It seams such a long time since I posted and that is mainly because it is, I'm sorry I have been so slow on the uptake but with lack of internet over the past few weeks and lots of darting all over the place i've not had much chance to catch up.
Australia is vast, bigger than europe and a place where your idea of distance is confused and a 2 hour drive is 'just down the road' But here I am where I started in Melbourne and with 5 out of the 7 states ticked of my to see list I think I've done quite well.
After diving in Cairns I headed up to Cape tribulation, where the tropical rainforest meets the beach and it's so untouched it must look pretty much the same as when Cook found it back in 1770. I stayed in a very remote hostel right in the forest and just off the beach. It was so far removed that it was a 2 hour round walk to the shop! Needless to say I did loads of walking while I was up there, even taking in a night walk in the jungle were we got to see lots of sleeping lizards and birds as well as my first wild snake, not something I wish to repeat!
Monday, December 3, 2007
Waiting for the show to start
I left Cairns and flew to Alice Springs for a 4 day tour of Uluru, the Olgas and Kings Canyon. Oh my goodness nothing in the world could be quite like this place. You drive for hours and see nothing but a huge cartoon sky and red sand with a few bushes dotted about. After the fourth hour of nothing I really did wonder why I had wasted my time and money to go and see a big pebble. The rock itself is very impressive but I found myself finding people spotting much more fun. The first evening we went to watch the sun set over Uluru something the every tour does so after our guide told us to hurry up or we might not get a parking space we jumped on the bus and headed to the rather busy 'sunset viewing carpark'
I have never found something to funny in all my life and I luckily found myself in the company of a German with a sense of humour as we went off to do a spot of people watching. This is where the tour operators go to town and bring out the champagne and nibbles before the show starts, you could point out the more posh tours by the cut glass champagne flutes and the cheaper backpacker options with their plastic mugs. (I was more middle of the road with a bog standard glass and sparkling wine)
I was really lucky with my trip and because we were quite a small group, the first two nights we were upgraded to another trip which included someone to cook for us and tents with beds and fans. It was so hot that most days we had to get up before sunrise to enable us to do the walks, on one day it was 28 degrees when we started walking at 6.30 and nearly 40 when we finished at 10! I have never been so hot in all my life. I would love to say that my trip got me closer to understanding the Aboriginal culture but no... It did help me to fully appreciate air conditioning though.
I have never found something to funny in all my life and I luckily found myself in the company of a German with a sense of humour as we went off to do a spot of people watching. This is where the tour operators go to town and bring out the champagne and nibbles before the show starts, you could point out the more posh tours by the cut glass champagne flutes and the cheaper backpacker options with their plastic mugs. (I was more middle of the road with a bog standard glass and sparkling wine)
I was really lucky with my trip and because we were quite a small group, the first two nights we were upgraded to another trip which included someone to cook for us and tents with beds and fans. It was so hot that most days we had to get up before sunrise to enable us to do the walks, on one day it was 28 degrees when we started walking at 6.30 and nearly 40 when we finished at 10! I have never been so hot in all my life. I would love to say that my trip got me closer to understanding the Aboriginal culture but no... It did help me to fully appreciate air conditioning though.
Tasmania
After a quick weekend stop in Melbourne I gathered my things and My brother and headed down to Tasmania for 5 days. Ade and I had discussed what we wanted to do with our time and we both agreed that we wanted to do lots of walking and avoid towns. As it turns out Tasmania only offers steep walks and long and winding roads in between them.
We found some beautiful beaches, amazing views along the way and some fantastic fish restaurants. We also did our bit for the local economy by consuming local beers and wines (which we felt were well deserved from all the walking)
We found some beautiful beaches, amazing views along the way and some fantastic fish restaurants. We also did our bit for the local economy by consuming local beers and wines (which we felt were well deserved from all the walking)
Thursday, November 15, 2007
Update...
... I found Nemo!
With my brand new divers certificate in hand I headed out of Carins to spend the day on a boat called 'silverswift' and yes I found nemo!
He was hiding in an anemone but looked quite pleased to see me, even if a little shy. I also found a turtle who let me stroke his shell while he ate his lunch of coral.
I now just need to work out what the divers sign is for 'thats so cool'
With my brand new divers certificate in hand I headed out of Carins to spend the day on a boat called 'silverswift' and yes I found nemo!
He was hiding in an anemone but looked quite pleased to see me, even if a little shy. I also found a turtle who let me stroke his shell while he ate his lunch of coral.
I now just need to work out what the divers sign is for 'thats so cool'
Friday, November 9, 2007
Whitehaven beach
It was sad to leave Byron Bay I really felt at home. It was especially difficult to leave because I was heading up to Brisbane, which just as everyone had said it would be, was not worth the two nights I spent there. It sounds harsh I know but were are talking about a CITY where you have to walk for 40 minutes before finding an open restaurant!
I then headed up to the Whitsunday's for a 3 day sailing trip. The boat I went on was a retired racing yacht called the Matador. The boat itself was cool and traveling at near 90 degrees as we flew along the waves was fantastic.
The Whitsunday's are amazing, I was expecting a tropical islands but they look more like the alps that have been flooded. The main point of the trip is to head out to Whitehaven beach which quite honestly is one of the most amazing places on earth. With sand that is so fine it feels like flour and the sea an amazing blue colour I really could have stayed for days.
