Queensland

After spending three days driving from Alice to Cairns we spent a week here, Darrel and Wendy came over for four days and we went out to the reef, did a few dives, the places we were taken though wern't that good compared to the Ningaloo Reef out of Coral Bay.

Took a drive up to the Daintree national park.

We then made our way to Mission Beach, stayed in a nice place in Bingle Bay. Went for a walk through the rain forest and stumbled on two casawaries walking along the path. Loza was a bit scared of the killer birds so we had to abandon the walk to the view point.

From here we went to Townsville and went over to Magnetic island for a long Easter weekend. Very nice here, lots of very tame possums running around the place we were staying.

Stayed a night in a small town called Ayr as it was quicker and cheaper to go and dive on the Yongala wreck. This was another excellent dive site.

Went straight down to Airlie Beach after the dives, lovely seaside town. Went on a beautifully restored pearl boat for three nights sailing around the Whit Sundays, there was high winds that week so unfortunatly couldn't go out to White Haven Beach, lots of good snorkling though.

Made our way down to Harvey Bay and hired a cheeky little four wheel drive to go out on Fraser Island. This is an amazing Island, one hugh sand bar, the worlds largest, also the only place in the world where a rain forest grows on sand. Spent three days driving around it, swimming in the fresh water lakes an d camping out. Saw one dingo too!

Next on to Noosa, a rich mans play ground. Good surfing beaches and a small national park we took a walk round. Took the bus over to Australia Zoo, Steve Urwins family zoo. Excellent work being done there to protect many endangered species, new tiger enclosuer opened. The trainers all go into the encosure and get the tigers to chase them about and swim with them. Then the train straight to Brisbane from the zoo.

Brisbanes pretty nice, good city beach lagoon area set up un the south bank. Only stayed a couple of days then headed to Byron Bay.

Here we tried our hand at surfing, managed to stand a turn sometimes, the curremt here was mental though so was knackering just getting out.

After a week chilling and stuff here we headed down to Sydney where we speant a couple of nighs at Bondai Beech, then Lozza's parents met us and we speant a night out at the Blue Mountains, very nice.

Finally five of Laurens mates came over for a long weekend of sightseeing and going out in the big city, nice place and good time had by all.