Amy's Worldwide Adventures

Damo, Angie and I met up with the boys again in Newcastle - about 2 hours North of Sydney. We went for a nice meal to celebrate Christmas and our reunion, though struggled to find much else to do as everything closes on a Sunday.

However no time to mope around - next (and final) stop Sydney!!! Lee, Alan, Phil and I had booked ourselves into a 4 star hotel for a few nights in the suburb of Paramatta, and planned to get the train in for New Year. I didn't expect we would see the harbour until then - but to my surprise and delight our Greyhound bus actually crossed the Harbour Bridge on our way into the city! I'll never forget my first glimpse of the Opera House and the beautiful harbour - it was a glorious sunny day too - just perfect! They say the first sighting gives you tingles - and it's true! In my case the second and third time does too...

On New Year's Eve we headed into the city about midday with our cool bag full of food to last us the next 12 hours! We decided we'd try and watch the fireworks from the botanical gardens - along with 20,000 other people! We joined the queue at 2pm and got into the gardens at 6pm! After our 4 hours standing in the sun we now only had another 6 hours to wait... We claimed a spot and set up our picnic, and reflected on the past year as the clock slowly ticked into 2009.

I have always wanted to see the fireworks in Sydney - and it was so worth the long wait. They were amazing and signified so much to me - the end of an incredible year and the start of the unknown! It's kind of what my trip has been building up to - and without a doubt one of the highlights of Australia and the past 7 months.

After New Year we checked into our final hostel in the city centre and got down to some proper sight seeing and souvenir shopping! Our first destination was the Paddy Markets where you can find just about anything you would ever need or desire - and all at a knock down price! Then it was off to the Harbour Bridge and Opera House for the classic photo poses! We walked around the city exploring some of the other landmarks - Parliament House, the old hospital and various sky scrapers - you get the idea. That evening we joined Damo, Angie and Phil's friend, Rob at an Irish Bar and watched a band play.

The next morning we caught the ferry across to Manly - more for the cruise through the harbour than anything else - although we had a walk around Manly and across the beach, before returning to the city. We planned on visiting the observatory at The Rocks - one of the oldest parts of Sydney - but were distracted by another market held under the Harbour Bridge. We finally made it to the observatory which was shut - but we enjoyed our tour around the old streets and finding out more about Sydney's convict history.

The following day I convinced Phil and Alan (not that they needed much persuading) to visit Palm Beach - or as it's more commonly known Summer Bay from Home and Away. We hopped on a bus and arrived 2 hours later - we didn't actually realise how far it was. However the beach was gorgeous and in a very affluent area - the views from some of the houses were to die for. After a walk along the beach and a quick dip in the sea we decided it was too windy to sunbathe and the waves were just a bit too big - so we got back on the bus again! That night Lee, Al and I spontaneously went to a gig down the road - The Mystery Jets - and enjoyed a taster of Sydney's live music scene.

Today (only one more left now) the boys went to watch the cricket at the Sydney Cricket Ground and I decided to take a tour inside the Opera House. It was really interesting and well worth seeing - how they ever managed to build it I don't know - the original estimation was to complete it in 3 years on a budget of $8 million - as it turned out it was 16 years and $102 million! However I think it's safe to say it was well worth it. In the afternoon I explored the stunning Darling Harbour, complete with battleship and submarine!

Tomorrow is our final full day - and I'll be climbing the Harbour Bridge in the evening for what will hopefully be a magical way to end my round the world trip.

We enjoyed our week in Brisbane and could easily have stayed longer - there is always so much to do in the city. It looks beautiful at night too - we took a cruise along the Brisbane River and admired all the lights and Christmas decorations. We also managed to drive out to the Glass House Mountains one day, which were beautiful, and climbed Mount Ngungun right to the summit. It was hard work scrabbling up the rocks and I was afraid of falling off the edge at times - but we all made it there and back in one piece!

