Another one

Hi folks, yes another blog entry can you believe it? Don't get used to so many entries so close together, I don't think it will be like this for long. The reason for yet another one today is that the hostel has a great computer here for a reasonable price, it also conveniently lets you backup your photos on DVD for nothing! (I supply the DVD of course) But most places charge you for the pleasure so I am quite happy.

Anyway while I wait for that to happen - I have a few discs to burn I thought I would back track a little and give you a short list of the places we have seen in Australia and New Zealand so far and if I can I will give a comment on how it went.

1) First port of call Sydney - Sydney was great and it has the aesthetic that Edinburgh has, the big iconic tourist attraction kind of thing, like Paris too. We both love it although it would be difficult to imagine living in the city.

2) North Beaches of Sydney - Manly etc... These were great too although some were a bit quiet like Collaroy. Palm Beach was where they filmed Home and Away which was fun to see and Manly was the best place where we also met Mairi.

3) From here we went back to Sydney city for two nights and then flew out to Hervey Bay - There wasn't much in Hervey Bay although it was stunning and had nice beaches. We were really there just to do Fraser Island.

4) Fraser Island - biggest Sand bank in the world (and no sand castles in sight!) it's the place that made the "a dingo stole my baby" phrase famous. We enjoyed it but the constant driving in a 4x4 in sand made for quite a bumpy journey. Highlight was getting up for sunrise and seeing a dingo.

5) Next up was Sydney again but just the airport where we stayed all day then flew to Perth. First impression of Perth was that it was stil under construction but we grew to really like it. Tons of Irish and Scottish though so it didn't feel really that Australian. It was in Perth we visited Nicholas and Katherine Peach before picking up our camper van and heading South towards Margaret River.

6) Margaret River - this is big wine country - not big as in "big wine bottles" but big as is "the place to be". We spent time drinking free wine and eating cheese. It was cool and was out first introduction to camper van life. This is the only part of Western Australia that is green and lush, we really liked it - maybe that was just the effect of the wine though. We went as far as Augusta in the furthest south west corner of OZ. We left after a couple of days however as we had to start the journey north and had to get back to Perth for the Red Bull Air Race.

7) After the Air Race we sprinted up the coast to Cervantes and we stayed the night before visiting the Pinnacles.

8) We then went to Geraldton which was unexciting but the road trips were becoming very exciting with Kangaroos all over the place and all sorts of wildlife etc.

9) After Geraldton we headed off to Denholm and Monkey Mia. This was where we watched the dolphins getting fed and old people dropping their digital cameras into the sea.

10) Next up we headed up the coast to Coral Bay which was stunning - and the snorkelling adventures began. Scared at first we grew more confident and I got snorkellers sunburn - where just your back gets fried - nice.

11) Exmouth was the next stop where the heat really started to kick in - apparently it gets over 40 degrees regularly in summer. Exmouth is also the place where the Qantas jet recently had to make an emergency landing - they are now blaming this on the massive communications pylons that the Americans have there to listen in on Submarines (aye, and perhaps the Chinese??????). Then it was off to Cape Range National Park where we explored Ningaloo reef - snorkelling about like a couple of loonies. We camped rough with no facilities for three nights too so we looked like a couple of loonies as well.

11) After leaving Exmouth we headed back to Coral Bay for a couple of nights before making the long journey back towards Perth where we dumped the camper van, met Lewis Peach (the baby) and then headed on a plane to the home of Neighbours - Melbourne.

12)Melbourne - stayed with Vicky and Adrienne and went to Neighbours night, Stefan Dennis was there and it was all very funny. We visited Ramsay street and saw the sights. We borrowed Harold the camper and drove Great Ocean Road down to the 12 Apostles where we about turned and headed back to Mellie.

13) Leaving Mellie behind we flew to Christchurch where we began the hunt for jobs. We didn't get to do too much in C'church but I am sure we will be back at some point.

14) Picked up the hire car and Drove to Nelson from where I am now writing this list - which is probably as much for our benefit as it is yours.

15)......We are headed to Wellington on Saturday - we will try and keep adding to this as we go but probably not at the same pace of contribution as is happening right now.

Well, this has definitely helped me train my memory a wee bit and I hope it's been worthwhile writing it - I would be interested if anyone could total up all the kilometres we have travelled - I think that would be interesting. Glasgow-bangkok-chiang mai-bangkok-sydney and so forth - if anyone is up for it then please do send the results! Perhaps there will be a prize ;o)

There will also be a prize (maybe) if anyone can identify what we photographed in the photo at the top of the page - we saw it in Melbourne somewhere and had to photo it.

Happy Christmas shopping!!

SB