The Road Trip, Day Five, Paradise Water Hole

Although we knocked up a lot of miles (or kilometres as the oozes say!!) getting to Airlie Beach for the Whitsundays, the day stop over meant that we still had a fair few kms to go. So me and Nat got up earlier again (5am) to get a head start and give us some time at our next destination, Mission Beach.

On the way we stopped over at Paradise Water Hole, as recommended by the people at Lonely Planet. When we first rocked up, I thought 'yuk' just another boring campsite with loads of Mosquitos!! So we ate a quick lunch of what ever we had left over (bread, philli, cheese, tomatoes...) to avoid getting eaten alive!

I then went for a walk on my lone some and found the water hole it self (pretty well sign posted) and it was lovely. Very tranquil (no one else was there), relaxing and I just sat there for over an hour, not really thinking about anything.

Anyway have a look at the photos: well worth the visit!!!!

Paradise Water Hole Pictures

Location:Paridise Water Hole, Australia

The Road Trip, Day Four, Whitsundays

So today is our 'day off driving', thanks to the 9.5hrs we clocked up yesterday. Airlie beach, despite it's name, doesn't have a beach. Well least not one that is up to the Gold or Sunshine coast level. It is simply a 'go between' for the Whitsunday island trips, of which there are loads of boats and trips leaving every day.

Me, Nat and Lucy picked a day tour that wasn't the cheapest (that was $99) but looked quite good. As always with these things the brochure made the boat look a lot nicer than it actually was, but then I guess that is the same with most touristy things.

We had quite a heavy drinking session on the night before, which made the early start today (7.00am) quite hard. But least we weren't driving and I didn't have to worry or stress about having an accident and the insurance excess.

The boat ride out to the Whitsunday's was quite nice: the weather was ok and there was some very nice islands. Our first stop was a nice walk across one island and to a nice view point (pictures 12-20). The panoramic photos worked really well at this place, even if the weather was a bit cloudy.

The next stop was the Whitsunday beach, which was beautiful as pictures 22+ show. There was even some small fish just off the beach, swimming around without a care in the world. I made the mistake of lying down on the beach after going for a long walk, and as usual with me I ended up falling asleep!! Luckily when I woke up the shuttle boat (rib) was just coming back for it's last run: hopefully they wouldn't have left without me but this is Australia and scarier things have happened!!!

We then proceeded to the top of the Whitsunday's for the reef area where everyone would be diving or snorkelling. The weather was starting to darken and it looked like we would be in for rain.

I do have a PADI diving certificate but I didn't fancy diving this time and instead opted for the snorkel option. Prior to this I had never really snorkelled before and so was a little nervous about it. But as with most things in life, my worries were ill founded: the snorkelling was amazing. There were huge schools of fishes, from the mundane silver type to the brightly coloured and even a huge 'mammoth' one that looked like the offspring of jaws and an elephant!!! It was amazingly fun and relaxing to just gaze under the water at the fish and coral, whilst just floating there in a wet suit. The water wasn't cold enough to need a wet suit, but it was stinger season and you don't want to be getting stung: it hurts like hell!!!!

The weather finally broke about 5 mins after we started snorkelling and rained lightly for a few hours. As we were in the water anyway, a bit more rain wouldn't make any difference but what I did expect is the Josie it generates. When I was staring down at the fish/coral I could her the faint pitter patter of the rain on the surface of the sea: it was quite relaxing and intriguing at the same time.

The weather turned worse on the way home, creating quite large swells and some quite heavy/misty rain. You can see this in Pictures 28+ but especially in the video.


Whitsunday Pictures

Location:Whitsundays, Queensland

The Road Trip, Day Three, 1770 to Airlie Beach

We decided last night to make Tuesday (day three) a driving day, so that we could spend two nights at Airlie Beach: a much reputed place for backpackers and fun. In theory this plan is fine, in practice though it is a boring long day: 720kms in one day means about 9hrs on the road.

So me and Natalie got up at 5am, prepped Bessy and then left at 5.20am, to get a early start. Whilst this was going on, we left the others in bed to rest and it seemed pointless that all of us loose sleep when only two had to get up. And the theory was that they would take over later on in the day and me and Nat could then catch up on some sleep. Of course this didn't quite happen because after the antics of and 'experiences' of driving yesterday, neither me or Nat was very interested in them driving, so we each did about 4.5hrs each. I did the first shift and the first few hours were hard, but after that the mixture of company, random conversations and my music made the time fly by!!

We were hoping to arrive at Airlie Beach around 3.30pm, so we could at least enjoy the weather and beach before thinking about dinner/drinks. We got in about 4.30pm which was quite good and especially as we had manage to stay on the left hand side of the road this time!!!!

