scurvalius's TravelStream™ — Recent TravelPod.com entries TravelStream™ news feed for member scurvalius on TravelPod's free travel blogs service http://www.travelpod.com/syndication/rss/scurvalius en-us Copyright ©2009 TravelPod.com Wed, 02 Jan 2008 01:51:12 -0500 http://www.travelpod.com Coolangatta — Coolangatta, Australia http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/scurvalius/aus_and_nz_0708/1200638760/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/scurvalius/aus_and_nz_0708/1200638760/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/scurvalius/aus_and_nz_0708/1200638760/tpod.html Wed, 02 Jan 2008 01:51:12 -0500 Kevin Ewan and Shaun's adventure to Australia and New Zealand - She'll be pyoor!!
Coolangatta, Australia

18th December
Put the camper van back and then travelled north to Coolangatta on a bus and checked into the hostel there. The hostel was ok but the location of it was a let down, it was about two miles from the centre of Coolangatta and 30 meters from the main highway that runs between Brisbane and Sydney which meant the noise was serious! Anyway, I headed into town for a walk around and Ewan and Shaun went to bed as they were feeling ill.

19th - 21st December
Didn't do to much these days although me and Shaun travelled up to Surfers Paradise to book an apartment for Christmas as we'd decided Coolangatta wasn't much fun. Ewan was still pretty ill.
]]> Sydney — Sydney, Australia http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/scurvalius/aus_and_nz_0708/1198738140/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/scurvalius/aus_and_nz_0708/1198738140/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/scurvalius/aus_and_nz_0708/1198738140/tpod.html Wed, 02 Jan 2008 01:50:31 -0500 Kevin Ewan and Shaun's adventure to Australia and New Zealand - She'll be pyoor!!
Sydney, Australia

27th December
Up early and headed back south to Coolangatta airport to catch our flight to Sydney, checked into our hostel, 790 On George which was pretty good, one of the best we'd been at. After that we set off into the city for a look around, went to the Opera House and around Circular Quay after tea we went out around some of the pubs close to the hostel.

28th December
Got on a ferry at Circular Quay to Manly and checked out the Oceanworld aquarium and went swimming at the beach before havin a bite to eat and heading back to the city.

29th December
Went to the bridge for a look, we were thinking of doing the bridge climb (where you climb right up over the arch) but it was fairly pricey and I think I'm too fairt o heights tae do it anyway! We ended up just goin up one of the towers instead. After that we headed to the maritime museum where we looked around a replica of Captain Cook's ship the Endeavour, found that pretty interesting! We also had a look around an old battle ship built in the 50s and an old submarine.
After tea we met up with Kazia Watt who's stayin in Sydney now and headed out around the pubs on Oxford St everybody got brawly drunk again!

30th December
Lay around all day feeling pretty hungover - that is all!

31st December
Headed out to Bondi about tea time, sat above the beach with a few beers an then headed to Watson Bay to watch the 9pm firework display, we were about 7kms away from the bridge but we still got an excellent view. Headed back to Bondi to the Bondi Hotel for a couple of drinks before we went into the Shore Thing open air gig featuring Groove Armada, had to queue for a while to get in and then get drinks but had a good laugh even though the music wasn't my cup of tea. Ended up at a party at one of Kazia's friends hoose.

1st January
Lay around all day feeling hungover again!
]]> Surfers Paradise — Surfers Paradise, Australia http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/scurvalius/aus_and_nz_0708/1198306080/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/scurvalius/aus_and_nz_0708/1198306080/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/scurvalius/aus_and_nz_0708/1198306080/tpod.html Wed, 02 Jan 2008 01:49:14 -0500 Kevin Ewan and Shaun's adventure to Australia and New Zealand - She'll be pyoor!!
Surfers Paradise, Australia

22nd December
Met Adam at the airport and then got a taxi north to Surfers Paradise, headed out on the town although I got brawly drunk and went home early with the only key and flaked out, the other boys couldn't waken me up so they had to call out the night porter... woops!

23rd December
Had a poor Chinese takaway and then had a quiet night.

24th December
Headed out on the town again, ended up brawly drunk after drinkin a pile of Jager Bombs! (Jager and Redbull)

25th December
Felt pretty rough so we just sat around the apartment with a few beers, got pizzas and watched films.

