East Coast Trip
Submitted by Lysette Howe - UK on 22 February 2006

I just thought I'd email you all and let you know how I'm getting on. I have just got back to Sydney from my East Coast trip. As you know I was really home sick I didn't want to move anywhere before I left. I was going to cancel my trip on the East Coast. So glad I didn't. Also you know I told you I was back next week? Well, I'm staying til November now. Started in Cairns, which is cool, not too much there but I had a good time although I was on my own. I got bitten thousands and it was so hot and humid. We were in the tropics, there are lots of rainforests and stuff there. Caught the Oz Experience bus the next day. I did the trip in the minimum time I could cos at the time I needed to get back to Sydney. Went from Cairns to Mission Beach. I met loads of people on the bus, Harriet, Sonya and I cant even remember...I'm useless huh? The bus sorts out the hostels but I had already sorted my accommodation so I stayed at different place to them but it was really nice. Its called the Treehouse. Literally it is a treehouse. Amazing!!! You walk out of your room onto the decking which is outside with the living area just there. The place is the most sociable place ever, you can't help but talk to everyone in there. I got the bus the next day and headed to Magnetic Island. You get a ferry from Townsville across to the island. It is really nice, we were all staying in the same place this time and I decided that it is so much better cos they become your best friends. We went sea kayaking, oh my god! I thought I would be ok at it since I've kayaked before but it was so different and they advised that we wore a stinger suit cos there are jellies round there, my god I looked sexy!!! We all went in the pool after that too, it was good fun! Then we all had dinner then met in the bar and got a bit tipsy. Good night!!!

The next bit of the trip was Airlie Beach. But before we headed off for the ferry back to the mainland we went on a walk up the mountains, we saw koalas in the wild I was first to spot the little fella. And the driver who was giving the tour told us about these ants that can rehydrate you???? You have to lick their bum and it tastes lemony apparently, didn't fancy that!

Some of them tried it though and said it was nice. Very strange. The driver was a bit of a fanatic on the old wildlife and stuff. He could pretty much tell you every single creature that they have in Oz, and could find and point them all out! It was cool I learnt so much! Then we had the trip to Airlie Beach, that was cool we still had all the original 'crew' from Cairns.

Airlie Beach is where the Whitsunday Islands trip go from. I didn't go on that cos I had to get back to Sydney (this was before I changed my mind). I will go back and do it though. We all went out for dinner and had a look round and the place is lovely. The next day was a long day, the worst of the trip, Airlie to Kroombit. Its a ten hour drive. Most of the original people had stayed in Airlie so we had 3 people on the bus. The picked up another on the way through. It was the best part though, we had so much fun that day.

Met another driver and one of the guys from Barrington (tell that bit later) in a service station they were taking the bus for a ride, great fun huh?
We were trying to talk to them through the radio too but it didn't work too well. We spoke to some people in a caravan too over the walkie-talkie radio thing, not sure what its called. Kroombit is in the middle of nowhere and its an outback cattle station. On the way we also found a dead snake, a black headed python. We decided that since he wasn't dangerous and he was dead anyway that it would be fun to attach him to the front of the bus!!!

The scare people when we went through the next town!!!! It worked so well. Even the guy that runs the cattle station jumped when he saw it. We met the northbound lot here too. So there were loads of us. We chilled out mostly when we got there. After we ate, we had the mechanical bull and whip cracking to do. Argh! The bull was so funny, I managed to stay on for 7 bucks!!! Impressive! I got a blister from it mind! And another one from the bloody whip! We stayed up and played these games like the box game now we all know that one dont we? Oh I walked through a cobweb later as well and shit myself! There were frogs in the showers too. In the morning, we went to do the goat rodeo! We all got taught how to lassoo (I think its spelt like that) and we had to catch a goat with it. Well, I was crap! I didn't even catch one when it was on the floor and all I had to do was pull and catch the goats legs as he ran through the loop!!!! Thats how rubbish! BUT I was VERY good at clay pigeon shooting. I beat everyone and won a teddy!

We left there after the nicest lunch I have ever had to go to Hervey Bay. This is where Fraser Island trips go from. It was lovely here. To be honest I cant really remember much about it but I know I like it, this is the problem, I keep forgetting to write my diary and consequently forget what Ive done I'm sure i'll remember at the most random time! I remember that they had a guide hut!! And an amazing pizza hut! We had a practise on the didgeridoos at Rainbow Beach, stayed there for about an hour on the way to Brisbane. And we stayed at Surfers Paradise too that day, oh my god I have seen so many places I cant remember! Brisbane I didn't really like, but I dont like cities haven't really enjoyed Sydney or Melbourne either!

Right next bit, Brisbane to Byron Bay, stopping for a visit to Nimbin! I know so many of you that would have loved Nimbin. Its a hippy town! You get offered cookies and marajana on the streets people were using a bong in the museum, and the places stinks of weed! Its a really small town where drugs are always in use, easily accessible and everyone is high!!! They have a festival called the "Mardi Grass", not the same as the Mardi Gras. Byron Bay was wicked. They have the best pib in the world, its called Cheeky Monkeys, gorgeous food, wicked music, chilled out atmoshere and you can dance on the tables at night!!! I did a wet t-shirt comp - oh dear I hear you all say but honestly it was just a bit of fun, my boobs stayed firmly in the top (hence I didn't win!) and I had a laugh with the other girls in it! I got really drunk! Stayed up til 3am and got up at 7am for some stupid reason. I was full of energy as well.

The next bit was my favourite. We went to Arrawarra and Barrington over the next two days. I have fallen in love with surfing! I hurt so bad from it but I love it! I wasn't too sure about this bit because I didn't want to make a fool of myself but there wasn't any point in thinking that, we all made fools of ourselves and laughed along with each other, not ever at anyone!
Well, I ended up being pretty good at it, stood up the first time I tried to. I'm going to carry it on. The first time we did it, they nearly had to drag me out of the water! I didn't want to stop! We had a party that night too. On the beach!!! Got pissed on Bundy and lime! Thats rum to you guys! Gorgeous!

Barrington... well, we did night white water rafting! The only place you can do it in the world and its where the Oz Olympic team train, they are grade 3 and 4 rapids. So cool, and at the bottom there is a pool where the river almost ends and I went swimming at nine in the morning. I didn't get to bed til 4am and got up at 8am. Turning into a party animal out here. Went in the hot tub and played drinking games with a load of people! From Barrington we went to Sydney so now I'm here and I hate cities. But I'm going back up the East Coast and I'm going to work so I can get to the other side, West Australia and Uluru and Darwin! I love the East Coast I love Oz and I want to stay forever!

Right now I've told you the shortened version of my trip I have to go,there are loads of people asking to use the computers and I have been on here for ages so I should move now! Plus I'm hungry!!! I will tell you guys all the details if and when I come home! I hope you guys are all pleased for me and would even think about a trip to see me! Not that I even know where I'm going to be! I'll try and keep up with the emailing if I can!!!!

Submit your experience

Back to feedback page.