So again a long long time since i did my last blog and again i have been up to a hell of a lot...where to start, at the beginning!!

Since I arrived back in Sydney, I yet again got stuck in a rut; i didn't know why i was there, what i was going to be doing and how i was going to save some money! I also knew i had money in my travel agents account which i needed to use up. I met a girl in my room at my hostel who had made plans to go to melbourne and visit kangeroo island and the great ocean road as well. To cut a long story short, I went into my travel agent and booked the same trip as my friend.

On 7th March I flew to Adelaide!! Once again I said goodbye to Sydney and off I went. I got a taxi to the hostel (well not to the door as the traffic was really bad and ive been trying to save money). so i asked the taxi driver if i could get out early. it was all fine, i paid my fare and got out the car. As i went to get my bag out of the boot, the stupid man decided to drive off!!! I was freaking out, what an idiot!! Anyway he soon realised that he was driving off with his boot wide open and me chasing after him to get my bag out!! Anyway eventually I met up with Abby in Adelaide and we spent the day walking around the city. Both of us were surviving on litle sleep but we were determind to power through until a reasonable time to go to sleep. The city was much prettier than Sydney, it had more character, i felt like i was in an adult disneyland as all the shops and restaurants had different themes!

We also found a fairground circus event which we were really excited about and planned to go back in the evening and see a show; however, by the time it was evening we were completely shattered so we took a raincheck on the show and had an early night instead.

The next morning we were picked up very early for the Kangeroo Island tour. We had a long drive to the ferry port. I did in fact take my sea sick tablets in the morning as i was warned that this ferry crossing can be one of the roughest in the country!! Our group wasnt the most socialable and young crowd we would have liked. It was mainly german, old and a few irish who were extremely rude and unsocialable. Nevertheless, me and abby were together and decided to make the most of it!

Our first stop on Kangeroo Island was a gorgeous thick sanded beach and yes, this is where the funny photos began! Then we stopped again to go kayaking and have lunch. I must say i was a bit apprehensive at first to go kayaking again, (if youve read the last blogs from new zealand you will know why). Needless to say, yes i went kayaking again...and yes, i experienced another eventful run. We were over confident slightly as the waters were extremely calm and we thought there was no way anything could possibly go wrong! That was until i decided to take a risk...'lets go down this way, as everyone else went the other boring way!' So as we went further down the river, it started to get narrower and narrower until we were tramped in a swamp! Abby started to panic and then I did and before I knew it, i was smacked in the face by a massive tree!!! So yes more battle wounds to take home with me! (Luckily the scars disappeared eventually though!).

After we made it back to shore, we had a yummy lunch awaiting us and then we went to participate in the next activity - sandboarding!!! It was pretty awesome once you finally climbed to the top of the massive sand dunes and sandboarding down them was the best bit! It looked a lot steeper than it actually was and it was incredibly cool!

After this, we then went to a place called Remarkable Rocks, where our photos got even more exciting!! There were so many funny photo options in the different rock formations and an incredible view. It was almost like seeing Ayer's Rock, i guess I dont need to go there now!! What are the odds of that, saved myself $800, boom!

After this, we went to a place to see the new zealand fur seals. There was also an awesome rock formation which would have been perfect for sunset, if only we were allowed to stay there for the entire sunset but we had to leave before it hit the rocks!

We set off to the camp house we were staying at for the night. It was a pretty cool house in the middle of the forest. We were contemplating sleeping out under the stars in 'swags' which some people did; however, we opted for a warm bed inside. We managed to get our own room and we were extremely happy until.....WE SAW A MOUSE IN OUR ROOM!!!!! ahhhhhhhh YES, we screamed our heads off, ran as fast as we could out the room, out the house and into the courtyard where everyone was curious to know what all the noise was about! Unfortunately they didn't give a ****! so we had to take matters into our own hands and well attempt to go back in the room and see if it had gone! We then moved our stuff onto the top bunks and slept there instead of on the ground where the mouse could potentially reach us!

We then went for dinner, discovered a new red wine (which i am now into, as long as its a good one) courtesy of our tour guide and our cheeky manners and then we toasted marshmellows on the campfire. We then went inside to play snooker/pool on the biggest table ive ever seen in my life!

