Well, last night in Oz! We're still on time but not quite on budget! About two days over budget which for 3 months isn't bad! The time has gone far too quickly and we're already planning our next trip to fill in the gaps!

We've loved Australia, it's friendly, laid back, and the weather is fantastic. It's difficult to pick out a highlight but if anyone was going to come Uluru, Sydney, Fraser, Kakadu, Melborne and Adelaide are absolute musts (although it helped having fantastic tour guides in Adelaide and it would be very easy to miss the best bits otherwise). Brisbane could probably be missed out it you're in a hurry but it's a quiet less showy (compared with Syd and Mel) city that has it's charms especially around the river.

Brisbane unfortunately suffered more than any other Australian city during the concrete happy 60's and 70's. Whoever designed Southend and Nailsea Libraries appears to have taken their tallents down under and the South Bank in particular has suffered. We've made the most of our time though and just got back from a four hour route march around the city to take in the last of Australia.

The last three days on Fraser were fantastic. Despite seven of the group signing up to drive the keys were somehow placed into Greg's hands for the first driving shift, and after that only Greg and one German guy drove. It was quite a driving experience through tracks that were barely passable due to fallen trees, roots, very deep sand, and huge pot holes, one of which popped a tyre.

For those who don't know; you basically get put into a group of eleven people (unless you can afford a private hire), watch a safety video, go food shopping, and decide a rough route together. The next morning they show you how to packup the van, guide you on and off the barge, then leave all 11 of you, 4 tents and 1 4x4 to find your way.

Some of the roads you drive along you really have to be seen to be believed. Put it this way, the other group snapped their suspension in half!

Fraser is also home to wild Dingos that are gradually being tamed by human interferance, meaning they don't run when shouted at any more! Our group had a bag stolen by Dingos but after a short chase through the bush it was recovered!

Out of time!!

See you in NZ

Greg and Steph
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