Then it was off to Surfers Paradise to let our hair down a bit and enjoy the lively night scene and some of the many many theme parks. Surfers is on the Gold Coast and is known as Australia's very own Miami. It certainly was the most hectic place we have seen in Australia and the tall sky scrapers are something to marvel at. I assumed that Surfers would be full of young people but actually there is something for everyone, no matter what their age or interests.

We decided to visit three theme parks - Sea World, Movie World and Wet n Wild. The dolphins really stole the show at Sea World - they were incredible and such intelligent creatures. The sea lions came a close second though, and we even got to see a polar bear. It wasn't something I thought I'd see in Aus - and to honest it seem right seeing this huge, beautiful creature in a cage - and surely he is not built for this climate?

Unfortunately the weather was not on our side and it drizzled all day! It was so cold and grey I had to buy a big jumper - it looked just like England! We had more luck at Movie World (kind of like DisneyLand) and Wet n Wild (a huge water park). Of course we sampled some of the clubs on offer too - from cocktail bars to clubs with beds in!

The town looked great at night too - with all the sky scrapers lit up and a massive Christmas tree. There were even street entertainers from buskers to puppet shows.

Before long the boys were off to Byron Bay, and I moved further up the coast to Main Beach for a few nights, before meeting Charmaine and her family. I stayed right on the Marina which was lovely and had great views at night. Charlie (a girl I met at the hostel) and I were lucky enough to get invited on a boat cruise along the coast by one of the tour operators who needed to use up some fuel! We even got free food and drinks and I had a go at driving the boat. I could get used to that lifestyle! I spent some time on the beach too - suddenly aware that I don't have much more time left and need to make the most of it! There was a really good farmers market on the weekend, and we even met Santa there who gave us some sweets! (or lollies as they say over here).

Soon enough Charmaine and Bill arrived at Main Beach and I was introduced to the family. They were all staying together for Christmas and they had invited me to spend it with them. That's when it really started to feel Christmassy as we decorated the apartement and even put up a tree complete with lights and tinsel! Hoorah - Christmas just isn't Christmas without sparkly decorations!

On the big day itself we enjoyed a fantastic lunch of ham, turkey, seafood, potato bake and salads - and Bill's amazing stuffing! I'm so glad I got to spend Christmas with everyone - it was very weird being away from home but everybody made me feel so welcome. It's also strange being so hot - it's still not something I have quite got my head round!

On my last night Charmaine and Bill took me to the Australia Outback Spectacular which was a themed show and dinner based on the Australian outback, comeplete with horses, cattle and even a helicopter! It was an excellent evening and a perfect way to end our time together.

Now I am with Damo again continuing the journey down the East Coast and into New South Wales. We will meet up with the boys in Newcastle then travel together to Sydney - our final destination! I am so close to the end of adventure now and feeling a real mix of emotions - excited to be seeing family and friends back home, but sad to be leaving Australia and reaching the end of my trip. I'm also worried I have acclimatised too well to the hot weather and will get quite a big shock when I step off that plane...

After Hervey Bay and Fraser Island we decided to spend a couple of days at Rainbow Beach just chilling out in the sun. As it turned out the weather became quite overcast and we even had rain, which limited what we could do. The town itself is very small and named after its colourful sands. I say colourful but really its just some red cliffs and a big sand dune - you can tell I wasn't overly impressed!

On the last day the weather cleared up a bit and the boys decided to try fishing in the sea - but only Phil was lucky enough to catch anything, and of course had no idea what to do once he had caught the fish!! I can tell you now fishing isn't terribly exciting - and watching people fish isn't any better!

Our next stop was Noosa which I was really looking forward to. We were planning to visit the National Park and go kayaking in the Everglades. However disaster struck and on the second day I came down with Tonsiltus and high fever, so spent most of the time in bed or watching television. It's not nice being ill when it's so hot either - very uncomfortable. But soon enough the drugs kicked in and I was back on form. On our last day we jumped on the bus and headed to Australia Zoo - made famous by Steve Irwin and his family.

