So here i am in Oz! Can't quite believe im here when i think about eveything i have already done! I flew from Christchurch to Brisbane, Dads cousin Rosemary and her daughter Maia met me at the airport. Brisbane is really nice, its about 20c at the moment. Its quite a large city but it doesnt feel like it. I had planned to look ofr some work to top up my funds for the rest of my trip so i updated by CV and headed out with them pretty much straight away. Didn't have much luck, gave out quite a few cvs but nowhere i went in said they had vacancies. I was thinking bar work but you need an RSA here to serve alcohol which you have to pay for a study for so i scrapped that. Then i researched farm work and found that this is a good time of year for picking work up nr Airlie Beach, this would be good as its further norther so warmer and its not too far from here. Its not starting for another couple of weeks so i decided to stay here and use it as a base to go and see some places surrounding Brisbane. I went over to Straddie Island which was lovely, huge long beaches, not busy, only one hostel! I went there for two nights, met some nice people in the hostel, had a few beers a bbq and a campfire, true backpacker style! Was really fun. And tomorrow im heading down to Byron Bay for 3 nights, its going to be a bit chilly but im going to go and have a look as everyone raves about it! Plan is to head north possibly doing Fraser Island on the way on Saturday. Whilst in Brisbane i have ventured into the city a few times, visited the south bank which is really nice and went to the Queensland art gallery. I cuddled a Kuala in the Lone Pine Sanctuary, his name was Crumble he was so cute! We also hung out with Kangeroos and Wallabies for the afternoon! Saw the one and only amazing view of Brisbane from Mt Coot-tha and shared a Leamington with Maia.. its a sponge covered in chocolate and coconut, this one also had jam in it but apparently thats only in posh ones! They are famous in Brisbane, was yum! Explored New Farm and the Valley, two really nice suburbs of Brisbane.. the river and park in New Farm is lovely and the Powerhouse which has art and photography exihibitions on regularly was cool. The family has gone on their hols up to Cairns so im left with the cats (the fluffiest things ive ever seen and ones that i think i may be allergic to!)...til Byron Bay tomorrow, yay!