Australia

Before leaving Brisbane Sarah and I went to the Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary. This was a pretty neat zoo. Saw dingos, birds, reptiles, got to pet kangaroos and also hold a Koala. The kangaroos and Koala were suprisingly soft and the male koala have an unusual scent that is reminiscent of the eucalyptis trees. After leaving Brisbane we went and stayed with a family near surfers paradise for a few days. This family runs a nursery with all kinds of strange plants.
Indy week or is it weekend I'm not sure was going on in Surfers Paradise. During this event the city closes down streets and sets up a racetrack that runs formula 1 and some other cars but I dont know the types. The city is like a big party there were drunk people on the bus and every corner, streets closed and parades. It was fun but it was good to keep moving. Being unable to find accomodation in town we ended up locking our bags up in the lockers and sleeping on the beach. This turned out to be great as the sunrise was amazing.
Byron Bay was nice but the backpackers was to expensive for a crowded room and funky bathrooms, but the beach was beautiful. And now we are in Woolgoolga. There is hardly a sentence about this town in my guide book so it is small and has a great atmosphere. Staying at a holiday park right on the beach and paying about the same as we would at a hostle. Liked itt so much we are staying 3 nights. Tomorrow night we go to Sydney. Yay for getting to sleep on the bus again.
I have also put new pictures up there are the remainder of my New Zealand pictures and my Australia ones up until now.
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2098766&id=27713515
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2101910&id=27713515

Brisbane

So we have made it to Brisbane and are staying with a very nice couple that Sarah met in New Zealand. Between my last entry and today we have seen some beautiful areas and done some fun activities. From Townsville went to Magnetic Island. The beaches were beautiful and there were some beautiful granite outcrops. After leaving Magnetic Island we wound up in Airlie Beach. This is where the sailing trips for the Whitsundays leave from. We joined a 3 day sailing trip around the islands and saw a white sand beach made up of 99% silica and we got to snorkle part of the reef. The reef is amazing the colors and fish are unreal and so vivid. Next we proceded to the small surfing town of Rainbow Beach. It gets its name from the multi colored sand cliffs near the town. yeaterday we were in Noosa Heads and while walking through the Noosa National Park saw a Koala off to the side of the track about arms reach away. It was sleeping in the tree. Will put some pics up soon. Also saw several Kangaroos from the bus so it was a fast sighting. And now we are here in Brisbane.

Townsville Australia

I am now in Townsville Australia. Sarah and I flew into Cairns and stayed for several days. Cairns is ok its a small city but there is to much in the way of partying. with buses taking you to different bars. Yesterday we went to Mission Beach. Mission beach was great with tropical beaches and rainforest. The water is so warm it reminds me of a very salty bath with waves. And that brings me to today. We came to Townsville thins morning and are staying at a very large funky hostle and tomorrow go to Magnetic Island. The Island is supposed to have amazing snorkling and there is a Koala sanctuary.

Going to Australia

Due to a suprising turn of events I am now going to Australia for the next 3 weeks. My traveling companion invited me to join her and I was able to get a last minute ticket so I leave tomorrow. Upon returning to NZ I am planing on continuing my trip where I left off. After traveling around the Northlands we returned to Auckland where I am currently writing. Will post more later as this computer shop is expensive.

Northland

Traveling alone while sometimes lonely is also nice. While in Coromandel town I was able to join up with a Swiss Girl and come up the the northland and Bay of Islands area. The big appeal besides having the company is she has a car so we have been seeing so much more than would have seen from a bus. The new plan is to return to Auckland in a few days where I will take a bus back to tauranga where I left off. This area is amazing the water is so blue and there are many islands. We have come to the southern end of 90 mile beach and are staying in Ahipara. this morning went kayaking in the bay of islands. On the way to Ahipara we stopped at a fish shop and had some fried oysters which were wonderful. Heading south tomorrow to the bigger Kauri Trees and hopefully a kiwi area. time to make dinner.