29.09 AFL Grand Final

When in Melbourne for the Grand Final and you don't have a ticket to the MCG, then do what the Melburnians do - install yourself in a pub for the afternoon, and perhaps while you're not drinking or eating watch a bit of the match!!

We managed to find a spot in the 'infamous' Waterside Hotel, if the City Circle narrator is to be believed! Anyway, Geelong won, and the match wasn't quite as close as some people wanted. But hey, we had a great day!!

The room! It had everything that we needed; a tv, some seats, good comapny, and a bar!

Just to finish the evening off, a second Yaga/Jager/Yager Bomb was had!

QLD - Day 13: Australia Zoo

Uncle Nath & Aunty Jo take Arden to Australia Zoo!

Just after this photo was taken a strict briefing was held with Arden 'stay in the pushchair & don't say a word!', this was so that we could get Arden in as an under 3, and it worked a treat!

The only time in the whole trip where we saw a real Cassowary!

The only time that we've seen Koala's too!

LazyVee t-shirts all round! A cunning idea just in case one of us wandered off and got lost!

Aunty Jo & Arden sitting near good 'ole Steve.

Arden feeding a Kangaroo!

The kangaroo's lost interest because Arden's out of food, actually I think both of them have lost interest!

Little Echinda's!

Two wombats taking it real easy!

It isn't a real crocodile, we're not that irresponsible!! Actually Aunty Jo isn't! We can be trusted with children, honest!! And I'm sure Sam will testify that we brought Arden home safe and sound, although perhaps a little high on some jellied snakes!! Hmm, who's idea was that?!

QLD - Day 12-14: Sunshine Coast & Brisbane

We left Noosa for Brisbane and decided that we would take the day to get to Sam & Dan's. The journey took us from Noosa down the coast through Coolum Beach, Mt Coolum, Maroochydore, Mooloolaba & Caloundra before we got back on the Bruce Highway.

At this point we had taken the Bruce Highway all the way from the beginning in Cairns to the end just outside Brisbane. We had covered just over 2000kms on our trip, which had taken about 21 hours to complete - Joanna drove for a single hour out of all of that!! However, she had navigated us for the other 20 hours!! Our journey down had taken us from the lush green bush of the north, to a dryer, more scrubbier bush of the east coast. We had avoided speed traps and wildlife, but gained a massive stone chip in the windscreen from a passing car! The roads are wonderfully clear, but their construction leaves a lot to be desired and with all of the rain they had had, wash-outs were a common sight! Luckily, somehow, our insurance covered it!

We took the motorway all the way down to Burleigh Heads, which is the south end of the Gold Coast, before we headed back up the coast via Surfers Paradise, where they were setting up for the Indy cars, and then out back to Brisbane.

Joanna on a Surfboard bench in Mooloolaba!

These photo's were taken at the 'loo with a view'. The shiny pipes were actually showers!

Part of the beach at Caloundra!

Looking up the coast, with Surfers Paradise in distance from Burleigh Heads.

The classic sign of Surfers!

Our wonderful hosts (again) for our few days in Brisbane!

The 'special' visitors! Why did we choose this photo?!

QLD - Day 10-11: Noosa

Our first full day in Noosa was spent on Fraser Island, on a Frazer Island Discovery tour.

A map of our journey to and on Fraser Island!

Not a good start. We come off the first bit of beach and we get bogged! Fortunately this was the one and only time it happened!! We won't talk about the guy in his Toyota Kluger with road tyres and no sand driving experience!!

A short ferry trip...

... to Fraser Island! 'On Ya Jetstar'!

Yes, we're doing the trip in a little style, and with just five of us in our vehicle too. Slightly better than the 4x4 buses we saw taking people round!!

Beach/Road its all the same here! Road rules do apply on the beaches!!

Morning tea stop, with a cup of tea, a cake...

... oh and some champers darling!

Naturally artistic!

These signs are everywhere, unlike Dingos!

Lake MacKenzie is a freshwater lake in the middle of Fraser Island. The water was a little a 'fresh' when we went for a swim, not quite as warm as we thought it might be!

The Land Cruisers!

Joanna on a bush walk!

A Strangler Fig Tree

In convoy on our way back to Noosa!

Afternoon tea at Red Rock!

Joanna's arty shot!

Hmmm!

We spent some of the second day walking around Noosa Heads.

Looking back towards Noosa!



Joanna just after a swim on Sunshine Beach!

Noosa Beach at Sunset!

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Accommodation Review: Noosa YHA, Noosa, Australia
We stayed in a double room at the Noosa YHA. The room was a great size and very comfortable. The hostel is in an old queenslander style house, so the it has a lot of the original features. Therefore it can be quite noisey, as sound travels through the wooden floor boards and walls. One of the nicest hostels we've stayed in though. The hostel also does great value food.

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Trip Review: Fraser Island Discovery, Noosa, Australia
We had a great day out with Mark from Fraser Island Discovery. Although this was a high-end package, it was good value. We had great food throughout the day. Mark was very knowledgeable about all aspects of Fraser. We didn't quite get as far as we thought we would but the company is supposed to be starting two day tours in the near future, which would be very interesting. We'd highly recommend this trip for people who like small groups and the intimate experience of what Fraser Island has to offer.

QLD - Day 8-9: Airlie Beach to Noosa

Day 8: Airlie Beach to Rockhampton

Resume the normal position - map, picnic, water, sweeties, air-con, cruising at 120km/h, and the same view as we've had for the past 700kms!

The plains of Queensland that reminded us of the Masai Mara in Kenya, but with no animals! No native ones either!

We arrived in Rockhampton to find that everything was closed, it was Sunday after all and it wasn't Melbourne - we mustn't forget that! The hostel was a little bit of a shock, as it wasn't quite what we expected. The mossies found Joanna very tasteful full too!

Day 9: Rockhampton to Noosa. With an early start, because we didn't want to stay in Rockhampton for any longer than necessary, we continued our journey south!

A stop off en-route in the Town of Seventeen-Seventy.

Another giant 'thing' to add to the photographic collection!

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Accommodation Review: Rockhampton YHA, Rockhampton, Australia
We stayed at Rockhampton YHA in a double room. The room was clean, but fairly small. The air-conditioning was free, although the over-ride switch was down in a power point near the door!? The hostel was a little tired looking, however it was in the middle of having some renovations - rendering of external walls, etc. Still, it didn't quite feel right for us, but at the end of the day we had a quiet & comfortable night's sleep. Watch out for the mossies, the hostel is quite close to the Fitzroy River!