We are now in Sydney, how exciting. Got here last night and all booked into the hostel that the Oz experience recommends. There is a group of 7 of us that are all staying together, me and Kirsty are the only girls so its funny with the male hummor. There a good crowd though.

So on the first day of the Oz experience we went for an 8km round hike to a beach, it was really nice and the walk wasnt too hard, some uphill but after our treck in Thailand. Hehe. Then we went to the hostel and were asleep by about 9pm. hehe.

The next day, the snow day. We had to leave at 6am yuck. hehe. We drove for over 4 hours where we stopped in a national park for lunch. It was really nice and there was BBQ's there so we cooked up some burgers for lunch.This place really is BBQ central Vicky would love it. Loads of places have these gas BBQs you can use for free and then the park people even clean them for you. Its great. The weather was beautiful! So I was slowly removing all the layers I had donned iin the morning. Then we drove up another 30mins to the highest mountain in Australia over 2000m high (cant remember how to spell the name of it though as its a Polish name). We got there and were told the walk was again only 8km but our guide called Bones said he only expected a couple of us as its through snow, so you know what Im like as soon as he said that I was determined to make it. hehe. We were up on one mountain and basically we just had to walk down to a river and then up another mountain to a lake (ref. pictures). It was so stunning, but not the type of scenery you associate with Australia. So we set off. About half the group gave up at the river, most of us werent really prepared for the hike, one girl in little silver shoes. So the rest of us trudged on up the next hill.

We reached a point where Bones said was about 2/3rds of the way and the last bit was harder as the snow got thicker. Here Kirsty decided to give up but I continued. Now only me a little Chineese lady were the only girls left. It was really hard. my feet were soaking in my scuba shoes (not made for snow) and the snow was up to your knee at some points. But I made it to the lake. Woo! I was so pleased with myself. hehe.

There is a group pic in the snow of all the people that made it to the top. Only problem was we then had to walk back. again down was fine but uphill the other way was soo hard. I was last but one to make it (only followed by a 60yr old chineese man) but I made it. Think i have got somewhat fitter while here. So that evening we got back to the hotel at about 4pm and decided to go for a sauna and a swim in the freezing cold pool. The hotel was lovely, right on a lake. We then went to dinner and then onto the bar. We had a pool competition which through some lucky shots and a mess up by Bones (by now we have established that Bones is somewhat crazy but very entertaining) I ended up in the semi finals! Wo and so nearly won!!!

Then finally yesterday we had a later start not leaving till 8am. Then drove for 2 hours to Canbrra the capital of Australia and went to the parliment building and national museum. Fortunately here we left a group of 4 people who were the noisiest and most annoying on the bus behind and continued on the 6 hour drive to Sydney. The bus was soo much nicer without them and the obvious divide that there was with them there. So we all played a few games and had some giggles so the drive wasnt too bad.

We have spent today sleeping, doing washing having brunch at a really nice place (I know not quite budget but we are in Sydney) and are probably going out again tonight to catch a live band. We are prob going to do the bus tour some day and have been told to do the blue mountains while here in Sydney so need to look into that.