Big Update! You might want to go to the loo and get yourself a tea!
Saturday 4th July
Mary and Steve drove us to our backpackers in Auckland. We stayed at the Queenstreet Backpackers, just of the main strip. We had an all girl dorm and only 5 beds in there, so much easier to sleep...and get changed! We had a look around the city, and decided to walk to the sky tower, after walking for ages we thought we must of passed it! So walked back, we saw it and thought we followed it...but lost it again! This is a massive tower (that was glowing blue as it was night) taller than the eiffel tower! In our defense it's surrounded by tall buildings...but its not a very good defense. In the end we were hungry so ate at a nice little thai restaurant, and after we actually found the skytower! We decided to go back to the room and get changed (turns out we were only about a 15min walk from the tower, haha!) and then went to the skytower casino, a massive casino + bars mext to the tower. We had some cocktails, gambled on sone cheap 5c machines, and then danced to some cheesy songs sung by to singers in one of the bars. Lil even found us a sugar daddy who bought us a couple of drinks! We also went to the bar 3 and danced with a big group of people. We had a really good night and rolled into the room at about 3 am, which the other girls probably wernt too happy about!
Us in the Queenstreet Backpackers
The Skytower - easy to lose!
Cocktails in Bar 3
In the bar with the singers
Getting carried away! Sunday 5th July
We had to check out by 10am - which was painful with our hangovers! But we ate some cereal bars in the living room and randomly watched the Tomb Raider film. We then went to the skytower by day to actually go up it. It was an amazing view of Auckland and we took loads of photos, they even had a glass bit to stand on that made you feel a bit wobbly! We had a bacon sandwich up there too, which helped a lot with our hangovers. We then looked round the shops for a bit and then headed back to the hostel to get our bags. We got picked up by Rachel's(Lil's cousins wife) brother and we stayed at his girlfriend's parent's house (anyone follow any of that?!). They said we could as it was close to the airport, and our flight was so early there was no point paying for a hostel! They were really nice and cooked us pasta and everything!
Me freaking out up the skytower
View through the glass floor
The View of Auckland City
Monday 6th July
The cab picked us up at 2:45 am (ouch!) and we went to the airport and got a flight to sydney. Was very sad to leave NZ, had such a great time there! At Sydney airport we found a hostel called 'Funk House' which was quite cheap and free breakfast, so we jumped on their free shuttle and went there. Check in wasnt till 10am so we could go in our room, so we dumped our bags and went to look around the town. We had a lovely walk (all be it a very tired walk) around the city and fund the central area. We sat in Hyde park for a bit and had a look at maps and places to go, alot of things have the same names as london which is weird - liverpool st, oxford st etc. I then found 100 NZ dollars in my bag - doh! We found a food court and had some cheap jacket potatoes! We went to St Mary's Catherdral and had a look around, it was so pretty and peaceful in there. There was a place you could light candles for people so I lit one for Nanny and Lil lit one for Jackie, was really nice. We then went on to the museum, they had dinosaur skeletons, an aboriginal exhibit and all sorts, it was really interesting, although by then we were very very tired. So we dragged ourselves back to the hostel and got our room keys. The hostel was friendly, unfortunately the room was no so good, and they were fully booked so nothing we could do! Two boys had been living in there so it really smelt, and there pants were everywhere, yuck! One of the blokes was really nice tho, a camp Canadian Asian, who loved our accent, he was quite funny - but his pants wern't! We then had some pot noodles in the kitchen and the fire alarm went off, but then whilst standing outside we did get free hotdogs so that was a bonus! We then headed down to the Sydney opera house, to see it at night, it was beautiful, we stood there for ages admiring it and looking over at the harbour bridge taking pics. We then went bad to our smelly room and collapsed into bed (with the window open and the fan going - yuck!)
Me arriving at Sydney Airport
Us in Sydney
St Mary's Cathedral
Outside our smelly room!
The Opera House at night - bit blurry but i already uploaded it!
Taken with Lil's Gorillapod - flexible tripod
More Blue Mountains views
Wednesday 8th July
We got up and packed up our bags and put them into storage. We wanted to see the opera house by day so we headed over there. It was amazing and it was a really bright day so we go some great photos. We then started walking around and it started pouring down really heavy, so we slipped into a little internet cafe and sent some emails. We had our jacket potatoes for lunch again and then we were off to the airport. We flew from Sydney to Brisbane and then got a shuttle to the hostel that Rachel had booked - Banana Benders Hostel! We got there and it was lovely - so much nicer than the last one, it was soo clean! We shared with a couple of girls who were really nice too. I then realised that i had put someone elses lock on my backpack, doh! So i borrowed some garden shears from the hostekl and managed to get it open. Think the girls were a bit worried when i walked into the room with a big pais of shears!!
