Mission: Airlie Beach

Once more got up at 7:30 am. Checked out at our hostel at 8:50 (before we had brekky @ the poolside), took the city loop (passing the strand etc.) to the ferry terminal and waited for the Greyhound. Got onto it and started our journey to Airlie Beach. Saw some cool things on the outside and had a break at Delta Mobil in the middle of nowhere. Once more :) Then we continued the trip and arrived at about 3:15 in paradise (there's a sign at the entrance saying "welcome to paradise"). But it first it didn't look like paradise. Airlie Beach consists of only one street....but anyways, we checked in at the YHA (very tidy!!) and the explored Airlie (before we had to book our Whitsundays trip again since the trip we booked before was booked out, but we didn't get the email saying this. so the girl at the store where we asked when we have to be there the next day told us that our booking couldn't be confirmed. but since we are very spontanious, we decided to book the trip for the day after..).

While exploring Airlie we realized that it's not that big (as mentioned before) but still has it's nice places. A small beach, grass and the lagoon which is very cool...



Afterwards we had dinner at subway and strolled around..

"Maggie" - Magnetic Island

Once more we got up very early in order to have a short brekky at our terrace. Then we walked to the ferry terminal and had a nice ferry ride to "Maggie". We got off, and at first, we didn't know where to go. Now signs that showed the ways to the boardwalks or something like that. So we grabbed a flyer, asked one of the staff and planned our trip. We decided to walk to Arcadia. The way led us through the national park. A really rocky and small way with very steep parts. So, from time to time, we really got a little exhausted. But was fun anyway. On our way through the "mountains" we met a funny old man who talked to us for some minutes - a break which was warmly welcomed ;-)

After arriving at "the top" of the mountain we had a great view over the horseshoe bay (from our self-found lookout) and a little fruity-picnic.


Then we continued and started our way down the other side heading towards Arcadia where we arrived at beautiful Alma Bay. A very small bay with very few people and crystal clear and nice temperatured water. After lying in the sun, relaxing, sleeping and enjoying we went for a swim. Then we returned, dried and moved back to the ferry...

After returning to the mainland, we got into an internet-cafè and booked our Whitsunday Cruise and the YHA at Airlie Beach. Afterwards we had some dinner and then strolled towards the strand. We passed some really nice parts and (amphie theatre, the monthly "night market" - a cool event with music, food and goods, the pier with cooool lights) walked until we reached the rock pool.


Then we hurried back to the city in order to do some grocery shopping again. It worked out and we arrived at coles before they closed. After coming back to the hostel we almost fell into our beds immediatly - what a cool day :)

Mission Beach

Got up at about 7:30, checked out (very funny receptionist) and then headed to the greyhound stop...then we had our first greyhound experience and landed somewhere in the middle of nowhere. mission beach. the area around the greyhound stop looked pretty shitty and we had no clue how to get out of there. but after the very friendly woman at the greyhound office explained to us how to get to the beach, we went down and had a marvellous view..


We then spent some hours down at the beach, had brekky and a good time and then went back to the greyhound office where we received some information about whitsunday tours. when the bus arrived we hoped on and continued our journey to townsville. We had a short meal break @ Cardwell, sat on the beachside, thought about how good life can be and wrote this stuff here. Then we continued our trip at 4:45 (4:45! 4:45!). We arrived at about 7 pm in townsville and realized that there was no pick up bus for us. so we thought about how to get to the hostel....but then, all of a sudden, a van from another hostel stopped close to us and asked whether we need a hostel. we then told them, that we already have a hostel...then we talked again a few sentences in german..and suddenly one of the girls asked in german where we need to go...and when we realized that our hostel was located in the same street, their hostel was, they decided to take us there...even if it was their first day as drivers, and even if they wouldn't be allowed to do so...but, no worries :) thx again, girls!

Then we checked in and realized that there were a lot of antz and spiders in our room and that the hostel (Adventurers Backpackers) wasn't that nice like the Calypso in Cairns. Afterwards we had a stroll to the city centre, went grocery shopping, walked at the strand, had a small dinner (cereals and coke) at the amphi theatre (that's a bp's life ;-) ). After that we returned to the hostel (where, btw, the amenities were better than expected) and planned our next day at "Maggie".

