johnnoble

I must warn all that this entry is going to make quite a lot of you MORE jealous...& rightly so.

After our brief visit to Nimbin we set off for Byron Bay. For those of you that haven't heard of it, it is a small (but popular) Surfing town South of Brisbane. It is very geared towards tourists, & reminded me a lot of Whistler (just sunny & surfing, not skiing!). We spent a couple of days there on the beach & out on the town. As we were there midweek there wasnt a great deal going on. We also saw the most rain since we have been travelling!

Next stop was Surfer's Paradise, which is a small city that is able to boast to being home to some of Oz's most attractive beaches.

We not only enjoyed the beaches, we tasted the nightlife too - which reminded me of some Spanish/Greek tourist spots that have been over run with young drinkers. The atmosphere around the place was good, including the hostel that we were staying. More goon was consumed (cheap boxed wine) over cards (aka drinking games) with our Norwegian & English room mates.

Whilst we were in Surfers we finally got the opportunity to visit one of Australia's best water parks, called "Wet N Wild." It had some pretty impressive slides & the weather was perfect for it.

After we had pickled our livers (not for the first time) in Surfers it was time to move onto Beerwah - the home of Australia Zoo. Australia Zoo was made famous by the late Steve Irwin, who was admired the world over for his passion for animals (& quite frankly he was a bit of a nutter too!). The Zoo is beautifully kept & they have all of the native Australian animals you could want to see. I am sure you don't need these pictures explaining...

In the centre of the Zoo they have a purpose built stadium (the Crocosium) for live animal shows. There were the usual birds & reptiles, although everyone was clearly waiting for the Croc feeding. It wasn't a disappointment!

Australia Zoo was a definite must do attraction & one we all thoroughly enjoyed.

The next day I drove Smalls & Dixy back to Brisbane & dropped them off, before heading West to the Glass Mountains National Park. I was taking another excursion to explore some more of Australia's more remote & stunning locations, & going on more treks too.

Yet again some of the trails were quite challenging, although always worth it in order to see these landscapes.

One of the things that has really impressed me about the Aussie outback is how evident nature's ability to regenerate is. The picture below is of an area of land that was badly burnt in recent fires, although the seeds from the trees can survive extreme heats & begin to flourish within days of the fires being extinguished. This is evident from the green growing out of burnt wood!

After my day of trekking I drove back to Brisbane, picked up the boys, then we were off again & heading North to Hervey Bay. Hervey isn't a great draw itself, although it is one of the most popular connection points to Fraser Island - which is an entirely sand based island.

We booked a three day/two nights self guided tour, costing a little over $200. There were four groups of nine, each responsible for their own 4x4 vehicle. We were blessed with an amazing group of people...team England!

Right from the moment we were put together we all got on famously. We were clearly the most organised of all the groups, & the envy of the others too (as a result of which we enjoyed many smug moments). Whislt we were travelling in the cars as a nine we would all camp together & socialise as we stopped off at the sightseeing venues throughout the day. This itinerary was planned out for us, so we just had to keep to a schedule (because of the tides) & read a map.

The first stop of the day was lake MacKensie, which was quite simply stunning...

Lots of sunbathing was undertaken by all, so I began to get restless (I am definitely not a lounger type of guy), resulting in me deciding to swim across the width of the lake. The water was the purest I have ever swam in, & the temperature was perfect too - refreshing but not cold. Only when I had reached halfway did I decide that maybe sunbathing could have an appeal, however I manned up & pushed on. There was much of the same beauty on the other side, but I didnt stay for long - cramping up is not an option when you have to swim the whole way back. I was very happy, & exhausted, when I crawled up the beach on the home shore. Well worth it though. Tom (a member of team England) & Dixy then decided to have a race...could Tommy swim to the other side before Dixy could run round the whole lake. Neither man appreciated the size of the task until they were underway, yet they both completed the task in good time - with Tom the champ! Very entertaining for all.

After the lake we drove along the beaches to Eurong Beach, to set up camp for the night. Yet again, in the true spirit of the term teamwork, everyone pitched in & cooked a fantastic meal of Burgers, Sausages & beans...everyone else seemed to be trying to heat up their hot plates whilst we were enjoying post dinner drinks...smug, smug, smug :-)

Smalls donned Sadie's hat (which he was strangely attached to) & began to entertain the campsite with his one man rock show. Lots of beer & goon was consumed & everyone had an excellent night.

