We only left ourselves two and a half weeks to get from Brisbane to Melbourne in time for the F1 GP. So not a great deal of time!

We explored in and around Brisbane for a couple of days and made sure we visited a few National Parks and Australia Zoo (run by the late Steve Irwin and family).

After Brisbane we drove south to the Gold Coast. By pure luck we caught the final day of the Quiksilver Surfing Championship in Coolangatta. For the record Kelly Slater beat the local favourite Mick Fanning.

Next stop was Bryon Bay. Fantastic beaches and yet another walk to a lighthouse!

Only a day in Coffs Harbour, home of the Big Banana, before heading to Newcastle which is just north of Sydney.

Our final stop before Melbourne was the capital of Australia - Canberra. We toured the old and new Parliament buildings and also the war memorial and museum which was surprisingly good. Not much else to do there so we promtly left the next morning!

Also on our journey we came across the Big Prawn in Ballina and a cafe shaped liked Ayres Rock. Only in Australia!!