Saturday, 29 March 2008
Friday, 28 March 2008
Noosa
We wanted to arrive at Noosa as early as possible as we were only able to stay one night before heading on down to Brisbane. We met a chap at the hostel in Airlie Beach who said Noosa was well worth a visit and had some lovely scenery- and he wasn't wrong. Turns out it was one of the best last minute decisions we have made! We dumped our bads at the 'Noosa Backpackers Hostel', and then hopped straight back onto the courtesy bus upto the main beach and centre. We took a walk through the stunning Noosa National Park - a 4km long peninsula stretching out into the Pacific, hiding beautiful coves and bays and offering some stunning viewpoints back towards the town. The forest walk was also a great opportunity to spot yet more wildlife...this time we spotted a kookaburra, lots of wild turkeys and exotic birds and a massive monitor lizard strolled across our path too!
Aside from the stunning scenery, Noosa is a world renowned for its Surf. This is probably the first place we have been where we have seen typical Aussie Surf 'dudes' strolling about with their boards trying to catch the next big wave. When they do, it is qute an impressive sight! The town is a really classy resort, with flashy apartments on the sea front and trendy designer shops on the high street - by far the most salubrious place we have visited so far. We sat on the georgeous white beach as the sun went down over the ocean. We both agreed if we come back to Australia, this would be somewhere we would return to and definitely for longer then we could afford this time around.
Somewhat regretfully, we left for Brisbane on Wednesday, but with plenty more to look forward to...
Aside from the stunning scenery, Noosa is a world renowned for its Surf. This is probably the first place we have been where we have seen typical Aussie Surf 'dudes' strolling about with their boards trying to catch the next big wave. When they do, it is qute an impressive sight! The town is a really classy resort, with flashy apartments on the sea front and trendy designer shops on the high street - by far the most salubrious place we have visited so far. We sat on the georgeous white beach as the sun went down over the ocean. We both agreed if we come back to Australia, this would be somewhere we would return to and definitely for longer then we could afford this time around.
Somewhat regretfully, we left for Brisbane on Wednesday, but with plenty more to look forward to...
Tuesday, 25 March 2008
Hervey Bay via Rockhampton
We continued our journey - this time to the Fraser Coast and a smallish resort called Hervey Bay, famous for its links with Fraser Island. The drive from Airlie Beach would have taken about 13 hours straight, so we decided to do a flying overnight visit to the town of Rockhampton. 'Rocky' is not really part of the usual backpackers route on the east coast, so we thought it might be a good oppotunity to experience the 'real Australia'. The town is supposedly the beef capital of Oz, and this certainly seemed evident as we got closer - Kate saw plenty of cows (I didn't because I slept most of the way as usual!). We went to a great little steak house that was pretty cheap called The bush bar and grill! We both had the smallest steak on the menu but it was plenty, we certainly wouldn't of managed the 2.2lbs challenge steak that they had. We left
Rocky at 6.45 in the morning I literally had to drag Andrew out of bed!
Hervey Bay was a pleseant seaside resort if a little touristy. Most people use it as a base for Fraser Island, but we decided to save th pennies for later on. The tours seemed a bit over priced for what you got. The cheapest day tour of the island was $165. Every where we seem to go they are trying to get us to buy a tour to some island or other and we cant really do them all! We had a lovely few days on the beach and played a bit of frisbee! The hostel we stayed in was probably one of the best we have stayed in so far, called Next backpackers!
Heading down towards Brisbane and calling in on Noosa on the way on the reccomendation of a guy we met at Airlie Beach!
Rocky at 6.45 in the morning I literally had to drag Andrew out of bed!
Hervey Bay was a pleseant seaside resort if a little touristy. Most people use it as a base for Fraser Island, but we decided to save th pennies for later on. The tours seemed a bit over priced for what you got. The cheapest day tour of the island was $165. Every where we seem to go they are trying to get us to buy a tour to some island or other and we cant really do them all! We had a lovely few days on the beach and played a bit of frisbee! The hostel we stayed in was probably one of the best we have stayed in so far, called Next backpackers!
Heading down towards Brisbane and calling in on Noosa on the way on the reccomendation of a guy we met at Airlie Beach!
Saturday, 22 March 2008
Airlie Beach
Airlie Beach is a small beach resort of about 4000 inhabitants. It is most famous for its connection with the Whitsunday Coast and the Whitsunday Islands, a group of white sanded beaches with good snorkelling and diving facilities.
Unfortunately due to limtied time and money, we weren't able to organise a boat trip out, but we endeavoured to see as much of Airlie as possible. Our hostel was called Backpackers by the Bay,. a five minute walk from the main drag of shops, tour operators and bars and cafe's. It seemed like the whole of Queensland was there on hoiliday for the Easter weekend. as as the seafront lagoonwas really busy with Australians enjoying their days off.
The atmosphere here is pretty laid back and relaxing - nice for a couple of days but nothing more!
So being the hectic life seekers we are, we set off further down the coast - 6 hours this time to the cowboy town and 'beef capital of Australia'...Rockhampton!
