G'day G'day!

Here we are in sunny Sydney- and yes, this time it is hot!
We could FINALLY feel the temperature change as we made our way north from Melbourne, on our eventful first three days on the Oz bus.
We had an early start on Tuesday 10th, with the bus picking us up at 06:15am. Due to ongoing fires we had to change our route, missing out Wilson's Promenade and heading instead to stop at the Mitchell River National Park, where we followed our very knowledgable bus driver through dense Australian 'bush' on a pathway through aboriginal territory, quite a feat as we were all wearing thongs (flip flops for you poms!) Gorgeous scenery, particularly the lagoons and aboriginal caves (check out the photos!). We then headed to the vineyard in Lakes Entrance, Victoria (our place of rest) where John and Tors proceeded to take advantage of the free wine on offer and get merry, a great opportunity to bond with our new family from the bus! In true money-saving backpacker style, they purchased their favourite bottle of wine, sacrificing lunch for the greater good! After stopping at our hostel for the night (wow the mattresses were good), we headed out for fish and chips and a stroll along the very windy beach!

Early start on wednesday to drive along the Barry Way, a road carved out originally by drovers for moving cattle and only now used for the Oz bus. It is notorious for the sharp mountainous bends, severe pot holes and rich variety of dangerous wildlife (we saw kangaroos, a dingo and even a snake!) We were informed of our afternoon activity, which was to climb the highest mountain in australia, Mt Kosciusko. After a brief lunch we undertook this task, ignoring the advice of locals and heading up in our shorts! The hike up was tiresome, but so rewarding and great to chat with all our new family as we got higher and higher. What an achievement to make it to the top!
after our strenuous excercise, we relaxed in the heated pool and jacuzzi, had many helpings of dinner and even more helpings of alcohol as we enjoyed our first real night out at the hotel bar doing shots of all sorts, playing drinking games, and numbing the pain of our unexpected hike!

Next, we continued on the bus towards Sydney, stopping in the capital city of Canberra for lunch and to look around Paliament House. A very strange city, not one to spend a lot of time in but good to experience the truman-show feel and learn some of the history behind the capital.
Arrived in Sydney thursday night, but you will have to wait with much anticipation to hear of our adventures here in the next blog. Leave here for surf camp and Byron Bay monday morning so will update the blog sometime after that with many more tales for you all.

Lots of love, and missing you (ever so slightly!) John, Tors and Sam xxx