November 2006 - Australian Traveller

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Australian Traveller - November 2006

Looks like it`s raining!

November 30th 2006 02:35

So we really have chosen the wrong weather to go camping in. It has been hot and sunny all week and this morning we woke up to rain pelting down and grey low hanging clouds! Is it not always the way?!
We checked our little camp list - the one previously posted seemed to do the trip (although we have not left yet so I am not sure if we have forgotten anything.) This being our first solo camping trip will tell a lot - especially seeing as one of our party does not want to go.
You would think that it was a manly thing, this whole camping experience, however it has been us two girls that have had to be the motivators the whole time - from organizing everything to packing the car to deciding where we are going. Looking forward to sitting by the fire tonight with a nice glass of red while they cook up a storm and pitch the tents - is that a little wishful thinking? I think so!

Have a great weekend fellow travellers, look forward to updates and some piccies next week!

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Posted By: Ash - Category: Travel

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Away for a few days

November 29th 2006 03:38

I am really looking forward to the whole camping experience over the next few days. We have decided to check out the South Burnett Observatory on the way to the Bunya Mountains, spend a night up there. From there head to Mount Walsh National Park, across to Hervey Bay and then down to Rainbow Beach. None of us are greatly experienced campers and one of us doesnt even want to go, so I do think this is going to be a very interesting weekend. Especially seeing as stormclouds look like they are forming....

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Posted By: Ash - Category: Travel

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Not an experienced camper

November 27th 2006 23:09

Tent picture found on Wikipedia

Not being a very experienced camper I am a little apprehensive about this whole 'weekend drive to the middle of nowhere' thing we have going on this weekend! And especially seeing as last night we took a little detour through a dark, wooded area and the two guys that are with us turned out to be bigger wimps than us girls!
Anyways so I got to thinking about this camping thing and not being the greatest forward planner I was rather surprised when I googled 'campers check list'...seems there is quite a bit of equipment out there that I would not even have thought of! So I thought I would share one with you, in case you are the unprepared traveller like I am! I liked the "True Blue Camping and Cavas' one the best - it was well planned out and there is no ways that you would forget anything! I am actually surprised they do not have a check list for 'car' , 'petrol', 'campers'...

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Posted By: Ash - Category: Travel

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Queensland Drives

November 26th 2006 22:07

So you have your car, you have your sense of adventure and you can feel the tickle of excitement of your upcoming trip.....but where do you go? The map shows you all these names of places which sound very interesting, but what is there? What are you missing out on?
Well why not check out http://www.driveqld.com.au/? This is such a great site which has interactive maps showing you the best touring routes or giving you the option to make your own. Attractions are well pointed out and just one click away is all the information about that area you could need to sate your curiosity. I have lived on the Sunshine Coast for three years now and after spending a few hours browsing this site have made an itinerary for the weekend to see places I did not even realise were here.
Plus if you pack a tent and kit yourself out with all the needs you could want, these trips do not have to be bankrupting, so why woud you not give them a try?

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Posted By: Ash - Category: Travel

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Best pub on the coast!

November 26th 2006 10:21

The Sunshine Coast hides many a secret and today we have found one of the best pubs I have ever been to. Montville is a little gem hidden up in the mountains which is a haven for artists, authors and anyone looking for the quieter life. Their wares can be seen in the various galleries and shops that line the road through the town.
As you head out toward Mapleton there is an English pub on the left called "The Pennyfarthing". A signpost outside points in various directions to different cities around the world, London being nearly 20 000km away. On a Sunday afternoon you can sit at one of the many outdoor tables and take in the spectacular scenery around or sit inside and listen to the live band. And if you feel a little peckish make sure that head up to the food counter and have of their delicious freshly made meals.
If the pub is not your thing, fear not! Within walking distance you can take a lazy stroll through Montville itself. Take time to browse the art galleries and sip a coffee as you look out across the treetops to the sea in the distance

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Posted By: Ash - Category: Aussie Sightseeing

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Work your way around Aus

November 24th 2006 02:32

So you have arrived here and now the search for work begins. This is not the easiest thing to do, especially if you are wanting to something other than fruit picking or call centre work. For those of you who want some pub work and are in Western Australia why not try being a barmaid in a country pub

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Posted By: Ash - Category: Australia

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So you want to go shark diving?

November 22nd 2006 10:36

The shark has always had a bad rap after the Jaws movies became hits the world over. They have been labelled man-eaters and painted as sinister, evil creatures. So why do some people have such great fascination with these creatures? I know I certainly do, which led me to donning a wetsuit and tanks and heading below the surface to meet these highly intelligent fish. There is something about seeing the tips of those fins darting just above the water, lowering yourself in and feeling your heart beat steadily in your chest as you wonder" WHAT THE HELL AM I DOING HERE?". However, it doesn`t take long for your eyes to adjust and become mesmerised by the underwater world. Everywhere you look a new and even better surprise is waiting. And then it happens. Through the blue water a grey shadown begins to appear and make lazy swaying movements towards you, slowly coming into view. You wonder if your heart will beat straight out of your chest, but you try to carry on the steady stream of bubbles coming out your breather. An encounter like this is one of a kind and if you are an adrenalin junkie it is highly recommended.
Sounds a little too daunting for you? Well how about trying a little shark diving in a reef just off Western Australia called Ningaloo Reef.

