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

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)

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

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)

Last school day & BBQ at fishery creek

08.06.2012 / 09.06.2012

For any reason only three people of eleven went to school on Friday . Perhaps rapha's party too fancy ;)

After school we bought some stuff for BBQ and went by car to fishery creek.

A peaceful / beautiful place to have a BBQ. Particularly the garden with coconut trees, a small river and the  playground were amazing . 

The whole night I was playing different card games with my class mate's and we listened music. 

In the morning we left our tents and we were surprised by a delicious breakfast: eggs, bacon, bread, juice and tomato's . It was delicious.

Behind BBQ place

BBQ Place, in the morning after party 

My journey will start in a little while. I created a overview to show you, where I will be in the months June/July/August.

Click to enlarge

Down the Eastcost we're going to see Mission Beach, Magnetic Island, Airlie Beach, Whit Sunday Island, Fraser Island,  Everglades, Nooza,  Brisbaine , Surfer Paradies and at last but not least Sydney.
In Sydney we going to stay for a short time because Patrick and myself (Mat) are going to Sydney again after a trip to Fiji.

Kuranda 02.06.2012

It was a foggy and rainy day however we decided to go to Kuranda.The first two hours we spent in little shops and bought a few souveniers. We spent also an hour in a butterfly-house.
I tried to take a picture of a blue one without succes. Instead of that an orange butterfly landed on my shoe, more than one time:). See picture below

Butterfly 

After this we went to the skyrail. The view wasnt soo great, it was too foogy. The last kilometer was nice and we saw a big part of Cairns and out to the coral sea. On this picture you can see on the left side a water ski park and the highway to Kuranda/ Cap Tribulation, on the right side is Cairns.

Skyrail Kuranda