Laura & Weeny's Travel Adventures

16/2/06 - Today went on a two day safari tour to Fraser Island. It took 50mins on the ferry to get there from Hervey Bay. There were 24 people in our group and we travelled in a 4WD army coach, it was mad! Me and weeny were sitting right at the back so it was the most bumpyest, we were flying out of our seats!Fraser Island is a sand island 123km long. It has a seventy-five mile long beach which is actually used as a highway for all the cars. You have to drive a 4WD on the island otherwise u'll get stuck in the sand, and even then the 4WD's still sometimes get stuck. First stop on the trip was the Yidney Rainforest. We got off the truck and walked for 1/2 hour through an amazing rainforest. It was so much cooler in the rainforest then the island and really beautiful. There are many venomous snakes in the rainforest but luckerly we didnt see any just huge spiders which was just as scary! After the rainforest we got back on the truck for another bumpy ride to Indian Head Point the furthest point north of the island. We had to climb up a steep rocky hill to reach the view point, but once there the view was spectacular. You could see the whole of fraser island and way out to sea. We spent a while admiring the view and looking at sting rays and tuna in the sea. Unfortunately you cant swim in the sea at Fraser island but thats because its a breeding ground for tiger sharks and the current is very strong. Some of the group even saw a shark eating at the tuna. Next stop we were back on the truck to see the Maheno ship wreck on the beach which was 100s of years old. It had become very rusty and there HAD been alot of corrosion from the sea. But once it had been a very impressive cruise ship. After we got to swim in Eli Creek. It was freezing!! There are many creeks on Fraser island. And they are really lovely becuse they are not man-made they are just formed by the rain. That evening we had a BBQ buffet which was very yum and a group of around 14 of us played shed (a card game) using three decks of cards! It was a right laugh and we played for hours. That night we stayed in Tents but they were so nice we had a double bed and there was a wooden floor. It was the best nights sleep ive had.
The following morning we were up by 7 for breakfast and back on the truck to lake Wabby. We had to walk for 1/2 hour over the sand dunes in the scorching heat to get there!But once we arrived the walk had been well worth it. It was a gorgeous lake at the bottom of a big sand dune. We spent a few hours swimming and enjoying the lake before the 45min walk back to the truck. For lunch we had yummy fajitas and then made our way to our last stop lake Birrabeen. The lake was so beautiful the water was was completely clear and the sand was pure white it was just stunning. We swam in the lake for around an hour an it was so lovley and warm. After we had to get the ferry back to hervey bay. It had been such a fantastic trip, we met such lovely people and just had so much fun. Once back in Hervey Bay we picked up the campervan and made are way to Beerwah a couple of hours south from Hervey Bay. We travelled with a couple we met on the Fraser Island trip, Alex and Amy. They also have a campervan and our travelling down to Sydney.

13/2/06 - Left our campsite early morning and headed for Hervey Bay. It was an extremly long day of driving and we didnt arrive at hervey bay till 8.30pm! That night stayed at a BIG4 campsite and as you can imagine didnt do to much were shattered from the long drive.
14/2/06 - Got woken up early today by the birds and the sun was scorching hot at 7.00am. Went around the town trying to find a good deal on a trip to Fraser Island. We would like to stay there for a night. We found a pretty good two day trip where you stay in 5* tents but its not until the day after tomorrow. A 5* tent has wooden floors, and a big double bed! See we know had to do camping in style!
That night had a BBQ with a guy called Dan and his family we had actually met them in Arlie beach and they travelled down to Hervey bay the day after us.
13/2/06 - Today booked our 2 day safari trip to Fraser Island and spent the day with Dan whos from Canada. We swam at the beach and looked round the shops. Had fish and chips for lunch and tried this Australian fish called Barramundi, it was delicous. That evening had dinner with Dan and his family again, and played cards.

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.