Daintree Rainforest / Cape Tribulation

Woke up at 6:30 :-( and started our tour at 7:30 when being picked up by Shane in his "joungle tours" van. Our guide introduced us and himself (I'm Shane, from Australia) to the others of the group who've already been at the van. Our first stop was in Cairns - we had to pay the rest of the amount which we did not pay while we booked the day before. After finishing the paying, we went to the "2nd most beautiful ocean road in Australia" which took us along Ellis Beach to our first lookout (the first time we could see Snapper Island).

Afterwards we went on to Mosman Gorge and started our Rainforest Walk where Shane showed us some dangerous leafes and other stuff in a manner that would even have made Steve Irwin look like a school kid. (For example the "Gimpy Gimpy" leaf - "gimpy means very bad in aboriginal. What do you think gimpy gimpy means??" ;-) ). While walking through the forest we also had the chance to take a swim in a crystal clear river which was "100 % croc free" ;-) Then we went back to the van where we had to wait for 2 german girls which seperated themselves from the group a few minutes earlier. bloody germans...;-) (usually we had to wait for the spanish - but that's "normal").

After continuing our journey we arrived at our next stop where we entered a small boat and made a Daintree River cruise with an eagle eyed guide. He saw really everything....amazing! Whil sitting in the boat we saw our first crocs live outside a zoo. That was really awesome...and they grew bigger with each seeing.

But besides crocs we also saw some interesting birds (kingfisher for example) and a lot of mangroves ;-) But, obviously, the crocs where the most interesting animals at this moment. Even after one of the biggest frogs in this area entered our boat and refused to leave ;-)

Then we hopped on the bus again, continued our journey to the Koala Beach Resort where we stopped for lunch and for a group pic and a cool view.


Afterwards we went to world famous "Cape Tribulation" where we had some time, took some photos (Rainforest meets Ocean), relaxed and prepared for our return trip home.

After crossing the Daintree River once more (the river where we saw the crocs!), Shane gave us a lift to the city and we went for dinner at a chinese take away at the local food court where we finished off the day.

A perfect 1st trip on a perfect day!

O-Day

We got up early, went to the showers and listened to what would be later called "hostel music". This time they had a "Beautiful Girls" CD on rotation. Coooool :)

Then we went to Cairns, had brekky at the Esplanade, figured out that Cairns isn't that bad as it was supposed to be and we made our bookings for the next days. We booked a Daintree Rainforest Tour, Greyhound, went to the bank, the post and planned the next days..aaaaaaaaand I finally found some swimming shorts (terribly ugly - but cheap. Since I forget mine at Bondi, I didn't want to buy some "cool" ones).

Later that day we strolled along the "Esplanade" (the promenade along the ocean) and saw the following sign right beside the walking way. Please pay attention to the "may" on the sign ;-)


After that we went to an "high speed internet" cafe which was exactly the opposite...but as poor backpacker one takes what one can get...

Furthermore we did some grocery shopping @ the local woolworths, phoned the hostel @ townsville, went to subway for dinner and walked the way home...

That was our organisation day :)

Leavin' on a jetplane / lucky 1st time

Today's schedule:
Meeting with Dimitri (landlord) and Sebastian (fellow tenant)...having brekky and dinner at bondi, walking at the beach then leaving to central and handing the key to Sebastian. After that going to the airport, flying to Cairns (pronounciation: Kääääääärns). When we arrived, we were waiting for a taxi...then, suddenly, a van arrived with "Calypso inn" on it. We looked at each other...didn't know exactly what to do. Then a guy jumped out of the van. Asked if there's anyone for Calypso and said "alright guys, hop on. this is not an official bus, you're just lucky..." Maaaan. cool :) So we arrived at the hostel, got our room and insepcted our first hostel in Australia...and it was...really cool. What a room. what a bed. And what cool music evera morning :)

Coastal Walk & Preps

Today we did the coastal Walk. Once more. Bondi - Coogee. Fantastic weather. Simply cool. Very nice day. Picnic at Randwick. Stopped at different lookouts.

Had an icecream at Coogee...on the way home we met Katha (and said goodbye) and then had dinner with my french couple. After that continued with packing and brought my laptop to Britta (thx again!)....