In the mean time we obviously had to do the tour around the harbour taking in the amazing views of the Opera House. We were reccommended to walk around the botanical gardens were we fed WILD cokatoo's+parrots! (check out the pics!) We had the pleasure of viewing HUGE bats and spiders. We met up with Gem's friend from Bath Uni, Millie for some dins and drinks.

We finally picked up the beauty! The four of us headed up towards Katoomba to see the famous Blue Mountains. It was freezing and tested Jay's fear of heights the limit where we HAD to cross a rope bridge - sheer drop - to get the last train back up in time. Very amusing but he did it!

Port Stephens - (attempted and failed...)
Our aim was to find port stephens to see the massive sand dunes - This was the first time I realised Gem can't navigate to save her life, we ended up an hour and a half past port stephens!!! However every cloud has a silver lining...dark, tired, hungry we hunted for the nearest campsite. Down a dark lane - 20minutes later and just about to turn around we came across a place called Seal Rocks. In the morning we opened the camper door to find ourselves only 3 metres from the beach! We never wanted to leave! This is where we had the pleasure of seeing our first shark in the sea - eeeek! (OK...it was a tiny grey nurse shark but still!)

Byron Bay -
A lively/hippyish town and decided to stock up on a few bevy's and head for the town with the couple we met from the airport. Half around the world and we end up in a club called liquid!! Small world.

Went to see the famous lighthouse where we spotted our first glimpse of dolphins playing in the sea with the surfers - was amazing to watch!

Surfers Paradise -
Jamie Grove gets his first ever haircut in the hairdresser's - nerveracking time's (nothing compared to Mumma Grove's work of art!) The campsite we stayed at was something different - surrounded by sky scrapers! As we planned to split up with our friends from here on we couldn't not have a good farewell outing - bar crawl around the town! Was great fun. A random reunion with Gem and her two friends from home!! Such a small world.

Noosa Heads - (sorry no pics, this is where our camera broke!)
As we are now camping pro's - we keep bumping into people we have met along the journey at other campsites! We spent a few days wondering around the beautiful national park spotting the koala's, massive lizards and the odd nudist!!

Hervey Bay -
We had hoped to see Fraser Island but this did not happen as the weather was horrible + the trips extremely costly. Bit disappointing but still made the most of our time,walking on the beach (collecting shells for Charlottes bday), spotting our first Kangaroo and visiting the first town ever to be built in Australia.

Rockhampton -
We were heading for the Whitsunday's but as it was such a long journey we had to make an overnight stop in Rockhampton (the cowboy capital of Australia - even their accents sounded different!). The campsite had signs up saying beware of the crocodiles - best nights sleep we've ever had!

Whitsundays - We loved this place!!
After to two long days of driving we arrived in tropical Australia where the weather was lovely but the mosquito's were back!

We managed to get a buy one get one free on the tours - one day of snorkelling on not the barrier reef but the GREAT barrier reef (as the tour guide would say!) and the other sailing around the islands - free bar! The rucksack came in handy and kept us going for a few days hehe. Met some great people on these trips, ages ranging from 19 to late 60's - had the best time!

Atherton Tablelands -
Here we saw as many waterfalls as you would ever want to! So tempting to swim but these crocodile signs put us off! We stayed at a castle called Paranella Park where we had a night tour and saw some scary wild life, and another beautiful waterfall.

Port Douglas and Cape Tribulation -
A few days in Port Douglas. We had the best fish and chips for dinner on the park right by the sea! Can't put into words how amazing this was!! And who forgot the camera...DOH! We took a blanket, bottle of wine, watching the sunset and eating our amaizng fish and chips with sail boats going out to sea - bliss! Had a few days by the beach chilling before we headed up to Cape Tribulation.

Had to corss over on the ferry - felt like we were in a different country. No signal, no petrol stations and no food stores deep in the rainforest! Stayed in a campsite within walking distance to the beach.

We have had a great time in Australia, met fantastic people but ready for a new challenge in New Zealand where we can ski!! YAAAY! Keep your messages coming - we love hearing from you all x

written by  Jamie & Gemma on May 29, 2009 from Sydney, Australia
from the travel blog: Jamie and Gemma's Round the World travels
Send a Compliment

---

Oh Jamie and Gem, sounds like you are having an amazing time! Just reading your blog brings back all my memories of travelling in Oz!
Hope you are having the time of your life!
x

written by  Cassie Elliott on May 29, 2009

comment on this...