Andy n Kate x
Unfortunately due to limtied time and money, we weren't able to organise a boat trip out, but we endeavoured to see as much of Airlie as possible. Our hostel was called Backpackers by the Bay,. a five minute walk from the main drag of shops, tour operators and bars and cafe's. It seemed like the whole of Queensland was there on hoiliday for the Easter weekend. as as the seafront lagoonwas really busy with Australians enjoying their days off.
The atmosphere here is pretty laid back and relaxing - nice for a couple of days but nothing more!
So being the hectic life seekers we are, we set off further down the coast - 6 hours this time to the cowboy town and 'beef capital of Australia'...Rockhampton!
Andy n Kate x
Townsville
A 3 hour coach journey South brought us to Townsville - the third largest town in the state of Queensland. One thing we are starting to notice the the sheer size of Queensland- it really is massive. The locals seem not to be bothered about a mere 6 hour journey along the coast, but for us that is like travelling to Scotland!
Townsville is probably the liveliest place we have been thus far. We are stayed at a really central hostel called Globetrotters, and experienced our first taste of dorm living. We shared a 4 bed room with a guy from York called Stephen and a Danish lad called Simon. The hostel is generally really friendly with lots of people out and about in silly hats for St Patricks day.
On our first day here we ventured into town and thought we should learn something abou the reef habitats we had been to explore whilst in Cairns. The Reef HQ in Aquarium in by the harbour was really informative and had some great demonstrations of reef life and shark feeding. We then hopped across to the Museum of Tropical Queensland - the main focus of which was a huge exhibition on the plight of HMS Pandora and the famous 'pandora's box' escapdes of the 1800's.
On our second day we took a ferry out to Magnetic Island - about a 25 minute trip. The Island is renowned for it's quiet secluded bays and beaches as well as beautiful views back to the mainland and fantastic opportunities to spot wildlife. We braved the heat and did some walking in the bush, but didn'tmanage to spot any wild koalas unfortunately! We did see some impressive birds however, and the views were well worth the walk in the heat.
We say good bye to North Queensland now as we head down to Airlie Beach next - a beach resort about 4 hours by Greyhound Bus down the Whitsunday Coast.
Rest assured we'll keep you posted!
Andy n Kate x
Townsville is probably the liveliest place we have been thus far. We are stayed at a really central hostel called Globetrotters, and experienced our first taste of dorm living. We shared a 4 bed room with a guy from York called Stephen and a Danish lad called Simon. The hostel is generally really friendly with lots of people out and about in silly hats for St Patricks day.
On our first day here we ventured into town and thought we should learn something abou the reef habitats we had been to explore whilst in Cairns. The Reef HQ in Aquarium in by the harbour was really informative and had some great demonstrations of reef life and shark feeding. We then hopped across to the Museum of Tropical Queensland - the main focus of which was a huge exhibition on the plight of HMS Pandora and the famous 'pandora's box' escapdes of the 1800's.
On our second day we took a ferry out to Magnetic Island - about a 25 minute trip. The Island is renowned for it's quiet secluded bays and beaches as well as beautiful views back to the mainland and fantastic opportunities to spot wildlife. We braved the heat and did some walking in the bush, but didn'tmanage to spot any wild koalas unfortunately! We did see some impressive birds however, and the views were well worth the walk in the heat.
We say good bye to North Queensland now as we head down to Airlie Beach next - a beach resort about 4 hours by Greyhound Bus down the Whitsunday Coast.
Rest assured we'll keep you posted!
Andy n Kate x
Saturday, 15 March 2008
Great Barrier Reef
Our trip to the reef was fantastic, despite some rather bad weather. Turned out it is better to go when it is raining as it is not as sweltering! All in all we did about 3 hours of snorkelling at the Norman and Saxon Reefs, about 90 min boat trip from Cairns. We managed to see numerous colourful fishes and corals as well as a Reef Shark, Sea Turtle and Sting Ray. The Turtle was amazing i think it was just like the ones in Finding Nemo but andrew keeps laughing at me for that!
We loved our time snokerlling and since we have been we have talked to some other travellers who went diving rather than snokerlling and they don't seem to have seen as much so we feel pretty lucky! Although there is not much in Cairns it is worth going to the Reef alone! We had a great time! Hopefully andrew will work out how to upload some photos on here and then you will be able to see some the fish that we saw!
We loved our time snokerlling and since we have been we have talked to some other travellers who went diving rather than snokerlling and they don't seem to have seen as much so we feel pretty lucky! Although there is not much in Cairns it is worth going to the Reef alone! We had a great time! Hopefully andrew will work out how to upload some photos on here and then you will be able to see some the fish that we saw!
Mission Beach - Wongaling
e took our first Greyhound Bus ride today from Cairns to Mission Beach. The journey was about 2hrs 30 mins and enabled us to see 'behind the scenes' tropical north Queensland on the way. Its pretty flooded in this part of the world at the moment as it is the rainy season - but as a result everything is really lush and green too. There is so much natural beauty here - in the space of 150km we saw cloud covered mountains, dense tropical rainforests and white sandy beaches lined with palm trees.
