Day 65 - Toora

Sooo cold last night.  I had on my thermals, my pjs, 2 pairs of socks, a beanie and a scarf and went to bed with a doona, a blanket, my dressing gown and a hotwater bottle (and Ian).....AND IT WAS STILL COLD!!!  Ian laughed at me when I suggested bringing my electric blanket but I am soooo wishing I had brought it.

Anyway, bit warmer today.  Was actually in tshirts in the car - was quite warm.  Stopped at an awesome park in Bairnsdale that has the biggest slide and flying fox that I've ever seen in a park.  Back on the road and really cool, got to add another animal to our list of animals that we've seen in the wild.  After seeing a few dead echidnas (I told the kids they didn't count) we saw a live one crossing the road.  It was really cute!

Into Toora where we are staying the night. Great little caravan park.  We went for a swim in the heated pool and had a spa, and then the kids played in the games room while we got dinner ready.  After dinner we sat up there in the warmth (there was a fire in there) and watched a movie. 


Toora



Day 64

On the road again today.  Stopped for lunch at Bodalla and checked out the platypus reserve.  We were very lucky to see two platypuses swimming in the river - very cool. 

Crossed the border in to Victoria and heading towards Melbourne.

  Heard a pop as we were driviing up the mountain but didn't realise that pop was one of the tyres on our caravan!!!  It wasn't pretty! 

Camping tonight so no power and it is freezing!!!  :(((

Day 63 - Jindabyne

Lake Jindabyne

Nice relaxing day today - we needed it to recover from the last 2 days!!  Ian did a bit of trout fishing in the lake this morning while the kids played at the playground.  Then we went for a walk in to town and the kids rode their bikes.  Back to the caravan park for a some cheese and bickies and a drink or two with the neighbours, a few games with the kids and then off to bed.  Great day. :)

Day 62 - Jindabyne

Another day in the snow.  Was much warmer today.  Arrived at Perisher all rugged up and had to start stripping off the layers.  The snow was a lot harder and a lot faster than yesterday - Caitlin stacked it on her first toboggan of the day and I had a big stack at the end of the day.  Someone remind me next time I try to surf down a mountain that I am too old!!  My bum really hurts!  :((

Had a beautiful hot spa when we got back to the caravan park and then went out and had a yummy Italian dinner.

Day 61 - Jindabyne

I love snow!!  Had so much fun today.  Went to Perisher Valley and spent the day tobogganing and tubing. 

It was freezing to start with but the sun was shining so we soon warmed up going up and down the hill.  Caitlin and Josh started trying to surf down standing up and were really good.  Of course last one of the day, Josh had a big stack -collided with someone coming up the hill.  Josh and I had a big stack earlier going down the bumpy track - snow is certainly not as soft as you imagine!!  



'my hands are freezing!'

 Built a really cool snowman - but then went and sat down to have some morning tea and poor Frosty was stripped by a little girl!!  She took his eyes, nose and buttons - only left his arms.  :(((  Poor Frosty!


Frosty - before he was robbed!



Day 60

Another beautiful day - sun shining.  Left ACT this morning and had a lovely drive through the Snowy Mountains.  Staying at Jindabyne for a few days.  Heading up to Perisher tomorrow.  Went and got all our snow clothes ready - kids are very excited.  :))

Day 59

Beautiful day in Canberra today - after the frost cleared!  OMG  it is soooo cold here!!  But, the sun was shining so can't complain too much.  Went to have a look at the tower on top of Black Mountain this morning and then to the National Museum.  It was really good - the kids got to design a spaceship and then watch a 3D movie showing their inventions.  We watched a movie in a revolving theatre and saw so much Australian history.  The kids really enjoyed it and hopefully learned a bit as well.  (Saw a picture of parliament house there and said to Josh - 'that's where we went yesterday.  Do you remember what that's called?'  'The penthouse' he says.  LOL!  Oh well...)

National Museum

After lunch Ian dropped me off at the National Zoo and Aquarium for a Zooventure tour which was sooooo awesome.  I got to walk around with the zookeeper for a couple of hours and go behind the scenes and feed some of the animals.  Having a humungous brown bear eat out of my hand is something I will never forget. 

 I think I walked around for 2 hours with my mouth wide open.  I could have done without having the boa constrictor wrapped around me,

but getting to feed the big cats (a tiger, white lion and cougar) was the ultimate experience. 

Feeding the giraffe was cool too.  I loved it!!

Day 58

Awesome couple of days.  Left Sydney yesterday and drove to Bathurst.  Ian was very excited to drive the track, even if he was towing the caravan.

