Thursday, July 19, 2012

Melbourne



Melbourne 

Melbourne in the Evening
  


After a few days in the outback of Alice Spring we took a plane to Melbourne. Our first Backpackers was near the Crown Casino and next to DFO. The first afternoon we spent for shopping at DFO ( a big factory outlet),by the way Melbourne has really aggressive driving taxi drivers.


On the Bridge to the Crown Casino
Melbourne is a big city with a lot nice places like little Italia, China Town and some parks. During our time in Melbourne we visited IMAX, Game Master (Exhibition of old Game station to newest 3D game playing), Chadstone (biggest shopping mall southern Hemisphere), Queen Victoria Market (Fresh Food, Clothes, Souvenirs almost everything you can imagine), Skydeck (biggest tower in Melbourne), visiting an AFL Game (Goo Cats, biggest Stadium I’ve ever been), gamble at the Crown Casino and visiting the great Ocean Road.

View Skydeck 


The Great Ocean Road
12 Apostles 
Parrot Feeding

We could hand feed parrots that was amazing and there were so many. It was also the first time a saw wild koalas and not just one. Our tour guide told us that they are overpopulated on this area.

Koala Damage
Wild Koala

This tree is dead because of Koala damage, they eat so much that the tree is no more able to keep him alive (15 per area, double of the normal population).
And of course we saw the twins, 12 Apostles and the Gipson Steps.

Wednesday, July 18, 2012

Alice Spring



Road to Alice Spring





We arrived in Alice Spring, it was sunny and 25 degrees much warmer than in Sydney.  The first night we slept in a Hotel and we had to use the aircon. Not because it was too hot, because it was freezing cold, just 1 or 2 degrees at night. However, the next morning at 5 o’clock we had to be ready for the 3 day Rock tour. 
favourite lookout

On the first day we drove via some short stops to the famous Ayers Rock also known as Uluru. Uluru is Aborigine language. There we get some interesting information about the culture of the Aborigines and why we aren’t allowed to make photos of every place.
After this we went for a walk around Uluru, it took us about two hours, fortunately it wasn’t summer and 45 degrees.
Panorama Ayers Rock 

Our “accommodation “ was just a fireplace, we slept in a sleeping bag  under the stars. It was really cold, under zero degrees I would suggest.  The next day we had to get up early to catch a view of the rising sun next to Uluru.
Later we reached my favourite lookout. Red sand, blue sky, green trees and light brown grass.
favourite lookout (2)

On our last day in the desert of N.T. we climbed up to the Kings Canyon.
Guided walk trough Kings Canyon with Tour guide Mat
 An amazing view and an impressive sunrise followed by the beautiful garden of Eden.
The Garden of Eden 
 A place surrounded by Rocks, full of life and mystic. After a stop at the camel farm we went back to Alice Spring. In the evening we met the other travelers from the tour for a few drinks and get some good advises what we could do in Melbourne. 
King Canyon

Monday, July 16, 2012

3 Day journey from Byron Bay to Sydney

It was a rainy day and we had enough time left to spend some hours in a shopping centre and in a coffee  shop. Our first night we stayed in Hat Head, a big camping ground but it was totally off season just a few other camper vans were there.
After Breakfast, Hat Head 

On the next day we drove to Batonga, the last stop before Sydney. Batonga is hidden behind a mountain. We thought this will be our last camping.

Batonga Beach
In Sydney we had some trouble with our luggage and with the domestic airport. We wanted to stay a night at  the airport but we found out that it is closed from 12pm to 5am. Because of this we had to go back to the jucy car rental and as luck would have it we had to stay one more night in our jucy. The most beautiful place we ever had;)
Last "Camping Ground" , Sydney 


Saturday, July 14, 2012

Byron Bay


It was the first time we saw an Aldi in Australia, wicked ;). Our Accomodation was really cheap just 5 dollars p.P. We slept in our campervan and could use the kitchen , toilet and the living room.
We decided to spend our first evening with watching State of Origin at the Beach Hotel. Queensland won the game to my joyfulness .  After the game we went to the club next to it.
Lighthouse Byron Bay
Early in the morning, Sandra and i went to a coffe shop like almost every day.  We enjoyed our coffe in front of the sea. A bit laiter we met  Silvan and drove to the lighthouse. The view was just amazing, we could look down to Byron Bay and we reached the most east point of Australia.

