After only being in Australia for two days, we boarded a train and headed up n
orth to the sunshine state of Queensland. The weather is much nicer up here, and I have a red belly to show for it. We spent New Years on the Gold Coast, which is very similar to the Miami, FL area. It was hard to believe that it was New Year's - I spent the day going to a rainforest and swimming in the ocean, only to commence the nig
ht by watching fireworks in the park. It felt more like the forth of July! It was a lot of fun though.
After being at the Gold Coast for New Year's, we headed up to Brisbane. Highlights included riding the city cat ferry along the Brisbane river, going up to Mt. Coot-tha to enjoy the city's views at night, and visiting Steve Irwin's famous Australia Zoo! It's been a lot of fun, and I think the b
est part about it has been the generosity we've received from the Earle's, and getting to know a bit of the real Australia, behind the borders of tourism.
While in Queensland, we also took a plane up to Cairns for four days, which is situ
ated in tropical north Queensland, just inland from the Great Barrier Reef. It was very hot and muggy up there, and our hostel was a bit, well, nasty, but we had a great time. I got to visit TWO world heritage sites - snorkeling in the the Great Barrier Reef via a restored sail ship, and the rainforest, which I viewed from a gondala ride and a scenic train ride! Going to the reef was deffinitely the best part of being up in Cairns. This was something that I had wanted to do my entire life, and I finally did! Although, one d
ay simply was not enough to satisfy me. Now that I have seen it, I only yearn to go back and see more and more and more. But money doesn't grow on trees....
Well, our time in Queensland is nearly up, and later this afternoon we take a train back down to New South Wales to spend a week in Sydney. I have had a great time here and and am kind of sad to leave, but I need to keep my eyes opened to the future to see all the wonderful things still ahead in Australia!
orth to the sunshine state of Queensland. The weather is much nicer up here, and I have a red belly to show for it. We spent New Years on the Gold Coast, which is very similar to the Miami, FL area. It was hard to believe that it was New Year's - I spent the day going to a rainforest and swimming in the ocean, only to commence the nig
ht by watching fireworks in the park. It felt more like the forth of July! It was a lot of fun though.After being at the Gold Coast for New Year's, we headed up to Brisbane. Highlights included riding the city cat ferry along the Brisbane river, going up to Mt. Coot-tha to enjoy the city's views at night, and visiting Steve Irwin's famous Australia Zoo! It's been a lot of fun, and I think the b
est part about it has been the generosity we've received from the Earle's, and getting to know a bit of the real Australia, behind the borders of tourism.While in Queensland, we also took a plane up to Cairns for four days, which is situ
ated in tropical north Queensland, just inland from the Great Barrier Reef. It was very hot and muggy up there, and our hostel was a bit, well, nasty, but we had a great time. I got to visit TWO world heritage sites - snorkeling in the the Great Barrier Reef via a restored sail ship, and the rainforest, which I viewed from a gondala ride and a scenic train ride! Going to the reef was deffinitely the best part of being up in Cairns. This was something that I had wanted to do my entire life, and I finally did! Although, one d
ay simply was not enough to satisfy me. Now that I have seen it, I only yearn to go back and see more and more and more. But money doesn't grow on trees....Well, our time in Queensland is nearly up, and later this afternoon we take a train back down to New South Wales to spend a week in Sydney. I have had a great time here and and am kind of sad to leave, but I need to keep my eyes opened to the future to see all the wonderful things still ahead in Australia!
