Just a quick note to say hi all from Hervey Bay. We arrived here about half an hour ago, and we've got a meeting about our tour at 3 at which we'll meet our group and sort out all the plans for tomorrow. We're leaving at 5.45am so its going to be an early start! Should be good though, although I've never driven on a sand dune before so can't help but be a bit nervous!!

Today has been a truly adorable day - we went to the Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary about half an hour away from town where you can get right up close to the koalas and kangaroos. We even got to hold a koala (I have photographic evidence, I will put it on the sight asap!). They're very cute, but I couldn't help feel a tiny bit uncomfortable with it in my arms, and if honest, was quite glad when his handler took him back! He was adorable though, called Kakadu (we th...

Well, we've now been exploring Brisbane, and I have to say, it seems to be yet another lovely Australian city! The cities here are all so nice, they're all centred around water of some form (a river here) and it just makes them feel so much more open. They also really go in for Botanic Gardens, which are more like parks to you and me but are still really nice - Dad, you would love it! Our hostel is quite nice, a large, bright orange (no relation to Easyjet) bu...

Well, Charlene may have missed the bus to Brismane, but thankfully Sarah and Caroline are a little bit more organised! We arrived in Brisbane this morning, having left Surfer's in a bit of a sleepy daze - we weren't planning on going out last night but we were persuaded to change our minds!! Despite some initial misgivings when we arrived in Surfer's, we actually really enjoyed our time there. Days were mostly spent on the beach, or by the pool when the co...

In my mind, the name Surfer's Paradise conjured up a hippy little town, a bit like Byron Bay, full to the brim with surfy types. Actually, its a massive city, full of high-rise buildings and British backpackers! We had been warned that it was big, and nothing like Byron, but we were still a bit surprised! Someone likened Surfer's to Benidorm, and to be honest I can see the resemblance!! We arrived in Surfer's Paradise yesterday, having left Byron that mor...