So this is the latest update from our travels... it seems to be gettting more and more spread out - the only reasons for that is lazyiness and severe lack of computer know how!

We arrived into sydney just before xmas. We stayed with Patrick and Nina for most of our time there which was brilliant fun. Great xmas day on the beach in Bronte and new years eve overlooking the harbour was unforgetable - well maybe not for Beth as she can't seem to remember much after 11pm!

So after sydney we flew north to Cairns and then made our way south from Cape Tribulation. Our research never took into account the wet season and the first few weeks were dominated by extreme rain! luckily we had a decent day for our snorkelling the great barrier reef. We then got stranded in Misson Beach for a few days as Cyclone Charlotte moved in over us. Turned out to be ok as we ended up hanging out with some great people at the hostel and kept meeting up with various groups as we travelled south.

From Misson Beach we went to Magnetic Island - great rain there too. Then on to Airlie Beach where the weather finally took a turn and we had 4 cracking days sailing around the Whitsunday Islands. 4 lads from Ireland we met In Mission and a girl we had met coming down the coast also came on the boat so it was great craic. We both had our first taste of scuba diving here. The 4 day party with little sleep followed by a 10 hour night bus journey to town of 1770 took it's toll on Jon and he ended up with a family of coldsores on the lips! spot the picture in the album. needless to say piccies of jon are a bit thin on the ground for a bit!

A few days of some good rain in 1770 and we went to Rainbow Beach for our Fraser Island trip. Fraser is an amazing island. We were booked on to a 11 person self drive safari and ended up going with 9 girls. Many a man's dream but unfortunately half of the girls were magnificant headwreckers and we should of fed them to the dingos! Apart from that tho it was excellent and a must do in Oz.

From there we wenrt to Noosa - our favourite East coast town. Very chilled and great beach. Then Brisbane - boring. Hired a car for 12 days (bright yellow which we called banana bender) and drove to sydney stopping off in Byron Bay for 4 nights (great spot) and a few small towns here and there.

Arrived in Sydney and picked up Donna (Beth's friend from home) at the airport. Had a fun week back in sydney catching up with everyone again. the highlight definitely being the harbour bridge climb. Then to the blue mountains for a few days which was nice although not sure how they get the name blue!

Then Melbourne. The best city in oz by a stretch. Great vibe in Melbourne and we got to catch up with Joey & Rowan who showed us the hotspots. Did a full day tour of the Great ocean road and the girls got their Neigbours tour which was to say the least very emotional for them! A dream come true.... Then the Neighbours night, which i was dragged along too but actually had a real fun night and met some stars woo hoo!

And so to what turned out to be one of the highlights of oz..... We flew to Alice Springs to be greeted by oven like temperatures and billions of flies up your nose in your ears and in your eyes.... Nice! Once we adjusetd to the oven like conditions, we booked in for our 3 day tour to Ayers Rock. Up at 5am to hop on the bus with 20 others. Great bunch and great fun from the start. We drove 700km the first day stopping to go around Kings Canyon and then Bush camped that night in our swags under the stars. more driving the next day and trekked around the Olgas/Kata Juta - surreal. Watched a magical sunset on Ayres Rock and bush camped again that night. caught the sunrise the following morning and heading for the airport to fly to perth.

In Perth we were greeted by Ben who we stayed with for the first week. Great craic although Donna got quite a shock when we thought it would be a good idea to drag her out of her bed at 5am - Damn Jim Beam! Donna headed back to the UK after that... and we headed south with Adam & Alina for a 10 day camping / tour around the south West coast. beautiful part of the country.. much quieter and laid back than the east coast. It's been great hanging out with a lot of old friends from London & Dublin here and we are being treated like royalty everywhere we go.

So that's a snapshot of Oz - we could write pages of stories but uploading these photos is tough and stressful enough!

Next stop is maylasia this weekend where Beth's folks are joining us for 2 weeks!

God only know when the next update to this blog will be!