The next day we were up early & on our way North to Indian Heads, a rock formation at the most Northernly accessible point of the island. Yet again we were all very impressed by the views on offer.

Before we left there was time for a quick team photo...

Next on the itinerary was Maheno Ship wreck. This vessel sank & washed ashore in the 1930's, which goes to show how resiliant steel is! It was well worth stopping for.

Just as we were about to set off we saw a sight we had been hoping for, but weren't guaranteed...

A more expensive means of travelling around the island. You do have to keep your eyes peeled when driving along, because otherwise you may have a plane land on your vehicle!
Tom & Dixy performing their acrobatics display to the delight of all...

We then set up camp at Eli Creek. The Creek is formed by a natural spring water feed from the hills, & it flows directly into the sea - creating a lazy river (for our enjoyment).

I was able to get a great shot of a Golden Orb spider which was loitering at our campsite. This spider isn't deadly, but nor is it pleasant!

One of the most prominent Australian wildlife on the island were the Dingos. We had been warned to watch out for them as they have attacked humans in the past, although they were nothing but quizical with us (thankfully). There were many of them sniffing around the campsite at night. The authorities seem to take their threat very seriously, as you can see from the information signs...

After our dip & sunbathing it was time for dinner again. Spag Bol. Yet again we put the other groups to shame with our efficiency! ;-) After dinner it was time for more beer, more goon, & more Smally & his Guitar (named "G-Diddy"...it is a 3/4 size).

Somehow, & I mean SOMEHOW, I managed to drag my backside out of bed at 6am in order to catch the sunrise. Hands up all those who think I considered the effort worth the reward?!?

Sleepily we made our way to the parking spot at Lake Wabby, then undertook the mile or so hike to the lake itself. Yet again, more beauty...

After a few hours of messing around on the vast sand dunes & generally chilling out, it was time to head back to the barge. We arrived back at Hervey Bay in awe of the weekend we had spent together, & the strong friendships that we had established amongst a fantastic bunch of people. We were incredibly lucky with the weather, so even a few clouds on the last morning couldnt ruin the experience. We all got back to the hostel & enjoyed one last night together at the bar, before heading our separate ways in the morning.

If any of you every visit Australia, Fraser Island is a must. I can safely say that it was one of the best weekends of my life...I am a lucky boy ;-)

Next (& sadly, last) stop in Australia was Cairns. We drove 1500km in two days to get there, in which I pulled off the longest driving stint of my life - 8hours, then checked into party central...a backpackers called Giligan's. It is like a proper hotel resort, although aimed purely at backpackers. Needless to say the place is absolutely heaving with people looking to socialise (aka - damage their livers), so we had to do our best to fit in...

Those of you familiar with the drinking game "King Beer" will understand why I am stood on the chair, those of you who don't will have to play it with us someday! We played with a group of hilarious Dutch lads, & then hit the club downstairs. Needless to say it was a hazy & late night! Cairns itself is a party place...everyone goes to the Lagoon/Beach during the day, then drinks on their patios in the evening, before hitting the bars/clubs for the night. Whislt it is enjoyable pasttime, I for one am glad that it can't go on forever!

Smalls & I did make some constructive use of our time in Cairns by booking a snorkelling excursion to the Great Barrier Reef. We set sail at 8am & were at Green Island after two smooth hours accross the ocean. Our group was good & our crew were lovely people - so we were lucky again!

The coral immediately surrounding the island isn't too impressive, as it has been bleached/damaged by the number of tourists that frequent it. Therefore I decided to swim out the other side of the boat for a few hundred metres & was rewarded the further I went (until I was called back by our captain). It was clear to see how much healthier the ocean bed was the further from the island I got, as the vibrance & variety of colours of coral got more & more impressive. Sadly though, the area we were in could not have come close to the Blue Lagoon in the Yasawa islands (Fiji) - where we were surrounded by literally thousands of fish. However, I did get the thrill of chasing an Octopus under some rocks, only to let him out (by backing off), then chasing him under again! Great fun! He kept it up longer that me though, as I got bored after ten minutes.

After lunch we got a lift onto the island, which is sand based & home to little other than a 5star resort & a Croc/Turtle sanctuary. What makes this place special is that it is home to the world's largest salt water Croc (in captivity), called Cassius, & measures a whopping 5.5m long the last time he was measured (weighing an incredible 1000kgs!) :-O

We also saw one of his buddies, White (5m), being fed at very close quarters...phenomenal creatures...