26th December
Shaun and Ewan went out to a shooting range and shot some hefty guns, at night we just had a few drinks in the apartment after Ewan and Eve had been on a pretty cool looking fair ground ride, I wis too much o a chicken though!
]]> Byron Bay to Ballina — Ballina, Australia http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/scurvalius/aus_and_nz_0708/1197873840/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/scurvalius/aus_and_nz_0708/1197873840/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/scurvalius/aus_and_nz_0708/1197873840/tpod.html Wed, 02 Jan 2008 01:45:45 -0500 Kevin Ewan and Shaun's adventure to Australia and New Zealand - She'll be pyoor!!
Ballina, Australia

17th December
Byron Bay to Ballina
Travelled south from Byron Bay to a small place called Evans Head and tried a bit of fishing, didn't catch anything though, we then drove north to Ballina and stayed in a campsite with the camper van.
]]> Ballina/Byron Bay/Nimbin — Byron Bay, Australia http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/scurvalius/aus_and_nz_0708/1229320800/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/scurvalius/aus_and_nz_0708/1229320800/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/scurvalius/aus_and_nz_0708/1229320800/tpod.html Wed, 02 Jan 2008 01:05:03 -0500 Kevin Ewan and Shaun's adventure to Australia and New Zealand - She'll be pyoor!!
Byron Bay, Australia

15th December
Ballina/Byron Bay
Up at 6am and caught the bus to Ballina at 7 to pick up the camper that we'd organised until the 18th, picked up the camper and headed to Nimbin via Kyogle, Nimbin is a different world! A hippy town in the middle of nowhere, instant smell of "lang fags" when we got out of the van! Headed back to Byron Bay and parked up at a campsite before heading out into town to sample the nightlife, saw an amazing band, they consisted of two drummers and a guy playing the didgeridoo and doing beatbox, it was kinda tribal techno but with no electronic instruments, we then saw some bands playing on the street, with tons of folk dancing around to it, including wis!

16th December
Byron Bay
Left the campsite we'd been staying at and headed to one closer to town, then went for a swim at the beach, huge waves = good fun!
]]> Australia Zoo and Brisbane — Beerwah, Queensland, Australia http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/scurvalius/aus_and_nz_0708/1200207060/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/scurvalius/aus_and_nz_0708/1200207060/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/scurvalius/aus_and_nz_0708/1200207060/tpod.html Wed, 02 Jan 2008 00:59:55 -0500 Kevin Ewan and Shaun's adventure to Australia and New Zealand - She'll be pyoor!!
Beerwah, Queensland, Australia

13th December
Australia Zoo/Brisbane
Headed to Steve Irwin's Zoo at half 8, feelin kinda rough, saw the Crocodile Show, Tons of venomous snakes and various other Australian wildlife, including Koalas, Kangaroos, Dingos, Tasmanian Devils and Lizards, they also had Elephants, Tigers and Camels and Otters.

Ended up at a pretty decent hostel in Brisbane, Bunk Backpackers.

14th December
Brisbane
Pretty boring day trying to sort out hostels etc for the coming week, and washing clothes. We did have a walk around Brisbane though.
]]> Noosa — Noosa, Australia http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/scurvalius/aus_and_nz_0708/1197355800/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/scurvalius/aus_and_nz_0708/1197355800/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/scurvalius/aus_and_nz_0708/1197355800/tpod.html Wed, 02 Jan 2008 00:50:50 -0500 Kevin Ewan and Shaun's adventure to Australia and New Zealand - She'll be pyoor!!
Noosa, Australia

11th December
Hervey Bay/Noosa
Spent a bit of time trying to sort things out on the internet, then headed to a car hire company, picked up a car and set off for Noosa, checked into Dolphins Backpackers, Shaun wasn't too happy with the sleeping arrangements, all we could get was two double rooms so I made a bed on the floor with the duvet! We then headed into town and for drams.

12th December
Noosa
Moved to Koala Backpackers in the morning, spent the day at the beach and then saw a good acoustic covers band in the bar at night, great musicians!
]]> Fraser Island — Fraser Island, Australia http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/scurvalius/aus_and_nz_0708/1197096000/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/scurvalius/aus_and_nz_0708/1197096000/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/scurvalius/aus_and_nz_0708/1197096000/tpod.html Wed, 02 Jan 2008 00:47:01 -0500 Kevin Ewan and Shaun's adventure to Australia and New Zealand - She'll be pyoor!!
Fraser Island, Australia

8th December
Fraser Island
Picked up our Landcruiser and headed to the ferry terminal to catch the 8:30 ferry to Fraser Island, the ferry crossing took about 40 minutes, we then set off inland towards Lake Birrabean, it wasn't sunny that morning but was still warm, me, Ewan and Eve tried a bit of swimming anyway. Managed to make our way through the rough sandy tracks to the eastern beach even if it did mean me having to change down to Low 4WD and take a second run up at the exit to the beach.

