Since the last time i updated from Hervey Bay, we have visited both Fraser Island and Byron Bay.

Fraser Island is the biggest sand island in the world, and we travelled over by 4x4 with 4 other people. Our group was really good fun, we have to go shopping before hand to get supplies for the trip, real camping stylie! So, we went over by boat, and seeing as none of us had 4x4 driving experience (and 4 of us were under 21 so wern't allowed to drive) the journey was going to be interesting to say the least!

We had an itinery to stick to, and had to stick to this because of tide times, as we drove along the beach. We visited some amazing places, the first being Lake McKenzie, where the water was so fresh and clean we could drink it! It seemed weird, and i had a slight phobia of the thought that someone could have just taken a pee....

The weather wasn't too fantastic so the first night we were allowed to stay at an aboriginal camp, the rules of the camp were no whistling after dark and no spitting in the fire, as this would bring out bad spirits! After what i'd say was an interesting night, we were told to pack up our stuff and leave.....so just our van had to go to a different campsite...

We went to a creek where the water pushed you round like rapids, the water was freezing and a little shallow but the idea of it was fun, haha. Lake Wabby was absolute mission, we had to walk across 2km of sandunes, felt like i was out in the Sahara or something! Got a right grilling from the sun that day. We cooked up an amazing bbq that night, real aussie style on the communal gas bbq's that are set in parkland.

Returning back to the mainland was interesting, as because we had the extra distance to drive from the different campsite we had to change the itinery, and ended up getting a bit stuck in the soft sand up near the dunes...we useda lot of petrol trying to rev ourselves up, so the whole journey back we were panicking we'd not make it as we were on the reserve tank! Its all fun though!

So after Fraser and Hervey bay, we caught the bus to Brisbane. Brisbane was just your average city, we didn't really have too much time to explore but we went for a walk along the river and went shopping which is all i can ever really think of doing in a city!

From Brisbane we caught the bus (again!) to Byron Bay. Out of all of Australia this is the place we had all been looking forward too the most, especially as we were hoping to meet up with Amy and Alice from our Asia tour. Too our surprise we were met at the bus station by Amy, Alice, Tom, Jasper and Andy! All form our tour! People had either extended their stay or rushed down so we could all spend one night together. It was amazing. We dropped our stuff at Tom's hostel as it was the closest, and went out partying! Cheeky Monkey's is the main nightclub where people get up and dance on the tables! We've worked out that for a cheap night out we all club in on a box of 'goon' (cheap 5litre box of wine!) which costs $9 before heading to the clubs (before 10pm so we get in free!) haha, we really are living on a budget!

The beach here is gorgeous, the waves give you a bit of a battering, and its not the most relxing swim! But the surf is good. We all went on another group surf trip to a local beach which was good fun. The waves wern't as good as Bali, and the current was very strong but we had a laugh.

We have made such an effort with our cooking, the last few days weve cooked up a spag bol, risotto, and tonight we are having a pasta bake! It works out a lot cheaper and easier cooking in a big group. Mum would be proud! haha.

We have 2 more nights here in Byron and then head south to Coff's Harbour and Sydney. In total thats about a 12 hour journey, i never realised how HUGE Austalia actually is! We've enjoyed our time decking out on the beach, but its very hot. We are all on factor 30!

Hope this entry hasn't been too rushed, and thats its readable!

xxxxxxx