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So much has happened since my last update. As scheduled we caught Greyhound on 27 Dec and journeyed to Coffs Harbour for 2 nights and although weather was not good we saw all sights etc. Next move to Surfers Paradise also went smoothly and we spent another 2 nights walking the beaches etc. in glorious sunshine. A bit commercialised for us and we again had to negotiate a room change/upgrade. New Years Eve we took the short journey to Brisbane where we were staying at the Rendezous Hotel next to Anzac Square. Managed to obtain a table at an excellent Italian restaurant as long as we vacated by 8pm and after copious amounts of wine (and water) enjoyed the live music and finally saw in the New Year on the South Bank with an excellent firework display ( As I write this area is now under flood water). Brisbane is a lovely cosmopolitan city and we very much liked the eclectic mix. On 2 Jan we made our way to Hervey Bay after being told by Greyhoud that the Bruce Highway was now impassable to Rockhampton our next destination. John and Pam (ex HSBC bank and now living in Hervey Bay) met us and we stayed at their beautiful home for the next 2 nights. Planned trip to Fraser Island, the largest sand island in the world took place and we again enjoyed all that this had to offer and we stayed overnight on the island at Eurong Resort. Excellent guide made the trip; the highlights for me being the 75 mile drive down the beach and Lake Wabby, a freshwater perched lake ,formed by a sandblow. Also saw mother and baby dingo on our way back first night. With highway blocked our Plan B was to fly from Brisbane to Hamilton Island to pick up our schedule at Airlie Beach etc but on the day before we were due to fly the floods spread further south and we could not get to Brisbane. We were eternally grateful to John and Pam for allowing us to stay an extra 4 nights at their 5 star home, including pool and beautiful garden, and for being very understanding and hospitable. They introduced us to the concept of blue (for men) and pink (for ladies) tasks around the home plus the importance of sheds to Ozzie men, some of which are twice the size of a detached house. They made Indra`s birthday one to remember although we were sad not to be able to meet Ed and Charlotte at Rockhampton as planned. With flights to Brisbane now sold out for the next 2 weeks we effected Plan C and flew back to Sydney on the 11 Jan and are staying at same hotel as previously. We are now considering getting a flight to Cairns for 2 nights to see the Barrier Reef but this may not be possible. We are looking at visiting attractions in Sydney not seen on our last visit and yesterday we spent an enjoyable day at Taronga Zoo which must be the zoo with the best view in the world.Best regards to everyone back at home and I intend updating again in a couple of weeks from New Zealand.
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