hi everyone!

we left Adelaide and collected our hire car, a Hyundai Accent - bit of an old people's car to look at but nice inside and Tim enjoyed driving it. His reversing still leaves a lot to be desired even with power steering!

So we set off for the 'Great Ocean Road'. We went to see the Bunyip at Murray bridge before leaving Adelaide, the Bunyip is a Aboriginal Bogeyman! We can explain more when we're home. We also visited the Big Lobster - all these things are a must when your in Oz! It was big and it was a lobster, so we weren't disappointed!

We arrived at the Jail in Mount Gambier. We weren't subjected to prison food, we got a Hungry Jacks (Burger King!) as if that's any better! and we didn't have to slop out! We actually had a suprisingly comfy night sleep in our cell. You will see from our photos the Alpaca, it just appeared outside our room. Bit surreal when you open the door to find a big llama staring you in the face.

We went to see the blue lake and the sinkhole in Mount Gambier and then drove to Apollo bay via Warnabol and Port Fairy. We went to an olde worlde village as the weather wasn't that great, it was quite interesting and very well done. In the afternoon we went to the Bay of Islands and the 12 Apostles by sunset, it was an amazing view. We then set off in the dark for the last stretch of that days journey to Apollo bay. When the fuel light came on in the car, we looked at the map and noticed we had a fair drive ahead of us. We were driving through the Otway National park and there were no petrol stations or even a street light in sight! Things got a bit tense and we were both preparing to spend the night in the car!..............but luckily we made it to Apollo bay before we ran out.

apollo bay was nice as was lorne, the beaches and the coast road were really picturesque. on the way we stopped off at Split Point Lighthouse, some of you may remember it from 'Round the twist' kids TV programme. Then we headed for Torquay, Australias best surfing beach. Tim was all set and geared up to have a surf at Bells Beach, then once we arrived and looked at the waves and the pro surfers he suddenly changed his mind! It was pretty amazing to watch - we were 'TOTALLY STOKED'! staying with the surfing theme we went to the surf museum in surf city.

From torquay we drove to melbourne it was a surprisingly easy drive (until Tim had to reverse park!). We stayed with Nigel and Emma (a couple we met in india), they had a really nice appartment. They took us to the aussie rules, wine tasting, champagne tasting, to a market, sight seeing and to a house party. We also tried kangaroo steak! The highlight of course was a trip to 'Ramsay Street' on a Neighbours tour, we were gutted as we didn't see Harold! But......we did get to meet Kim Timmonds!!! (stingrays dad, you know the one, the REALLY BIG celebrity!)

from melbourne we flew to sydney and were surprised how much more humid it is. we're staying in Kings Cross - it's an "interesting" place, to quote the lonely planet (which we didn't read until yesterday) "A bizarre cocktail of strip joints, prostitution,crime and drugs"!!! The hostel we stayed in, the Funk House was fine, apart from the Irish guy that was in our dorm. His feet STANK!

We've been to the Bridge, opera house, manly and bondi beaches and an ice bar (at minus 16 degrees!). Now we're heading off tonight up the coast to Coffs Harbour where we spend a few days. Then on to Brisbane where we pick up a camper van for 7 days, very excited!

Hope everyone is well back home.

Love, Emili and Tim x.