We have had a good time in Australia but I,m not sure we would do the camper van again. We like space and comfort!!! The last week traveling back up the coast to Sydney was lovely. Found a fab site with kangaroos by the hundreds, even a white one, so I have now had my kangaroo fix and am happy. We also had possums of an evening, if it hadnt been so cold I would have sat outside with then for hours, they were so friendly! They liked popcorn!!! The last 3 days in Sydney were also great, I have decided I liks Sydney a lot. (still not enough to move there!!!) how better to end a holiday but buy having lunch one day on the Manley ferry leaving from the famouse harbour and the next day lunch on bondi beach, with all the surfers,  great!!! And now we are in the airport again waiting to take off of New Zealand, life can't get much better!!!!!

Seems ages since I last blogged. Aus kneeds to sort out thier wifi, we have had that several McDonald, just to use thier free wifi I am sick of thier coffee! Anyway now sat outside the reception on our new camp site because it the only place wifi is available. It's cold and wet so I won't be long!!!
So since leaving Brisbane we headed up to the blue mountains. We took a route recommended because it was a prettier one than we had planed to use. Yes it was better but in some places very scary! Very windy and very step. In my own car, now probs but in this old van wooooh !!!! Didn't feel happy at all. Anyway we are still here so we made it safe and sound!!! First the landscape was large and  brown and flat, so large that no shot I took could really do it justice. It's winter here so the trees were yellow, browns and gold, really beautiful. As we climed, the trees were bear but the bark a silvery grey. And then we get to the top of the blue mountains and the views were stunning. Green forests as far as the eye could see. Rocks that were red, and could hold thier own with the grand Canyons in america. Canyons as deep as the rocks, water falls from top to bottom. We just wish we could have done a bit more hiking, but unfortunately Bev was just not up to the hikes!!!  Stunning is all I could say!!
We are now in Cambra and the drive was just as hairy. The roads have all been very good, but first we climed again till your ears pop. That was fine, but there was a strong wind blowing and I felt I was fighting to keep the van from being blow over!!! Than god it was only a two hour drive!!
But as I said it is wet and cold, and We are just not cut out for this camping lark!! No way will you get us in a tent after this trip. The van is to small even for just two people, every night we have to shuffle around to get the bed made, then all night you are fighting to keep the sleeping bag and quilt on! Can't wait to go back into a hotel that is warm, with a nice bed and proper quits!!!!!
At the moment I am tring to keep Bev from doing himself a mischief! So far he has knocked the finger he broke befor we came, sliced a hole in his thumb while cutting bread, has a foot infection due to "living" in trainers for 3 months, that required a visit to a doctor, for cream and antibiotics. We then made a visit to the dentist, as you all know Bev loves his boiled sweets and has chomps his way cross Australia, not surprising he cracked a tooth and required root canal surgery!!! Then to top it all last night he slipped in the shower and hit his head on the door frame! He came back to the van and the first thing he said was "it looks worse than it is"!! I cleaned him up and stuck a plaster on it. Parkinson's is a piece of doodle after all this!!!!!

Poor Bev! He gets an idea in his head and just won't let go untill the bitter end.!!! We have headed back down south, via the Australian Zoo made famous by Steve Irvin, the crocodile hunter. Bev and I quite liked him. We use to watch him at the very start when he would be hunting snakes, always thought he was a bit o f  a nut case then!!! The zoo was just OK,  although they do an awful lot of Good work for endangered animals, and the hospital is very imprecise. Happily for me,   they had dozens of Koalas. As this is the only way I would get to see one up close, I was thankful for the work that is being done . They are the cutest little balls of fluff. When we first saw them, we could be forgiven for thinking they were just "stuffed" !!! They sleep for 22 hours a day so we were all excited when one woke, scratched and then went back to sleep!!! so cute! But the zoo is still a project in the making, and we couldn't help thinking that SI would not be very happy with the croc show that was put on! Or maybe they were just having a bad day. Anyway this was no' 1 of Bevs ideas that actually was successfull. No' 2 nearly came off! We got camped in the only campsite in Brisbane and sat with a cup of tea, got on the old ipad, to book tickets for tomorrow night for Cirque Du Soleil. We had a rough idea of how to get there, my worries, if you book and can't find the place or would we be to nackard to go!!!! Well the decion was made for us, the seats were $249.00 each, about £175.00!!!!!! No show is worth that surly!!! And bless him no' 3 was nearly as bad. It wasn't until we got here that Bev announced that there was a chance to see the All Blacks play Australia on Saturday, in Brisbane, and did I fancy it??? Normaly I'd say no, because most rugby in England is in the winter and usually to dame cold!! So no excuse as the weather here has improved, we are now averaging 26. Any way I gets on the old Internet to see if we could book tickets!! Only to find that we  ( or they) are in the wrong town!!! They are playing in Sydney!!!! As I said poor Bev!!!