 Started heading down towards Canberra.  Couldn't believe how many dead wombats we saw on the side of the road.  Passed about 10 in a 2km stretch but probably 20 all up.  It was really sad.  We camped at a place called Bummaroo (which the kids thought was very funny of course).  It was a gorgeous little spot by the river, and just near where we were camping we found a wombat burrow which we thought was cool. 

 Had a campfire after dinner and roasted some marshmallows (kids said it wasn't as good as aunty's bonfires)

and while we were shining the torch around we saw the wombat wondering around.  It was sooooo cool!!!  And speaking of cool, I don't think I have ever been that cold!  It was freezing!!!!!!!!!!  Kaleb woke up crying cos he was sooo cold.  Caitlin went to bed with her thermals, her pyjamas. her dressing gown and another set of clothing on.  We had no power so we couldn't use our little heater. 

Drove through Goulburn the next day after we had thawed out.  (went for a walk along the riverbank first and found another 4 wombat burrows).  Had a photo with the Big Merino

and then on to Canberra.  Went to Parliament House and had a look around.  Took the kids in to the Senate and House of Representatives and let them listen to the speakers.  They weren't quite sure what was going on,  but then again neither were we.

 Went to the War Memorial which was amazing.  I think I could have spent the whole day there - it was huge and really interesting.

 Back to the caravan for dinner.  It is really cold but at least we have power tonight.  :)

Day 56

YAY!  It stopped raining today!!  Went to feed the birds this morning.  The caravan park we are staying at has a huge aviary.

Then caught the train in to Circular Quay. Kids were very impressed with the bridge and the 'hopera house' (as Kaleb calls it).

 Caught the ferry over to Manly and had lunch but don't worry, we weren't being RECKLESS.  Walked down to the beach and watched the surfers for a bit.  It wasn't raining but it was still freezing!!


Manly Beach



Day 55

Tuncurry

Rain, rain and more rain!!  It was so loud last night in the caravan Ian and I couldn't hear each other.  Rain for most of the drive today in to Sydney.  Arrived mid afternoon.  Took me awhile to work out why everything is cheaper now.....cos it's off peak season here!  All the smart people are going in the other direction.  Anyway, cool caravan park.  Kids had a go on the jumping pillows, rode their bikes around the park and saw the weirdest looking birds I have ever seen!!  Chinese pheasants.  They have a pattern on their neck like a tiger and a tail like a lizard.  Bizarre!

Day 54

Through Coffs Harbour today.  Stopped and saw the Big Banana. 

It wasn't as big as I thought but it was like it's own amusement park.  It had a water park, ice rink, puppet shop, candy shop, adventure playground, toboggan and cafe.  We had to try a chocolate nut coated banana which was really yummy!!



On the toboggan

  Back on the road and then staying in Tuncurry tonight.  Has rained and rained and rained which has been a bit unpleasant after all the sunshine but the caravan park (Wallamba River Holiday Park) we are staying at is awesome.  One of the cheapest ones we've stayed at anyway, but then they upgraded us so we have our own ensuite.  And their camp kitchen is the best I've ever seen.  Has fully equipped kitchen (yes, even with Tupperware), 2 microwaves, oven, 2 fridges, all the cutlery and crockery and cooking implements, plus dining tables, lounges, a fire and a big, flat screen tv on which we watched the Eagles smash Essendon.  What more could you want??

Day 53

Unfortunately couldn't convince Ian to change the plans and go north and back along the top!  Left Queensland today - in to New South Wales and already I am freezing!!!  Stopped at Ballina to see the Big Prawn.

 Camping just out of Coffs Harbour.  Did I tell you it's cold????

Day 52

Last day on the Gold Coast today.  Went back to Sea World for a few hours and did the Sky Climb with Caitlin and Josh.  It's a 3 level ropes course - really scary!!  Caitlin had no fear - was just about running across the ropes.  I was a little bit slower!!!

Very impressed that Caitlin even came on the Jet Rescue ride with me - I think they are turning in to adrenalin junkies!

A bit of food shopping and then a walk to the park before dinner.

Day 51

Another great couple of days on the Gold Coast.  Ian went out on a fishing charter yesterday morning and caught a huge tuna!  Took it down to the beach to clean and feed the pelicans.  It was really cool at first but then 17 hungry pelicans coming at you is a bit scary!! 

Went for a walk and found a new playground that had lots of different play equipment which the kids thought was cool. 

Spent the afternoon back at Sea World.  Went to see the dolphin show and the sealion show again.

