Hervey Bay for my Aunties 50th..

So back not even a week and back on a plane... guess I best get used to this..

Anyway we land at Brisbane Domestic Airport, wander to the hire car place, sweet talk Mel into a free upgrade and are off in our Suzuki 4wd.

On the drive up we go through some serious storms... after having left sunny and 26 degree weather in Melbourne I was cursing ever so slightly.

We pass the big pineapple, Australia Zoo and after a few hours and long conversations with Rhonda filling her in all the happenings, we make to dare I say Sunny Hervey Bay. As we pull into my auntie's drive we are surrounded by tropical forest and as it clears out there stands their amazing old Queenslander house surrounded by palm trees and birds of paradise. It has been a good 10+ years since I had been there, the house is just as I remember it.. The garden is amazing.

In the corner of the patio that runs the whole way around the house I see a hammock... this is where I plant myself for a good part of my long weekend.

We get settled, catch up on everyone's lives and head into town to buy the weekend booze... A slab of Bulmer's thanks!!! I am set.

After a few drinks some small talk and walking around their property taking some snaps of the local wildlife it quickly becomes dark.. Time for the footy....

My Uncle Ross is a blues supporter and I am a Pies supporter.. Tonight it was the showdown... cider, family, footy and a hammock, what more could one need to be completely content in life? Pies winning that's what. After having a fair crack at us the Blues finally folded and we took out the match... few more ciders and a few family stories from back in the day, and it was light out for me..

Day 2... Slight sleep in after a restless night sleeping to the sounds of freaky little geckos making their little gecko noises, my aunty snoring and Nyer trying to snuggle up to me (their gorgeous staffie) I get up and we set off for a day of exploration.. We head into town to the free waterpark which is amazing by the way, and have a look at my Uncles Artwork that is placed around the town. He has designed Sculptures that are set at the water park and on the main street. He is a very talented artist and his sculptures are amazing.

We head to Peppers resort for lunch.. Peppers resort is a pretty flashy resort chain and the food was amazing, as was the cider and Beachfront views... The best part was I got asked for ID WOOOOHOOOO.

After lunch we head back to Donna and Ross' house when I grab a drink from the eski and plant myself on the hammock awaiting the guests for my auntie's bday party.

The party was good fun, my aunty I a bit of a hippy so her friends are from all walks of life and there are some really cool characters amongst them, I heard tales of travel and life and also about my mum and her sisters growing up... was a great night.

Then it was Sunday and after an amazing Breakfast cooked by my uncle we took one last look at the little town of Hervey Bay and started the long trek back to Melbourne...

Happy Birthday to Donna.

Little advice... Go to Hervey Bay! They have Fraser Island which is amazing and the town itself is awesome... gives Cairns a run for its money!!! If you go there and want good cheap accomm stay at the YHA!!