Well I'm in the tropical paradise that is Magnetic Island. Only here for 2 days which probably isn't long enough. Got to hold a koala yesterday, and a snake, lizard and crocodile! Borrowed a massive 4WD from a bloke from Bishop Auckland (!) yesterday and toured the island. It didn't take too long it's pretty small! Off to Cairns next where I may pluck up the courage to do my PADI course and dive the GReat Barrier Reef.

From Airlie Beach I took a 3 night/3 day sailing trip around the Whitsunday islands.  The ship was a tall ship built in 1902.  There were 32 of us and I really thought the boat would be a lot bigger than it was! We were in four share cabins with tiny bunk beds and a tiny strip of floor space.  The toilets were also the showers and you were only allowed one 2 minute shower in the evening to conserve water.  All this considered I absolutely loved it.Â...

Decided on a guided trip to Fraser Island rather than a self-drive tour as I didn't trust someone who'd never driven 4WD drive before! Plus the guided tour was a 'camping safari' which meant we got permanent tents with proper beds and someone to cook our lunches and dinner! The tents were absolutely fab, they had raised wooden floorboards, lovely comfy beds, a rack for drying your towel, fresh linen! Now that's my idea of camping. The 2 day trip included all the...

I wasn't going to stop in Brisbane but with Bryon Bay being so busy and booked up I thought sod it I'm running out of time and need to head north. So I found myself in BrisVegas for 2 days. I have no idea why some people call it BrisVegas, apparently it's supposed to be to do with the amount of lighting everywhere but I didn't spot any particularly big ones. In fact the whole city was more like a construction zone. Obviously I hit a bad time. I was also pretty s...

Try again to add this bit about Newcastle! I have to say I loved Newcastle, had great weather and saw a pod of dolphins surfing through the waves in the bay. It feels like quite a surfer town but then I was staying in the touristy bit right next to the beach.Also had to take a trip to the docs in Newcastle after a nasty insect bite got infected and swelled up my whole calf. He put me on antibiotics for a week which were nasty.  But my leg recovered well...