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Well we're off for a month travelling round Austrailia. If we manage how to work the travel log we will be adding entries on our tavels as we go. We hope you enjoy reading the log... OFF WE GO.. 
Nov 27, 2006 09:00 PM MELBOURNE TO ADELAIDE
We arrived in Melbourne early evening Friday 23rd and moved into a cracking hotel on the 'south bank. It was linked to the casino by a walk way from our hotel and boy did we have a whale of a time on the bandits. WE won all three nights we were there winning a cracking 350 Aus Dollars approx 150 pounds. We used the free toursist tram the first day and saw all of the city sites. Visited Capt Cooks family cottage (brought over from Yorkshire lock stock and barrel in the 1930's and re built here. A very interesting visit, lovely park but all of it felt very like home. The weather too had cooled down to 24 degrees. Walked arouind the City for most of the day taking in the sites and enjoying the atmosphere.
The next day we found to be muich cooler - 17 degrees and required the old jersey/cardigan but again braved the elements and got out and about. We went down to the docklands area and had a look round there then took in the Old Town Gaol which was used to hold the outlaw Ned Kelly and his gang before they were hanged for murder and robbery during the late 19th cent. Horrible place but it remined me of Leith Pol Station. Back to the hotel quick change lovely meal then down for a gamble along with most of the citizens of Melbourne.
Sunday we hired a new Mitsubishi 380 saloon maroon coloured and set off for the Great Ocean Road. This was a drive and a half we covered 1100 kilometers over the next two days. The coast road was really impressive with some lovely scenery. Loads of places of historic interest with plenty stories to tell later about shipwrecks etc. Stayed the first night in a little fishing village called Port Fairy - strong Irish connection. Very cold at night but got warmed up down by the harbour prior to retiring. Left the village the following day and drove to Mt. Gambier for lunch and stoppoed at a volcanic lake known as the blue lake.
Drove onto the small fishing village called Robe - an absolute cracker of a place and stayed there overnight in the Best Western. The temp had gone up by this time to the late 20's again with a strong sun and we managed a few hours along the beach and paddled in the Southern Ocean.
This morning we headed for Adelaide - to be continued.
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Nov 23, 2006 09:00 PM Ayers Rock to Port Douglas
Left Ayers Rock on 12th Nov and flew to Port Douglas passing over Ayers Rock. We can now say that we have seen it from all angles. Took hired car at PD and travelled 60 Km along the very scenic coast road. Great hotel right in the centre. Following day had a stroll along the little beach - known as Four Mile Beach which certainly was that long. Notices on the grass at side warning to be on the look out for crocodiles - very different to North Berwick. A really beatiful little place with plenty of restaurants and small bars. Had a lazy time for a couple of days the went on a tour into the rainforest. Took the skyrail(cable car) up the mountain and over the tops of the trees. Stopped a couple of times and had a walk along the raised board walks which allowed us to check out the flora and fauna. Checked out a local aboriginal village called Kuranda then came back down on the Kuranda Scenic Railway which was built along the side of a ravine for some 15 - 20 miles. Built by a golmining company in the late 1800"s with the original rollin g stock still being used today. At some points it seemed fairly scarey as Kenzie would have said. On the way back we saw some Kangaroo boxing one another in pastureland near the road - just like Lothian Road on a Friday night.
Next day we took a Catamaran out to the Barrier Reef which was a tremendous experience. We saw some spectacular coloured fish and coral , were taught to snorkel and had to wear lycra stinger suits which covered the whole body and made us all look like Teletubbies. This was due to the potential for being stung by dangerous jellyfish. Thankfully we never saw any. We did however see lots of turtles and large fish of different species. Had a prawn lunch on board the Catamaran went ashore onto a small coral island for a swim and a walk about. Back to PD under sail without the use of the motor - different but slightly lumpy eperience.
Met several interesting people on board. Sorry to leave PD it was a great place. Packed up on the 17th and headed for the airport and thereafter onto Sydney. This leg of the journey was by Virgin Blue - good service provided.
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Nov 23, 2006 09:00 PM SYDNEY - just here
Arrived Sydney at tea time and took the shuttle bus to the hotel as we were checking in we just so happened to turn round and to our surprise found our friends Maureen and Brian sitting in the reception area watching us. Great surprise. Immediately changed and left the hotel for an evening sail round the harbour and over to Manly for 'fish tea' and a few wines and beer. Good to see the sights at night however the temperature drop between PD and Sydney was something like 20 degrees and therefore a tad cold. The next day was back to warm sunshire and we had a walk round the 'Rocks' and Darling Harbour with all its restaurants and bars and cultural activity. This was all on the doorstep of our hotel. That evening we took the train with M & B to their house some 90 km away at a town xcalled DAPTO. I called it everything from Dipso to Dibley etc I could not get the name right. Went to their club on arrival and had a chinese meal and drink before heading to their house. They have a lovely bungalow in a suburb and talked and drank until 2am.
Next episode later as we are doing this in a cafe which is due to close in ten mins and is situated under the railway line Noise all the time.
