After reluctantly leaving the comforts and beer of friend's in Brisbane, we continued our drive north in Manny the Mazda. We had a couple of quick pitstops at the beaches of Coloundra and Mooloolaba, was fun trying to find places we stayed at last time we were there with Joel's family. Next stop was Noosa Heads and the awesome beaches and National Park. Couple of nights sleep in the woods before being told to shift by the ranger, booooo!

Once done at Noosa it was time for the sand of Fraser Island. We decided to do a 3 day/2 night self drive 4x4 camping tour with other backpackers and had such a wicked time. Lots of amazing lakes, off road driving and cheap nasty wine! Set up camp by the beach both nights and even managed to have fun with 6 Germans (when they weren't trying to tell us what to do!!! ha ha) And yes, we did see a Dingo, 2 in fact!

After Fraser we drove to Mackay and met up with Joel's godfather Dale and family friend Pete. Also stayed with Andy, a mate from our Africa trip and had great home cooking from him Mum - thanks! We had a great couple of days here catching up with them all. We also met up with Clare's Mum and brother in Mackay, after a false start when their plane was delayed for a day. Was brilliant to see them and catch up on things back home.

Our first taste of luxury with Gail and Tom was a sailing trip on the Whitsundays with big fat Massimo the skipper!! There were only 8 people on the boat which made the trip even bettter. We did the usual snorkelling, swimming and lots and lots of eating - the food was delicious!! Absolutely loved Whitehaven Beach (had perfect weather too) and the cool little blue crabs. We all looked wonderfully fashionable in our stinger suits, esp Gail!!

On the way to Townsville we experienced all Aussie wildlife has to offer at the Billabong Sanctury (much better than Australia Zoo and half the price!) We all held a snake, baby croc and Clare held a koala at last. We fed Cassowaries and also petted a big fat wombat! But the best entertainment was watching Tom and the evil duck!!!!!! After a nice stopover in Townsville on the esplanade and a play in the kid's waterpark, we got the ferry across to Magnetic Island (or is it Majestic Gail?!) An amazingly beautiful place, cool beaches wild koala, rock wallabies and an incredible B&B. Not forgetting Gail's huge win at the Toad races, $100!!! Joel drove (raced more like!) around the island on a cool little mini mote, like a go-cart, while the rest hung on for dear life!

Next stop was Mission Beach and watching Gail and Tom throw themselves out of a plane from 14,000 feet. Yes, we cant believe they did it either! Awesome stuff watching them jump but not so awesome with all that waiting around, he he! For those of you who dont believe they did it, there is a very funny DVD that I'm sure Gail will be happy to show everyone!

Cairns and the tropical north was next and wow. Spent a day at Karanda, got the sky rail up over the rainforest, went horseriding in the bush and then the scenic train back down. Perfect day really. Another day was spent bobbing up and down in the waves and rain on the Great Barrier Reef trying to snorkel (the ONLY day we had rain!) It was ok, not the best due to the weather but we'll be going back there and Gail will snorkel! Rest of time was spent shopping, eating, shopping, eating, swimming, trying to drown Clare, meeting friends and then it was off to say goodbye at the airport. Gail and Tom headed back to London via Hong Kong and yes there were tears! Now it was back to backpacker life. We had such a great 10 days with them, we didn't want them to go!

Once done with being spoilt we parked up for a night at Tammie's and had a lovely Aussie BBQ - thanks! Next day we went to Daintree and Cape Tribulation for a night where we bush camped and saw a wild Cassowary and Goanna wander through camp. Clare even resisted the urge to jump in the van to hide, must be getting brave! Back to Cairns for beer and Friday night footie with Tammie and Baden (who paid for the dinner Tams?!?!) before we headed to the outback via Atherton Tableland (crater lakes and waterfalls etc)

This signalled the start of our long drive to Darwin and our first experience of the Aussie outback! Hundreds of miles of ruler straight roads, huge road trains (which Clare doesnt like!), massive road kill - roos, dogs, birds, even cows - can smell them before you can see them, not nice. Stopped at a tiny outback town called Normanton, then the mining town of Mount Isa. We did an underground mine tour there, which was fun but both know that we dont want to be miners!! After the strange town on Tennant Creek we reached the even stranger town of Katherine! It's only saving grace being the great Katherine Gorge National Park. Camped one night, trekked the next day to a waterhole and had a quick dip (even though the gorge was closed for swimming due to crocs!) Next stop was Litchfield National Park and it's incredible gorges, waterfalls and plunge pools. Spent 2 days jumping off rocks!

That brings us to Darwin where we'll be staying for a few days before heading to the crocs at Kakadu National Park. Then we'll drive back the way we've come (!) into the centre of the outback and Alice Springs / Ayers Rock etc.

Two months in and one to go, we'll write again when we get to Melbourne or maybe Brisbane, but might be too drunk!

Clare & Joel xxx