The other main point of going sailing was to get a bit closer to the barrier reef and go snorkeling. I was so exited about seeing Nemo at home that I jumped right in, sadly he was nowhere to be seen. Although amazing fish that look like Zebras, neon fish and coral with an electric blue tinge did make up for it. It didn't stop me trying to find him the next day though... but sadly again, no sign.
I left the Whitsunday's for Mgnetic Island and a four day open water diving course (main hope to find Nemo) I can't believe I am saying this but I really enjoyed having to study for a while and although I found the underwater skills a bit daunting I really enjoyed the course. The dive school is right on the barrier reef and our final dive was sooo cool, we saw so many things including stingray and a fish with giraffe patterns, we even had a school of fish stalking us! But sadly.......... no Nemo!
So here I am in Cairns, I've booked a dive trip tomorrow in the last ditched attempt to find Nemo, I'll keep you posted!
I then headed up to the Whitsunday's for a 3 day sailing trip. The boat I went on was a retired racing yacht called the Matador. The boat itself was cool and traveling at near 90 degrees as we flew along the waves was fantastic.
The Whitsunday's are amazing, I was expecting a tropical islands but they look more like the alps that have been flooded. The main point of the trip is to head out to Whitehaven beach which quite honestly is one of the most amazing places on earth. With sand that is so fine it feels like flour and the sea an amazing blue colour I really could have stayed for days.
The other main point of going sailing was to get a bit closer to the barrier reef and go snorkeling. I was so exited about seeing Nemo at home that I jumped right in, sadly he was nowhere to be seen. Although amazing fish that look like Zebras, neon fish and coral with an electric blue tinge did make up for it. It didn't stop me trying to find him the next day though... but sadly again, no sign.
I left the Whitsunday's for Mgnetic Island and a four day open water diving course (main hope to find Nemo) I can't believe I am saying this but I really enjoyed having to study for a while and although I found the underwater skills a bit daunting I really enjoyed the course. The dive school is right on the barrier reef and our final dive was sooo cool, we saw so many things including stingray and a fish with giraffe patterns, we even had a school of fish stalking us! But sadly.......... no Nemo!
So here I am in Cairns, I've booked a dive trip tomorrow in the last ditched attempt to find Nemo, I'll keep you posted!
Tuesday, October 30, 2007
Cape Byron
Well it's part of the visa requirements of all backpackers to head up the east coast so here I am in Byron bay. I set out from Sydney and with some nervousness I boarded the bus for Byron Bay. Everyone I have spoken to loves Byron they all seam to have 'crazy' time here and to be honest I got me a bit worried that it would be a bit like the walkabout during happy hour.
Luckily I was wrong and Byron is a chilled out alternative heaven. My experience may have been more in the hippy style because I have been staying here : http://www.artsfactory.com.au/ A crazy hostel that disbelieves rooms should have four walls and have many tee pees, tents and even a double decker bus to call home for a few nights.
The alternative style has attracted many alternative people who have been the friendliest I have meet so far in Australia. Byron cape itself is made up of the most amazing beaches. It wraps itself around a cape so it has something perfect to offer whatever the weather. The cape itself is home to the most easterly light house in Australia and I decided to hire a bike to take a closer look, it's just a shame that the bike I ended up with had no gears and very little in the way of breaks which made both riding up the hill and down equally interesting.
Luckily I was wrong and Byron is a chilled out alternative heaven. My experience may have been more in the hippy style because I have been staying here : http://www.artsfactory.com.au/ A crazy hostel that disbelieves rooms should have four walls and have many tee pees, tents and even a double decker bus to call home for a few nights.
The alternative style has attracted many alternative people who have been the friendliest I have meet so far in Australia. Byron cape itself is made up of the most amazing beaches. It wraps itself around a cape so it has something perfect to offer whatever the weather. The cape itself is home to the most easterly light house in Australia and I decided to hire a bike to take a closer look, it's just a shame that the bike I ended up with had no gears and very little in the way of breaks which made both riding up the hill and down equally interesting.
Tuesday, October 16, 2007
The blue mountins
The past two days I have headed up into the Blue mountains a region just outside of Sydney. The mountains are famous for a blue haze that the eucalyptus trees give off when it's hot and wow they look amazing when they do! I decided to come up with the same tour company that I traveled from Melbourne with and yes yet again I had a tour guide a wee bit on the crazy side.
This guy was OBSESSED with spiders and snakes and informing us of imminent death at any available opportunity to the point that I was too scared to touch anything. However after some scary walks dodding funnel webs spider appartment blocks and possible snake houses we were rewarded with amazing views for our bravery.
We were lead down a path of 1600 steps into the canyon floor for a return trip on the steepest railway in the world. The track took us to near 90 degrees and had us holding on for dear life due to the fact the safety chain was made of plastic.
I left the tour to stay in the mountains for a couple of nights in a town called Katoomba the largest in the mountains which makes Newton Abbot seam the size of a city, but with some fantastic coffee shops which make relaxing with a book very easy.
This guy was OBSESSED with spiders and snakes and informing us of imminent death at any available opportunity to the point that I was too scared to touch anything. However after some scary walks dodding funnel webs spider appartment blocks and possible snake houses we were rewarded with amazing views for our bravery.
We were lead down a path of 1600 steps into the canyon floor for a return trip on the steepest railway in the world. The track took us to near 90 degrees and had us holding on for dear life due to the fact the safety chain was made of plastic.
I left the tour to stay in the mountains for a couple of nights in a town called Katoomba the largest in the mountains which makes Newton Abbot seam the size of a city, but with some fantastic coffee shops which make relaxing with a book very easy.
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