So we have slowly moved up the coast. We have gone inland which is nice for a change of scene. The fields are like our autum, reds, golds and browns, but the trees remain green. Still no kangaroos skipping across the fields, which for me is a bit diss appointing, still I live in hope. we have given up the hope to reach the great barrier reef, we don't want to spend more than a few hours driving each day.
So we have arrived at Hervey Bay and we start heading South tomorrow. Today we went whale watching again, and I think this will be the last time. The reason being that the trip was so awesome that no future trip will match up to the sights that we witnessed today. It started with two whales just swimming, not taking any notice of us, in fact stayed away. There were a few other pods that circled our boat then they also swam away. There were 3 that kept swimming and diving under the boat, which was awesome to watch. At this stage we had the chioce of about 10 pods to go towards, but two young whale decided they wanted to see more off us. For  at least an hour they swam around us, coming so close you could almost touch them. One in peticular just rolled over and showed us his belly, then came up to look at us, wow just remembering sends chills down my back! To add the icing on the cake, a pod of dolphins joined us. They were playing with the whales, almost like kids playing follow my leader!! And just as we thought they were heading away, the dolphins brought them back to the boat to thrill us again and again. We didn't want to leave, but another boat joined us, and the whale went to look at them, so we slipped away. The great thing was that there was NOT hundreds of boats  surrounding the whales. Only one boat at a time. As we kept going into what was an endless sea of blue, more whales we're seen on the horizon . Then to our delight we watched 3 males chase a single female. They went around the boat at great spread chasing and diving. Showing who was the stronger male. Wow  not something we expected in the calm sea! As they continue the chase we headed back to harbour, all agreeing it was a great trip. Even the staff said it was an exceptional day. This day has made the whole trip worth while!!!!

Very quick update as we head for the Sunshine Coast, we have spotted kangaroos!!! In fact they were even in the park last night! We went for a walk in the woods next to our camp site and there they were, hundreds, just popping thier heads up high enough to look at us, as we were looking at them. Then they hopped away out of site. I am happy!!!! Good coffe at the golden arches again!!!

We are now in Queensland. In the hungry jacks (just like McDonalds!) with free wifi.  We are about 50miles south of  Brisbane. Looking for a camp site that we could stay a few days. We have driven through nature reserves and on highways, no kangaroos. We have driven along beach roads and housing estates, still no kangaroos! For those of you that have not been to Auss, we're you under the impression that they were over run with Roos? Like the rabbits on the side of our roads, I expected to see them everywhere! We have seen a few on a campsite and two on a golf course and that is it! And yet everywhere there is warnings, just in case one runs out in front of you, we wish!!!!
This country is beautiful, every corner we tur,n there is another fab site to photograph ! The wild birds are abundant , but no kangaroos! Some of the sites have been 5 star others really hick, but everyone really friendly and wanting to talk. They love the  "poms". All except one has first class facility's!!!
We went whale watching in South West Rocks,Only  saw one but it came really close to the boat, raised his tale and gave a karate chop, this apparently means stay away, but none of us wanted to leave, anyway he dived and we didn't see him again. Worth all the worry about the trip and the mad spins our skipper thought we would enjoy. (for those that don't know, I am scared of deep water!!!!).
The weather is not to hot but not cold, however it's all in the news that this is  the coldest winter on record!!! -2 /5 in Alice Springs, and snow in some area that haven't had snow for years!! Trust us to pick this year!!!! On our way back to Sydney we plan to go inland, there are only so many beach pictures one can take!!!!

Now we are sort of in the "outback" of Australia. So you must forgive the fact that 85% of the people don't actually know what wi if is. So to find a campsite that has it and it's free is a god send! McDonald's have been doing very well out of us as they are the only regular place that we have found where it's available 24 day free!!! However this site may let you have it free, but they cut you off every half an hour, so if you'v. Not saved what you have done! Tough, so the last blog was saved but now I can't get back into it to correct spelling etc and to just Finnish it off!!!
What I want to say was that at disgruntled as Bev was, it didn't last long, so I have sent him out to do the dishes!!!
For those of you that fancy the great out doors, taking to the open roads in the "van" then good luck. This is the last time for me, hotels in future. We are also rethinking the new Zealand stretch! Buy the way if anyone knows who designed the interiors of these vans, tell them from me they are crap!! Who leaves 6 inches to open a door or puts a sink next to the sliding door so that you can't get to the handle!! Please tell me it must have been a man, surely a woman would have more sence!!!!,

