Atherton Tablelands

On our way from Cairns to the Daintree Rain Forest and Cape Tribulation, we stopped at Tjapukai Aboriginal Culture Park for several demonstrations of aboriginal life. We learned about the didgeridoos and the various animal sounds they can imitate, rain forest vegetation and its medicinal uses, and how to throw a boomerang (I was awesome, naturally). Our morning was capped off by a traditional fire dance ceremony.

We made a quick stop in Kuranda, a small town high in the rain forest mountains with only a few streets. I bought some mango wine, a kangaroo skin wallet, and other little things, but it was all a little sleepy, although very scenic.

And so began the long drive to Cape Trib, when I was tempted more than once to pop open that bottle of mango wine.

Cairns

Ah, Cairns. Between the Woolshed, Gilligan's, and all the other party bars, the "Adventure Capital" of Australia is a virtual backpacker's paradise.

Days were spent white water rafting, diving the Great Barrier Reef, and hiking through the rainforest, while our nights were filled with "Battle of the Sexes," Woolshed table dancing night, and, of course, dollar bets to dance in the go-go booths.

Rafting on the Tully River in the Misty Mountains was quite an adventure. We had great weather, which meant lots of great rapids, and also lots of great spills. I, of course, took a refreshing dip in the river, by which I mean I choked half of it down while flailing around helplessly. Thankfully, our fearless guide, Kiwi Chris, yanked me back into the raft just in time to catch the current back to shore.

A night of recovery (by which I mean good food, good drinks, and good friends), and then it was off to the Great Barrier Reef. Even learning to dive off Pennecamp Park in the Florida Keys, I had never seen anything like this. White-tipped reef sharks, sea turtles, and clownfish, oh my! It was just as breathtaking as all the documentaries and tourist posters say.

Whitsundays

So we took a ferry to Long Island in the Whitsundays, which are lots of little islands that basically all look the same - which is to say, beautiful.

The beach at sunrise

It was exactly what you'd expect a beach resort to be: large patio, nice buffet, poolside bar.

Me, Sara, Rachel & Katie

The next day, while some of our group were on a two-day live-aboard sail, the rest of us went on the Carina day sail. The cloudy (sometimes rainy) weather didn't slow us down much; we just lounged on a huge catamaran all day, stopping on a pristine beach to snorkel and also to refrain from playing beach cricket. Honestly.

A little karaoke and pool-time later, and our three days in the Whitsundays were quickly over. Some of us, like Rob, could have used a little more time to recuperate, I guess.

Beer: part of Dodgy Rob's breakfast of champions

Capricorn Coast

Lots of bus time along the Capricorn Coast. Here I am at the Tropic of Capricorn in Rockhampton, the heart of Australia's beef industry and the "gateway to the tropics":

Fun fact: the students in Rocky, as they call Rockhampton, like to break the...bullness...off the bull statues all over the city, and then keep them as trophies.

We went to a really cool crocodile farm, where we not only saw some huge (5 meters) crocs, but also got to see a baby croc hatch. All the babies are named Gucci because that's who the croc farm markets their croc leather to...ha!

Nibbling already

This yellow stuff attached to the croc's stomach is the egg yolk.
It will feed him as he learns to eat solid food.

Proud papa

Then we all held a 2-foot long croc called Harley (the owner likes to brag that he owns 7 Harleys).

After some fun at the local pubs, including some great dollar-bets (nice one, Dodgy Rob), it was off to Airlie Beach and the Whitsundays.

Sunshine Coast

After an ungodly early start, we made our way east, back to the Sunshine Coast. We spent a while in Noosa, the last surfing town on our way north (the Great Barrier Reef blocks the break for the rest of the Queensland coast). Noosa is a lot like the beach towns in the Hamptons or Cape Cod - a mixture of surfers and underachievers with posh shops and socialites.

After a fantastic cheeseburger and a final surfing attempt (I did stand up), it was off to Fraser Island.

Adora Downs farmstay

We drove a while from the Gold Coast out west, stopping for lunch in Brisbane, towards Darling Downs, a farming town near Tooroomba. We got to stay at a working farm called Adora Downs, owned by Bryce and Gloria Smith. During our hayride around the grounds, I held a baby lamb that had just been born the night before!

There were also a bunch of kangaroos just hanging out around the property, including a couple baby joeys. We learned Australian Bush Dancing, which is a lot like American Square dancing, and we put it to good use at the barn dance that night.

Luckily our generous hosts cooked us an authentic Outback farm dinner!

Gold Coast

We left Sydney for the Gold Coast, stopping along the way at a famous Australian point break, Lockhead Point.

Then it was lunch and beach time in Byron Bay, a really cool hippy-arty town that's become a little posh, kind of like SoHo in New York but on the beach. It was really charming, but unfortunately we had to press northwards.

I got to hold a koala at Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary!

There are also lots of grey and red kangaroos, crocodiles, birds, and other Australian wildlife everywhere, and the non-dangerous ones are just hanging out so visitors can go right up and hang out with them. The Sanctuary's motto is "Get Closer," and I really got to - check out the baby joey!

We finally ended up in Coff's Harbour, a nice little town where we had a barbeque and drinks by the beach.

Sydney

After seventeen really boring hours on a plane, I landed in Sydney last night. I took a really cool ferry ride through Sydney Harbor to Manly, a peninsula to the northwest, and spent most of the time on Manly Beach, on the ocean side.

on the ferry from Sydney's Circular Quay to Manly

I swam in the Pacific for the first time!

Sydney's Manly Beach

The sand is very fine here, which makes it soft, and it's a warm golden color. There was a surfing exposition going on, including a small clinic. I'll be gracefully wiping out on the waves soon enough, so I decided to pass on this surf class.

Sydney's Manly Beach

Manly has a big promenade that's a lot like Miami Beach's own Lincoln Road. The Wharf starts at the small harbor-side beach and looks onto Sydney Harbor, which was filled with sailboats and yachts. I saw a almost-collisions and one capsized monohull - the people on-board flipped it back and kept right on sailing, so no worries.

Sydney Harbor from Manly Wharf

Sydney Harbor

On the ride back, I had to get a shot of me in front of the Opera House.

Sydney Opera House