It was a really good day and we got to see lots of crocodiles - one was even called Amy! (no comments please) We also saw a Cassowary bird at long last - a big native bird in Australia which can be vicious. I think it's fair to say by the end of the day we'd had our fill of Steve Irwin and his kids - there's no escaping - you could even buy a bronze statue of the family for $150!

Next stop Brisbane! I was so excited to get back to the city - it's a nice change after little beach towns. The day we arrived the boys went off to the cricket - I was all up for going until I found out it went on all day and all night! So instead, like the city girl I am, I headed into town and hit the shops! It was great to see all the Christmas things and the big Christmas tree down the main street - at last it felt vaguely like Christmas was coming! Later in the week I dragged the boys into a department store to try and see Father Christmas, but all these kids were in the way and we didn't get to say hi! Outrageous!

On my birthday the boys got me a chocolate cake and bottle of bubbly, and even sang to me wearing sparkly tiaras!!! That night we went out for a posh meal then saw a comedy at the theatre on South Bank. It was weird being so hot, but it rained in the evening so I guess it wasn't too unlike home after all! (Thanks to everyone who sent me birthday messages!)

South Bank really reminds us of London - they even have their own version of the London Eye! Yesterday we went to check out the Sunday markets and botanical gardens and explored the city a bit more. In the evening we went to a salsa club and Lee and Alan joined me for a free salsa lesson, then we danced the night away to Latin music.

Every day seems to follow the same pattern here - hot and humid then rain and storms late afternoon/evening. Hopefully it will get a a bit better down on the Gold Coast.

For the next few days we are going to hire a car and drive to the Hinterland and some of the national parks. Then it's onto Surfer's Paradise, where I will be staying longer than the boys to meet Charmaine again and spend Christmas with her and her family. Then I'll catch the boys up in time for New Year in Sydney.

Continuing our journey down the East Coast we stopped in in Rockhampton (the world's beef capital and not much else) and Agnes Water and Town \of 1770 (a pleasant seaside town). Soon enough we arrived in Hervey Bay from where we were catching the ferry to Fraser I Sland and spending three days exploring the sand island in a 4WD bus.

Ther day we set off it was pretty cloudy and the 40 minute ferry ride was 'very very rough' as our captain informed us. However we made it one piece and although a little overcast the rain seemed to holding off. We were met by our ranger, Murray, and joined the rest of our tour group, Cool Dingoes, for our 4WD adventure!

Murray took us down the sandy tracks – seatbelts were a must for the bumpy ride – and we soon reached our first destination, Wanggoolba Creek and the rainforest boardwalk to Central Station. We all clambered off the the bus and set off on a 45 minute walk following the clear waters of the creek through the forest. The whole isand is sand, apart from a rocky outcrop on the Easter side, so the trees tends to grow very straight and ;lean as they get taller. In the past the island was used for logging and some of the timber was even used to rebuild the London Docklands after the World War Two bombings.

At the end of the walk we reached Central Station, which was used to be the loggers' settlement, however is now just as open space and a good spot for lunch.

After a bite to eat we hopped back on board and drove to Lake McKenzie – the place I was most looking forward to. The lake consists entirely of rainwater and is full of minerals which makes your hair feel really soft! The pure sand is very fine and mis excellent for exfoliating – so a treat for the skin as well! The waters are very clear – however as it was still overcast and beginning to rain it all looked a little grey – still beautiful but not quite as we'd seen in the photos...

Next it was another short walk to Basin Lake – where apparently there were freshwater turtles, however we didn't spot anything.

At the end of the day Murray took us to our lodges where we would be spending the next two nights, and then we ate our buffet dinner in the Dingo Bar and had a relaxing evening.

The next morning we woke to blue skies and sunshine. We were up and on the road by 7.40am and driving over even bumpier terrain on our way to 75 Mile Beach. The beach is actually a registered highway and vehicles can drive along it up to 80-100km per hour! This was also where we spotted our first dingo form the safety of the bus – we had been warned they can be dangerous, and if you come across one to cross your arms and never turn your back on it!