So today we are in sunny South West Rock. Not sure what to except or whats here as we drove straight to the camp site. Weather is warming up but it's been very frosty in this van!! When we arrived in Auss we were shocked at how cold it was!  Having left Asia with temp at 35-38 we arrived to just 10. In the hotel we had to ask for the air con to be changed over to the heating. Then when we set out on this trip we discovered no heating in the van!!! So we spent our days in Tracky bottoms and a fleece and socks. We then spent the nights in tracky bottoms , fleece , socks, gloves and our hoods up, inside a sleeping bag with a quilt over the top!! Didn't take a shower for four days as it was to cold to take my cloth off! We had gone from walking in the shade to stay out of the sun, to trying to walk in the sun to keep warm, that is of course when we could find it. Now I can hear you all saying "didn't she do her homework before leaving!!! The answer is yes I did. Bev wanted to pack jumpers, but I didnt want to carry them all over Asia so we agreed to buy when we got here. But is is still a bit of a shock to the old system, and also to let you know, all the locals are complaining as well, worst it's been in fourth years we are told!!!,so you can't plan for everything!!!, 
Still we have travelled further north so it is warmer, infant today I went out in 31/4 trousers and a vest, carrying the fleece with me, by this stage I have takhen at least 2 showers!
When I said it was frosty in the van, I ment between Bev and I. This was supposed to be a holiday, but honestly it's been hard work!! So we decided that we would just chill here, instead of rushing around to see famous land marks. I drive for a few hours each day to the next camp site or destination, it could be 60-70-80 Klm or it could be 150. We plan each morning where we would like to go and what we would like to see on the way, heading north of course. Bev find it frustrating that he can't drive, we couldn't cover him on the insurance, so he's our map reader. For those of you that knows Bev this should suit him as he has a fantastic sence of direction, EXCEPT in Auss, the maps here are pants! And we seem to get a bit lost everyday or we miss a turn or something!! This he find unexceptable and lost it today!!! Shouting at the top of his voice, so frost it's been untill he calmed down a bit after we had set up on the camp site. For those of you that fancy the "van"life, out on the open road etc etc etc, good luck. I wouldnt do it again! But we are committed now to the 30 days, but we are rethinking the new Zealand trip!!! We both like our beds to much!!!!

Bless him Bev will not stop for coffee unless it has wifi. Thinks if I don't get my fix I will be ratty! Who me noooooo!
Well we are well on the road to no-where. Just driving, following points of interest, which can get you into a bit of bother but hay who cares!!!
We have already got story's to tell. The first night a raccoon/possum wanted to visit, wasn't sure it was friendly so gently chased him away!!! In the morning wild turkeys and parakeets everywhere! 2nd night, hillbilly tailor park. (men with long beards and playing a banjo! ) joking but it was a bit hick, however the owner must be having the last laugh as the site was in the most fabulous location, on the side of a lake with boats, jettys and cockatoos everywhere. The sunset was to die for. 3rd night on a deserted beach, only half dozen campers. Last night had the best facility's so I could have a hot shower!! I won't continue to give you a night by night discription, but just trying to catch up!
One of our "off road" trips was sign posted to a place called Crowdy Bay, the roads to get there were similar to those of Kenya. Pot holes and mud tracks for miles and miles. When we arrived  there was hardly anyone on the beach!! The camp site was in the middle of the nature reserve, so we had our first sighting of kangaroos. It was a case of pay and park any where!! Would have loved to have stayed, but you know the Keefes, it wasn't in the plan to stay over, just to stop for lunch!!!
I think when we planed this road trip, there was a lot of wishful thinking, honestly the country is far to big to be rushing here there and everywhere, just to see a rock or a waterfall. So we have decided to take it easy and see what happens. What ever we do it will be new and exciting. The Aussie could do with lessons in map making as they are really out of scale!!! Don't know where we will end up tonight, but I am sure it will be close to the blue blue seas, and lots of friendly locals.

Sorry fans!!!!! Wrote a great update today, then this little "old"lady asked advice about here Internet, because she thought we were of the same age!!!!! By the time I got rid of her the blog had gone into space and I can't find it. Been sat in maccy dees for an hour now, so can't stay any longer to re do. Will try to catch up tomorrow. Love to everyone!!!!