we went exploring round the town centre, its mainly shops and restaurants and they have this enormous shopping mall two blocks long. I bought a few bits because my luggage still hadn't arrived and the airline gave me $100 compensation. Pretty good huh!. Our second day in Cairns we spent the whole day looking for some cheap campervan rentals. The very last place we went to gave us the best deal $68 a day (32 pounds). It does seem quite alot but it was the cheapest we found by far. The following day we collected our camper it was soooo exciting! Went shopping straight away for all the food and bits we needed. That night we stayed at campsite in Cairns, it was so hot all night and we had to leave all the doors and windows open. I was so scared all the creatures would come in! In the morning I woke up with these really itchy bites on my hand they were so painful.
4/2/06 - Today woke up nice and early to the birds singing and went to the man-made laggon in Cairns and stayed there for a few hours swiming in the pool and sunbathing on the grass. In the afternoon we left Cairns and headed north to Port Douglas a small fishing village which took around and hour and a half. Theres not much going on here but they have a lovely beach. We went swimming in the sea and it was like going into a warm bath and this was around 5.00pm. You can only swim in the netted area in the sea otherwise you can get stung by the jelly fish. This time of year its stinger season and if you get stung it can be fatal. That night stayed in a lovely campsite. It was still so hot at night so left the back door open and woke up with loads of bites! I still have the bites on my hand so need to go to the chemist its so sore. Our plan for today was to head north to Cape Tribulation a rainforest but we have to go back to Cairns to get a mosquito net and fan for the camper. We booked a trip today for two dives at the great barrier reef so excited and we got a real bargin it cost $100which is so cheap. After went to the chemist and got some anti-histamines for my hand then went back to the campsite and was completely knocked out from the tablets, i slept for hours. That evening we met two guys on the campsite one who actually lived on the site and the other who was travelling round Oz for a year.
6/2/06 - Today went back to the campervan shop as our lights in the van werent working, then went to find a decent hairdressers my hair looks minging and its gets really damaged from the sea and sun.
Eventually found a half decent one and you get 30% off if your a backpacker. The rest of the day went to the lagoon. That evening we were invited for dinner with Paul and Mark the two guys we met in the campsite last night. Mark is 19 and been travelling round Oz for 7 months and Paul is very strange but really sweet! He must be around 60 and lives on the camspite, hes partially deaf and all he seems to do is read, play back gammon and smoke drugs. Paul cooked us apricot chicken, rice and veg. It was the yummyest dinner we've had since being here. After dinner Paul taught us his favourite game backgammon, we had a great laugh.
7/2/06 - Woke up early today as we have our trip on the great barrier reef. The boat leaves at 7.30 and we just got there in time! The first dive site was off a beach and there were jelly fish everywhere, so we decided it was best to wear wet suits. But apparently those jelly fish where not harmful. We didnt see many fish because the visiblity was quite bad, but the next dive site was in the middle of the ocean and was really amazing! I could not believe how stunning the coral and fish were! The colours were amazing and we saw so many different types of beautiful fish. Diving on the great barrier reef is really as beautiful as people say, me and weeny were both completely shocked and just had the best time. Met some really cool people on the boat and had a really lovely day out. That night we had been invited to BBQ by a couple Ray and Colin who lived on our campsite. We had the most gorgeous food, meat,pumkin, sweet potatoes, onions. We bought round some wine and beers and had a really fun evening. They were the lovelyest couple so so kind and freindly. Colin is English and he met his girlfriend Ray (shes australian) 8 years ago while travelling. They now have a child together and just recently moved to Cairns from Melborne.
8/2/06 - Got up early toady and had my hair appoinment. The guy did a pretty good job and even curled it with straightners and it looked lovely. After my hair was done we said our goodbyes to Cairns and started heading down south of the east coast. After driving for around 4 hours we started getting really low on petrol and all the garages were shut so we ended up having to stop and stay in a campsite untill morning. The camspite was stunning it had a lake and the facilties were so clean it was really posh.