We are in South Australia & we've found the hot weather!

We hit the South Australia border & we hit the heat on the same day...holy cow! Took the jumpers off & got the summer gear back out. It was quite strange after almost 2 mths of our driving being on the coast & the drive being quite slow due to the roads being so windy & hilly to entering South Australia & the roads are all so flat & straight & even the landscape is just flat & dry, trees seem to be rare thanks to the farmers clearing everything. Our first stop was at Mt Gambier & while to me it was just another city we did visit the Blue Crater Lake to see the amazing blue water & it was so worth seeing, you can hardly believe the colour, it didn't look real. We also went to visit the sunken garden but couldn't go down as it was closed due to 1000's of very angry bees. It looked really pretty from the top though. We moved on to Kingston SE which is a nice little town & we camped about 20mins north of there at a beach called The Granites. It was a great beach & it was so hot we all went for a swim in the ocean which was lovely but I had a very good eye on the water looking for any friendly Great Whites who may have been looking for a snack. We had a fantastic arvo swimming & making sandcastles & then to top it off we got to see the most incredible sunset over the ocean & if we turned around right behind us was a full moon over storm clouds, awesome sight!

The next few days were spent making our way slowly to Burra via Murray Bridge, Hahndorf & Adelaide. The kids absolutely loved Hahndorf where we took them to a Farm Barn & they got to play with heaps of baby animals & also got to feed them all & they got to milk a cow the old fashioned way & they were super excited when they got to hold a snake!

We are in Burra now for a few weeks were Glen has some work at the local school painting which is just over the fence from the caravan park we are staying at. We have meet a great couple staying next to us & are spending alot of time having fun all together, the kids are loving the extra little friend to play with. Burra is a beautiful little town with alot of history & old houses & buildings to look at. We are spending alot of time catching up on lots of school work which the kids are handling really well so far. It's pretty hot here at the moment so we are spending alot of time playing under the sprinklers....I miss my air con when it's this hot!



Back in Vic & busy busy busy!

We had a great boat ride back to the mainland & when we got off at Melbourne it was boiling hot. To come from Tassie where we were sleeping in winter pj's every night to a night in Melbourne with the kids sleeping in their undies with wet washers to try & cool down was very weird. The next day was back to cool weather, hard to believe this is summer when your used to needing a/c to survive summer back at home & down hear you need a jumper instead. We've been back in Victoria for 4 days & we have not stopped, it has been busy busy busy sightseeing all along the Great Ocean Road (AMAZING!!!!). The first day was drizzling rain but still got to see some beautiful views & places. The place we camped for the night was 3 kms off the highway amongst farms & was so lovely. We had a special treat while there getting to see 2 wild koalas for once not sleeping but awake feeding...the kids though it was fantastic. The next day was beautiful & sunny & was just an incredible drive with the most amazing sights to see. So worth the drive, the coast line is just breathtaking & so different to anything I've ever seen, so very different to anything up north. We have seen many beautiful places like Bells beach, Lorne, Gibsons Steps, 12 Apostles, The Arch just to name a few.

Yesterday we spent the day in Portland Vic & took a 3 hour round walking trip to see a colony of Australian Fur Seals which is something I had really wanted to to do & it didn't disappoint, it was just fabulous to see them in their natural environment...loved loved loved it! Even got to see a Tiger snake on our path on the walk back to the car, thankfully he just slide off into the grass & didn't seem interested in us. Later the same day we went for a fish down at the boat ramp 1 minute away from were we are staying & there were two seals swimming around & waiting for the fishermen to throw  their scraps to them...awesome to see! We are heading off to a small country town for the night tonight & then in South Australia tomorrow!

Leaving Tassie :(

Sad day...we are on the boat back to Melbourne & although I know we have so many more amazing places to see I'm really sad to leave Tassie as we had an absolute ball there seeing some incredibly beautiful places & spending so much fun time with Glens family. Loved every minute of it & can't wait to go back again!!! 

Thanks so much to Don & Karen & all the kids for having us & for all the fun & laughs we had...we miss you all already!!!

Time the next adventure to begin...

Tassie is a beautiful place...

WOW!!! Tasmania truly is a place everyone has to come & visit & spend some time here!!! Glen grew up here (so it's great having a local tour guide) & I've been here a few times but this is the best weather we've ever had when holidaying here, it's been so sunny & warm...just gorgeous!

