Sydney to Airlie Beach
Hello everyone.
You may have been thinking that we haven’t been up to much recently, due to our lack of updates, but in the last two weeks we have visited the working home of the late, great Steve Irwin, had a 4×4 adventure, and been marrooned on a desert island to name a few.
On leaving Sydney we travelled to Port Stephen, about 4 hours north. Although we were only passing through, we did see a great sunset.
The next day was another driving day, which involved a stop in Port Macquarie. On the harbour wall, people have painted the rocks and left personal messages. Some are funny, and some are very poignant.
Byron Bay was our next stop. A small town with a great beach, and lots of surfers. We managed to get the last spot in our campsite and decided to spend a few days there, doing nothing more than lazing on the beach while watching the learner surfers fall off.
Heading north again towards Brisbane, we took a slight detour to Nimbin, a hippy town who’s cookies got rave reviews from two of my mates. We went through the “museum” which was a bit too weird for us. The cookies were nowhere to be seen, though the video playing in the museum showing a recent arrest might have had something to do with it!
Australia Zoo was always on our list of things to do, so we had to visit when driving through Brisbane. It is by far the best zoo either of us have been too, and contained a lot more than just crocs. Rach fulfilled a dream by holding a Koala and both of us got to feed the resident Kangaroos aswell as seeing the famous feeding time at the Crocoseum. It’s obvious that Steve Irwin put his heart and soul into the place and his enthusiasm does still come across even 18 months after his death.
I got to play with a serious “big boy toy” at our next destination, Fraser Island. Fraser Island is the worlds biggest sand island, and all national park. The only way to get around is with 4×4’s on VERY bumpy tracks which are dotted around the island. After we had dug our van out from a very sandy campsite, we rented a 4×4 for 2 days, which involved a night sleeping on the beach. We had to pay a visit to Lake Mckenzie so Rach could give her face a scrub with the very fine sand and soften her hair in the clear water (and Lou, she said her skin did feel amazing afterwards). I was just happy to be driving a big, powerful car down tiny dirt tracks. Rachels neck wasn’t. After not getting much sleep, due to the wind and dingos sniffing around our tent we drove to Lake Wabi, which is gradually being engulfed by a massive sand bluff. This was a very beautiful place and it’s sad that the lake won’t be there in 10 or so years time. Unfortunately due to erosion we couldn’t go further north, so were unable to explore much more of the island.
After handing our Land Cruiser back dent free thankfully, we headed north driving towards Airlie Beach and the famous Whitsunday Islands. Camping on the beach at Fraser had whetted our appetites, so we were dropped off at Crayfish Bay on Hook Island for 3 days of isolation. We had the whole of a beautiful beach to ourselves and with no way of contacting the outside world it was very peaceful.
We are now heading for Cairns, where we will begrudgingly say goodbye to our camper.
10 comments
Aw those pictures look great. definitely brightened up my morning. Rachel looks very tanned now, not sure you will ever catch up Matthew! Thank you for my beach picture, I like it a lot. Koala looks really cuddly, that’s definitely a picture to frame for when you are back. It’s amazing how many people I know who are on your side of the world at the moment, I keep seeing pictures of places you have been popping up on Facebook. I’ll be home for Easter in a couple of days so maybe I can catch you on webchat at some point! x
Your trip is looking better and better guys.
Matt, if you wanna stop Rach`s neck from hurting when your in the 4×4, just learn how to drive a manual ‘box properly then! LOL!
That pic of Rach on the island next to her tent looks like a scene from Lost! hehe
Hi mate
Good to see the travels are still going well. Well this our first post to you as things have been manic!
The BIG news is that Jen is pregnant, 15 weeks in fact. We have just started telling folk so thought we would let you guys know, and with a bit of luck, baby will be here beofre you get back! Mental or what….
Hi there,
Everything still looking to be an adventure ,we definately want that Koala !! He is absolutely gorgeous. Busy enjoying yourselves,don’t forget to make sure you top up on that suncream. Speak with you soon.Au revoire !!
Congrats Adamand Jenny! That is excellent news! x
Adam and Jen –
Congrats! So happy for you both. How exciting!! Can’t wait to meet baby when we get back. x x
Hey guys, the photos look gorgeous! Hope you guys didn’t get up to too much trouble while you were isolated on that beautiful island with no one around to catch you!!!! Hehehe!!
Keep the updates coming, xxx
Glad to have you back! Wow you have been busy havent you? the photos are great, love the artsy fartsey ones! You will both be ready for a bit of a rest on Bali now. The painted wall is great, love that idea. Praps doing a bit of washing now and again will keep the dingos from sniffing around matt!!
Great news from Adam and Jen. Congratulations to you both.
Keep safe and keep clicking.xxxx
Hey guys I am so glad you made it safe around Australia. So happy to hear that you got a skin spa day in Lake McKenzie too…wasnt it worth the bumpy ride?? Some hippie towns of Australia was a bit weird wasnt it…we had an encounter with some ‘parkies’ in Byron Bay, think we told you about that story beforehand. Anyways cant wait to see your progress in Indonesia!! Much Love x
Oh and Koala’s are the most cuddliest (but smelly in my experience, not sure about yours) creatures ever dont you think!! cheerio
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