Monday, July 9, 2012

Brisbane

The Mount Coot is a mountain near Brisbane with a beautiful view to Brisbane. I would recommend everyone to spend an hours on the summit. We had a Hostel 2km from Brisbane city, it was called Aussi Way . Sandra didn't like the bath because it was really small altogether it wasn't bad.
It was Monday and we decided to went out. It was not the best decision, everything was closed just one small bar. The day after we explored Brisbane City. First lovely walk along the river to South Bank after that we arrived at the Shopping Place, after a few hours we bought enough clothes and souvenirs and went to a big Park next to our Hostel.

After a relaxed last evening/night in Brisbane we checked out and drove further.
lookout Brisbane

Skyline Brisbane

Sunday, July 1, 2012

Sunshine Beach


Our first time of camping on a normal carpark instead of a camping ground. In the evining  Silvan and i went to the beach and were listening to the waves while drinking some „broo“ (an australian beer with a Kangouru slogan). After some hours of sleep, i had with sandra a breakfast at the beach.  

Lake Cooroibah

 Borren Point

Lake Cooroibah is a relaxing place near Noosa/Rainbowbeach. In the late afternoon we went to Borren Point Camping Ground. Borren Point is a small village and the lake looks quite similar to Cooroibah. 

Fraser Island


After 20 min on a ferry, we arrived at Frazer Island.  It was a funny experiance to drive at a beach, it like driving on snow.
In the picture below, you can see other special things. The Beach is also a shared place for planes wich are landing on the sand. On the left side is a wreck  from worldwar 2 wich shipwrecked because of a strong windstorm some years ago.  
This was our car after a dangerous race trough Frazer Island. The « streets » were really small and covered with holes everywhere,  sometimes with little „lakes“ and trees next tot he road.


Driving this car was really cool and exhausting. At the last day we had a big problem with the car, everything wich needed electricity didn’t work. It was a bit annoying because of this, we couldnt go to lake macanssy. A lake with white sand, like at Whitsunday.



Burrum Heads


In the morning we went shopping at hervey bay in a small shoppingcentre. After lunch Silvan and i devided to go to Burrum Heads, it tooks us 30 min to drive. First we saw wasn’t so special . Per chance we drove to a other beach, this one was  beautiful, first time i really saw alot of shells. The beach was really long and the water shallowly.


Burrum Heads, shallow water

Sunday, June 24, 2012

Self drive to 1770

650km to go. At 8 in the morning we started our drive from Platypus Bush camp to 1770.
On the way we saw a few funny sign, I think in Australia you can write everything on Highway signs.

Collection of Road Signs

Nice view 200km before arrival in 1770 Backpackers

The last 100km were really annoying, it was dark and rainy and the roads weren't in best condition. Finally we arrived at Alice Water but the camping ground was full, so we decided to sleep in a hostel. First time sleeping in a normal bed for a week. 



Platypus Bushcamp

The Platypus Bush camp is in middle of no where. After crossing some small creeks we arrived, the camp looked like a wicked hovel with a small camping ground.
Sign's Platypus Bush Camp

There were also 4 old, native looking, toilet with spiders and frogs inside. In contrast to that the shower was amazing view into rainforest. 
In the morning a take a shower, it was cold but refreshing. 
Tropical Shower

Sadly we don't saw a Platypus.
Platypus Lookout

Thursday, June 21, 2012

Airlie Beach and SV Whithaven Sailing 19-21.06.2012

Airlie Beach a pretty/small, smaller than I suggested, town with a few bars and shopping opportunities. We met there some friends from the language school of cairns and by surprise we were on the same boat like they.
The Sailing Trip was windy but in general amazing and a good experience. In particular Whitsunday was amazing. A Beach white like snow, look at the picture below, it says everything. 
We also did a kayak tour and some snorkelling during the Sailing Tour. 

