We were told the day before to be ready at 8.15 am to leave for the mountain walk on mount Kosciuzco. We took the chairlift up and it's so peaceful and quiet when you go up that mountain. Easy to recognise the ski pistes where it's buzzing in winter. We would do the hike to the top of the highest mountain of Australia, all together 13 kilometers, return.

The group was clearly divided in people who preferred walking slow in their own pace and the rest who wanted to make it to the top. I have to say, it wasn't as hard as I thought it would be in the beginning, The landscape was amazing, grass covered mountains with Daisy's and other flowers growing. On some places we could even see the snow that wasn't completely gone yet. Our guide told me that four weeks earlier, they coudl hardly take the walk we were doing now. I guess the weather was great for us. Down at the begining of the chairlift was a board saying it was 5 degrees on the top, but I was happy with my sleeveless top and shorts, wih a cloudless sky and no wind it was a pleasant walk up to the top. Sometimes a bit steep, but that is good for the daily exercise. :)

We made it to the top in less than 2 hours so all the time to take some pictures to say we have been on the highest point of Australia. Amazing out there, the view, everything. I took a piece of video there, so there is something else to show at home when I am back. The way down went much faster and I had a good chat with our guide. I asked her about working in Australia, but what she told me makes me a bit sad. You have to be under 31 to get a working holiday visa, and yep, I am older than 31. :( Dammit, I would be allowed to do some volunteer work and then get food and accomodation,but not making money to travel more. I have to say, it makes me pretty sad, as I would love to be here for longer time, and then work some months to earn money to continue travelling. Now I know this, I have to find out what to do, maybe combining volunteerwork for a month with travelling a month, so I can be here 2 months all together, and see the north of Australia. Need to work on that one when I am back home!

Anyway, later on I walked on my own so I could think and enjoy the walk and take pictures to fill my memory backpack with memories of smells and views and feelings. So peacefull, till we passed the first lookout point again. The last two kilometers was almost a motorway, so much people walking there. It was a luck for us that we went so early to the top to have it for ourselves for 15 minutes to take the pics and enjoy the breathtaking scenery. I ate a big breakfast before we left the hotel but the last kilometers took all my breakfast energy away, so i felt very hungry back on the bottom of the mountain.

Back at the bus we had to prepare for a loooooooooong afternoon of driving. Our lunchbreak was at a place with a beautiful name Ginderbyne, in a shopping mall. time to head for the supermarket to find some food. After this break we had 325 kilometers to drive till our destination of the accomodation for tonight. The day would end at the coastal lakes of Gippsland lakes, and the plan was to have a swim before dinner, then see the sunset on the beach after dinner. We would pass the border of NSW and Victoria, and on our way we took a group picture under the board saying welcome in Victoria.

It was a long, long drive but we made it at 6.45 in the afternoon. Finally we could eat! Nothing is fun when you're hungry, although I had enough to do. I bought myself a newspaper to read about the recent bushfires, I was writing in my travel book and reading the Lonely Planet about the lakes we would go to. At dinner time we had the choice of 3 meals, it feels so good to be able to have a proper meal! Maybe I am not taking good care of myself, but I haven't had too many good meals. I just don't like the kitchens in the hostels, to be there between mostly this much younger people.

After dinner we went to the beach, the 90 mile beach, which is close to our place. It's such a nice beach and the sun goes under in the sea, just like I am used to at home. It's a pity we didn't have a lot of time to be there, I love the beach a lot! But the good news is, tomorrow we can choose to take a walk to the most southern part of Australia's main land, or dive in the sea... I don't know what to do! I am dying for a swim but the other option is good too. Maybe the solution is to go for a quick dive in the sea, and then run to the southern point to get dry haha. We'll see. ;)

The alarm goes off even earlier than today, we are supposed to leave at 6.30 in the morning! Who says that being on holidays is easy? It's hard work! :)
G'nite my friends, speak to you tomorrow, from Melbourne!! How exciting!! :)))