So it's been almost 4 weeks since my last blog (apologises for that as always) and I have a lot to update you all on so get ready, this entry could be a whopper :s!! I'll try and make it quick!
The girls and I left Argentina (and South America) 27 days ago and began the second leg of our "round the world" tour, Australia!
Sydney was our first stop and personally, my favourite city in Oz! The city is so nice, clean and strangely familiar (which was kind of comforting after 4 weeks of obscurity in South American). We could finally understand the locals, the menus and the street names haha (everything in Sydney is named after a UK place. They have a Kings Cross, a Hyde Park and a Croydon of all places...bloody convics stealing our stuff hahaha)! The people are also as friendly and helpful as their stereotype suggests!
We did all the usual highlights: the Opera House, Harbour Bridge, the Botanic Gardens (see pics for references haha) as well as doing a couple of Sydney's most popular and famous beaches, Manly and Bondi. We spent 5 days, relaxing and enjoying the city as well as trying some of Australia's "delicacies," kangaroo and crocodile!
We then collected our camper van (which we named Syd) and began our trip up the east coast. Over the past 21 days we have travelled 2830 km and spent 44 hours driving from Sydney to Cairns. Before you all ask, we returned Syd safely and without a scratch on him so hold your tongues with any "women driver" jokes haha!! We have stopped at 7 destinations along the way and enjoyed some of Australia's most famous exhibits, including Steve Irwin's Australian Zoo where I fed a kangaroo and an elephant (again see pics for more details haha)!
The girls and I did the usual tourist hotspots including visiting Fraser Island; the biggest sand island in the world and the only place where a rain forest is growing on sand. As well as the Whitsunday Islands (a collections of 74 islands at the base of the Great Barrier Reef) where we snorkelled and sunbathed (when possible) and spend 3 days on a sailing boat.
We have ended our tour of Oz in Cairns in spectacular fashion (if I do say so myself). Today we went on a day tour of the Great Barrier Reef where I scuba dived and snorkelled for 5.5 hours. I have never experienced anything like it! Other than unbelievable, amazing and a must see, I don't know how else to describe it! I can see why it is one of the "7 wonders of the world!" Today I swam with sting rays, sharks and turtles in there natural habitats. I was also lucky enough to stroke a turtle and swim among clown fish (Nemo fish :-)).
Australia is, without a doubt, an amazing country! All I can hope for is that I am lucky enough to enjoy our third leg (South East Asia) just as much!
That's all from me for now. Hopefully it won't be 4 weeks before my next entry :s!
Take care everyone, love as always
xxxx