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Posted By: Ash - Category: Aussie Sightseeing

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Lonely and desperate?

November 21st 2006 04:28

Always take the road less travelled

No this is not one of those cheesy dating posts, promising to find your soul mate and bring everlasting love. (Well it might if you decide to embark on the adventure!) Do you have that burning desire to travel and see the world, but hate doing it alone and want someone to share your adventure with? Well Lonely Planet has a space on their website (www.lonelyplanet.com) where you can find travel companions from around the world who are in the same position as you

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Posted By: Ash - Category: Travel

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Wanna save on your travel costs?

November 20th 2006 09:12

I know that I have written about this site before, but I thought it needed a post of its own. When we travel one of our biggest travel expenses is getting from place to place. Rental cars are really expensive and using buses and trains can sometimes leave you a little frustrated with waits and delays. Along with that there is also seeing that perfect photo opportunity passing by and not being able to stop.
A lot of people will hire cars/campers for a one way journey and during peak seasons this can be a problem with car shortages at various outlets. So they have come up with the brainstorm of campervan relocations. This is a great way to get some cheap transport, especially if you are on a tight budget. Although you have a time frame to keep to and you can`t be too picky about where you go you can pick up a rental for as little as a dollar a day. And let`s face it when you are travelling anywhere is good so why not get there on a deal like this? 4 people travelling together? That leaves it at 25c each per day for your car rental! Score! You get a great deal and they get their campercan/car back in time for the next rental without the hassle of sending one of their staff to get it - everyone is happy.
For the latest rental deals check out the following site to find your bargain hire car

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Posted By: Ash - Category: Budget Travel

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Fire in Caloundra

November 16th 2006 09:32

If you were lucky enough to be on the SUnshine Coast today you would have been caught up in one of the worst fires to hit the area. Most of the Sunshine Coasts fire services were at the area trying to douse the fires which were being fanned by the fierce winds. Most of the roads leading out of Caloundra were blocked off by Police today and diverted back along the coast, the dark bellows of smoke at times even blocking out the sun completely. At one stage we were waiting in the traffic and ash started falling from the sky. Seems the world is going crazy with the weather that we are experiencing. Snow falls in Queensland that haven`t been seen since WW2, ice bergs drifting off the coast of New Zealand, earthquakes reaching 8 on the Richter scale off Japan - it`s scary stuff!!!

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Posted By: Ash - Category: Travel

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Wicked Campers

November 13th 2006 09:12

Any traveller coming to Australia has to check out Wicked Campers. They have a variety of kombi`s painted with various sayings, pictures, patterns etc to make your trip that much more memorable. Check out their website at www.wickedcampers.com.au
And if you are heading to New Zealand or the UK you will find these little beauties there too. It`s much better than the boring rental car that you get from all the normal dealers or sitting on a bus all day long. Plus the added advantage of having your own wheels is that you can stop and start and go wherever your road takes you. There is nothing worse that being stuck on a bus or train and seeing that perfect photo opportunity going whizzing by and there is nothing you can do to go back to it. GO WICKED CAMPERS!

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Posted By: Ash - Category: Travel

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Brisbane

November 10th 2006 05:40

Brisbane in line with Queensland, is a very laid back city. Although everyone is in full city mode it is a lot slower than other major cities

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Posted By: Ash - Category: Aussie Sightseeing

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U2 are in Australia

November 8th 2006 11:22

If you haven`t already got your ticket and you can lay your hands on one make sure you do! I was lucky enough to be in Brisbane last night for the first show of their Australian tour and it was as good as it gets.
Kanye West rocked the stadium to get everyone in party mode. What would any stadium experience be without the good old Mexican Wave? One adventurous guy in the Mosh Pit started it off and before long the whole crowd was joining in - a sea of hands rippling through the stands. When Bono walked on stage, looking as cool as ever in his black leather and shades, you couldn`t hear yourself think over the screams. The woman next to us looked like she would pass out as she jumped up and down and tears sprung to her eyes almost immediately.
I think the most impressive part of the show was when all the stadium lights were switched off and Bono asked everyone to turn on their cellphones and create a stadium of 'stars'. And that was exactly what it looked like looking around at the thousands of people with glowing screens in their hands

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Posted By: Ash - Category: Australia

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Saw 3

November 2nd 2006 10:05

Well if you have a day like today where it looks like it is about to pour down with rain why not head off to the nice air conditioned movie houses at the Sunshine Plaza? We decided to do this today and ended up seeing SAW 3! Man alive I wish I had just stayed out and baked in the sun and got sandblasted on the beach! It is definatley NOT a chick flick and one of the most gruesome I have ever seen, if not THE worst!
The whole concept behind it is quite good and even though the first one I thought was quite good (the second I didn`t get the chance to see) the third one I spent watching the backs of my eyelids. And that did not help much as the sound effects did not leave much to the imagination so I should not have even bothered with it!
The movie houses at the Sunshine Plaza are great though. Tucked just a few minutes from the beach (Cotton Tree, Sunshine Coast) it is located in the Coasts biggest shopping centre so there is plenty to do before and after. Plus if you get carried away and stay until the hours of darkness there is the Pig And Whistle which is normally open quite late for drinks over looking the tree lined broadwalk of the mall

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Posted By: Ash - Category: Australia

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