Hey,

I know its been a long time and i apologise but i have been super busy since heading out of Sydney and have not had chance to get on a PC and update anything. Ok since Sydney we got the overnight bus and headed to Byron Bay where the hippies like to hang out. We heard about this great place called the arts factory we wanted to stay where you can camp in Teepee? (is that ow you spell it?) and have free digeridoo lessons do yoga and be at one with nature. Sounded far out and i was up for it but arriving there in the summer season was mental and we could get nowhere to stay in byron at all so we ended up staying at a little place called lenox head about 35mins away. It was lovely dont get me wrong but nothing much to do there so after staying there for a few days we decided to head o Byron and start booking some trips. We went to a place called Peter pans (there is loads of em out here) and tinkerbell (that wasnt her name but how i like to think of her as she was a star) booked us in for two and a half weeks of none stop trips coaches and accomodation whilst moving our way up the coast. Bus booked for the morning but no transport to get us there early enough we hitched a ride for the first time and met a lovely south african guy who recommended plenty to do and see and was pretty funny and dropped us in Byron.

We then arrived in Noosa and stayed there over three nights, i really liked it here especially the hostel we stayed in (noosa backpackers) really clean friendly and we met tons of ppl who we keep bumping into up the coast. it pretty much pissed it down the whole first day so we didnt get chance to take advantage of the free Kayaks and boards and the next day headed to the National park on our separate ways after arguing that night and still being pissed with each other that morning. I am quite suprised after 8 weeks that this was only our 2nd argument so we havent done bad really. The park is awesome check the pics out i did a few of the walks and its beautifull.

Anyways we hopped on another coach the next day and made our way to Rainbow Beach. That night we made three friends, two lovely Girls from Norway Haege and Pia and a guy who they met from Ireland Graeme, we got on so well we managed to wangle it that we were all on the same trip to Fraser Island as there are groups of 10 ppl in each group doing the self drive. That night with our new group of 10 formed and some team building to do we decided to get some beers before our big trip the next day and headed to a look out point which is sandblow in Rainbow beach and watch the sunset. WOW! It was like a desert on top of the rocks i have never seen anything like it in my life, there were ppl snowboarding down the dunes it looked so much fun.

For fraser the next day on the self drive experiance that we did you basically get a Jeep some camping gear a driving breifing and itenary of the island and they send you on your way with your group wish you luck and you come back in three days. I had such an amazing time our group was the A team and eveytime we arrived and left ou camping area where the other 4 groups of 10 shared with us we played the A team theme song! We visited Indian head, Lake Mackenzie, Lake Wabby, Eli Creek, Eurong, and Happy Village. I have never in my life seen any thing as beautiful as lake Mackenzie, it looks like the most amazing beach you will ever come across buts its a lake with clear water you can open our eyes in, there is no salt the place should be called paradise. I also got involved with some of the driving on Fraser (i was the only girl in the Jeep who did too) I had so much fun driving through the sand along the coast line, something i would love to again if i had the chance. Lake Wabby also had Catfish that would suck the dirt off you if you laid there and let them. I also took toilet breaks in the bushes whilst looking out for Dingos (i did see a few too so check the pics out on FB) and whilst camping amongst the Dingos in the dunes we shared our site with the other 4 groups of 10 so as you can imagine alot of Goon was drank and fun was had. What an experaince. We came back from Fraser after three days of getting sand in places you didnt now existed as its the worlds biggest sand island dont you know and had to rush get a shower and head on a 14 hour coach trip up to Airlie beah, where we got off our Bus and on to a boat to do the Whitsundays and the Barrier Reef.

Our boat was advertised as a party boat and thats we did! You basically brought your own alcohol there was 21 of us on the boat and you head around the islands taking in the views doing some snorkeling, getting fed and then getting tanked up on a night. you had a choice of sleeping on board under deck or on top of the deck and everyone chose to go on deck with the stars after a night of guitar playing. The 2nd day in we went to Whitehaven beach with our stinger suits on as its stinger season and walked in the water where you can see sting rays, turtles and sharks. I didnt see a shark but Rob did! Bumber! The night then ended up being fuelled by drinking tequilla and playig drinking games and the whole boat chanting Yorkshire and leeds leeds leeds! These were ppl from all over singing songs from back home as they think my accent is hilarious!

The best thing was i have never seen the end of a Rainbow before and thought it impossible. I have seen this twice since being on the boat and it was truly awesome waking up to it. Again met some top ppl who are all meeting at Airlie beach tonight in a bar called Pheonix where we get free pizza and have a party cant wait. We managed to get a room with our friends from Norway and Irlend for two nights too before we head to Brisbane for a night then fly to new zealand on the 19th.

Sorry the blog was sooooooo long i could have talked all day about the things i saw and did but these were the bits i remembered best.

I have had a wicked 7 week in Aus and will be sad to leave but knowing that i am moving on to discover somewhere completely new and different is so exciting. We plan gettng a camper so ill be doing the drving so ill keep you posted.

Over and out.

Your Yorskhire lass Rachio x x