Thursday, 4 September 2008
Wednesday, 3 September 2008
...and the best bits of Australia

And now, finally, the best bits of New Zealand...

What we enjoyed the least

Now he's got that off his chest (!), other least memorable points included...Invercargill. The "art deco" town on the way to Queenstown, so not worth the effort! The crossing from the south island to the north island (lumpy is an understatement, but luckily - unlike our friends the Nobles - we weren't asked to strap ourselves in!). Sandflies at, guess where, Sandfly Point. So small they're almost invisible but OUCH - they really can bite! Air New Zealand - the engines wouldn't start on 2 of our long journeys (not what you want to hear!), service was adequate but uninspiring.....Any products made by Watties (they're the equivalent of Heinz but they fill everything - from Rice Pudding to Baked Beans - with half a dozen teaspoons of sugar!). The chair lift to the top of the mountain at Queenstown - vertical up a cliffside - what made us do it??? Hot Water Beach was a big shame - the tide wasn't going out sufficiently when we were there so we didn't get to dig a big hole in the sand & sit in volcanic hot water! DOH! Ah well, maybe next time ;0)
Oh, and the rain.The bits we missed the most

The bits we missed the least...
The best and worst of the last 6 months...
Tuesday, 2 September 2008
Back online!




Wednesday, 13 August 2008
Farewell NZ!
Preparing for our "That's All Folks" entry, we are busy compiling a best-of and worst-of our adventures and will publish as soon as it's finished!
For now, farewell as we begin our long return journey! Julie, Tim & Emma xxx
Tuesday, 12 August 2008
Reef Pictures


Monday, 11 August 2008
Weekend Walk



Sunday, 10 August 2008
Farewell Celebration!
Saturday, 9 August 2008
A Koala Ambition Fulfilled


Friday, 8 August 2008
Some time to chill...



Thursday, 7 August 2008
Crikey!




Wednesday, 6 August 2008
1770





Goodness, today was a big day. We set off from the harbour at a tiny place called "The Town of 1770" - named after Cpt Cook's first landing in Australia. The catamaran left at 8am and we sailed (pretty lumpy) for 90 minutes out into the Pacific ocean. Temp 26 degC, clear blue skies. Our destination; Lady Musgrave Island; a tiny desert island nature reserve, surrounded by a coral reef lagoon. This is the most southerly point of the Great Barrier Reef - it stretches north from here for over 2,000kms.
On arrival we anchored in the lagoon, then off on a glass bottom boat to the island itself. We walked one side to the other (c.10 mins) with a talk about flora and fauna...the amazing thing, a campsite, right in the middle - to use it costs $4 a night although you have to take every conceivable supply with you, water etc.
Back to the boat for a leisurely buffet lunch, we could then don our wetsuits and snorkel gear and get into the water. As the day goes on the tide goes out and the water gets more shallow, and warmer, so the later you snorkel the better. We all went in for a while and were awestruck at the coral, fish, sea-slugs - and just the unrealness of being there! The guy running the glass bottom boat promised us sight of turtles if we went on his next excursion, and we could get dropped off in the lagoon and swim back if we wished, so we did. WE SWAM WITH TURTLES!!! (pro. Turdles)...I still think someone needs to pinch me so I wake up! ;0)
We sailed back taking a slight detour to avoid low-tide in the harbour, which meant we encountered Dolphins and two Humpback Whales on the way back, oh, and a sunset for good measure. Arrived back at the harbour after dark, exhausted, overwhelmed, slept until 10.30am next morning................phew...................this one goes into the record book.
Tuesday, 5 August 2008
To Paradise...


Sunday, 3 August 2008
Seaworld
Saturday, 2 August 2008
Warner Brothers Movie World


Friday, 1 August 2008
Aussie Wildlife


Thursday, 31 July 2008
Surfers' Paradise

Wednesday, 30 July 2008
Choco-heaven!

Tuesday, 29 July 2008
Australian Reptile Park


Monday, 28 July 2008
Sydney Harbour Bridge
Sunday, 27 July 2008
Blue Mountains
Saturday, 26 July 2008
Koala Fun