Started heading north up the beach and stopped for danner along the way to the wreck of the Maheno, once a luxury cruise liner, she was wrecked while being towed to Japan to be scrapped.

Set up camp complete with Shetland flags at the entrance and then walked to the hill above our campsite, this walk didn't go smoothly as we picked the wrong route and ended up wading through thick bush full o speeders! Ewan, Shaun and Eve only had sandals on and we all had shorts on, most of us ended up with scratches on our legs from the twigs etc.

9th December
Fraser Island
Set off at half 6 heading north to Indian Head this was supposed to be a difficult drive but we managed to get through with out much problem, just held her goin!

Went as far north as Orchid Beach and me and Eve rolled down a massive sand dune, we then headed to the Champagne Pools for a swim, rock pools that the sea breaks over, check out the photos of it.

Set up camp further down the beach late in the afternoon.

10th December
Fraser Island/Hervey Bay
Set off on a 40 minute walk to Lake Wabby, we didn't think much of the bush walk, especially Shaun cause of the big speeders everywhar! Lake Wabby was fine peerie loch, full of some type of fish, looked a bit like cat fish. The walk back wasn't so bad, I think we'd kinda got used tae the wildlife!

Headed from Lake Wabby to Lake McKenzie, this lake is in a league of its own, amazing sandy beash and really clear water, you need to see it to believe it! Stayed there for a couple of hours then headed to Central Station for a look at the history of the island, Central Station is where the workers stayed when the logging company was active on the island, headed from there to Kingfisher Bay to catch the ferry, we were running a bit late but that got far worse when about 2kms from the ferry terminal we came across a young guy driving a Kia Sportage, far too low clearance for the tracks on the island! The boy had no idea either, luckily his father was there with a Hi-Lux and tow rope, although he didn't seem too worried we were about to miss our ferry, finally with about 8 minutes until the ferry left and still with 3kms to go on a VERY rough track Ewan did a fine job of thrashing the Landcruiser to the ferry, we made it at 4pm, all the cars were on the ferry already but they let us on, we were all very relieved!

After putting the Landcruiser back we set headed back to the same hostel in Hervey Bay and had an early night.
]]> Hervey Bay — Hervey Bay, Australia http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/scurvalius/aus_and_nz_0708/1197025861/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/scurvalius/aus_and_nz_0708/1197025861/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/scurvalius/aus_and_nz_0708/1197025861/tpod.html Fri, 07 Dec 2007 06:20:31 -0500 Kevin Ewan and Shaun's adventure to Australia and New Zealand - She'll be pyoor!!
Hervey Bay, Australia

7th December
After booking our Fraser Island tour we headed into town to go for the Jetskis again, the rules for this ones were pretty strict but we still had good fun on them later in the day we had our briefing for our trip to Fraser Island, just a video with do's and don'ts regarding driving, throwing rubbish, staying away from Dingos etc.
I'd better say, the tour we've booked on involves us getting a Landcruiser and all camping equipment and setting off ourselves, we did think about going on another tour that would involve us getting put in a vehicle with complete strangers but we thought that was a bit risky if they were idiots and we couldn't get along with them.
Having a quiet night tonight as we'll have to be up between 6 and 7 tomorrow.
]]> Hervey Bay — Hervey Bay, Australia http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/scurvalius/aus_and_nz_0708/1196939460/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/scurvalius/aus_and_nz_0708/1196939460/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/scurvalius/aus_and_nz_0708/1196939460/tpod.html Fri, 07 Dec 2007 06:19:33 -0500 Kevin Ewan and Shaun's adventure to Australia and New Zealand - She'll be pyoor!!
Hervey Bay, Australia

6th December
Didn't do much although me and Shaun hired bikes and cycled into the town, I think I ended up covering about 15kms so was pretty tired when I got back, ended up swittlin in drams again and headed into the nightclub with the barmen from the hostel where we witnessed the best fight I've ever seen, well we were inside watching it though the window.
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