The only interesting thing we came across during the day was when the road was close due to a wide load. Now in most countries this would be a slightly oversized wide load: but not in Australia....they are bloody huge....!!!!!

Big Truck Picture

Location:Airlie Beach, Queensland

The Road Trip, Day Two, Tin Can Bay To 1770

So, the second day of the trip and all seems to be going quiet well. Everyone seems to be getting on well enough, even though there has been a few 'spanglish' language problems (wrong beds, cushions, dinner).

Speaking of food, one thing hay I did not even consider was the different 'food times' we would be one: us Brits are on the usual Breky (8am), lunch (1pm) and dinner (7pm), but of course the Spanish are on their normal routine of Breky (9am), a late lunch (3pm) and a very late dinner (10pm)!!!! It was quiet a surprise when this came up, as the camper is no way big enough to have people sleeping and others trying to sleep. But we sorted out a compromise (brining dinner forwards to 9pm) and all should be fine in the future.

On the matter of driving, let's say it is interesting. Natalie drove yesterday and was fine, once she got over the nerves. Lucy drove this morning and altho she was a lot more nervous (and so was I!!) she got the hang of it quickly enough. Antonio managed to get used to the size of the vehicle, but at his first junction turning right (90deg) he took it at almost 50 km/h AND then went on to the wrong side of the road (right) and proceeded to go head first towards oncoming traffic!!!! It was scary enough going that quick round a corner (his missus flew of the chair into the door!!) but to then look straight on at an oncoming 4x4 ute.....that was scary.

Still, I don't think he will do that again, I hope!!!!

On the way to 1770 we stopped at Bundaberg the town, but only for the rum distillery. The rum is very well known throughout Australia and is very much loved as a 'Australian' drink. Personally I think it is good, but their Ginger Beer and Sarsaparilla bottle pops are brilliant and remind me of living up north in Jordie land (Sunderland/Newcastle area) with my nana.

Bundy Pictures

Location:The Town of 1770

The Road Trip, Day One, Brisbane to Tin Can Bay

I should probably give a bit of background to this road trip: My original plan was to spend time with my cousin Gracey after the wedding and then head off to Fiji, but unfortunately I forgot that newly weds have a honeymoon straight after the wedding. Grace promptly legged it to Thailand and so I decided to visit her in Cairns when she got back. I was checking out flights to Cairns and I happened to come across a camper rental website, that had 'relocations' from Brisbane to Cairns. Relocations are where the hire company needs a vehicle moving to a certain location, usually 'against' the popular routes as it were, and they had loads of vehicles from $1 a day!!

So I then did a load of research and thought into this, and decided that it could be workable if I could find 3-4 people to share the driving and cost of big 6 berth motor home. This would cost more to hire but at least I could share the driving and it would come with a kitchen, air con, toilet and a shower. So I left a few notices in backpackers asking for 'company' on this trip: it took me two days to find 4 suitable people but unfortunately by this time all the relocation deals had gone.

I then reverted back to the 'fly' option, until I randomly met Lucy and Natalie in the reception area and turns out they wanted to travel to Cairns too. Coincidently the hire company had six motor homes on new relocation deals, so I got over my nerves and the risk, and booked it. I then met a lovely Spanish couple the next day, who wanted to join in as well and that is how this whole road trip started.

With a distance of 1,701kms and needing to do this in 6 days, this was never going to be an epic 'see everything' trip, but it would be an experience and should be fun.


So the first day, picked up the vehicle that we would all be living in for 6 days and wow, its bloody huge!!! (see pic)

I was expecting a large van, but Big Bessy (my nick name for it) is huge.... like 7m long, 3.5m tall and weighs like 3.5T. Driving it feels very similar to my old work pick up truck, the ever lasting and fun Mitzu Triton: very light on the steering and quite 'jelly' like in it's responses but the fact it is an auto makes it very easy to drive.

The ever kind and helpful Erin shuttled me around Brisbane to get Bessy and sort stuff out (mucho grasicis!!!!!) then at 9am I drove through central Brisbane to pick up what is best described as a random collection of backpackers:

Natalie and Lucy: two English lass's from up north, who only left England a week and a half ago, for the usual backpacker dreams.
Antonio and Christina: a Spanish couple, traveling around Australia looking for work and doing the backpacker thing.


The first day was a quite an easy day, just 3.5hrs (218km) to Tin Can bay. We got the first introductions out of the way and just hit the road, whilst trying to work out where to go, how the sat nav works, how the iPod thingy works and who's doing what. Quite fun really....

The bay it self looked ok, it didn't have a beach within walking distance but it did have the option of feeding dolphins by hand just off the point. The dolphins (pics) looked like they had a bad argument with a cheese grater, apparently they were signs of shark attacks. Anyway it was pretty cool to see them up close and watch them gobble down the $5 fish that all the tourists were buying for them.

