Hi guys,

Got to New Zealand without too many glitches - minor fail on Jetstar's part…we took off an hour late as they lost the pilot!!Luckily Christchurch was not as rainy as Brisbane, where it literally chucked it down the whole day - slightly glad we left when we did!

Martin and I thought we'd just do a bit of a round up of Australia, as we've found after just one day that New Zealand could not have been more different to Oz! (especially beer prices - thank god!)

So…some facts about our Australian journey…….

Km's Driven: 2106 (in Sharron at least)

Days Travelled: 19

Boxes of crappy wine consumed: 3

Modes of transport: 7

Best day: (M): snorkelling on the barrier reef and visiting Whitehaven.. (K): second day touring Fraser island (after the sun came out!)

Worst day: (M): Magnetic island day 2.. (K): same! (too much dam rain!)

Best Journey: (M): Cairns to Townsville via the Atherton Tableland… (K): same (again)

Worst journey: (M): Bundaberg to Hervey Bay in the rain… (K): boat back from Magnetic Island (hungover and choppy seas)

Best meal: (M): Fresh clams on Fraser Island… (K): fish and chips at Airlee Beach

Worst Meal: (M): Kangaroo - very disappointed… (K): pasta, tinned tomatoes and sweetcorn eaten out of one pan with one fork (between 2) on Magnetic island in the rain!

Fav Beverage: (M): Carlton Blond (beer)… (K): bundaberg rum liquor with cream at the rum factory

Fav Animal: (M): Koala no.32… (K): koala no. 1 - most excited by this one!

Fav place: (M): Sydney… (K): Sydney

Things we liked about OZ: Funny road/beach signs - fav has to be 'no golf' on a tiny beach cove at Manly Bay, Sydney; Woolworths (beautiful supermarkets); cheap wine in a 5ltr box; the people; Sharron; koalas (and the Brisbane koala sanctuary); barrier reef, the sun (on the days we had it!), cheese and bacon topped rolls from Woolworths

Things we didn't like: driving very long distances with nothing in between; prices esp alcohol; rain; constant advertisements about depression on roads/public toilets; Australian truck drivers that go at 120km/hr +