Okay again I've been slack to update so this may be slightly lengthy but I am tired after a day out to Oz Zoo so we'll see.
So since I last updated the first major trip we did was the Whitsunday's. AMAZING easily the best trip of Oz so far. Two days and two nights on a sailing boat with quite rough weather, no shower, and loads of Goon = recipe for fun. Though it was really windy which made the sailing exciting we were lucky enough to have sunshine for the majority of the trip after a rainy start. Highlight of the trip was definitely Whitehaven beach sooo breathtaking, I thought it'd be hard to beat some of Ko Phi Phi's beaches but this blow anything I've seen out the water. The sand is so fine we all sat there in the sea brushing our teeth with it which remarkably worked well. The two nights we spent on the boat we slept on deck under the stars which was nice apart from Chris snoring like a train. The first night was by far the best loads of drink and card games along with a bit of singing by a Welsh guy (also called Chris) who got to boot camp on X-Factor! On the second day we did a scuba dive off the boat which had beautiful coral formations but the marine life wasn't a patch on Thailand.
The second highlight of the trip was definitely the return journey! Now I won't be able to explain how it felt in words but basically we had a very dodgy captain (nicknamed Dangerous Dave for obvious reasons) who was taking our boat (The Samuri) out for his first time. There was only two other crew members made up of a dive instructor (Josh) and the Cook. We had 30knot winds coming back and at 33knots they cancel trips so it was fast, upon bringing the head sail in which at first was successful but not tied proparly it shot back out causing the boat to lean at about a 90degree angle on it's side. Now when that happens and you're not expecting it, it's a miracle someone didn't go overboard. Anyway the rope got stuck, Dangerous Dave got angry and told some passengers he thought the boat might go over which in Stinger and Shark infested water made a few girls cry, while he let the dive instructor (who seemed to have smoked one two many joints) sort it out! After an hour of going round in circles and being tossed about he fixed it by cutting the rope and re-tying it and thus we finally made it back to shore. Luckily I was sat with a group who just made the situation funny more than scary.......
So coming back to Airlee beach we had a 10hr coach journey to 1770 booked for midnight. Unlike the other five I'm now travelling with on a bit of a whim and after a few drinks I thought it'd be a good idea to stay where I was. Luckily I went out and had a great time and managed to get a lift off the Welsh singer down to 1770 the following day, though it was via a hospital as some local decided to punch him on the way home, tosser!
1770 was a great town, very relaxing and home to the best hostel so far (Cool Bananas). After a tiny bit of R&R due to my very late arrival the following day we all had a surf lesson which on baby waves went very well. Can't wait to try it again on some bigger surf. That evening the boys (me, Danny, & Chris) went on a Chopper (motorbike) tour of the town. There was around 50 of us all in convoy and we just cruised around town saw our first wild Kangaroo and then watched the sunset while eating some wedges before returning back to the hostel.
From 1770 we made our way to Rainbow Beach in preparation for our trip to Fraser Island. Contrary to the hostel in 1770 Pipies at Rainbow beach was a shitwhole but free with the trip so couldn't grumble too much. Our trip for Fraser Island consisted of 10 people, a 4x4 jeep, tents, and again the famous goon. The off road driving was proper off road driving, not what we expected but the three boys in the car again me, Danny, and Chris shared the driving which was loads of fun. Fraser is an Island completely made of sand and so the roads are made up of beaches, creeks, and sand/dirt roads on the inland tracks.
First stop was Lake McKenzie which had sand very similar to Whitehaven but not as breathtaking, though it was overcast which didn't help. We spent the afternoon there and then went onto the first campsite. We set up tents and Laura got dinner on the way (spag bol) which on our half working gas stove took over three hours to cook, which obviously lead to a lot of alcohol being consumed on an empty stomach. This set the tone for the night and after a game of 'on the bus' everyone was pretty smashed especially Cat. So Cat thought it would be fun to start a play fight with me - bad idea as this resulted in Cat falling and after confirmation at hospital a few days back confirmed she has actually fractured her ankle! Shit I felt/feel really guilty but luckily it's a minor fracture which should take around three weeks to heal so it could have been worse. We both blame the Goon! Luckily my first aid skills from my lifeguard days came in useful so I strapped her leg up until we got to a doctors two days later.
The following day we did the other major sights another Creek, followed by a shipwreck, and then up to Indian Head point which was a great lookout for spotting sharks, turtles and rays which also gave great views of the island. After that we made our way back to our second campsite where we met the other group we were touring with and had a massive campfire, more goon (for a change) and ended up on the beach star gazing, I saw three shooting stars which was cool.
Our last day we went to the final major lake on the island that had a huge sand dune which ran into green water homing big cat fish that seemed to circle me ready to attack. The walk was bloody long so we had a much needed stop off at the islands only pie shop before heading back to the rubbish hostel of Pipies.
Okay so that brings me to where I am now, thankfully! Which is Noosa. Biggest and nicest town we've been to so far but really quite affluent so can't be stopping here too long. We did have another three day camping/canoe trip booked but after Fraser island we decided we were done with camping and so instead we went to the home of the legendary Steve Irwin and paid a visit to Oz zoo. Good day to go as it was Robert (his son's) 5th birthday so they made a good show for him prior to the croc show which was easily the highlight of the day. To be honest I thought they'd be more there than what there was but still a good day out, and as we have 'Cat the cripple' (bless her) we got access to the wheelchair areas, so every cloud and all that....
Other than that the boys have been fishing on the lake with limited success and the girls have done what girls do best and shopped. Maybe canoeing tomorrow spot some dolphins if we're lucky and then onto Brisbane. I can't believe it's 1st December wow it's nearly Christmas and it still feels like August to me.
Hope everyone is fine and dandy, miss ya's.
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