Australia 2015: 03/25/15

Hey Everyone, we are downloading our pics as I write this. I will describe our last 2 days and then you will see our pics finally.

We drove back to Brisbane Airport in rush hour which took 3 hours, but at least the weather was sunny and Bob got us back safely (although we almost hit a big truck head on only a half a block from the car rental return place, because Bob forgot to look BOTH ways when turning right - LOL). In my defence, she said "All clear" although she claims she added "on my side." I didn't hear that part because it was drowned out by her screams of terror. AND it was just a small big truck.

Met Kyle at the airport and we all flew to Hamilton Island in the Whitsundays near the southern end of the Great Barrier Reef. This place is incredibly beautiful. The weather is PERFECT and 29 celsius. There are no cars on the island, just golf buggies. There's a free shuttle bus every 15 minutes that takes you anywhere you want to go. There are also lots of pretty, man-eating butterflies too ;) .

We arrived at our apartment and the views are to die for. We ventured into the Marina area for an early dinner at the Tavern. Tropical parrots such as Cockatoos are everywhere. Went to the General Store and got some expensive groceries (which is still cheaper than eating out). Picked up some beers and headed back to the apartment to drink Margaritas, Beers & Scotch while we all sat on the balcony as the sun was setting. Off to bed early again.

The next morning, there were 20 Cockatoos on our balcony. Apparently they are a pest here. BUT I LOVE THEM!! We then headed off on our full day Whitehaven Beach tour. Whitehaven beach has white silica sand and is beautiful. We snorkeled in our attractive stinger suits (makes me look like a giant black Teletubby) and then hiked up to the inlet lookout. Basically beached it all day. There were lagoon rays and lemon sharks to swim with. We all got sunburnt. Idiots! haha

Got back to the apartment and I made dinner for my 'hungry guys'. Chicken breast with salad and rice. Off to bed early AGAIN!!

Today we are trying to update this blog. Pictures are taking forever to download, etc. We do have some good pictures, so hope you enjoy. We are just hanging out today. Tomorrow we go on our Reef Sleep tour. We sail out to the Great Barrier Reef and spend all day snorkeling, relaxing, eating, drinking & maybe I'll get a massage. We stay the night on the pontoon on lounge chairs under the stars. The next day we get to repeat the activities before heading back to Hamilton Island. Hopefully we will be able to update the blog before we head to Sydney.

Some friendly goats on our drive from Brisbane to Caloundra (Sunshine Coast).

Countryside

Love to have a farm here! A storm is brewing.

Mooloolaba (Beach Resort town on the coast near our destination).

Bob, sitting on the wrong side of the car, parked on the wrong side of the road.

The view from our hotel in Caloundra. Looks a lot like White Rock Beach with the weather cloudy.

More countryside on our drive (I guess these pics aren't in perfect order).

Outside our hotel.

This is the next morning about 6am. I (Kendra) took a walk on the beach.

Interesting flora.

Our hotel.

This is Jiminey, the man-eating bug we rescued in the garage.

Bob couldn't feel his hand for about an hour. haha

We put him here, I think it suits him.

On the way to the Australia zoo, we took a wrong turn and ended up on a dirt road. Here is an Australian pineapple.

This is the view from our hotel in Auckland. That place had internet IN THE ROOM!

Rhino Iguana (at the zoo, of course)

A real crocodile.

Real size, but extinct (thank God) crocodile.

Just roaming freely on the zoo grounds.

I have no idea what this is called, but it seems to grow on anything, including tree trunks and rocks. I think it's a type of parasitic, alien lettuce. haha