Fraser island...home to the worlds most venomous spider and snake, breeding ground for tiger sharks. Welcome!!

After a 12 hour overnight bus from Airlie to Hervey bay and minimal sleep we were picked up by a butch Aussie with a love of fishing driving a fushia pink van! This is what we'd be driving for the next 3 days on our Fraser island 4x4 tour! With barely any time to even fill our water bottles we were briefed, met the other people (1 guy and 11 girls!!) we'd be camping with for the next three days, and of course our Michael Palin lookalike guide 'Syd'. As half the group couldn't drive manual and others had no driving licence we were fortunate enough to do most of the driving-Yay!! Matt was told at the end of the trip, much to his satisfaction, that he could have a job any time as his driving was better than some of the other guides!
The group food shop lead to some disagreements but once we'd stocked up on the Goon it was all calm again. Fraser island is the worlds largest sand island home to the purest breed of Dingo along with the funnel web spider, the deadly Taipan snake and extremely irritating March flies (immune to repellant but pretty slow, so by the end of the three days we'd swatted and killed in excess of 100 each). Our 4x4 accommodated both of us and 4 Canadian girls- Ali, Erin, Danielle and Sam. This led to a comical confusion of Sams' (also known as Sam Squared) where Matt was suntan lotioned by the wrong Sam! Ours was by far the best jeep in comparison to the dull silence of the German/Belgian/Dutch jeep driven by our guide. :-)
So during this trip we covered just short if 300 miles including the 75 mile beach (yes it really is that long) and many off-road tracks inland leading
to the most beautiful lake and our favourite place so far, Lake Mckenzie (photo), the pictures just don't do it justice. We saw a few Dingos, one of which took a bath with us in the fresh water Eli Creek. We also saw a Goanna lizard (3 foot long) skulking around after our lunch leftovers, and at night some of the huuuuugest insects and arachnids you have ever seen! Both nights we camped in a quiet little camp site surrounded by Dingo proof fencing. One night we braved it though the creepy crawly infested jungle with head torches to the beach to look at the upside down constellations. After 3 very busy action packed days (and a total of 5 nights without a proper bed) we headed back to the main land for some much needed rest. However we were up early again for the Greyhound to Mooloolaba.

Dolphins, turtles and ospreys.....oh and the Whitsunday Islands

Australia really put on a show for 'Australia Day' with sightings of wild dolphins, up close and personal swim-alongs with a green turtle and an acrobatics display from not one but two ospreys, also up close and personal. We've been out on a 2 night sailing trip around the Whitsunday Islands on a maxi racing yacht. Sadly however there wasn't so much as an asthmatic wheeze to blow us along, so we had to resort to motor power. The first day consisted of captains briefings, a spot of snorkelling and an evening under the edges of the galaxy. Countless stars! The next morning we were up early to watch the sun rise. Some of the livelier passengers missed it however after a night on the 'goon' (Aussie slang for wine in a bag). After brekkie we made for Whitsunday island and more specifically the world famous Whitehaven beach-the only pure silica sand beach in the world. As the beach is protected you cant drop anchor on the beach side of the island, so we were dropped off on the opposite side of the island and trekked through the mosquito and arachnid infested jungle to get there (Matt was eaten alive!). It was spectacular to say the least, mostly because of the fine white sand and turquoise water, but partly because if the resident sting rays that feed just off the beach.

Later on a trip over to the reef bought an impressive sighting of dolphins plodding along in the near distance. Once on the reef we had another opportunity to swim with an inquisitive turtle. After snorkelling we were treated to a feeding display from 2 ospreys dive bombing just off the side of the boat (photos to follow). Right now we're back on dry land awaiting another coach to take us to Fraser Island where we'll be 4x4ing along the beaches.

Moving South

The second half of the dive trip was even better than the first with great weather (a bit of sunburn) and more great aquatic creature encounters including an early morning swim alongside a green turtle eating a jellyfish breakfast. Yum! We took a late Greyhound bus down the coast after the dive trip to Mission Beach. We were picked up by the super friendly Bernie, a 70 something local fella who gave us the standard Aussie chat on the way to the hostel. After a much needed 11 hour sleep we spent the day relaxing, walking along the tropical beach line. On the lookout for Cassowary's (large native bird about the size of a small emu) Sam was attacked by a mean bush covered in barbs and now has the wound to prove it. We sadly didn't see any Cassowary's but did see a Kookaburra and some wierd looking spidery crab looking things. Decided to give skydiving a miss here and do it in Brisbane, so watch this space. 

Out on the GBR

That's the Great Barrier Reef incase you were wondering! We've been living on a boat for the last day and a half and have 5 dives under our belt including a night dive! The waters a warm 28 degrees and the reefs are alive-we've had plenty of underwater creature encounters including reef sharks, turtles (one inquisitive
fella on the night dive who swam straight up to Sams torch!) Also the usual nemos, dories, angelfish and a couple of triggers! We're being extremely well looked after with plenty of food and drink and a dive brief before each dive to make sure we don't get lost-we have become quite expert at compass reading under water!! There's a great group of people on board from all corners of the earth, right now were just upping anchor and on our way to the next reef for a further 6 dives before returning to try land tomorrow afternoon!

We've arrived :)

At long last were here, after 25hrs and 45 minutes on 4 planes plus the waiting in between we are well and truly cream crackers and along the way we lost Tuesday! But that's the worst of it done an dusted-now for the fun (after some well deserved sleep). So far we've checked-in and ventured into Cairns along the beach front-it seems that despite the ridiculous heat and humidity, these locals love their running/power walking and are barely breaking a sweat-were struggling to walk!! Just back from a GBK type place in time to escape a minor tropical thunderstorm (found out its 'wet' season-trust us!). The hostel is fun and lively and the staff are very helpful and keen to get us organised onto some trips in the next few days. So think we'll head to the bar and get some stuff organised before turning in and hopefully waking fresh and full of 'adventure beans'!!

The Adventure Begins...

Whoop whoop! We're finally leaving on a jet plane. The bags are packed and in a couple of hours we'll be in the sky on our long long long flight to Australia. It's a 4 leg journey - Manchester to Heathrow, Heathrow to Singapore - Singapore to Sydney, and finally Sydney to Cairns. By this time it'll be the 18th and we'll be well and truly jet-lagged but ready to embark on our adventures!
See you all at the other end...watch this space!x