Hey, fair bit to catch up on! Been meaning to for a few days but spent the last couple in bed with nasty tonsillitus - one infection after another it seems so pretty fed up!

Fraser Island - The picture with this entry isn't one i took but it is just what the fresh water lake on fraser is like. So fresh that you can swim with your mouth open and have a drink at the same time. It tasted good! We had free accomodation the night before leaving to go to Fraser and met our groups. From where we were staying, two 4 by 4's went across. The morning before leaving we had a talk about the potential accidents that could happen if people driving the jeeps weren't careful. We were shown video's of some real horror stories where the jeeps have hit invisible creeks and flipped. So had real doubts and everyone felt anxcious. On the plus, some people need to be warned through shock tactics - everyone from our trip were really cool and it was like being in a big happy family. We had an itinerary according to the tide times that we would experience. On the first day we swam in Lake Mackenzie, visited the shipwreck and drove many a kilometre along the beach to our accomodation which was at an aboriginal camp for the first night. The camp was pretty full so we all had to pitch tents. pretty scary after being told there are two dingo's which inhabit the camp and numerous HUGE spiders were hanging about! Then in the night it rained and our tent leaked! I was not a happy camper!On day 2 we had to leave by 10am to tie in with low tide. We drove up to Indian Head for a fantastic view but whilst we were up there a torrential rain storm came across and we got soaked. I hate rain but we did all see the funny side of pegging it down a rocky hill in pouring rain. We drove back down the beach for lunch at the specified camp ground and decided to drive back again to go to the champagne pools (a seperated pools by rocks which the sea flows into). Coincidently we could all smell wine as we drove along but that was Andy's bag of goon (cheap Aussi boxed wine) leaking on the roof! To get to the pools you had to get through really thick sand and we'd seen many jeeps get stuck. Our tactics of revving back from the waters edge worked well and we got through, loving the looks of the people who had got stuck! haha

On night two we stayed at a campsite and cooked up a storm on the BBQ! Had sausages, Lamb chops, Steak and lots of Salad and mashed potato!! Again we slept in tents but i pleased that we no longer had to use one of those toilets thats eco friendly - no bowl, no flush as thats what the aboriginal camp had to offer - nice! Conditions weren't good on day 3 for driving along the beach. There were lots of hidden drops along the way. We eventually arrived at the path way to lake Wabby. The sign said 2km to get there but there were numerous signs along the way that all said 2km! It was so hot walking over huge sand dunes but as we walked to a peek of a dune and looked over at the fresh green lake, that sweaty 2+2km walk seemed so worth it! We swam across the lake being bumped into by the odd cat fish and then had to get back to ensure we would make our ferry back. It was touch and go as petrol was low from the extra driving we had done! We got back around 4pm of day three and had another night 'free' (included) accom at the hostel.

We left the following morning early to get the bus down to Noosa - Only spent the day here but visited Australia Zoo. Was quite a pricey day out but was very worth it. Saw my first Kangaroo whilst being here and i even fed them! That evening we hopped back on a bus to complete our journey to Brisbane - arrived early eveinging and stayed at Cloud 9 hostel. It was clean and comfy. Couldn't be bothered to cook so went for a budget traveller meal out. Actually our first meal out since being in Oz! Brisbane was a very attractive place but had a quiet feel to it with litle atmosphere and no real hustle and bustle that i associate with a city. We spent a whole day wandering around, shopping etc then took the 7pm bus to Byron Bay.

We arrived at 11pm and were met by our lovely friends we travelled with from Bangkok to Singapore. We'd arranged to all meet here but i never thought all 8 people could tie in! They had been in a bar so we dumped our bags at Tom's hostel as his was closest and headed straight out!! Didn't get to our hostel until about 3.30am and luckily someone from our dorm was coming in at the same time so we could sleep in a bed! Amy and Alice are staying in the same place but it was Tom and Jasper's last night, the night we arrived.

Byron has a bit more about it - lots of backpackers about! We are staying out of the centre but free buses come and go throught the day and into the evening. The hostel is well equipped - has a pool and big kitchen. The town is Full of surf shops, most hiring out surf boards too. I was meant to have an afternoon surfing with instruction but felt too unwell to go. Went to the beach this morning but it was a scortcher and sunbaking is just not fun so left after about an hour or so!

Going to stock up on my groceries now and head back to the hostel. Will catch up again soon. Sunday today, think we will leave byron on Tuesday and maybe stop a night in Coffs Harbour before getting to Sydney.

Lots of Love x