Fitzroy Island

After five days (three days driving and two days resting) and over 2,500 km we finally arrived in Cairns on Thursday 23rd June. We spent our first night in a cabin and then last night on a campsite.

This morning we got up at 05:30 to enable us to get the 07:30 boat to Fitzroy Island. We're staying on the island for five nights - the first four nights on the campsite and the last night in the five-star hotel.


Sunkist - our transport to the island. A wet and wild ride!

Tropical Paradise - sandy beaches and a coral reef that's less than a metre below the surface at low tide.

We spent hours in and under the water and saw loads of tropical fish, coral and two big blue starfishes. The highlight for us was swimming with a turtle who wasn't at all bothered by our presence.

Em did an introduction to Scuba session in the pool but was unable to equalise her ears on the dive so she unfortunately couldn't dive in the ocean. I went out with the instructor but unfortunately the visibility was very poor so it was difficult to see much. We did however see several lionfish and some sea anemones that changed colour when you touched them!

The interior of the island was a tropical rainforest and there were several walks through it.

Deep in the rainforest the sounds of birds were incredible.

Exploring the bolders at each end of the main beach.

Sunset over mainland Australia

Lonely Pine Koala Sanctuary

After leaving our hotel in Sydney yesterday morning we drove 12 hours to Southport which is just south of Brisbane. We stopped overnight in a hotel and this morning we continued on to Brisbane where we're visitng the Lonely Pine Koala Sanctuary as Em is desperate to cuddle a Koala.

Em meets the locals

Who's a little cutie then...

... hey that's my jacket!

Quick, quick take a photo....

Ouch that hurts!

Sydney from the Water

Manly

Today we're going on the Manly Ferry from Circular Quay in Sydney to Manly. The trip takes 30mins and gives some of the best views of Sydney Harbour.

The Manly Ferry - we weren't on this one.... but we were on one taking a picture of this one...

Looking back at Sydney

Manly Beach

Shelly beach.

Manly harbour

Sydney Icons

Ok, you only get one guess where we are today :-)

Em's "arty" shot

Manhattan or Sydney?

The Sydney harbour bridge is still the widest in the world - 8 lanes and two railway lines.

The harbour is so busy we had to wait for ages for a clear shot of the Opera House!

The Business District at night. We had a meal in a waterside restaurant right in the middle of this picture.

The bridge at night.

Em meets the Aborigonies

I'll name that tune in.....

What do I do with this?

Sign of the Day

We walked on the grass, talked to the birds but drew the line at hugging trees!

Mrs Macquarie's Road

Mrs Macquarie's Road and Chair were built at the instigation of the Governors wife.

Sydney Art and Architecture

Victorian buildings in the Kings Cross area.

Lifts in the Centrepoint building (below the Sydney Tower)

Our hotel!

The El Alamein fountain has a reputation for being unreliable - we were lucky to see it working!

St Mary's Cathedral

Sydney Tower

Today is our first day in Sydney and we've decided to go up the Sydney Tower to get a good perspective on the city.

The tower is 309m tall and is the highest in Sydney. It claims to have the highest postbox in the Australia - funny thing is that the postbox at the top of the tower in Melbourne said the same thing!

The view north showing Sydney Harbour Bridge and you can just make out the roof of the Opera House on the right.

Em takes a breather at the top.

The view to the north east showing the Royal Botanic Gardens and Wooloomooloo Wharf (where the first settlers arrived in Sydney). You can also see the Sydney Heads (headlands) in the distance.

The view to the west showing Darling Harbour and the National Maritime Museum.

It's a long way down - the aerial monorail looked pretty cool snaking it's way down the streets.

Sign of the day - Woolloomooloo

Woolloomooloo - yes it's a real place in Sydney

Aussie Birds

This chap was just wandering around in the Sydney suburbs - what is he?

Em's "Punky Pigeons"

We eventually managed to get a picture of this colourful chap - he doesn't stay still for long!

Who's a pretty boy then?

Cockatoo too!