Just so that all can appreciate how amazing the weather has been during our stay in Australia, especially the further North we have got, I had to include the final picture. It is hard to believe that we are actually in "Winter" - when temperatures in Cairns over the past four days has averaged 35oC...who's jealous of those Aussies then?!?

As I write this my washing should be about finished, so I am going to go & pack for the final quarter of my year's adventure...three months travelling around Asia, starting with meeting up with one Daniel Clayton Spencer (is a legend) in Singapore tomorrow...bring it on! :-)

written by

johnnoble on May 21, 2009 from Cairns, Australia

from the travel blog: John's year off...

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Well, a lot has happened since my last blog entry so be prepared for a mini marathon!

When we arrived back in Melbourne we checked into a different hostel in St Kilda, & went out on the bars with a group of people we met there. It was a good evening, largely fuelled by "goon" - which is the Aussie term for a box of cheap wine (roughly $10 for 5litres...pretty cheap!)

The next evening we headed out to the MCG to watch an Aussie Rules Football game between Collingwood & Geelong.

Collingwood were the home team (there are many teams from the Melbourne catchment area) & the favourites going into the game. In true British fashion, both Dixy & I backed Geelong, whilst Smalls decided to attempt a stint on the glory wagon with the Collingwood lads. Sadly, for Smalls, Geelong came out winners 125 - 96...which is a bit of a pasting! ;-) The game itself was very entertaining, & the rules aren't that complex...because there aren't many! The game itself lasts two hours, with four quarters of 30mins - so very good value for money at $20 a ticket! It was worth that alone to see the inside of the MCG - which is a very impressive stadium indeed.

The next day was time to dance...

We caught the train & bus to a race circuit on the outskirts of Melbourne, to attend the Trance day event known as "Trance Energy." Dixy was especially psyched up for this, as not only is it his bag a number of his favourite DJs were playing. I myself have been getting to more of these events in recent years, but it is safe to say that it really isn't Smalls' thing - although we all had an excellent day reaching for the lasers!
Marco V on the main stage

...dixy thoroughly enjoying Marco's set

The second stage...

...Judge Jules playing on said stage

The other DJs that we saw were Sander Van Doorn & John Askew, amongst others. I suspect that for a number of readers this is erroneous information, although it will be relevant to a few!

After our second stint in Melbourne, it was time to see some of the South East corner of Oz. We made our way to Phillip island, which is a holiday getaway & nature reserve (in the most part). Whilst we were there we visited the Little Penguin colony, although didn't hang around until sunset to watch them swarming in from the sea. Then we set off for the Koala reserve. Here is an Aussie sight that many people swoon over...

It has to be said that although they look very stupid & lazy (which they are), the Koalas are very cute.

We then made our way up the East coast, heading towards Canberra (Oz's capital), but taking in the National Parks & Reserves along the way. We stopped at a number of small seaside towns along the way, including Eden, Bateman's Bay & Ulladulla. All were very picturesque. You have all been treated to some spectacular piccies of sunsets on this blog, but here is something a little different...a sunRISE picture at Bateman's Bay

The other highlights of these few days included a Kangaroo beach, called Pebbly beach...

As we arrived during the midday heat, unfortunately the Kangas weren't in the mood for showing off on the beach. Nonetheless it was a beautiful place. After the beach we checked into a campsite in Ulladulla, where I left the lads to go on a bit of an exploration to the nearby Mountain ranges (surprise surprise, neither Smalls nor Dixy were intested in seeing a bit of the real Australia!). I went on a 5.5km walk up Pigeon Mountain, which was incredibly steep (a grade 4 track - 5 being the toughest) - but incredibly rewarding. The final few hundred yards of climbing was especially perilous, as you can see from the ladders I had to climb up the wind swept rock face!

The views from the top were fantastic though...

We arrived in Canberra to find out exactly why we had been warned off of it as a destination to visit...there really is nothing there (apart from office blocks & a few memorials) & it has a very sterile feel to it. Hard to explain. However, we were there for the night & made the best of it by checking into a lively hostel & then hitting the town that evening (after the standard bottles of vino). Below you will see the art work on Smalls' guitar, which was the work of many at the hostel, followed by the view of the dancefloor at the club we went to. A good night was had by all!

We were going to check out the Australia museum the next day, before heading to Sydney, although our hangovers prevented that excursion!