We have been staying in Somerset in the North of Tassie so spent a couple of days travelling through the centre of Tassie to visit places like Latrobe, Elizabeth Town, Campbell Town, Ross, Oatlands, & Richmond before we made made our way to Port Arthur for a few days. Such incredibly beautiful old places to see, the history is amazing...first time I've actually been interested in Australian history, hahaha. We saw all the old bridges there are too see in Tassie & a massive amount of beautiful old churches & houses. Our first stop on our travels was at Oatlands & holy cow it was absolutely freezing but a gorgeous spot to free camp. Loved exploring this old town, very interesting.

We eventually made our way to Port Arthur & camped at the same camp ground Glen used to camp at when he was a kid. We visited the Port Arthur historical site & it was an amazing experience & more emotional than I thought it would be. Incredible to think about everything that took place at Port Arthur & the kids really loved learning about the history of the place. A great day!

The next few days were spent camping at Coles Bay which is such a great place to visit with amazing views. We had a couple of days of RnR here just chilling out, reading, sitting by the fire & fishing...Caught some awesome fish here!!! 

Next stop was my favourite spot so far at Swimcart Beach at the Bay Of Fires...absolutely gorgeous!!!!!!! The beach was white sand, crystal clear beautiful blue water with incredible big boulders of rock on parts of the beach which made it so pretty. Was so nice, we spent a few nights here fishing, walking along the beach & doing not much really! It was here though that poor Ty had a tick attach itself to him & he had an allergic reaction to the bite so we had a midnight run to the hospital with a very sore, sick little boy. Thankfully after some medication & a couple of days doing very little he was back to himself driving us up the wall again! 

The last stretch before heading back to Somerset was a stop off at Deloraine & Mole Creek to visit King Solomon Caves. Really awesome in the caves, the kids were so excited, the boys thought it was like being in an Indiana Jones movie!

Tiana fishing at Coles Bay



Bay of Fires



Back in Somerset now loving spending time with Glens family. We have a week left, bit sad to think about leaving next week because we are having the best time here with everyone. We are only a few minutes walk from the beach so we're loving being able to walk to the beach most arvo's for a walk exploring rock pools & if it's hot enough going for a swim. Having the time of our lives!

We are having loads of fun!!!!

So we've had a fun week or so at Glens sisters house with heaps of laughs & craziness & we have LOVED spending so much time with all of Glens family in Tassie (we will really miss everyone when we leave...more tears!). Although it rained for most of the week after seeing all the sad events in Qld we didn't even bother complaining. There was a little bit of local flooding in Tassie were we are but nothing compared to the horror others in Qld have suffered...so so so sad watching it all & not being able to help at all, except donate as much money as we could spare to help out. 

Lets move on to the fun things we have been doing while in Somerset...Firstly Glens sister Karen turned the big young 40 so had a party to celebrate & Glens brother Dave came down from North Qld to surprise everyone, I loved seeing everybodies faces as they first saw him!!! Such an awesome night...we could of partied all night but the kids couldn't take much more after 1am so off to bed we went. The next day was a nice slow one with very tired kids topped off by a bbq on the beautiful Cam River where Tiana & Ty went for a swim...too cold for me! The kids are absolutely loving spending time with their older cousins! The rest of the week was filled in by lazing about, laughing, shopping, laughing, visiting relatives, laughing, golf, laughing, going to the park, laughing, taking the kids for a shot with "a real gun" as Ty said with excitement, laughing, having a girls only lunch date, laughing, drinking a little bit & then a little bit more & then we all rocked out to karaoke...oh & have I mentioned I haven't laughed so much in ages!!!!! Super fun week!!! Thanks for having us Karen & Don...we'll be back very soon! We are off now to visit more of Tassie before we come back to Karens for more fun times!

I've been a slack bum...I think it's called holiday mode!!!

Well we've been on the road for 2 weeks now & crazy busy seeing as much as possible before we got to Tassie! After saying goodbye to everyone on the 27th Dec we drove off in the rain with the boys heads stuck in the DSi's, Glen focusing on driving & Tiana & I crying... 

