Once in Brisbane we were picked up by Caitlin (who we had met on the tour in China) from an area called 'The Valley'. She took us back to her place in 'The Gap' to the north-west of Brisbane and were greeted by some of her family - Mum, Dad, Madonna (also on the China tour), Zoe (sister), Gen (sister) and their boyfriends. We had an amzing barbeque dinner cooked on their inside barbeque and then went to bed.

The next day was spent walking around Brisbane with Caitlin - along the South Bank (much like London's South Bank) taking in the sights and the art galleries along the way. We also went to a Science Centre, probably meant for children but it was really fun nevertheless!!! We also went to the Museum of Modern Art and walked in the main part of the city to grab some lunch before driving out to the Botanic Gardens on the way back to her place. We had dinner and then went to bed. Should explain at this point that their house is amazing! It is like a labyrinth there are so many different levels and staircases! Us three were sleeping in what could be described us their basement (but still opened onto their garden due to being built on a slope). We had our own couch, bathroom, tv etc...it was like a self contained flat! Definately living in luxury compared to hostels!!!

The next day we drove down to the Gold Coast (south of Brisbane) to their beach house at Tugan which is just south of Surfer's Paradise. So on the way, we made the obligatory stop to see what it was all about! To be honest my opinion of it didn't change having seen it. We had heard it was very commercialised, reminiscent of the Costa del Sol and they weren't wrong! There were plenty of shops though and I managed to stock up on some havaianas!!!!! At the house in Tugan I had a quick nap on the sunlounger on the balcony overlooking the sea whilst the others went down to the beach - the bous played football and Caitlin sunbathed. I went down to join her for a while and was even tempted to go in for a swim but was put off by the jellyfish I saw washed up on the shore! We went to the supermarket to get some food to cook for dinner and on the way Sam, trying to open the electric window, accidently broke it! We spent a while trying to fix it in the carpark of the supermarket but to no avail. Back at the house the window was taped up and we had a bbq style dinner again cooked inside but in the oven!!!

We drove back to Brisbane the next day (on the thursday) and we went into Brisbane while Caitlin was at work where I got some last minute things in the shops. We had dinner and then Caitlin took Karl and I (Sam was still in Brisbane meeting a friend) to Mount Coo-tha and had Cold Rock (an amazing ice cream parlour where they mix anything: choc, biscuits, fruit etc into any flavour of ice cream. Much like Shake-away.

The friday was meant to be the day of cricket! We had tickets booked to see the one day test of Oz v Nz at the Gabba in Brisbane. Rain made it look like it was going to be off and at 1pm it was still pouring (it was due to start at 1.15pm). So I spent the day writing postcards, uploading photos etc. However, at 6pm it seemed that it would go ahead after all with less overs. We got there a bit after it started but managed to see Australia bat to 156 runs. New Zealand were batting when the heavens opened again and it was called off as a draw - NZ only had 30 runs or so to get so they begrudging left the pitch. So that explains if you get a postcard saying the cricket was rained off - it was written between 1pm and 6pm!!!!! After that we went into Brisbane to a bar called the Stock Exchange with Caitlin and Madonna, and feeling very underdressed we headed home relatively early at 12am via a kebab/pizza place!

We left Brisbane on saturday but not before taking Caitlin and Madonna out for breakfast at Pandamonium in Paddington, a suburb of Brisbane. It was so nice. I had poached eggs with avocado and tomato on bread and a chocolate thickshake which was so thick it wouldn't go through a straw!!!! I didn't manage to finish that. Then, we left on a lunchtime bus for Byron Bay.