Canoeing in Noosa and Australia Zoo

We visited Australia Zoo, it is really sad that Steve Irwin is no longer with us. It is business as usual at the Zoo. I held a Koala which was really cute. We also got to see Cassowaries, Tasmanian Devils, Wombats and a Komodo Dragon.

We went on a three day canoeing trip on the Upper Noosa River in a group of 12. It was nice and quiet paddling along but quite hard work on the middle day as we had to canoe 6 km to a 12km walk then 6km back to our camping ground.

Wildlife we saw included monitor lizards, water dragons and another snake a swimming across the river but it was only a tiddler.

Fraser Island 15th-16th December and Mon Repos

We hired a two seater soft top four wheel drive for two days and went over to Fraser Island. It was good fun but was very bumpy on all the sand roads.

We swam in the gorgeous Lake McKenzie and saw the wreck of the Maheno on the 100km long beach. We didn't see any Dingoes, only their tracks.

A couple of days later we visited Mon Repos to watch turtles laying their eggs; we were in the last group and didn't get called until 11.30pm. We saw a Loggerhead Turtle come up the beach and lay her 138 eggs and then go back to the sea. She had laid the eggs below the highest high tide line so we got to relocate them further up the beach. By 2.30am we got to bed!

Whitsunday Islands 9-11 December 2006

We spent a couple of days on a yacht sailing around the Whitsunday Islands; it was beautiful. We snorkelled with the large Maori Wrasse fish and over the reefs, and lazed around on deck. The only trouble was, on our one full day the weather was rubbish. Our skipper knew loads of drinking games which were fun in the evenings.

Sailing back the weather was fantastic and the sea colour was transformed to azure blue. We felt we had missed out on Whitehaven beach so, with another couple from our trip, we chartered a seaplane. . We flew out over the islands and Whitehaven Beach, landing on the sea just by the beach. The beach was also beautiful - powder white sand that felt like fresh snow to walk on. We had a couple of hours on the beach sipping champagne and munching on cheese and biscuits; it was bliss. Flying back was also cool taking off from the sea. This has been the highlight of our trip so far.

Nic B, Nice to hear from you. Happy Christmas and have a fab time in the Galapagos Islands.

Helen & Steve xxx

Happy Christmas and New Year

I would like to wish all of my family and friends a very happy Christmas and new year.

Bah Humbug-Christmas has been getting in the way a bit, things are often fully booked or closed! I have really enjoyed not having to go Christmas shopping this year-sorry everyone no cards or pressies.

Lots of love to Mum, Dad, Nan, Anna & Chris and Debbie, Mike and baby Raia- I miss you all and it won't be the same on Christmas day.

We have booked into a rather remote campsite right next to the beach- Flat Rock Tent Park near Ballina-so much for making it to Sydney for Christmas! The forcast is 29c and a thunderstorm in the afternoon. We have bought a BBQ and will spend the day lazing around eating and drinking. It should be good settling down in the same place for a few nights as we have stayed in a different place almost every night since leaving Cairns.

Have a good one everyone love Helen xxxx

Merry Christmas & Happy New Year to Mum & Dad, Pauline & Mike, Roger & Pat, Kelly & Rob, Craig & Erica, Sara & Adam, Donna & Rob, Len & Ren, Jen, Rick & family, Nik, Dave & family and all our friends.

Thanks for all your emails, ecards & blog messages - we both really enjoy receiving them & always look forward to our internet cafe visits to see who's been in touch.

We'll be thinking about you all overindulging during the festive period while we scrape by on our meagre rations!

Have a great time,

Love Steve

Yongala Dive and Magnetic Island

Lots of backpackers across Oz raved about this dive on the S.S. Yongala. She was built in the UK by the same people who built the Titanic and went down in a cyclone in 1911. We went out to the dive site in a small boat and most of us were sick! Being stationary was worse - all was not lost, as the batfish enjoyed an easy meal!

The dive was fantastic; the wreck was teaming with life, especially big fish. There were large potato cod and Queensland groupers - best of all on both dives we saw a manta ray, which was amazing.

We caught a ferry to Magnetic island and went for a 6km walk. We ran out of water, but made it back; the best bit was spotting koalas in the trees. We saw four; they were really cute.

Sara, we would just like to thank you for lending us your Oz maps, they are coming in handy and we see what you mean about how expensive it is here.

Deb, I'm glad Raia is well and you received the baby stuff. Nice to hear from you.

Love Helen and Steve xxx

Cape Tribulation to Undara Lava Tubes

We spent three days driving to Cape Tribulation and back. It was a very scenic drive; we didn't see any Cassowarys, which was a shame, but they can be quite dangerous.

One camp site we stayed in had rescued some Wallabies and Kangaroos and we were allowed to stroke and feed them.

We drove up to the Atherton Tablelands, stopping at two huge fig trees and the beautiful waterfall at Millaa Millaa. Quite a bit further out the vegetation turned to dry rainforest with mainly eucalyptus trees and huge termite mounds all around. We drove into a storm and suddenly an intoxicating aroma of eucalyptus oil filled the air.

The next day we walked around the crater of Kalkani volcano; right at the start a snake approached Helen, but luckily backed off when she moved. It seems like it was probably a Taipan (3rd most venomous in the world) or an Eastern Brown (2nd most venomous!!). We then took a guided tour of the Undara Lava tubes, which are the longest in the world. The collapsed parts are even visible on satellite photos and form mini areas of dry rainforest which are developing their own unique ecosystems.