Greetings from Australia! I've been here for 2 weeks now. I started my trip in Brisbane but only spent two days there. Brisbane is an okay city but I didn't have much desire to spend too much time in a city...so I went to Noosa. There's not much in Noosa. It's just a small town that mostly attracts surfers. I don't surf so I just hung around doing nothing except enjoy the weather.

Brisbane

After Noosa I went to Hervey Bay. There's not much there either but it's a popular place to stop for those intent on visiting Fraser Island - which is what I did. I went on a guided 2 day four wheel drive safari (with a company called Fraser Experience) which was pretty cool - but could have been better if the weather was more co-operative. It was windy and it rained a bit. But overall it was a good trip. I was excited that I got to see dingos but was a bit surprised to see that they look like ordinary dogs. I thought they'd be "wilder" looking. I also saw a few humpback whales. Mostly managed to only see the spray from their blowholes but did see one that actually leapt out of the water. And I also saw a manta ray - they're huge.

FRASER ISLAND PHOTOS:

The Pinnacles and Cathedrals Sand Dunes

Dingos

Maheno Shipwreck

Eli Creek

Chocolate Rocks

Lake McKenzie

Wanggoolba Creek Valley Rainforest

View from Indian Head

View from Indian Head

View from Indian Head

After Hervey Bay I spent the night at the Kroombit Park Lochenbar Cattle Station. The dorm room looked like it once functioned as a horse stable. Very rustic and about a 500 m walk to the toilet/shower.

The next morning I spent 12 hours on a bus travelling to Airlie Beach.

Airlie Beach - View from Airlie on the Waterfront Hostel

From Airlie Beach I departed on a 3 day/2 night sailing trip to the Whitsunday Islands on a schooner called "Providence". Was quite an adventure living on a boat for 3 days - but wouldn't want to do it full time. We stopped at Teague Island, Hook Island and Whitehaven Beach. The beach was gorgeous! And this time the weather was perfect. Cool in the evening but sunny and warm during the day.

"Providence"

Whitehaven Beach

Tomorrow I'm heading to Magnetic Island. After that it's off to Mission Beach and then finally Cairns until I need to catch a flight back to Brisbane before flying back to New Zealand.