On the way home

The family are extremely sad as we are in the car and heading to our home sweet home. All the good, bad and funny memories we had will always stay with us forever and on. Over all we had an astonishing time and enjoyed all the unique towns and beaches that we came across, and all the long and short journeys travelling in the terracan were great and at times boring. This was one trip to remember.

Sydney / Bondi beach

Left Shoal Bay nice and early to try and beat Dad's worst nightmare, traffic. Once we crossed the Sydney Harbour bridge to Dads horror we went straight into the big city centre instead of the freeway. Tragedy, in the biggest city in the country with a caravan on the back. With Dad swearing and cursing we finally made it out of the busy city and back on track. The day we went to Sydney we went to the Harbour bridge, the Opera house, the entrance to the harbour, the city and swam at Bondi beach. Bondi, I thought had a very eccentric culture and socially had surf groups, swimming groups and surf lessons. Economically parking was an absolute fortune and the beach is home to the T.V show Bondi Rescue. Later on after the eventful day we had some hot Thai for dinner.

Shoal Bay

Shoal bay is a tiny little town placed right over the bay and looks over the turquoise water. Looking from a social view I didn't notice anything but economically there was shops and accommodation all along the Main street, Culturally half the restaurants were Italian pizza places.

We didn't do very much as we stayed over night, so we had a look in town played some tennis and had pizza for tea.

Forster

Arrived at the stunning town of Forster which overlooks the lake and the ocean. In the evening we went a lookout. Dad spotted big shadows about 50 m from where we were standing.

A couple of minutes later whales were jumping and splashing with the dolphins. All up there were 5 older whales and a baby whale.

The walk continued down to one mile beach where there was some sand dunes. I lost my phone but after a long search I found it under some sand.

The next day we hired a boat and went out on the lake fishing. Josh caught 6 Flathead and a snapper, Dad caught 2 bream, Flathead, eel and a colourful wrasse.

I caught 7 Flathead and a bream. Just as we were about to go back 5 dolphins were swimming next to our boat and like Fraser island Mums camera went flat.

Socially lots of whale watching tours, Culturally lots of Asian restaurants.

Economically the town was very build up having massive high rises everywhere.

Port Macquarie

We walked into town to get some bait and some seafood for dinner.

We threw our lines off the rocks at the front of our caravan park.

We only caught 2 little Flathead and a bream.

At the BBQ Culturally we met some Germans who were socially backpackers.

In the town there were big high rise apartments for accommodation

Yamba

Economically huge for its shops and accommodation, and is also voted Australia's number 1 best town. Surprisingly from a social and cultural prospective no backpacker or tourists from other country unusually for pretty much the first time this trip, and no tours other then fishing charters.

Arrived at the stunning caravan park ( that was on the T.V show Get Away) at about 4, and quickly got to the pool after setting up.Later on the kids (Eb, Josh, Harry, Brandon and I) went up to the T.V room to watch the Bourne Ultimatum.

Harry called Josh a filthy Ranga and Josh hit him. Harry then threw a chair at a Josh and they started fighting, due to the fact that Harry is smaller then me Josh won.

The next day the sun was out so we went down to the magnificent, amazing, excellent, beautiful and astonishing Turner's beach.

We did some boogie boarding until lunch, being hungry we went into town and got a meat pie.

Afterwards we went to a big surf beach (not as good as Turner's) and went boogie boarding, at 4 we went back to the caravan for a fish.

Lots of bites a dart, bream and Josh foul hooked a massive sting ray. Being hooked at the barb we had to cut the line.

Yamba was awesome.

Gold Coast

On the way to the roaring city of the Gold Coast we stopped at some truly magnificent places.

The spots, in a region known as the sunshine coast included Maroochydore, Coolum, Noosa and many others.

We arrived soon after at our Grandma's empty house in the quiet suburb of Coombabah which is only 5 minutes from the city centre and overlooks a river.

Most of the family were very happy to be sleeping in beds after a long month of sleeping in the van.

We made ourselves at home in next to no time and had tea.

The next day we went into surfers paradise and by accident drove onto the indi 600 track the day before the big race, it didn't seem to bother anyone though.