When we left we had horrid rain until we got to Ballina for our first night on the road & when we woke up we had a beautiful blue sky with a bright ball in it shining down, after researching it on the internet we discovered it was called the sun! So we set of for our first day of exploring... First stop was Nambucca Heads which was really nice despite it being a bit overcast then we made our way to Port Macquaire. On the way to Port Macquaire from the back of the car Tiana said "Mum I have something on my leg...I think it's snot!" so I had a look & calmly said "Tiana do not freak out but that is actually a leech & it's ok we'll just stop soon & get it off, don't worry", next minute we hear "ARRRRRRRR A LEECH!!!" lot's of crying & drama so Glen pulled over & with his best Fathering skills told Tiana he will just burn the leech off, Tiana cried harder & louder!!! After I calmed her down & explained to her she will not get burnt & it's ok, Glen got the leech off with no further dramas & finally Tiana was sort of smiling again & off we went to explore. Port Macquaire was a really nice place & the church we discovered there was incredible! After that it was time to set up camp for the night & thanks to some great friends organising a roll out awning for us it only takes about 2 mins & we are set up. Really not used to the daylight savings here & we are loosing track of time as it's not dark until 9pm so the kids are having some pretty late nights but we're on holidays so doesn't really matter.

After a good nights sleep we quickly ducked into Tarree & then stopped at Tuncurry & Forster NSW & OMG it was absolutely gorgeous!!! The sun was shining & it was hot so off to the beach we went for a swim & to enjoy beautiful Forster & got sunburnt but so worth the pain of sunburn to enjoy a day in the sun!

Then next day we headed to Kiama via Bald Hill Lookout & driving the Grand Pacific Highway over the Seacliff Bridge...something I've wanted to do for such a long time & it was just awesome!!! Kiama is just divine & I could easily go back for a holiday anytime. I had been wanting to see the blow hole at Kiama for about 2 yrs now & was so excited as we walked up the hill approaching it only to get to the top & find out the sea was too calm & it wasn't blowing!!!! Arrrrr!!! Never mind there will be other blow holes so off to the gorgeous (but freezing) rock pools for a swim.

New Years was a very quiet night for us camping near Bega having drinks by the fire toasting marshmellows, having sparklers, & meeting new people. Happy Belated New Years everyone!!!

Our first day for 2011 was spent entering Victoria & our first stop was Orbost. When we left near Bega it was sunny & warm, when we got out at Orbost a few hours later it was freezing!!! Tonights camp was just near Lakes Entrance.

On the 2nd of Jan we made our way to catch up with Jim & Julz & Julz's lovely family in Traralgan for a couple of days & had such a great time. We even got to go out for a "quick" (long funny story behind it) drink as couples without kids thanks to Julz's parents watching all the kids. Special thanks to Frank & Syl for making us feel so welcome & letting us stay...we really enjoyed ourselves! We went on a tourist drive (the long way around...another funny story!) with Jim & Julz to Port Albert & had some yummy yummy fish & chips & the best pineapple fritter I've ever had! It is a really pretty little place & Zac caught a big flathead off the jetty. Glen was so proud of his little boy doing it all on his own but also a little jealous as Glen has never caught a fish in Vic so now Zac has one over Glen!

After a few days we set off to Melbourne for a few days of sightseeing. Had a great few days seeing Melbourne Zoo, Queen Victoria Markets, Saint Kilda & the city but I've realised I'm not a fan of cities & all the people...give me a beach with on-one on it & I'm happy!

Very exciting day when we got to get on the Spirit of Tasmania to get to Tassie!!!! Had a great trip on the boat & finally arrived to Glens old home town of Burnie to visit his family. So good to be here! Having a great time catching up with everyone & meeting new people...lot's & lot's of laughs!!! We are here for a month of fun. I will try to update more often but I can't promise, I'm enjoying not doing much! I am thinking of all our family & friends on the Sunny Coast with all the rain & floods...hope all goes well & the sun comes out very soon!

7 SLEEPS!!!!!!!!!

We went out for dinner tonight & Glen ran into a guy he knows through work & when I overheard Glen tell this person that this time next week we will have started our journey & be in NSW I couldn't really believe it - I still can't!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Holy cow this really is happening!!!!!!!!

I've been so busy with working & getting ready for Xmas that I hadn't really focused on how long to go before we leave. It's been a crazy year that has gone by so fast & as much as I am really going to miss some amazing people (you know who you are) I am so excited to get away & just have some time to breathe, relax & absorb all the good simple things in life!

My next blog will probably be when we are on the road!

Merry Christmas everyone & have a happy & safe New Year!

:)