Next stop down the coast - Noosa for just 1 night
A popular backpacker town, with a real 'holiday village' feel about it. The first shop we spotted was "Hugo Boss" - this was a pricey area!

We spent the afternoon snoozing on the beach, only to be coated from head to toe in sand - a combination of the wind and sea spray air made it impossible to avoid!
I was also shocked to see many small jellyfish all over the shore line! That was the end of any possibility of me getting in the water! Andy dared to go in, but didn't loiter for too long!

After Chris and Jen returned from their daytrip to the Australia Zoo (hearing about their experience made us excited about our visit! ) we had dinner at the hostel, then wandered around the town in search of a bar with live music..... No such luck. We couldn't let this become the Hervey Bay experience all over again (not even a "don't lick our windows!" sign in sight this time). We managed to get a tip off from a taxi driver, take a 10 min walk and end up in an irish pub. Still sceptical that this will be entertainment enough for the night we reluctantly get the drinks in. Well an hour or so later, the pub has turned into a full on mini club! After a bit of a boogie, a few beverages and a strange encounter in the ladies loos - its just not good etiquette to ask to use a strangers' lipgloss - there was no way i was handing it over! A great night had been had by the Shaws and the Bennetts!

The next day, we enjoyed a slap up breakfast of coco pops (courtesy of jen and chris - thanks guys!) and watermelon (the bennetts contribution) and bid the Shaws farewell for now but look forward to a reunion with them back in the UK
Moved down to Maroochydore - for some zoo fun!

On checking into our hostel, a random chap gives me a tip off about zoo tickets. By simply buying a box of coco pops, we will get a coupon that entitles us to "buy 1 get 1 free" entry - bonus! (especially when entry is $55 each)

As we have arrived early into mooroochydore we decide to kickstart the wildlife filled trip with a visit to the Underworld in nearby Mooloolaba (such a great name to pronounce)
With the longest underwater walking tunnel in the southern hemisphere - we had high expectations - and we were not disappointed. We saw everything from tropical fish, numerous different crustacions, reef, crocodiles, turtles - SHARKS! Seals (so so adorable), otters, stingrays being fed...etc...etc. Such a fun day out, it certainly brought out the inner child in us!

Day 2 - the Zoo adventure! We caught the courtesy zoo bus, which was great as the driver gave us a rundown on the history of the zoo, Steve Irwin's life and work and the future plans for the zoo. On arriving, it would be fair to say we were like 2 small children about to be let loose in fantasy land! First stop - feeding the elephants - its amazing how gentle they are when they take food from your hand..although they do leave a lovely layer of slobber behind! We then went to the Crocoseum (in Steve Irwins words "It has crocs and you can see 'em - so its a crocoseum!" Not only did we watch the croc being fed, we were treated to a show of birds and snakes also! A busy day and without realising you walk a fair distance. We also fed 'roos and wallabies, held a koala bear (its like the first Bennett family photo!), got our first glimpse of dingos and saw all the deadly snakes Australia is home to. I maintain that oz really is a dangerous dangerous place to live!

We loved our trip to the zoo, and its also great to hear about all the vetinary training and rehabilitation of animals they have incorporated into the zoo and the plans for future expansion sound fantastic!

Time for another city - Brisbane
Arrive into Brisbane transit centre and find out the hostel is 10 mins away - great, we can walk it! Well, they didn't tell us how steep the hill up to it was. Close to having a coronary, andy and i both announce many times en route, that we simply wont make it there alive! Its bad enough carrying the ridiculously large backpack, not to mention the steep hill, but throw in 30C heat and its a lethal combination!

On arriving at the hospital, we're unsure what to make of it. "run down" is the first word that springs to mind. Fortunately we're showed through to our room which is situated in a separate building, of colonial-sort-of style, that looks like a large pool house. Much better than the reception we first encountered! After dumping our belongings we head off into the city to explore! It reminds us of Melbourne, although the layout is a little more confusing. We managed to locate the state library and popped in to take advantage of the free internet access. Apart from circumnavigating the main shopping area, we don't achieve much else! We decide to postpone any further exploring until the next day, once we have recharged the batteries. It really is astonishing just how much the heat takes it out of you. Not to mention the constant changing between 30C outdoors/freezing air con indoors......

The next day, we walk back into the city centre and this time cross over the Victoria Bridge to the southbank. First stop , the Queensland Art Gallery (its free!) we walk around 4 different expeditions, primarily eastern influenced art. My favourite being an exhibit showing the different cutlery used in the western world in Victorian times, with approx 20 different forks/knives/spoons for tackling different dishes within a set. Alongside this, 1 plain pair of chopsticks! The Chinese have definitely got the right idea....
Andy is thrilled when he comes across the childrens art area, which is stacked high with paper aeroplanes made by the children, and promptly sits down to begin constructing one. He somehow catches the attention of one of the supervisors, who tentatively asks "umm are you okay there?"..... A big kid at heart!

After reaching our limit for soaking up artistic culture, we continued walking along the river to the Southbank Parklands which are home to the Streets Beach - a man made lagoon and beach area (complete with imported sand) next to the river - and it is absolutely heaving! We stopped off for lunch by the Suncorp Piazza - amazed by the ibis birds that skulked around us in search of food - they have no fear! (and a HUGE beak!) We then crossed back over the river on the Goodwill Bridge. Walking back towards the CBD we visited Old Government House, a beautiful colonnaded building dating from 1860 which is now home to the national trust. Continuing on our loop back to the city, we walked through Queensland University of Technology (and found much entertainment in the sign outside a lecture theatre depicting "no bare feet" - such a oz/nz thing to ban!) our final stop was Parliament house, opposite the city botanical gardens, which dates from 1868 - and looked beautiful with a huge Christmas tree outside! On our walk back towards the hostel, we stumble upon a choir singing Christmas carols, even this fails to make us feel xmasy! Its just too hot.

We've enjoyed our time in Brisbane - 2 days was definitely enough as ultimately it has all the usual elements that comprise a city (and its just too much temptation to be surrounded by so many shops!) If we had our own transport we would have explored the surrounding areas of the city more, but we are a little restricted by this and also how much can physically be done in a day in such heat!