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After Franz Joseph went onto Wanaka, The weather was boiling, so went for a swim in the lake to cool off. Walked round the lake as well,(well part of it, I still couldn't walk properly from Glacier).

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Back on the bus the next day and to Greymouth. The road to Greymouth was right next to the ocean so had some spectular views, (bit like the Great Ocean Road in Oz, but more rugged)

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Did a few walks in the Golden bay area. Went to Wanui falls, stopping at the Abel Tasman look out on the way. Also went Kayaking in the northern abel tasman national park, saw a few seals. Drove up to Farewell Spit and through Collingwood (which apparently was nearly capital of New Zealand, don't know why though the place is tiny

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New Zealand remains copyright of the author LesleyL, a member of the travel community Travellerspoint.

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Overnight bus remains copyright of the author LesleyL, a member of the travel community Travellerspoint.

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Cooks Cottage (Capt James cook parents, shipped over from England and rebuilt)
St Kilda (lots of cake shops, but there are more in the Italian part of town I think)
Queen Vic Market (should of bought those souvenirs I still haven't bought)
Botanical Gardens
Federation square, walked past some of the sports grounds as well.

Also went to cinema and watched a film sat on a bean bag, its a miracle I didn't fall asleep.

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The next day went on hike up a big hill to get another look at the Grampians, then back on the bus to go Warnambol, the start of the great Ocean Road. The Great Ocean Road was built by returning WW1 servicemen. Visited the Bay of Martyers, London Bridge (which did fall down a couple of years, stranding a couple of tourists) and 12 Apostles (one of which also fell down a few years ago). I think we stayed in Port Campbell overnight, but I can't remember anymore.

On the third and finally day went back to the 12 apostles again, drove to a Wildlife park and saw lots of Koalas and a couple of echindinas ( i've no idea how you spell that, its the Australian equivelent of a hedgehog), drove through Lorne (where we had lunch) and on to Melbourne via Torquay (home of Ripcurl) and Geelong. Arrived in Melbourne in evening.

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Really didn't do alot in Adelaide

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The train went across the Nullabor plain, (means no trees) and there is a whole lot of nothing outhere. Stopped in a deserted town called Cook, which now exists only really to serve the Indian Pacific.

Arrived in Adelaide two days later (38 hours) later really tired, as its impossible to sleep on the seats unless you are a midget. I think the feeling was worse than jet lag and it lasted longer, if I ever do the Journey again, I think I'll fly.

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South West remains copyright of the author LesleyL, a member of the travel community Travellerspoint.

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Bungle Bungles

Crossing the Pentecost River

Bell Gorge (Kimbereleys)

Camels on Cable Beach (Broome)

Boab Tree (Kimberelys)

Hancock Gorge (Karijini)

Joffes Gorge (Karijini)

Karijini

Exmouth Beach

Tropic of Capricorn

If it wasn't for this satellite dish in Carnavorn then you wouldn't have pictures of the Moon Landing

Stromalites

Pinnacles

Rottnest Island

Quoka

This passenger wasn't too talkative, so we ate him!!

Handrail pool, Karajini National Park. Climbed up and down the waterfall. Scary

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Now I'm off to go and work in a country pub for two months, I'm pretty sure I'm not going to have phone reception and probably no email, so I'm going to be out of touch for a while.

So until January I'm going to be living in Goomalling, if anybody wants to visit me

Was going to up date photos, but as I Haven't managed to burn Cd yet, can't do that either. So no more photos until at least christmas.

Perth to ?? remains copyright of the author LesleyL, a member of the travel community Travellerspoint.

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Left Coral bay and crossed the tropic of Capricorn again. Went through Carnavon, and saw the satellite dish that received the first picture from the moon landings, before it was relayed to Parks. Travelled on further to the sharkbay area. Went to see the Stromatalites, the worlds oldest living organism or something like that. visited Shell beach as well, a beach made up entirely of shells, funnily enough.

Then went on to Denham (twinned with the one in bucks) and arrived at Monkey Mia in the evening. Went to some place after dark where hot water (from the artesian basin) is pumped into a pool, it was like a hot bath. Next morning went to watch the dolphins that come right on the beach at Monkey Mia to get some fish. It was quite amuing to watch one ranger trying to distract the pelicans so they didn't charge the beach for the fish. Dolphins one side, pelicans the other, all after fish. For some reason all I could think of was the Simpsons episode where the dolphins take over.

In the afternoon, on the way out back through shark bay, went to a look out point where you could see lots of sharks swimming about ( big nasty sharks as well, like Tiger sharks, well it is called Shark Bay).

Say lots of lizzards on the way to kalbarri, courtesy of the bus driver. don't know how he spotted most of them.