After the dingo has gone on his way we carried on to the Mareno Shipwreck, which was stranded on the shores after World War Two, when it was converted from a luxury liner to a floating hospital. The shipwreck is protected and anyone caught touching it ends up with a hefty fine – they even trackj you down to your country so there is no escape!

Our next stop off was to climb the famous Indian Head look out, which involved scrabbling up rocks to a fantastic panoramic view of 75 Mile Beach and the blue ocean. The waters are heavily shark infested and it is strongly advised to stay clear – it's not even worth risking a quick paddle! From the look out we tried to spot some of the Tiger Sharks but only saw a dolphin (either that or a large fish jump out the water!).

We stopped for lunch at Eli Creek, where you can walk up and down without fear of a shark attack, and even float along with the current all the way back to the beach.

Next our ranger had a treat in store. As it was such a beautiful day he took us on a detour back to Lake McKenzie to see it in its full glory – and what a difference a day makes! The clear waters looked blue under the sky and felt a lot warmer than the previous day. We spent an hour or so swimming in the lake before we had to go back for dinner.

Our third and final day on the island was once again hot and sunny. We had been lucky with the weather really, as it rains 200 days a year there. The island had already had 4 metres of rain before the rainy season had even begun.

We trekked to Lake Wabby which is sheltered by the impressive Hammerstone Sandblow – a massive sand dune. We swam earl in the morning and as we'd beat most of the tourists we had it mostly to ourselves. The only things that threatened to spoil the tranquil setting were the March Flies, who seem intent to annoy you as much as possible – and when they bite you really feel it!

Soon it was time to climb the sand dune, which wasn't really that hard unless your flip flop broke and you had to run barefoot across the scalding hot sand! (Yes – that was me!). However in true survival style I managed to wrap a pair of shorts around my foot – secured with a hair band – and hobble my way over the dune! Lunch at the Eurong Beach Resort was well earned!

To finish our fantastic three day tour we visited one final lake – Lake Birrabeen, the sister to Lake McKenzie, before catching the 5pm ferry to the mainland.

After a sad farewell with Charmaine, the boys and I were on the road again heading to the gateway to the Whitsunday Islands - Airlie Beach.

We decided to book a day trip on board on Australia's most successful racing boat, Bumblebee - now called the Ragamuffin, which would take us to the beautiful Whitehaven Beach on Whitsunday Island. I also spotted a brochure for a helicopter flight over the Great Barrier Reef and the 74 islands that make up the Whitsundays, and it didn't take much to convince the others we should spend a bit extra and do that too. (my third helicopter flight now - they are just so much fun!)

So we set off to the Whitsunday airport and had our safety briefing (of course I know all this by heart now!) and off we went on our ten minute flight to Daydream Island. It was a great way to see the reef and all the different colours of the sea - the water looks heavenly, although swimming in the sea is a big no no unless you want to get stung by a deadly jellyfish! We got a great deal, and after the helicopter dropped us off we got to spend the whole day at the Daydream Island resort with use of all the pools, mini golf and a tasty lunch!

The following day was our sailing trip on board Maxi Ragamuffin. It was really exiciting to be on an ex racing boat, and passengers had to help the crew with putting up the sails and so on. The boat has won many races including the Sydney to Hobart race which takes place every Boxing Day. On the way over I felt a little queasy - I guess it was because we were sailing at a 30 degree angle, but luckily I made it ok! It was about 2 hours to get to Whitehaven Beach - the place that everyone raves about. The gorgeous white sand is very fine and doesn't get hot either, so we were able to play games on the beach without scalding our feet! The water was beautiful too - though we all had to wear sexy stinger suits just in case the jellyfish were lurking - it wasn't a great look! We enjoyed a picnic lunch and then jumped back on board for the return journey.

That night we decided to hit the town. Airlie Beach is well known for its numerous bars and clubs and the thousands of backpackers that visit every year. We've also begun bumping into people we have met in other places, who are doing the same route as us.

Tomorrow we are back on the Greyhound bus to Rockhampton for a couple of nights, then onto Hervey Bay and Fraser Island.