Now heading up the east coast

Well I have now left Sydney and heading for some smaller places along the east coast of Australia.  I have now more or less sorted most of what I'll be doing for the next month or so in Australia, totally unexpectedly before anyone starts to think I'm becoming orgonised on this trip!

I went into a travel centre with a few friends I met in Sydney so the could book their camper van before we headed to Manley beach.  I was just looking at what dive options there were on the Great Barrier Reef and twenty minutes later I had spent nearly $1,700!  Well all I can say is that he was a very good salesman, but I think I did get a good price.  So here is how it breaks down, I've sorted out the Greyhound from Sydney to Cairns.  I've booked a three day trip on Fraser Island which involves driving a 4x4 around the island on the sand for a few days.  Yes that's right I actually get to do the driving, well part of it anyway as I'll be sharing with a couple of other people who I'm yet to meet. I've booked a two day sailing trip of the Whitsundays including getting to stay on some of the islands and a free dive.  I've herd they are amazing so can't wait.  I've also booked a three day Liveabord dive expedition to the outer reef.  This includes 11 dives (2 at night) and should be in lesser dived areas.  I can't wait to do the night dives it should be amazing.

So I went up to the Blue mountains a couple of days ago and did a few walks, they were amazing.  But sorry anyone who thinks they are the best mountains in the world, the Drakensberg were even more spectacular.  But of course that's just like saying miss world is prettier than the runner up!  I wish I had spent longer in the Blue Mountains than I did, I was told that I only needed to do a day trip there but I did stay one night in spite of what the travel agent said.  But I could have spent a few more days there, so if anyone is thinking of going to the Blue mountains in the future and loves walking as I do then definitely stay three of four days.  The day I got there I went straight out for a walk, I got to the first viewing point and thought wow, time to take a photo.  Only realising in my haste to empty mu rucksack of anything I don't need for walking, I accidentally included my camera.  Then I remembered that I actually had two cameras, phew!  So anyone who thinks I'm too extravagant having to cameras with me I have now proved it was a good idea!  I'll try and post some pictures soon.  Oh and also they hostel I stayed in was really lovely, (No 14), my favourite in Australia so far.

Well I'm in Byron Bay now, the sun is shining and it's hot (sorry everyone who is stuck in the cold snow of England!).  It is a very nice place but I'm not to keen on the hostel, it's just too big and impersonal for me.  I think I need to start searching for the smaller hotsels out there like the one in the Blue Mountains.  I'm off to Noosa tomorrow and I think I may have found such a hostel, so fingers crossed.  The plan is to just chill in Noosa for a few days, swimming, canoeing, and other healthy exercisey things, before I head off to Fraser Island.

Well I think that more or less catches you all up with what I've been up to since I've been in Australia.  Ta ta for now.