The East Coast

I met up with Jess after work in Sydney and she took me to see the Habour Bridge at night and for a little drive around the city, before we headed back to here place for dinner.

The next day I wandered into town and walked around circular key, taking in the bridge in the day and the Sydney Opera house, it was all abit unreal actually seeing those things, as I've seen them on TV so much, but never really thought I would see them. I walked around the botanical gardens, round to Mrs Maguire's point to view both the opera house and the bridge from the same angle. I then walked through to Hyde Park and then went up the Skytower, I luckily managed to see the view in daylight, sunset and night time, which was good, the city looked so different every time I looked.
In the evening Jess took me for Tapas in Bondi, which was good, and then we took in some more views of the bridge and the Opera House and night time.

I spent the next day sunbathing on Bondi and walking along the coastal track which was stunning and I managed to get some surfing tips! In the evening Jess and I went to the Rocks for dinner.

I flew up to Cairns and booked onto a snorkeling trip for the following morning, so after a quick $5 Chinese all you can eat and a few drinks in the bar (Sally & Ann, I understand where your Beverly Knight love came from now!) I had an early night.

The weather was awfull and the sea was so choppy, that the snorkeling was really difficult, which some what spoiled the first dive site, but I did manage to see a lot of coral and fishes.
The second sight was better and I saw a turtle and just missed a shark, which was disappointing.

I booked onto my Whitsundays trip from Airlee beach and spent some time shopping in the surf shops. I booked the boat Wings, which turned out to be a really good choice, the group were really nice. We sailed around and stopped off at various places to snorkel, which were really good sights I took some good underwater photos and saw loads of interesting things, including a leopard shark.

Early the next morning we got up and went ashore to Whithaven beach (the 2nd best beach in the world apparently- although the 1st is now destroyed from the tsunmi) The sand was pure white and the sea was so clear. The group had a good laugh building human pyramids and jumping around in photos.

On returning back to Airlee beach, I had to miss the party and get the night bus down to Hervey bay. I spent the following day topping up my tan on the beach.

The next day I had an early start to have the Fraser Island Briefing. I was in a group of 9 girls and 1 guy, which I thought could be disastrous, but actually turned out fine. The girls were all lovely and we got on well. I was the only one driving as the other girls got scared, but I loved it, I might have to get a four by four one day for some off road driving. We toured around the island playing on the sand dunes and the beaches. We unfortunately couldn't not see the sharks and manta rays from Indian Head as it was too windy and the sea was too rough.
We managed to beat the sand and actually got through a very soft area of sand to go to the champange pools, which weren't actually that good, but at least we made it there, after a couple of times getting stuck. We watched a good 20 or so cars getting stuck and no other backpacker groups got through.

The sun came out for the last day which was lucky, as we went to the two lakes, which were absolutely stunning, white sand and turquoise waters, it was hard to leave.

After a night out with the group in Hervey bay, I made my way to Brisbane and have been spending lots of money shopping. Today I went to the Koala santuary, which was amazing, although most of them were asleep. I got to hug one though yipee.

Well I fly home tomorrow so hopefully see most of you soon.

lots of love

I wonder what you guys will do with yourselves now, instead of reading my blog.