Had our first child free night last night thanks to Bec and Colin.  Kids went there for a sleepover while Ian and I went to the Australian Outback Spectacular which really was spectacular.  It's up there with my favourite things so far!  Brought tears to my eyes....a few times!

Public Holiday today so we had decided to go back to Wet'n'Wild with Bec, Colin and the kids.  The first day in the whole time we have been here that it was overcast all day, and therefore really cold.  Before we got wet, we decided to have a go on the Sky Coaster.  They attach you to a harness and then hoist you 55 metres in the air, and then you pull the rip cord to free fall at 60kms an hour and fly through the air like superman (or woman).  Sounded like fun so Ian and I and Josh (can you believe it??) did it.  It seemed like a much better idea when I was on the ground than when I was up in the air.  Having to pull the rip cord yourself to drop was also really, really scary!  I was trying not to scare Josh but I was scared!! How awesome is our 6 year old that he did it!??!!  One of the youngest they have ever had!!  I was so proud of him.  It is definitely in his blood!!

Had a swim in the wave pool, a dip in the hot spas,

a few slides and then dried off and went to Movie World (gotta love these VIP passes).  A few more rollercoasters, Superman rides, Batwings

and then time to say goodbye to Bec, Colin, Emily, Chloe, Cameron and Lily.  Kids were sad to say goodbye, they have had a great time playing together.

Day 49

Nice relaxing day today.  Went to the beach this morning for a swim and more sand castles.  Then lunch in Surfers and a bit of outlet shopping (awesome!!  Had to ditch Ian and the kids for that bit!!), then to Harbour Town for some more shopping.  Back to the hotel for a swim in the pool (kids not us) and then a spa.  Went up to the welcome party at the hotel - free sausage sizzle, kids club and trivia night.  Was good fun but I left early cos Caitlin's not feeling well - hopefully won't last long.  No photos tonight - laptop is behaving very badly!!  :((

Day 48

Movie World again today with Bec, Colin and the kids.  I think the kids had an even better time because they had their cousins to go on all the rides with.  I lost count of the number of times Caitlin and Chloe went on the Scooby Doo rollercoaster, or Joshua and Cameron on the dodgem cars.  We all braved the Superman ride - the kids said it was the noisiest one all day with me and Bec screaming!  I was very proud of Caitlin and Chloe for coming on the Batwing, and Colin (under protest) for sitting in the front with me on the Lethal Weapon.  Kaleb went on the 'roastercola' over and over again until we convinced him to go on something else. 

Great day!

Day 47

Great day today.  Went for an early morning walk along the beach - 7am and there are people in the water already!!  Beautiful day.  Went to the Carrara Markets -could have stayed there all day, they are huge!  Watched a reptile show and the kids got to hold a snake which they thought was pretty cool.

Then back to the beach to meet Suzanne and Vaughan, Mitchell, Cameron and Erin.  Didn't take the kids long to get reacquainted and be running around playing together.  Went and had some lunch and a chat before back at the beach to build sand castles, bury each other and check out the 'unique' individuals (budgie smugglers should be illegal - especially white ones on middle aged men who should know better)!

Back to the hotel for a quick shower and change and then off to a bbq at Mark and Jodie's with Bec, Colin and the kids.  Great night!

Day 46

We were supposed to be leaving Surfers Paradise today but decided we were enjoying the sunshine too much so staying another week.  Had to move hotels which was a bit of a pain but the one we are in now is still really nice and has a lot more (free) activities for the kids.

Wet'n'Wild today!  Was a bit of a last minute decision as they had forecast rain, but then again they had been saying chance of a shower every day for the last week and it had been beautiful so we thought we'd give it a go.  The water is heated in all the pools so it wasn't too cold.  The water slides were great fun, even Kaleb was able to go on a couple of them by himself which he thought was 'awesome'. 

Caitlin and Josh went on 'The Black Hole' with Ian and I first up and were both terrified, but by the end of the day they went on together without us! 

We convinced them to go on the 'Kamikaze' and they were very brave for giving it a go (Josh did try and chicken out at the top) but both looked absolutely terrified and there was no chance of getting them on again.  We went on the Super 8 so we could race against each other and they loved the Mammoth Falls because we could all go on together. 

They had a huge big area of hot spas which was really nice towards the end of the day when it did start getting a bit cool.

 The kids thought the wave pool was great fun, and Josh says he'll go on the Sky Coaster with me if we go back again!

Time for a quick walk to the park for a little play and then back to the hotel for tea.  Catching up with Suzanne and Vaughan tomorrow - friends from playgroup, can't wait!!