Driving to Brisbane - a fantastic experience!

Steve Urwin's Australia Zoo
Originally uploaded by Frickley.

We travelled on from Yeppoon to Hervey Bay and enjoyed a tour of Frazer Island (the largest sand island in the world, and remotely populated). The day included a short ferry trip from the mainland to the island, where we boarded a 4x4 bus and drove along (very) uneven sandy roads.

Firstly we stopped at Lake Birabeen - a gorgeous fresh water lake with pure white sands - before moving on to do a rainforest walk and then have lunch in one of the island's few hotels. After that we took a drive along Seventy-Five Mile beach - it was thrilling as we were driving right at the waters-edge, weaving in and out of the waves. Finally we went to Eli Creek before heading back home. Unfortunately we didn't get to see any Dingoes, but it was a fantastic day!

Leaving Hervey Bay, we travelled on to Noosa, where we stayed briefly (a very pretty beach but really expensive shops etc) and then to Brisbaine, our final stop with the campervan aka 'our bijoux oven-on-wheels'. We stopped off on the way to visit Australia Zoo (the late Steve Urwin's animal sanctuary). We saw Kangaroos, Koalas, loads of poisonous snakes and - of course - crocs!

We have actually really enjoyed the two weeks camping despite an uncertain start, when we were not sure how we were going to cope living, eating & sleeping in the cramped space. Still, we got into a routine and felt a little sad to give the van back. Finding our way around was easy enough - I got into the swing of map reading (definitely NOT a previous skill!) and James nicknamed
me 'tracker-Fran', such was my sixth-sense for heading us in the right direction!

I even said to James that I might enjoy doing a camping holiday in England when we get back (at which point J got v.excited and started listing off all the camping gear he has back home). I thought I was making excellent progress....'high maintenance'...me?!? 'I could get into the swing of this ruffing it malarky', I thought....Well, that was until I discovered I had left my GHD hair straighteners in a previous camp site bathroom and we faced the drive back to get them. Hmmm - maybe I need to keep working on it.....

Missing you all, F&J.x.

p.s. check out our Flickr photos - we have (finally) managed to upload them.

Airlie Beach and Yeppoon

We had a great time in Airlie Beach. We managed to get a covered spot on the campsite - which allowed us to get a few days respite from the sun! Its soooo hot during the day... I'll need to be careful, as I've just had a grade one hair cut all over! My hair is now the same length as the beard that I am growing :-) (I doubt the beard will see the light of day back home - I always promised myself I'd never end up looking like one of the computing professors at Uni!)

We took a day trip around the Whitsunday's. They are truly beautiful islands. Got loads of pics, including some professional ones of me and Fran on the beach – no we didn’t get married folks before you guys start getting worried J We didn’t go in the water though as its stinger season, and believe me, you don’t want to get stung by one of those little buggers.

We’ve now stopped in Yeppoon (near Great Keppel Island) for a few days. Our camper van looks out onto the ocean. The view is amazing. We will probably head off shortly to Hervey Bay for a trip to Fraser Island before we head down the coast to Surfers Paradise and Brisbane.

Hope you are all well back home.

Keep in touch. J&F

PS No photos at the mo as I am having a nightmare trying to upgrade my flickr on-line account. Paypal insist on ridiculous security measures - like phoning your home phone number to verify your location - not easy when travelling abroad eh!