Queensland, Brisbane. Arrived to scorching temperatures and a fantastic storm!! Soaked through to the skin within seconds of stepping outside! Awesome what a welcome!

We travelled upto Brisbane from Melbourne by Plane, for comfort not price!! Stepping out of the airport was like steppinginto a giant oven! Melting point was almost reached, I did start to think that maybe I'd be in a spot of trouble up here with this heat!! But after a week in the sun in the Gold Coast I was aclimatised and now struggle when the temperature drops below 24 degrees!!! I'll feel it when the time comes to return to the UK!!!

The Gold Coast and Surfers Paradise was first on our list! After 3 weeks in the city (Melbourne) it was time for some relaxation by the sea! The name gives this place away and it really was a "Surfers Paradise"! Golden sandy beaches and incredible surf! Somewhat commercial but nowhere near the over the top American beach resort! We stayed in the YHA by the beach, a perfect location to enjoy an early morning dip and anfternoon dip followed by an evening dip! Body Boards were a must, this led to hours of fun in the sun! A great place and a quality few days!

Then it was time to get serious and check out the big city!... Nothing too spectacular. Although South bank offers plenty of activities including a "City Beach"! Amazing to see located right by the Brisbane river overlooking the city centre! A great place for a Bbq, social get together or simply a cool off in the "Sea". A favourite place of mine, somewhere I would be happy to sit and watch the world go by! Looking from South Bank across the river to the city, the first building that comes into view is the spectacular Treasury Building. The Casino! Its really a view to be enjoyed in the evening when the coloured lights eluminate the building that can be seen for miles around. Wonderful!

The lifestyle of Australians is very relaxed and easy going, this suits me to the ground! I have enjoyed the general pace of life and the adventurous nature of the locals!

From here it was time to start working. The travel funds were getting low and I was also getting itchy feet. I needed the routine back in my life for a while!! And working whilst you're travelling is not at all like the real deal!! Challenger Sports had recently set up camps in Australia and I was fortunate enough to be called upon to take part in coaching the summer soccer programme! Awesome!! Coaching soccer to a new group of children in a different country is an incredible opportunity for me!!

The first camp was based in a suburb of Brisbane known as Northlakes! A relatively new estate, filled with the English who have emmigrated to Queensland! And part of me can understand why they do! The weather and pace of life, the opportunities, the wildlife!! These are all spectacular things and features of Australian living!

This is the part of the trip which I enjoyed the most! Host families!!! They are all such wonderful people who welcome you into their homes and make sure you have a great time whilst you stay with them! the first family of 4 weeks of coaching were exactly like this. Wonderful! I had a truely amazing time coaching on camp but then to be treated to the hospitality of such a fantastic family Christmas had come early! A house with a pool and the offer of an extendedstay over the christmas periiod top an great first impression of Australians and their country!

The week of camp flew by, and the pooll at home was a God send! Used daily or rather hourly to cool off! Some great days spent with The Garretts! Christmas week approached and it was a very strange atmosphere. the excitement seemed different, the weather certainly was and I think it was this that led to the confusion as to what season it really was!? Christmas in the summer?? Its just not right! A very different but still wonderful Christmas was experienced! Not sure I could ever get used to Christmas being in summer! Christmas Eve water skiiing, Christmas day on the beach! Boxing Day spent in the Sunshine Coast, Noosa and Caloundra! Awesome!

A trip to Bribie Island was a real hightlight! To have such paradise in your own backyard is incredible! White sandy beaches, awesome surf! This is heaven! The sun was shining during our whole day out with the wonderful Desley! A stroll on the beach followed by F "n" C's!! Not as good as the Fish and Chips of DOUGIES! But they still tasted good! The warm but cooling sea was a treat to swiim in, this is a long way from the freezing temperatures of Scarborough!!

Water skiiing on Christmas Eve! Who wouldve predicted that?! A fantastic afternoon aboard the boat racing along Pine River. Water Skiiing is tough! Hard work on your forearms and mine certainly felt the rath come Christmas Day! Not quite a professional...yet! But Im getting there! The tube was next up and what a ride!!! The pace of the boat led to a painful fall!! When thrown from the speeding tube I mustve looked like a large stone in a skimming competition (one which I am convince I wouldve won!!) A great day!

Boxing day saw an early start, 5am! We headed up the coast to Noosa, the Sunshine Coast! Spectacular!! Awesome beaches and unbelievable bush! Fantastic rambling opportunities on top of the surf! A walk in the coastal bush led us to the sighting of the Bush Turkey! An ugly thing!! But that wasnt all we were treated to a sighting of a Koala!!! Sleeping bear high in the tree! Beautiful to see, so peaceful. It is the greatest part of the trip, seeing the wildlife! Kangaroos bouncing and sleeping in the fields! Koalas sleeping in the trees!! Parrots feeding from your hand and settling comfortably on your head! Amazing and fascinating!!

I have been fortunate enough to visit and see many spectacular places, but one place I will always remember is O'Reillys! A fantastic national park and a place I would love to go camping in! The wildlife here is fascinating! The birdlife is entertaining! The Kanagroos roam freely! An dthe "Tree walk" is awesome!! Climbing high between the tree tops and taking in the views around this rainforest area is incredible! I loved every minute of the day we spent here and I would love to head back there one day.. Hopefully soon! The drive up the mountain is well worth it! A steep climb of 38kms taking in the views as you climb (being careful not to feel too ill with all the hairpin bends!) Once at the top you are treated to the best view around! The rainforest is vast! Filled with many attractions! A well preseved area which is managed in the right way. Looking after the natural environment whilst educating people who viisit! A great day out!!