A 6am start on a Sunday? Apparently that is what it takes to go to Fraser Island, there being a need to sit watching endless videos about how to look after the fragile ecosystem of Fraser Island (basically, don't set fire to it, drive through it or smother the wildlife in plastic bags) how to deal with dingoes (if threatened, look like a tree; if attacked, apply the end of your boot to its nose at high velocity, repeatedly if necessary) and what not to do if we e...

Yet another crazy early start to get on the road. First major stop of the day: Sarina, for a bit of exercise in the form of barefoot lawn bowls. It's surprising quite how many greens you see as you travel along the East Coast, and our guide tells us the game is gaining new popularity with young people. Don't expect too see too many of Chippenham's young'uns playing any time soon though - it's mainly because the clubs here sell heavily subsidised beer and can usua...

Finally we had a full-sized bus to travel in, although some people still struggled to spot it at the ferry terminal - 60 seats and luminous yellow obviously not enough for some. Had a pretty relaxed ride down to Airlie Beach, past some of the 'best' areas for fruit-picking jobs (most people usually last two or three days before doing a runner). Highlight of the day? Winning a pint off the driver by solving three of his riddles (thanks Catherine...). One of t...

First off, the kangaroo is the perfect animal - cute, unusual and incredibly good cooked rare with a plum sauce. So good, in fact, that it didn't matter that the knives only arrived after we'd finished eating (the same hostess left the till open in front of us while she went off to play with the dog that had walked into the kitchen behind her; good job I'm honest, isn't it). A pretty uneventful bus ride down to Townsville. The police at the ferry terminal decide...

Another early start to get the bus up to Cape Tribulation, but well worth the effort. Our driver doubled as tour guide all along the way, with tales ranging from the history of sugar production and mangoes in Queensland to what to do if you see a wild pig (summary: get the heck out of there). We stopped at Mossman Gorge, which is a little too cold to swim in, really, even though everyone does. Add in a walk through the rainforest and it was a pretty full day b...