Whitsunday Lookout
Sunset SV Whithaven

Port , Airlie Beach

Finally we ate in a cheap restaurant with all the other people from the Sailing Trip. Cheap Beer, Cheap Meal and loud music. But everyone was too tired so we went home early.
Tomorrow we will go shopping and in the afternoon we're going to leave airlie beach.




Bowling Green Bay National Park 18.06.2012

Description of Bowling Green Bay: Rugged mountains rise abruptly from the wetlands, saltpans and mangrove forests of the coastal plain. Alligator Creek descends in a series of cascades, deep pools and waterfalls.


We arrived in the evening at the Bowling Green Bay National Park and I saw two kangaroo boxing next to some wallabies which were sitting around the camping ground. There were also some turkeys, they are really annoying always interested in rubbish and other stuff they may can eat. 


Alligator Creek at Bowling Green Bay National Park with Sandra

After a restful night I went together with Sandra to the Alligator Creek. The water was freezing cold but refreshing and totally clear.

First day with our jucy car 16.06.2012

At 10 am we get our jucy and decided to go to Mission Beach. On the way we made a stop at the beautiful Josephine falls. It was good fun to slide down a waterfall.

We arrived in Mission Beach in the late afternoon and found a parking place next to the beach. After the amazing sunset the temperature dropped to 16 degrees, the first time I really needed a jumper and along trousers.  The next morning I woke up early, at 8am I was playing soccer with silvan at the beach. Followed by a delicious breakfast. 
Mission Beach (vlr. Sivlan, Patrick, Sandra, Mat)

Friday, June 15, 2012

Advanced Diving Course with Diver's Den

Tuesday evening we booked at Diver's Den a 3Days2Nights Advanced overnight diving.
At 8 am our trip started at the peer. We checked in and drove out to the coral sea, a few hours later I had two fun dives with my buddy Patrick. It was amazing.
Playing with a sea cucumber. It was a funny and slick experience, some are poisonous by chance it wasnt.

Neutral buoyancy
Later in the day we had the first guided dive of the day. Topic: neutral buoyancy in other words: hover/float under water without touching the bottom in a no-moving position.

Night-dive
Dreamy looking to the sunset and dressing up in a slick, cold, funny looking wetsuit. The sunset was amazing, the wetsuit just wet and cold ;)
My first night dive was amazing. Big ugly fishes were hunting under my very nose and you could only see something if you used the torch.
I also saw a lot of  Sharks, White Tip or Grey Tip Reef I'm not sure, it was too dark.

Day 2 Deep & Navigation

Now I'm permitted to dive down to 30 metres instead of 18 metres. I also did a crash-course in Navigation Diving with a Compass and natural references. It's quite difficult and some times you don't know where the boat is. 


Afternoon and Day 3

6 more fun dives: 
We saw a Minke Whale, White Tip Reef Sharks, Turtles, Anemone-fishes (yellow, red and orange), Ray , Christmas-trees, Parrot fishes and many more. 

White tip reef shark

Nemo

Giant calm and patrick


Yellow snail

Red Starfish

Anemone fish


Turtle




Tuesday, June 12, 2012

Cairns Tropical Zoo

 Practically I would go with Patrick to the zoo but he was still sleeping;). So I took the bus to Palm Cove and dropped out at the Tropical Zoo.


Kanguru feeding

Where I met some friends from school. It was a fun day, I fed kanguru's, saw different birds and endangered animals like the red panda, Cassowary and ring-tailed Lemurs. Finally i was howling with the Dingos, the Lemurs and Sandra :)

sleeping like a boss
Information : Koalas sleeping most of the time and/or rest motionless for about 16 to 18 hours a day. This is because of the low protein and toxic components of eucalypt. 

Kangurus (vl. Mat, Grace, Sandra)