We arrived in Sydney late in the day & headed to the East of the city & a place called Kings Cross - which we had been advised was the most lively area of the city to go out in. We felt obliged to check it out for ourselves. We then made the error of checking into the first hostel we saw, as it was located above the Subway station & had more of a prison vibe to it than that of a hostel one (it wasn't very nice).

Thankfully we only had to sleep there, as we spent the evening & night checking out the bars etc. It is a very lively place, but also very sketchy & dirty. You have to visit it to truly appreciate it...it is pretty much Sydney's red light district.

We checked out the next day & headed to Chinatown in the South of the city. This time we got it right with a decent hostel (it was clean!), with an Irish bar literally around the corner - which was showing the FA Cup final between Arsenal & Chelsea. As I have missed nearly all of the action this season, an evening/night of footy & a few pints was very welcomed...even if the Chelski scummers won!

The next day we headed to the Circular Quay, which is where the Sydney Opera house & the Harbour bridge are located.

We went there to meet up with Becky (Smalls' sister) & Adam (Becca's Husband), who had both kindly invited us to stay with them for the week - despite the fact that they had only moved into their flat two days earlier! Their flat was very impressive, with an even more impressive view of Sydney!

We had an excellent week in Sydney with Adam & Becky. We managed to fit in a lot of recouperation, along with plenty of sightseeing & evening excursions. I shall try to summarise as best I can...

We went to the Sydney Aquarium, which was pretty impressive. The best part of it was the walkways through the tanks. There was plenty of marine diversity to keep us entertained, including some sharks of course!

Afterwards we went to a Bavarian restaurant in the Harbour for dinner. Why would we have been drawn there, do you think???

The view of the Opera house at night is quite a sight...

We visited the Taronga Zoo, located on the other side of the Harbour to the city & the Opera house. It was a very pretty Zoo, with many exhibits to keep us entertained - including many animals native to Australia (shock). We got to see Oz's most venomous snake - the "Fierce Snake"

We also saw more of the most popular cute critters...

And some Giraffes with one hell of a view from their enclosure...

I particularly enjoyed seeing the vast numbers of spiders amongst the trees as we walked around the Zoo...I don't think Becky was as keen or as impressed as me though! :-)
As we left the Zoo we were just in time for a sunset opportunity of the city...very nice...

Our sightseeing also included a day excursion to one place in Australia that any true English man would NEED to visit...

Sydney Olympic park, & the ANZ Stadium (formerly the Telstra), was the venue of one particularly enjoyable sporting event of recent years (apart from the Sydney 2000 Olympics, of course)...

That's right. We had to get a piccy in our England shirts, with the flag, with Johnny's posts in the background...happy days! :-)

Whilst at the Olympic park we also had time to play some Mini Golf at the Golf centre, & check out the Aquatic centre. I was especially impressed with these facilities, & it reminded me how much I miss the opportunity to swim regularly, although there will be plenty of time for that at the end of my travels!

I don't miss the sight of a slave driver (aka Coach) at the end of the pool though!

That evening we visited the State Theatre in the centre of the city, to see Mr Steve Coogan - aka, Alan "AHA" Partridge!

The whole show was very funny & I would recommend it to all (maybe not the kiddies perhaps!). Afterwards we met up with Adam & Becky & went for some drinks in the financial district - which was very nice, as one would imagine!

We had an amazing time in Sydney, as it has so much to offer. We could have done a whole lot more, but we don't have endless amounts of cash or time unfortunately. Next time round we will have to visit Manly & Bondi beaches (sadly, we had a good 4/5 days of poor weather which prevented these excursions) & take a tour of the Opera house. We cannot thank Adam & Becky enough for their kind hospitality - they made us feel very welcomed & were excellent fun to be around. I wish them all the best with their upcoming year (or two?!) in Sydney, which they will no doubt enjoy thoroughly - if our week's experience is anything to go by. If any of you are thinking of visiting Australia, Sydney is a must visit...a great city!

Trips:

Shorthand link:

Buddy List

More Aussie adventures

Cairns, Australia

Wow...wow...wow...

Katoomba, Australia

On the way to Sydney...

Sydney, Australia

G'day mate...welcome to Oz!

Melbourne, Australia

New Zealand concludes...

Christchurch, New Zealand

New Zealand part II

Wellington, New Zealand

Fiji finished...then NEW ZEALAND!

Auckland, New Zealand

BULA! Fiji time (part one)

Lautoka, Fiji

HAWAII

Hawaiian Beaches, United States

San Diego & Los Angeles

Los Angeles, United States

Heading South?