Watch out for the dingoes!

Fraser Island team briefing on Thursday night for our trip! Each group had 9 people in it, we were Team 2 but adopted the name Team Penelope after being shown our 4WD - a bright pink Landrover in the style of Penelope Pit Stop! After the briefing we made a shopping list for groceries we needed over the next few days.

Our group was cool, we had a good mix of people. There was us, Laura from Whitley Bay but living in Glasgow (small world!), Stephanie from Amsterdam, two German fire dancers Jon & Luca and Maree from Melbourne. Our vehicle was well used, it was called Zombie because it had been rebuilt and brough back from the dead so many times! We went shopping at the supermarket as a team. Got on well and came in under our budget leaving some money left towards beer! Well done us! We got the ferry which took around 30mins then we were off, driving on the sand. We swam in Lake Wabbee and ran down the huge sand dunes. Later we set up camp next to the beach on Friday and it started to rain so ended up getting soaked putting the tent and tarpaulin up. Made the most of it though and it was fun cooking and eating outside under the shelter.

On Saturday we went to Eli Creek for a dip, it was cold! On the way back to camp there were some airplanes taking off and landing on the beach - you have to watch out for them! Beach is shared by 4WDs, planes, people and dingoes! Went up to Indian Head in the afternoon, it was a lovely place to visit with fab views. We stopped at the shipwreck on the beach to take photos. That evening we had dinner and drinks under the stars. Not so scared of the dingoes after seeing them in daylight. Had a few games of Big Booty and played some drinking games. Was a good night and slept better on the flatter sand.. no bumps!

Got up at 6am to watch the sunrise, it was fab. Had breakfast and we were packed up by 7am. We spent the morning sunbathing at Lake Mackenzie before heading for our ferry back to the mainland and proper beds! Great 3 days.

Skydiving, Hervey Bay

We took to the skies on Valentine's Day and jumped out a plane at 14,000ft! It was amazing! The team were really nice and made us feel at ease, we were up in the air before we knew it. The best part was the freefall, it lasted for around 60 seconds and when the chute opened we were flying around the air for a fantastic 5 minutes. The beach landing was great, glad we opted for that. The feeling lasts all day, and the next, and the day after... you can't stop smiling! So glad we did it, I would do it again!

Hervey Bay, Queensland

Staying at Fraser Roving in Torquay, Hervey Bay. It's a friendly hostel and we've got a room to ourselves so can make as much mess as we like. Arrived here last Tuesday after catching the overnight bus from Airlie Beach. Going to stay on Fraser island while we're here, the hostel offers a deal on 2 nights on Fraser Island, self drive with camping. If the dingoes will let us put our tents up!

Magnetic Island

Came to Magnetic Island on Thursday. Hoping for sunshine and it worked! Glorious sun all dy on Friday. Sunbathed and chilled out by the pool. The bugs are quite bad here and we've all been bitten, even our faces! Still trying for a better deterent against mozzies! Place is lovely, would definitely come back.

Tropical Cairns, Queensland

Flew to Cairns last Saturday, heard it had been raining heavily.. the reports were correct. Lovely place but very wet. Apparently we'd just missed the sunshine and it was their rainy season! Still warm but wet. Went out on a trip to the Great Barrier Reef on Monday. I won't lie, it wasn't my favourite trip. The sea was choppy and people were sea sick (myself included). Tried to dive but the sea was so rough I didn't feel confident to go underwater. Snorkelled near the boat instead, saw a few cool fish. Fed some leftover muffins, they came right out the water to bite them!

On Tuesday Helen, Laura & I went to Port Douglas for the day. Lovely place, went shopping, had lunch and walked down to the windswept beach - just like being at home!

Girls went rafting on Wednesday, I went for a swim in the Lagoon instead. Need to wear the moonboot for another 3 weeks, roll on the day I can say farewell to it once and for all!

Melbourne, Oz!

Home to Kylie, Neighbours, penguins and some cool bars.. I loved Melbourne! Went on the tram round the city on Monday, did Neighbours tours on Tuesday (cheesy but great!). I was more excited to see that the TV studios were used for the exterior of Wentworth Detention Centre in Prisoner Cell Block H!! Classic show. Saw Harold Bishop driving into work at the studios! He said hello to us. We went to Ramsay Street and got pics taken outside the houses. The street's so much smaller in real life that it looks on screen.

In the afternoon we went to an exhibition called Eyes, Lies & Illusions at The Australian Centre for the Moving Image in Federation Square. Was really interesting. On Wednesday we went on the Penguin Parade tour. It was fab, we were taken to a winery for a picnic lunch, then to a wildlife centre where we got to see lots of animals including wombats, koalas, wallabies, kangaroos, emus and loads more. Got to handfeed the wallabies & kangaroos which was great! They are so sweet.

At night we watched the penguin parade. The penguins are little, around 30cm tall, they march out of the sea onto the beach where the viewing platform when it gets dark. There were thousands of them! They were so cool, waddling in lines and up alongside the boardwalk with their catch.

We managed to get tickets for Kasabian on Thursday at the Palace in St Kilda! The Temper Trap were their support and just heard they're playing the V Festival here next month so watch this space. Got right down the front at the gig, my ears are still ringing! It was a great night, Kasabian rocked!