Its Monday and its back to New South Wales

Been a few days since I've sat in fron of the computer - we have been travelling a lot and also staying 'out in the sticks'.

Where did I get to?

Thursday morning up again to leave at 6 for the drive down to Rockhampton and then inland about 70 miles to our cattle farm. Rockhampton is the capital of the Australian beef farming community and also now the centre of the mining industry - WHICH IS BOOMING!! Coal is being dug out of the ground at a huge rate and shipped to China. Lots of controversy as its all open cast but lots of money too.... Anyway the farm we stayed at was quite small by these standard . About 1.5 miles by 3 miles. We camped on the front lawn - there were 15 or so sheds all around the farm which had all been erected at different times and a camp kitchen with a wood fire. It had a lovely feel to it - although tourists were there you felt like you were on a farm and had meals with the farmer and farmhands. The farmer was quite a character and chatted until late about the bush, telling poems and tales - like being on a Scout Camp.

Next morning a later start and help out feeding chickens and milking cows and just mooching around. Then off at 11 for the drive to Hervey Bay . This resort is booming in recent years as a stop of point to watch whales (the season had ended) and also to visit Fraser Island - which we visited on on Saturday and Sunday.

We were up Sat at 6 for the boat trip to the Island. Fraser Island is the worlds largest sand island - 75 miloes long by 15 miles wide and its all sand. It has a number of world renowned rain forests on it and a number of freshwater lakes - which are unusual as they are 'perched' on the sand dunes and do not seep away. It is sold as an island paradise (and it was very beautiful) but many of us came away thinking it was over exploited and should be visited less by man - if it is to go back to being a wilderness. Very lovely but I think a case of man exploiting nature.

Up again this morning for the 400 miles south to Byron Bay. We stopped of on the way to visit Surfers Paradise and Gold Cost. In my opinion ... horrible, a slightly upmarket Costa Del Sol, high rises everywhere and tack to match it...

However, Byron Bay is over the border in New South Whales and is much quanter - although very touristy. In NSW you are not allowed to build any buildings on the sea front more than 2 storeys high so the resorts feel unspoiled. We have the day here tomorrow - I am going out in a sea kayak with the Dolphins which I'm looking forward too. Not sure what else to do.

Oh and the weather has changed. Still warm but forecast for the next few days in NSW is for showers. Nothing like as cold as you are having...

Speak to you later in the week. Feels strange writing this so close to Christmas and I have no concpet at all that its going to happen as it is very 'un-decorated ' here and hard to think its only a week away.

hope you are all well and happy...