In the morning our driver was a bit cranky as he lost his temper with me for accidently wearing my flip flops inside of the house! I wasn't going to let it bother me or ruin my trip so I just bit my tongue and pretended like it was ok. After pancakes for breakfast we went to a wildlife park to see koalas and kangeroos. Then we went to Seal Bay to have a guided tour of the seals who were resting on the beach. I learnt they are quite aggressive when they want to be and they sleep all day because they are out at sea for about 3 days at a time without stopping to get food and not get eaten! pretty impressive huh!

In the afternoon we went to a beautiful hidden white sandy beach with crystal blue waters. It was the best way to rest up before heading back to Adelaide.

The next day we got picked up again bright and early for our Great Ocean Road Tour! We were really happy the bus was filled with younger and more socialable people; however, to our dismay the rude irish were also on the same tour again! But we put it behind us and made new friends. Unfortunately for them, they didn't seem to like that we had friends, so they went behind our backs and tried to tell people not to be friends with us! How immature, anyway it backfired on them as they were friendless yet again and had no influence whatsoever over everyone they tried to turn against us!

The first stop on the great ocean road tour was a 'wildlife park' to see white kangeroos. It was the most depressing park ive ever seen; and the kangeroos looked like dead goats just collapsed on the ground.

We continued our journey and crossed the boarder from South Australia into Victoria and headed to a nice spot for lunch and yes, there was a massive childrens play area which we took full advantage of, the slide was fricking awesome!! A few kids decided to join us and the tour guide made a joke that we shouldnt take any kids home with us! Its not our fault were just too cool for school!

After lunch we went to the Grampians where we did a hike which did in fact nearly kill me! I am so unfit! The waterfall was pretty cool at the bottom so i guess it was slightly worth it, even if i did nearly die from my legs snapping off!!

In the evening when we got to the hostel we started the drinking and socialising. It was an entertaining evening and thats all from that (sorry adults, your not allowed to know staceys drunken stories!)

The next morning at 6am we were all dragged out of bed to go and do a 2 hour long hike!! I honestly didnt think i was going to make it, i was feeling rough as anything (due to alcohol - yes mum, i know it was self inflicted) but i was extremely proud of myself as i managed to get up, i climbed my way to the top of Mount Pinnacle and yes i eventually made it back down in one piece!! It was an incredible view but again extremely strenuous for that time of the morning but well worth it. I always like a challenge.

After this we drove further and finally reached the actual Great Ocean Road. We saw the bay of islands and other rock formations such as London Bridge, a cool beach with more funny photos, sinking sand, loch and gorge and eventually the twelve apostles! We then wrapped ourselves in blankets and went to watch the sunset over the twelve apostles lookout, it was very pretty.

The next day we did a lot of driving, stopped to see a koala in a tree, had lunch, stopped to see the 'great ocean road' sign for a group photo and the lighthouse. Then we made our way into Melbourne.

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We arrived in Melbourne and I went to stay with my mum's friend, Debbie. During the first week my friends from the tour were still in Melbourne so we hung out with them and explored the city. Then Abby moved to St Kilda, where I decided to join her as it was much closer to Caulfield where I was staying. It was quite refreshing to enter the world of backpackers again as I had been living out in the middle of civilisation with houses. It was nice to come and meet people again. I decided to stay in St Kilda for my birthday, My friend from Sydney also came down for the weekend to visit me :) Thanks, Holly. It was great to have you here. For my birthday we showed Holly around Melbourne and then went out in St Kilda in the evening, It was a really nice day :)

On Sunday we went to Penguin Island (well technically known as Phillip Island) but im special so I like to make up names! Our first stop was to feed kangeroos and wallabys. It was pretty cool, i was slightly scared at first but it was fine! We saw more koalas, wombats, dingos, etc. We then went to a heritage farm to see sheep sheering and a demonstration of sheepdog rounding up sheep. It was errr interesting. We also went to a chocolate factory, a koala conservation and a penguin walk (we didnt see any). And then for the attraction of the night, the penguin parade!! We weren't allowed to take any photos but we watched thousands of penguins emerge from the sea and head through the land to find their homes. They are incredible creatures and funny to watch and make up stories about!

Wow so that is that...I am still in Melbourne, all my friends have left and I will soon be onto my next adventure!!

(In Between all that I did have a job for a day... I worked as a labourer believe it or not, and I had a 4 hour job assessment to then be told I got the job but its commission only .. so i quit!) Anyway thats all the news on the job front...I am now looking for farm work to get my 2nd year visa!

Speak soon, hope all is well!

Love Stacey x