We are staying at Wongaling just down the road from Mission Beach (well in australian terms it is! I took us about an hour to walk to Mission Beach). The hostel is fantastic and our balcony overlooks the rainforest. Tonnes of creepy crawlies around, plus geckos and amazing birds and butterflies too.
We off to do the beachy thing tomorrow, and we're going to do some rainforest walks too if its not too humid. The Carrowary is a local bird (as tall as a man) and indigenous to this area, that we have been told to look out for...fingers crossed!
Well we went to Mission Beach on Sunday it was kind of strange. The place is very quiet and there is practically noone about! We walked along the beach and had to cross over Porters creek that runs through the beach into the sea. It was a bit deep but the hostel had told us we had to cross before lunch. When we got to Mission Beach the lady in the tourist information was horrified that we had done this and told us that there was crocodiles and jelly fish that could of killed us in the creek! but we were fine, however we didn't go back that way!
Whilst we were at Mission Beach we did a short walk through some rainforest and saw a massive orange, black and red spider, which Andrew nearly walked straight into! But other than that we didn't see much other than Lizards.
We are leaving Mission Beach for Townsville.
We are staying at Wongaling just down the road from Mission Beach (well in australian terms it is! I took us about an hour to walk to Mission Beach). The hostel is fantastic and our balcony overlooks the rainforest. Tonnes of creepy crawlies around, plus geckos and amazing birds and butterflies too.
We off to do the beachy thing tomorrow, and we're going to do some rainforest walks too if its not too humid. The Carrowary is a local bird (as tall as a man) and indigenous to this area, that we have been told to look out for...fingers crossed!
Well we went to Mission Beach on Sunday it was kind of strange. The place is very quiet and there is practically noone about! We walked along the beach and had to cross over Porters creek that runs through the beach into the sea. It was a bit deep but the hostel had told us we had to cross before lunch. When we got to Mission Beach the lady in the tourist information was horrified that we had done this and told us that there was crocodiles and jelly fish that could of killed us in the creek! but we were fine, however we didn't go back that way!
Whilst we were at Mission Beach we did a short walk through some rainforest and saw a massive orange, black and red spider, which Andrew nearly walked straight into! But other than that we didn't see much other than Lizards.
We are leaving Mission Beach for Townsville.
Wednesday, 12 March 2008
Hello from Cairns!
We have settled now here in Cairns after a few days getting used to the heat, humidity and time difference.
We are staying at the Caravella Backpackers Hostel on the Esplanade overlooking the sea. Everyone is really friendly and facilities are excellent. Cairns is really trpoical with temperatures around 30c and really high humidity - it didn't stop raining all day yesterday. Its a really tropical place with loads of bright flora and fauna but the pace is slow, so we have just been chilling by the pool mainly.
We are booked onto a Great Barrier Reef tour tomorrow - heading 90mins off shore to Saxon, Hastings and Norman Reef. We are both really looking forward to snorkelling all day and keeping our fingers crossed the weather holds!
Next stop is Mission Beach on Saturday - we are aiming to get the greyhound bus in the morning, arriving by lunchtime.
We'll give you an update on the snorkelling and what its like in Mission when we get there!
Andy n Kate x
We are staying at the Caravella Backpackers Hostel on the Esplanade overlooking the sea. Everyone is really friendly and facilities are excellent. Cairns is really trpoical with temperatures around 30c and really high humidity - it didn't stop raining all day yesterday. Its a really tropical place with loads of bright flora and fauna but the pace is slow, so we have just been chilling by the pool mainly.
We are booked onto a Great Barrier Reef tour tomorrow - heading 90mins off shore to Saxon, Hastings and Norman Reef. We are both really looking forward to snorkelling all day and keeping our fingers crossed the weather holds!
Next stop is Mission Beach on Saturday - we are aiming to get the greyhound bus in the morning, arriving by lunchtime.
We'll give you an update on the snorkelling and what its like in Mission when we get there!
Andy n Kate x
Monday, 10 March 2008
Well everyone we have arrived! The Flight was a nightmare! was so long and made us both feel really tired! We flew to singapore, which was a lovely airport and we even got to sit outside in a cactus garden that was at the aiport. We then got on the next plane to cairns but the plane stopped at Darwin at about 4.30 in the morning and we all had to get off the plane and get back on again which was just a little bit annoying!
But anyway we finally arrived at Cairns and it is so hot a humid we are barely coping. Coming straight from an English winter to this is hard! We will be going to the reef soon to see all the fish! Hope everyone is well at home! we will update again soon once we have done some stuff!
Love Kate and Andy
But anyway we finally arrived at Cairns and it is so hot a humid we are barely coping. Coming straight from an English winter to this is hard! We will be going to the reef soon to see all the fish! Hope everyone is well at home! we will update again soon once we have done some stuff!
Love Kate and Andy
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