So we made it to Melbourne last Monday, very tired as plane journey and the whole sleeping on it didnt work-too many good films on the aeroplane and u have individual screens so u can just pick and chose what u want to watch, stop it if u dont like it etc!! So Melbourne, big city and we didnt know where to go or what to see. So we booked a train and bus ticket to a place called Lakes Entrance and dumped our bags, like the airport, they put it on the train and the bus for you. So we headed off around the city. We bought flip flops and a top and a tent, cooking equipment-pan and saucepan, fuel(which we havent needed yet) and i got a roll mat-greg later regrets not getting one!! got some food, then hopped on the train, quite old fashioned-but they have huge seats!, journey was fine, then onto the bus. Turned up in Lakes Entrance and the owner of the hostel waited up as bus got in at about 11pm, found our room and sleep time.

Next morning we walked into town, is a fishing port,lots of boats there...booked our bus right up the coast for $320 so just under 140pounds i think, so thats sorted, we just call up the company saying can we jump on the bus, where we want to go and what time it comes,so far has been excellent service and means we can do what we want pretty much and transport is sorted.

So we have also been to Merimbula where we stayed two nights, well technically 3 but 2 that we camped and paid for!! the bus arrived at 3am and u would have to pay full prica for a room in a hostel only getting about 5hours sleep when u have to wake up to tell them your plans... so we walked to the beach, took out our sleeping bags and lay under the stars, waves rolling in and slept till about 7.30 when people started walking their dogs!! walked to a capsite and set up our new tent. Is a 3man so has enough room for our bags:) that night we were sat about to eat our noodles-not that nice and a lady said she couldnt sit and watch us eat them,and said would we like some of their bbq!!!so we said ok and she bought over a load of mea and home cooked egg fried rice:) was amazing food, some of the best we'v eaten on this trip!!we got talking and they recommended places to go, why didnt we see more of Melbourne-thats where they are from, and invited us to breakkie! where we ate fried eggs and bacon-yummmmmmmmm!!thanku for the food, it was much appreciated!!and we werent back on the noodles the next night! So we went to the beaches there, walked a long way to get to Short Point which had good surf, but nowhere that hired boards:(dissapointing, so we went back to the beach by the capsite and hired to boards and wetsuits for an hour, was quite cold and surf wasnt that good, but was still fun-so i have been in!!

Then to a place called Batemens Bay, we didnt do a lot, Greg went for a run and we did supermarket shopping and i cooked tuna pasta :) So on to Wollongong, mistake-not much transport,by chance went into a surf shop and the girl in there told us the bus to catch and where to walk to a campsite, so we stayed at Bulli beach, for a night, rang up Des and he came and picked us up straight away!!Des and Margaret were lovely to us, we stayed withthem for 2nights ate WAY too much, but it was delicious, have big appetites now!!met 2of the grandchildren,stayed in there separate part of the house,like a mini flat kind of thing, so nice to stay under a roof and in a bed rather than camp especially when it has been raining!!

We went to the beach, Greg has bought a body board, a wetsuit and some fins so he is all kitted up and ready. Enjoying the surf so far...and Des does and excellent bbq, so thanku very much for putting us up for those days, was lovely to meet you both :)

So we are now in Sydney staying at Bondi beach, today we took a ferry around the harbour and saw the Opera House-not as big as i thought, but still an interesting building, we say the coathanger-or the bridge, people were on it climbing, high up but too expensive for us. decided we'd seen enough,got some lunch where every working person in Sydney also got their lunch! and took the bus back to Bondi. Greg went surfing was ok but could have been better waves and i sat on the beach watching/sun bathing!!feel warm on my cheeks now:)!! Tommorow we are moving to Manly Island to check out that side of the area, probably stay one night and then move on up the coast to a place called Wolgoolga to try and find more surf spots :D as we have 3 weeks 3days to get to Cairns and if you look on the map we still have ages to go and cover distance wise!!! So we are both well, and really enjoying Oz so far, weather is better, people are friendly and there are bbq's all around:)

Lots of Love to all from us both xxxxxx