Sydney Harbour Bridge
Me with the Sydney Opera House
Thurday 9th July
We waited outside for Rachel and then she booked in our room, it was just the 3 of us for a couple of nights so that was nice. We had a walk around brisbane and found a Wagamama to have lunch in. We then went back about 4pm so Rach could have a nap, and later found the supermarket and had ourselves some soup. Whilst eating on the veranda of our hostel a Possum randomly appeared, the owners infomred us his name was George. In NZ Possums are a pest and they shoot them for sport but in Australia they are portected. We fed him some bread, he was actually very cute!
A Brunette, A Blond and A Redhead hit Brisbane City
Me with George the Possum
Friday 10th July
We got up in the morning and headed into town - we found a much quicker route! We then got a bus to Lone Pine Koala Santuary. We held Koalas and had our photo taken, and we also fed and stroked kangaroos in a big enclosure, it was so cool. We even saw some little Joey's in their pouches! We also saw Dingos, Parrots, snakes..and lots and lots of Koalas. They are really lazy funny things, that actually look like the teddys that are sold of them! We then had a bit of a shop in Brisbane city - Rachel had all hot clothes so she had to get a few jumpers! We then shared a pizza for dinner and went to a backpackers pub nearby. We had a drink and realised that nearly everyone in there was irish!! It was a good atmousphere with a funny live singer which was good! I find it harder sharing Lil as it's been just us for ages, but it should be good with 3 of us as time goes on.
At Lone Pine
Me and a Koala
In the Kangaroo and Wallaby Enclosure
Rachel bonding with a Roo
At the Bar
Saturday 11th July
Me and lil were up and out early again to the Airport. We got our plane to Alice Springs in the Northern Territory of Australia - the Outback. We booked into our hostel (Toddy's) and got ready for our 3 day Ayres Rock Tour. We walked into Alice Springs for a bit, we were so happy to see some sun! and bought some pot noodles. We saw our first aboriginal people too, altho some were quite intimidating and would shout at you to but painting etc. We headed back to the hostel and two girls had just got off the tour so they gave us lots of helpful advice about what to take which ended up being very handy!
Outside Toddy's Backpackers
We got up early and got ready, as the bus was at 6am. We went to store our backpacks in reception but it was closed, we started to panic a bit but then found out there is a half an hour time difference!! Who ever heard a of a half hour time difference?! Luckily it was half an hour behind so we had time to get in our free breakfast and wait for the bus. We got on the bus and had a few more pick ups, aktho most people were from Toddy's. Our guide was called Ryan, he was a really nice guy. He was driver, guide and cook for the whole trip! We drove for about 5 hours into the outback. We then had a 3hour hike at Kings Canyon, we had some amazing views but it was heard walk as there was a lot of hills and it was really hot. The first hill was called Heartattack Hill, it was really steep and a lot of climbing, one person couldn't make it so had to do a shorter walk! It was really good tho and Ryan kept stopping to tell us info about the place and the Aboriginals. We then drove further into the outback and had to stop at the side of the road to collect fire wood. He drove us down this little track into a field - I say field but there's no grass! It's all red sand, rocks and really dry trees. He then got the fire going and we had a really mild chilli con carne around the fire, sitting on our rolled up swags. We saw some great stars that night too. There was no toilet tho so we had to take a shovel round a bush, dig a hole and pee in the hole, we had to cover it up so we didnt attract and animals!! It was horrifying but really funny! The swags we slept in are basically big sleeping bags, they had a thin little matress and then a flap that goes over your head, they are thick and water resistant (not waterproof as we found out), you put your sleeping bag inside it and then sleep in it. It was overcast so Ryan got out a tarp so people could go under that if it rained. We thought we'd be ok, so fully clothed (it was really cold) got into our swags. Unfortunately it did rain, alot! But if we'd have got out and moved under the tarp we would have got wetter! So we deceded to stay put - we didnt quite realise how wet we would get!
Me on the hike
Kings Canyon
Camping!