The next day we went into White Water World at 10 o'clock in the morning. Harry (from up the street travelling with us) and I ran up the huge flights of stairs to go on the green room and the coaster which were both raft rides.

My favourite ride and the scariest was the wedgie, where you stand straight up on a platform, the platform gives way and you rocket straight down an enclosed water slide which is travelling at an extremely fast pace.

Economically White Water World was a huge cost, but is now earning thousands of dollars a day as thousands of people flock to this wonderful kids heaven.

Socially lots of school excursion, groups and birthday parties use White Water World as an enjoyable place.

Culturally lot of tourists once again.

Rainbow Beach

Socially and Culturally another backpacking and tourist hot spot.

Economically lots of shops and cruises to Fraser island and whale watching.

We arrived amazed once again at the great views Queensland beaches produce.

We set up quickly and headed for Carlo's sand blows.

We were absolutely blown away literally with sand and at how astonishing the views of the ocean and all the sand that surrounded us.

Josh and I boogie boarded down the Huge slopes getting sand all over our face.

Afterwards we went back to the beach for a swim before the sun went down.

Hervey Bay

What can I say. Our beautiful caravan site was just metres from the crystal clear waters of Hervey bay, and was the closest accommodation you could get to the water in the whole of Hervey bay. We had an old pier and the beach in front of our magnificent viewing site.

Economically Hervey bay is big for its accommodation on the esplanade as its very close to Fraser island the island of rivers, sand , lakes and beaches.Hervey bay once again is another socially backpacking town with also culturally lots of tourists from mostly America and Europe but all around the world.

All 3 days at Hervey bay were great with the weather not showing a cloud in the sky and being a warm 30 degrees every day. On our first and second day we just hung around the beach and had a look along the esplanade.

On the last day we woke up tired but excited and hopped on the bus that took us to the ferry which took us to Fraser island. We got on the Barge and arrived not long after at Fraser island.

Our tour guide and bus driver urged us on to the gigantic 4 wheel drive bus. Fraser island is the worlds largest sand island. On the way to Central station the climate changed from Eucalyptus trees to Rainforest plants. All of the trees and plants that live on Fraser island grow on just sand and water.

After Central station we went to lunch in Eurong one of the 2 only towns in Fraser island. In 1952 a man bought everything that is still in Eurong now including the shops and accommodation for only $900 and sold it in 2004 for 80 million dollars.

After lunch we drove on one of the only beach highways in the world to Ely creek where we swam, the shipwreck from a New Zealand to Japan travel that went wrong in a storm and the coloured sands where Aboriginal gatherers (women) used to do their spiritual stuff while the hunters (men) were hunting.

But out of all these places it had to be Lake Mackenzie which was my favourite because of its crystal clear water and its white sand that cleans your hair and body when you rub it all over your skin, or you can just rub the white sand on your bling to make it all shiny.

On 75 mile beach highway the speed limit was 80 km an hour and on this unique highway there was also a landing spot for the one plane that is permitted to land on the sand and takes tours over Fraser Island. We didn't see any dingoes but the day was great fun and everyone enjoyed the terrific landscape and adventures of the worlds largest sand island.

Seventeen seventy

Seventeen seventy is a little town situated next to Agnes waters. We only stayed overnight so we didn't see very much but I gathered that it is a bit of a fishing/surfing town. Our caravan park was right next to the small but cosy inlet from the beach.

Over night we had what seemed like a cyclone but was just a huge thunderstorm which shook the caravan from side to side, and the rain that was bucketing down onto the surface of our roof sounded like gunshots. As we left we saw palm tree branches scattered all over the secluded little town of Seventeen seventy.

Yeppoon

As we drove into Yeppoon I was expecting a small little town with a beach and a few shops.

But economically there was big high rises for accommodation, big surf shops, coffee shops and take away shops.

Socially there was lots of backpackers.

Culturally when my Dad was talking to people in the camp kitchen he was the only Aussie out of about 6 people.

The day after we arrived we went into town had a look came back had some lunch with the flies paying a visit and went to the surf beach and caught some waves in the warm North East Queensland water.