On the way into Kalbarri went up to a place called Natures window, couldn't spend long there as we were running very late. Stayed overnight at Kalbarri

On the last day, left Kalbarri and carried on down the west coast, through Port Denison. Went through the Pinnacles on the way, (sort of weird stones in the desert, looks like a graveyard),

Then drove on in to Perth past Leaning tree that grows almost flat because of all the wind.

Arrive in Perth on the 16th October

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Drove to 80 mile beach for lunch and then continued down to a cattle station for an overnight camp. Went down through Port Headland.

Next drove to Karajini. Visited Circular pool, then went up to Fortesque falls and fern pool. All of these are in the dales gorge. Had and overnight bush camp in Karajini.

Next day went to Weano gorge, walked down to Handrail pool. To get into Handrail pool, you have to walk through the creek and then climb down the waterfall holding on to a rope, its actually easier than it sounds. After Weano gorge went to eh Hannock gorget, where you were supposed to Spider walk into Kermits pool. I took the easy route and used the creek as a water slide (weeeeeee, bump). After lunch we climbed down into Joffes fgorge, which looked like an horrendous climb (like straight down), but was actually pretty easy. Drove pas past the Hammersly ranges and camped in Hammersly gorge (which our bus driver was gleefully telling us the time he got trapped for three days, when it rained heavily). Went swimming in Hammersly gorge as well.

Left Karanji on day four of the our for Exmouth. Watched the sunset at the light house with some cheap fizzy wine. Stayed overnight in a hostel (joy a proper bed).

In the morning went to Turquiose bay (part of the ningaloo reef) and snorkleed there looking at lots of coral, and saw a turtle too. Then went to sandy bay for more swimming and then back to turquiose bay for more snorkelling. In the afternoon drove down to Coral bay

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Drove to 80 mile beach for lunch and then continued down to a cattle station for an overnight camp. Went down through Port Headland.

Next drove to Karajini. Visited Circular pool, then went up to Fortesque falls and fern pool. All of these are in the dales gorge. Had and overnight bush camp in Karajini.

Next day went to Weano gorge, walked down to Handrail pool. To get into Handrail pool, you have to walk through the creek and then climb down the waterfall holding on to a rope, its actually easier than it sounds. After Weano gorge went to eh Hannock gorget, where you were supposed to Spider walk into Kermits pool. I took the easy route and used the creek as a water slide (weeeeeee, bump). After lunch we climbed down into Joffes fgorge, which looked like an horrendous climb (like straight down), but was actually pretty easy. Drove pas past the Hammersly ranges and camped in Hammersly gorge (which our bus driver was gleefully telling us the time he got trapped for three days, when it rained heavily). Went swimming in Hammersly gorge as well.

Left Karanji on day four of the our for Exmouth. Watched the sunset at the light house with some cheap fizzy wine. Stayed overnight in a hostel (joy a proper bed).

In the morning went to Turquiose bay (part of the ningaloo reef) and snorkleed there looking at lots of coral, and saw a turtle too. Then went to sandy bay for more swimming and then back to turquiose bay for more snorkelling. In the afternoon drove down to Coral bay

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Broome remains copyright of the author LesleyL, a member of the travel community Travellerspoint.

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camped out at El-Questro station.

Next morning walked half of El- Questro, and crossed the pentecoste River. The bus got bogged in some sand so we had to dig it out before going to our next campsite.

Then next morning went to, barnett River gorge, walked along the top of the gorge, climbed down and then for a swim at the bottom, Looked at some aborginal art work down there as well. Swam back to the start of the walk near where the bus was parked.

Next day went on to Mt Barnett Roadhouse and Galvan gorges. Then to bell gorge. There was a fairly big climb down into it, swam there for ages and had lunch there as well. Overnight camp in the bush again. Camped at Windjana gorge. Saw lots of fresh water croc's there as well.

Last day of Kimberelys trip, walked through Tunnel Creek, then went on to derby, saw the Boab Priosn tree and drove to Broome and went to Cable beach.

(this is a really dull entry, put I'll fill in things later and put some pictures in, but I just don't have time and the internet is rubbish here and keeps on dying)

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Headed off on the Kimberelys trip, back through Adelaide River again and then back to Edith Falls and Katherine again. In the afternoon drove down to lake Arglye and camped overnight there.

Went on a boat cruise on lake argyle the next morning. Saw fresh water crocodeils, went swimming, fed catfish and some rock wallabies as well,

Next day drove to the Bungle Bungles vis Kunnara, camped overnight there. The next morning went to Catherdral Gorge, went to a look out point etc. In the afternoon went to the visitors centre. Walked in Echinda Chasm, which funnily enough is a walk through a very narrow opening between some rocks, called a chasm.

Camped again in the Bungle Bungles.