And I went for a walk at like 10pm, which wasn't very picturesk but was very interesting to hear the sounds of the Australian wild life without seeing them. I even thought I was being followed a few times........

General Road Trip Pictures

Tin Can Bay Pictures

Location:Tin Can Bay

Brisbane - Random Room 307 Dorm Parties

Location: 27°28'1.18"S 153° 1'31.49"E

I arranged to meet up with my Australian mate Nick; who had been in the UK studying and I used to live with. We arranged to meet up for a quick drink.....and unfortunately as generally with me, the quick drink turned into 4-5 pints by 7pm!!! After he had to go (job interview the next day!) I went and got some dinner and decided to watch a movie on my iPad (Chronicles of Riddick; IMDB Entry). After all of this it was about midnight, so I headed up to my 10 bed dorm to crash; unfortunately when I got there I found 11 people (for a 10 bed dorm, that is quite impressive!!) sitting on the floor drinking Goon (cheap, harsh Australian wine'ish). So I got washed/brushed and made it plainly obvious that I was going to sleep, so that they got the hint and did the same.

But they didn't. I was lying in the bed unable to get to sleep as the main room light was on, they were talking shit loads and had an iPod playing music through some speakers!!!! Safe to say I was not impressed. :-(

So then I gave up: I got up, put a shirt on, sat beside them on he floor and said 'so, got any spare booze?'. We then proceed to drink over 16 ltrs of Goon till 3am in the morning and I found a whole new bunch of 'random backpacker friends'.

The 11 people were made up of: 8 French, 1 Dutch, 1 German and 1 English Guy (me). It was amazing fun with these guys and I am really glad I just joined in.

After the first party, when then proceeded to have several more: all of them in the Dorm, all including the every harsh Goon and all up until the silly hours of the morning. Check out the photo's.

Great Fun!

Photo's on Picasa (1)
Photo's on Picasa (2)

Location:Central Brisbane

The Beach and Dog Walking

Location:

I went up to the Sunshine Coast on the weekend to visit some 'friends of friends' and have a few drinks.

The night out was only supposed to be a quiet meal but the restaurant we went to did a '$30 Food & Movie' combo deal. And as most mains were $20-25 each, we all bought the combo and decided to go to the movies on the Sunday (24th October).

During the drinks at the local pub (can't remember what it was called) we met up with 5 other people (loose friends). Now the 5th person was a quite man sitting at the end, who didn't even introduce him self, which I thought was a bit weird. About 5 mins after I got there, th '5th guy' apparently asked my friend if I was gay.....at which point she burst out laughing..!!!! When I was told this story, I was partly insulted (i.e. thinking I was gay when I am not) but mostly took it as a compliment!!

The next day (Sunday) we went to see Despicable Me (IMDB Entry) which wasn't quite up to the standards of Pixar, but was a good movie.

Photo's on Picasa

South Bank and Culture

Location:  27°28'24.83"S 153° 1'10.52"E

I decided a little while ago that I would try and be more 'cultured' in general; by going to those things that I would normally note even consider. Like Art exhibitions, museums and the like. Most people that know me well will know that this is very unlike me, but thanks to a certain friend, my eyes were opened to the 'arts'.

So I went to South Bank and visited the:

Queensland Museum
Queensland Art Gallery
Queensland Gallery of Modern Art

All three were very interesting, but I found the Art Gallery most rewarding. I think I spent like 3 hours slowly walking round the various rooms, pictures, pieces and exhibits.

When I get back to the UK, I am certain to do more of this 'culture' stuff; After all I have never done any of the 'London Must Do' things, like the Tate etc..

Photo's on Picasa

Casuanina Beach

Location:  28°15'58.68"S 153°34'59.11"E

I decided that I would get out of the house, go do some wandering on my own and do a lot of thinking. Even though I am traveling and you would assume is care free, I have a lot on my plate at the moment and the best way I can deal with is some good solitude and thinking time.

So I went for a walk down Casuanina Beach for a few hours; the weather wasn't brilliant as you can see from he photo's but it was nice all the same.

Photo's on Picasa

Nimbin - An Experience

Location:  28°35'44.81"S 153°13'22.58"E

On my last Australian trip (4-5 years ago) I never got the chance of visiting Nimbin, a very infamous place for laid back life, backpackers and weed (Wikipedia Entry). We only visited the place in the afternoon, to get some supplies and quickly view the place, but I was disappointed that we didn't get offered Weed as this is a common occurrence to tourists!

The place also hosts the MardiGrass festival (Wikipedia Entry) which is a wicked event which I would have loved to go to, but unfortunately isn't on till next year.

Photo's on Picasa