Monday 13th July
We got up at 5am (not that we slept) and we were soaked! The whole left side of my jumper was soaking and the sleeping bags and swags were both wet! We al got up grumbling and had our breakfast and then back ontot the bus. The bus sat 21 of us + the guide, it was quite rickety but comfortable, and didn't make me car sick which was great! We headed off into the main national park of Uluru (Ayres Rock) - everyone slept on the bus! We had a hike around KataTjuta known as 'Valley of the Winds' which was really nice, altho it was really windy and quite cold! We then had some wraps for lunch and went to the Aboriginal Cultural Centre. We looked at art and read some of their tales. We can only hear their 'dreamtime' tales that are known by children, most stories are only known by aborignals themselves, they keep them secret and sacred, which just adds to the mystery of the whole place. We had a short walk (1km) at Ayres rock called the Mala walk. A guide took us along and we sat in caves and he told us tales. It's so interesting as the tales line up with the marking and shapes in the rock itself. Was really amazing! We then went to a lookout point and watched the sun set over Uluru, it was so pretty! It changed colour so much it was amazing! By then we had made a few friends on the trip so we sat chatting to them and taking stupid pictures with uluru. Vikrum and Glen were from America, plus we had our gay best friends Micheal and Noah from Melbourne, there was also a really nice old couple - Pete ( who was always helping the guide) and Carol, our Japanese friend Kota, 4 girls from manchester, 4 french girls, an italian lady and fench lady best friends, aussie lady on her own, and a dutch guy. Can't remember that many names! We then went to a campsite and got out our swags again - me and lil were planning to sleep ou the bus like some people did the night before but we wern't allowed! So we all had to stand around the fire trying to dry our our swags! It's funny now but at the time it was horrible! We had stopped off to get marshmallows but everyone was far too busy with swags to toast them! We did get to have a shower tho which was lovely after all the walking and dirt and dust!
Kata Tjuta Walk
In a wind cave on the Mala walk
Uluru Lookout with our GBF's
Sunset
Tuesday 14th July
We all woke up covered in frost and shivering - Ryan said it's really rare to experience rain or ice in the outback and we had experienced both - this however did not make us feel better! I had slept better than the night before tho but i was freezing, altho it was a lovely clear night and i did see a shooting star at one point. We were up early again to go and see the sunrise over Uluru, it was really pretty and we all had breakfast there. We then did the Uluru Base Walk (8km), me and Lil walked aroud with Vikrum and Glen and it was reall good, we took loads of photos! There was the oppotunity to climb it, there a chain link rainling to hold, but there is so many reasons not to so no one on the tour did. It's sacred to the aboriginals and is said to be bad luck, plus so many people have fallen and died. Most people who climb arent on tours they just drive up and start climing, people even took their kids up there, it's so dangerous and steep! We then started the hourney home, we stopped for kunch on the way and also at a camel farm, where we saw lots of camels and other races. They had lots of awards there from the local Canmel Races. When we got back most of us agreed to meet for a meal at Toddy's. We got showered, put our backpacks back together and arranged them all and then headed out. We all ate together outside with a live singer. Ryan and another guide came too. Kota made oragmi kangaroos for people, he helped me make my own! Me and lil had a few beers - proper backpackers! A few of us then jumped on a free bus into town and went to a bar. The 'Saloon' was really bizarre and actually decorated like an old cowboy sallon, it was a mix of local ans backpackers, we were dubous but by the end it was a really good atmousphere! Us and our gay best friends decided we wanted to dance, so when the right song came on we all went up and got everyone dancing! It was us, Kota, swiss girl (who we originally thought was french), the manchster girls and Ryan. We had such a good night! It was starnage tho as every now and then they wuld play a really western song. But me and lil had a great time dancing like nutters! It shut about oneish and a few of us swapped names for facebook then started walking back together. (You wouldnt really want to walk on your own!) Ryan then told us about his disco pool, so we went to see it, it was an empty pool that they used as a dance floor, covered in flashing lights and they put foam in it! His roommate had a tour the next day tho so we could use it! We all chatted for a bit and then headed back to Toddy's - got in about 3am! Was really sad to say goodbye to them all as you get to know each other quite well! We had such a great time!
Sunrise at Uluru - with our Teas!
People climbing Uluru
With Ryan the GuideWednesday 15th July
Out by 10 am again with a hangover, and off to the airport! Not a very interesting day, just travelling. We had to stopoff in Adelaide for about 30mins, then we got back on to Brisbane. I nearly lost my coat! We had 5 planes in less than 2 weeks - what jetsetters we are! We then got a shuttle bus to Surfers Paradise where Rachel was already in a hostel - Trekkers. We caught up with stories (She had been with family in Brisbane) and we actually got a good night sleep!
Thursday 16th July
Today! We walked around Surfers Paradise and sat on the beach - we actually got some sun! Not as hot as it has been at home but the shorts were out!! We had a lazy day and then we found an internet cafe - which ive been sitting in for about 2 hrs writing all this up!
Us on the beachSorry this is a long catch up again! Got very behind! Ayres Rock/Uluru tour was so good! Was on such a high afterwards, now looking forward to our next adventure up the coast! Having a few days in Surfers first to recover!
H x
FANTASTIC!!! xxxx
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