The Kimberelys part one- Bungle Bungles remains copyright of the author LesleyL, a member of the travel community Travellerspoint.

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Heres the proof I found Nemo

You'll have to look quite carefully.

Still haven't updated anything yet though

Look I found Nemo remains copyright of the author LesleyL, a member of the travel community Travellerspoint.

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Next day went to Litchfield national park for the day, switched on camera to demonstrate its choking function, only to find out that it worked!!!!! yeah It still has ocassionaly myopia when its tired though and now and again coughs up dust, nevermind Marvin (thats its new name, after Marvin the Paranoid Android) is still working just!!! Keeping the disposable cameras on standby though.

Anyway went to Litchfield, but I can remember even less place names there than Kakadu, but it involved waterfalls and swimming if you are interested.

Going to read lonely planet now to work out where on earth in the Kimbereleys I went. It involved lots of Gorges and a few fresh water crocodiles

Next Installment coming soon.

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Set off on Kakadu trip starting with a cruise on themary River, which has the highest concentration of saltwater crocodiles in the world apparently. Definately not a place for swimming. After the cruise headed off to Ubirr an aborginie art site and where part of crocodile dundee was filmed, before they annoyed the locals and couldn't film there anymore. Camera decided that it had enough dust in it, lost the ability to focus and then just finally choked. Luckily somebody had a spare camera which I borrow for the trip, though didn't take as many pictures with it.

Next morning got up early to go to twin falls, climbed up a big hill and got to a beautiful river at the top flowing over a very big drop, carried on walking up the river for a while until we found a suitable swimming hole. Its safe to swim up there cos as yet crocodiles can't climb or fly up big waterfalls. Swam for ages up there and then walked back down to the bottom over some very big boulders. Then took a boat cruise to the bottom of Twin Falls, where you definalately can't swim, apart from the fact you couldn't walk across the sand because it was too hot. In the afternoon went to Jim Jim , climbed over more rocks and went swiming in a big pool at the bottom. Went back to campsite knackered.

The last day in Kakadu, walked up another hill somewhere ( i can't remember what it was called and went swimming again) I need to email somebody to ask, because I really can't remember what the place was called, maybe the lonely planet will give me a clue. I'll up date this later. Think we went to the visitors centre as well.mmmmm I've got photos, so if anybodys been to kakadu maybe they could tell me where I went.

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Cape Tribulation

Beware dangerous cows

On the way from Cairns to Alice

The Hilton Hotel, Middleton

Road to Nowhere

Uluru

Valley of the Winds, The Olgas

Devils marbles

Daly Waters pub

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Alice to Darwin. remains copyright of the author LesleyL, a member of the travel community Travellerspoint.

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Next morning we left early to go to Kings Canyon. Went on a fairly long walk, the first bit was up a very steep hill (also known as heart attack hill). Walked across the top of the canyon looking down into the River. We walked down in the Garden of Eden, A little oasis in the dessert, lots of green plants, ferns, a river, and a little pool with two ducks called adam and eve. Managed to get down there before lots of school groups did. After the walk we were going to see the singing Dingo, A dingo which can apparently howl in tune with a piano. But Bryan forgot to take us there, nevermind. Headed off to Yalara (the resort near Uluru) in the afternoon, stopping to have lunch, bua n inland lake which had dried up so it was a big lake of salt. Arrived at Yalara in the afternoon and headed off to go and watch sunset over Uluru at the official sunset point. There was lots people there so it was a bit crowded but you did get to see how the colours of ulur change as the sunsets. Uluru in the rain is supposed to be special cos it looks grey instead of red. Another night under the stars in our swags.

Another early morning, watching the sunrise over uluru and the olgas. The olgas look like Homer Simpson from a distance if you get the angle right. Did the Valley of the Winds walk in the Olgas. There are some amazing views through the valleys there. After lunch went back to uluru to do the Mala walk, which was a guided walk explaining the significance of Uluro to the aborgines. Got to see Uluru close up for the first time, rather than being one lump of rock, errosion has eaten lots of holes and crevices into it. Around the base of the rock there are lots of places you are not allowed to take photographs for cultural reasons. Visited the visitors centre as well. Watch another sunset over uluru at the campsite. My camera started to show signs that it wasn't very well at the this point. Spent the evening singing round the camp fire, considering there was only 8 of us we made quite a lot of noise. The German guy, who was as white as a Ghost gum tree was a very good singer.

Got up early agaan to watch sunrise over uluru at the official sunrise point. Madness had well and truely set in by this point and we were pretending to be Koala bears up lamposts. Did the Basewalk around Uluru in the morning. Camera sickness was getting worse it started coughing up red dirt. Drove back to Alice Springs in the afternoon, which took 6 hours, yeah more driving.

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