Hey hey!!! Hows things??? Well ive moved quite a few stops since i was last on here...in Airlie Beach we sailed The Whitsundays for the day. Was a gorgeous set of islands and our boat - a world known racing yacht called the Maxi Ragamuffin - took us to Whitehaven Beach. The stunning stretch of white sand was amazing!! Its so pure it squeaks when you walk on it and was fab at cleaning up silver jewellery!! After leaving there we arrived in Hervey Bay and on our 1st day i took a bike out and cycled 10km along the promenade!! Didnt venture into the shark infested waters though funny enough!! ; ) We did another day trip - this one over to Fraser Island. The island is completely made up of sand and dunes and was once attached to the main land. We took the bumpiest 4-wheeled drive i ever took!!! Was such fun seeing all the older people on our bus being thrown around all over the place!!! ; ) hehe!! ; ) We took a long drive along 75 mile beach - even though its only 59 miles long!! After taking a quick dip in 'Eli Creek' and seeing a huntsman spider on the sand!! - we explored the wreck of the Mahino ship that sank on its journey to Japan before the World War. Driving back along the beach we came across a dingo looking for some dinner!! He was a cutie but i wasnt guna get out and pet him!!! ; ) After lunch we headed into the rainforest and took a walk along the 'silent creek' - a stream that runs the entire circle of the island and is 100% rain water as there are no in flow or out put streams to any water supplies on the island. Next stop was up to 'Lake Mckenzie'. The worlds most beautiful puddle!! It lies in the top of a sand dune and is also 100% rain water. Its totally clear as the bed is sand and nothing is able to interfere with the supply. Stunning!! We had to catch the ferry back to Hervey Bay, in time to head down to Noosa the following day. Noosa was gorgeous!!! We stayed in an 1880's heritage building thats now a hostel and on the top of a very steeeeep drive way!!! The beach was gorgeous and saw some amazing sunsets each evening!! There are loads of tiny shops with anything from boutiques, to surf wear to ice creameries!!! yum!! ; ) We bumped into quite a few people we'd met along the way and everyone seemed to get to Noosa at the same time! nice one! ; ) and also we got to meet up eith Vik again...had a great first night sitting in the gardens chatting with everyone!! Next day we headed to Australia Zoo...the home of the crocodile hunter!! I was so excited - worse than the children on the bus!! We watched footage of Steve Irwin all the way there on the coach!! Finally got to the zoo and saw so much...tigers, dingoes, foxes, elephants, kangaroos, aligators, koalas, tasmanian devils, camels, lizards, tortoises, birds, snakes and, of course, crocodiles!!! There was a memorial to one of the tortoises who died this year...Harriet was born in 1830 and dies 23rd June 2006!!!!!! Old girl eh??!! ; ) We watched a cros show and saw the 'Melbourne Cup' on the big screen inside the 'Animal Planet' Crocoseum!! We held a 7ft python and fed the elephants!! I even got to stroke a kangaroo!!! Such a great day!! Was so sad to see all the memoribilia for Steve Irwin and it kinda brought it home the tragedy of what happened. He did so much for environmental and animal welfare. Its crazy! But back to Noosa it was and we had to pack (hate that word!!) ; ) There was enough time the next morning though for Mary Ann to get the top of her ear pierced!! Extreme mutilation!! ; ) and, after saying bye to Vik yet again, we headed down to Brisbane. Back to a city!! Was a pretty vibrant city and nice to be somewhere that big again! (even though im not a city girl) We just stayed the one night - in a hostel that was more like a building site!!! ; ) and there was enough time to see the town by night and get soaked in the rain looking for an internet cafe!!! ; ) So we got the 'Greyhound' bus out and down to Surfers Paradise!! I have friends who live here after emmigrating 2 years ago...so we are in a house again at the moment!! Its pure luxury and so fab to see them all again...awesome!! We have a car as they have a spare so i am driving in Australia for a bit!! Scary at first but pretty cool to have a bit more independance again!! ; ) We went to a theme park yesterday and a water park today...extreme!! But the culture starts to run out here so we got in with the attractions and had a great two days!! Even got to go in the 'Australian Big Brother' house yesterday!!! So weird!! and made me want to apply for the UK one next year, even more!! ; ) Was fun, even if we had no idea who the contestants had been!! ; ) So im taking the chance to update this as i havent done for a while...off to Surfers town tomorrow and then down to Byron Bay after that!!! Cant wait for the next week...its our last in Australia but still lots to see and do! ; ) Hope all is gret there and hope to speak soon. Lots of love, Georgie x x x