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Nov 20, 2006 09:00 PM test again
test test test
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Nov 11, 2006 09:00 PM Alice Springs - Ayers Rock 9th,10,11th depart 12th
Prior to leaving Perth we were out for a drink with Maureen, Moira and Brian at the Moon and Sixpence Pub which was clearly owned by a Brit. We picked up a flyer in the pub advertising a St Andrew's Night bash with would you believe Haggis and Mash, Whisky, a piper and Burns recitations!!!
Left Perth by air for Alice Springs lunch time on the Thursday reaching Alice about 4.30pm with the time difference. Good flights with Quantas, window seats allowing us to see everything on the way north including a good arial view of Uluru (Ayres Rock) as we passed on route to Alice. When we got off the plane it was like walking into an oven with temperatures of 40 - 42 degrees. Nice hotel perfectly placed by the Todd river which would have been great if there had been even a tablespoonful of water in it. The thing we did notice however was that a lot of aboriginal groups appeared to camp on the dry river bed. Jazz band in the hotel that night round the pool which gave the place a good atmosphere. Saw the original Flying Doctor Station which is now a museum unfortunately it was closed for the day when we arrived. Early rise the following day as we were picked up at 7am by coach for our journey to Ayers Rock. Stopped at a Camel Farm on route and were introduced to a large group of camels, an emu and a dingo together with a number of cockatoos. It appears that there are about 300,000 camels now running wild across Australia after the motor car replaced them. Arrived 1pm Ayers Rock Resort - lovely hotel complex. Picked up again about 3.30pm and taken a short distance to a group of mountains similar to Ayers Rock called the Olgas which we were encouraged to walk through. Picture 'Beau Geste' from the old black and white movies and you have the picture - parched but still heading for the Fort!!!! Taken then to Uluru for a sunset experience with wine and nibbles which went down very well. There must have been about 1,000 people there and when you heard snippets of conversation it reminded you of the United Nations - everyone happy in each other's company - eating and drinking(not company product mind you!!). Lovely colour changes of the rock as the sun set. Unfortunately for us we foolishly agreed prior to leaving home to see the sun rise over the rock and as a result had to get up at 3.30am to get there by sunrise. Knackered comes to mind but good fun. Walked round the base with a guide who made it very interesting it being a sacred site for the Aboriginal people. No one allowed to climb the rock that day due to the extreme temperature - 43 degrees. Lots of wildlife there including 7 of the most poisonous species of snake. Thankfully they stay off the tracks. Saw loads of wild camels and horses but nothing else. Returned to the hotel late morning and went back to bed. Got up mid afternoon and Jim went out onto the balcony and successfully locked himself out there - very Victor Meldrew. Mrs Meldrew had to seek the assistance of the housekeeper and the maintenance manager neither of whom had a key to unlock the door and had to dismantle the lock much to the delight of Jim who was 'baking on the balcony'.
Believe it or not in this very arid area we had a big storm overnight resulting in a fair amount of rain. This is very unusual in this area.
We left Ayers Rock early afternoon - Sunday 12th Nov and arrived in Cairns 6pm local time and picked up a car for our journey to Port Douglas. As you know they drive on our side of the road which makes driving pretty easy. Drove the coast road for some 40 miles which was picturesque while dayllight remained but this changed around 7pm.
Arrived Port Douglas - lovely little coastal village - cross between Gullane and North Berwick - and settled into our hotel which is just the 'duggs baws'. Hope to go by Sky train into the rainforrest on one of the days and out to the Barrier Reef another day. Keep you posted. Temperature today 29 degrees.
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Sep 10, 2006 06:00 PM Hong Kong & Perth
Arrived safely in Hong Kong. A bit tired but got out and had an unusual Chinese meal. However - no problems. Next day - city tour and then bus to Repulse Bay and Stanley Market. Repulse Bay as lovely as ever - even had a paddle in the South China Sea. That night went over to Kowloon to watch Laser Festival of Light show over the harbour - great. Came back to Hong Kong Island and had lovely meal in a new restaurant. Following day took the Peak Tram to the top of the Peak - really strange - buildings on either side appear to be tilting. Had a walk through the Hong Kong Park - our equivalent of Princes Street Gardens - and watched them kick-boxing. Left that night for Perth.
Arrived in Perth 7.30a.m. Monday 6th knackered. Had quick sleep then out to explore town by tourist tram. Phoned Maureen and arranged to meet them at Ascot Races the following day - Melbourne Cup Day. Went to Freemantle by train that night and had fish and chips at Cicerello's by the sea - a famous Italian Restaurant. Joined by couple from Singapore - Airline Captain and his wife who had previously been a stewardess. Next morning went to the Perth Mint where all Australian coins are minted and watched all the processes and pressed a coin ourselves. Thought Jim might have bought me a gold nugget but no such luck! Then meet Maureen, Brian, sister Moira and husband Keith at the races and had a ball. Didn't win a thing though. Following morning we went to Cottesloe Beach - Gullane with more sunshine - and paddled in the Indian Ocean. Back in Perth and met Maureen and co. for long lunch in the sunshine - 27degrees. Will see them again in Sydney.
The 9th sees us back at Perth Airport to leave for Alice Springs and three days in the Alice and Ayers Rock area.
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