New Years in Sydney

I must be the luckiest backpacker in Sydney! Angie Heath and her boyfriend Pete were kind enough to have me to stay for the week, in their penthouse apartment overlooking Bondi Beach! We decided to investigate the potential in Bondi's bars...

View from their balcony!












New Years eve braai to line the stomach.

Wayno, Garnet and Shane joined me at my party. Well, Alec's 50th birthday party in the city, on the 51st floor of an apartment block. Unfortunately the awesome views didn't quite include the harbour and fireworks..







HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!








Harry was attacked in the early hours of the morning and had his torn pant ripped off by somebody's teeth...

The view by daylight.


Quinnie setting the balloons free.

Sydney's hottest day since 1939: 45 degrees on NEW YEARS DAY! How cruel!!



New Years test at the SCG. Started off badly (rain delay). Ended even worse!! But still a magical experience, just to be there!



Day trip to the Blue Mountains.


The Three Sisters.








Back with my favourite travel mates!!!

And another farewell drink...

Christmas in Toowoomba

I was lucky enough to spend 5 days over Christmas with Todd's family, and of course Anna and Lulu, which made it feel almost as if I were home with my own family!

Auntie Deb with little Lulu!
Our cousin Dinell came to visit us!!












No it's not mine... but how do I look with a pram?!!

Lenny enjoying the early morning family boomerang throwing in the park.
Getting into the Christmas spirit...

Lenny too!

Laughter and tears in Noosa

On our way from Hervey Bay to Noosa we stopped at Rainbow Beach for a few hours of boomeranging. We all learnt how to throw (and almost catch!) a boomerang, then we were each given our own one to paint.
Tim's cracking boobs on Noosa beach.

The boys cooked us Mexican for dinner! :)
Olivia and I got drenched horse riding on the beach - what a great ride!

Farewell dinner at Zachary's, plus Alexis' birthday!
The best wingwoman in the world!!!


Farewell photo. Ooops the camera's playing up again. Alcohol related again.
That's better!


My new kite-surfing friends who kept me company after the others left!
Simon Shepherd's long-lost cousin.




Kite-surfing before the storm at Noosa river mouth.




New thongs!
Noosa National Park walk...

Toga party in the power failure

We hit a massive thunderstorm which struck a power cable, causing a power failure which lasted most of the evening and night. Lucky for us, that meant the hostel staff were a bit lenient and let us drink our "goon" (papsak) at the hostel before the Wednesday night toga party. OK, we also promised to supply some music in the form of Chris and his guitar.

Fraser Island

Tim and Chris getting their curly fries fix in 1770, just north of Hervey Bay.

Waiting for the ferry at Hervey Bay to take us across to Fraser Island.






Our wheels!





At home on the roof of the car... for a change...


The first of our lakes: Lake Wabby.






At Basecamp for the first of 2 nights, preparing to play 21's in French, to accommodate our German and Dutch passengers.

Cooking "camping mush" and Deb packet mash for dinner!






"SShhhhhhh Debbie!" On the beach again, waiting for the Southern Cross to appear, after chasing dingoes along the beach and getting tackled into the shark-infested east coast waters.











Champagne Pools
View from Indian Head lookout.


Maheno shipwreck, parking off on the beach.











Chris, Olivia, Tim and Stuart.



Driving on the "highway"...











The highway is also a runway!














Lakes Mackenzie and Birrabeen - if you get to go there, go to Birrabeen because it is equally beautiful but far less crowded and hectic!




















Flip flop races in Eli Creek.