Week 4: Theme Parks, Amazing Views and Ongoing Threats of Rain

Although it's only been 10 days, our sunny days spent sailing the Whitsundays seem far, far away...

We spent a few days making our way to the Gold Coast, stopping in Rockhampton and Brisbane.  On the Gold Coast we kept ourselves entertained with the 3 famous theme parks.  We were able to feel like a couple of kids for a few days enjoying rides, movies, water slides and petting rays at the Warner Bros. Movie World, Wet n' Wild, and Sea World.  I was able to convince Andre to go on the WB version of Splash Mountain and Scooby's Spooky Coaster (from the outside it looked like a kiddie ride!), but no luck with the Super Man roller coaster.  All was fair when we got to Wet n' Wild on a cool, rainy morning...I just didn't have it in me to get into a swim suit and wait in line for some of the scariest water slides I've seen.  I definitely got off easy!

Pier at Rockhampton

3 Little Fishermen Setting Out

That's Right...Bat Man

Penguins at Sea World

We were able to pet the Rays, they came to us only cuz they thought we had food...it was still cool!

Byron Bay was the next star on our map and we found a caravan park on the beach and booked in for 7 nights.  We had a beautiful day enjoying the beach and scoping out the shops downtown.  The weather cooled off by 4pm, chasing us back to camp to put on sweats and sweaters...but nothing would have prepared us for the 5 days to follow.  We awoke to dreary, gray skies and a modest 10 degrees.  We were hopeful it would pass...  By day 3 spent huddled in the van playing cards, reading and watching movies we had cabin fever and HAD to get out.  We went to Pirates of the Caribbean in 3D, a much welcome 2 hour break from the van and the cold.  Our last day in Byron was sunny and we took advantage by taking a long walk, souvenir shopping and visiting the lighthouse at sunset.  I know, it all sounds very romantic...but after 5 days in a 4x1.5 meter van, we were lucky one of us wasn't already on a plane home!!

Beach Art at Byron

The Artist

A storm brewing

Voila! Lighthouse at sunset

Sunset on the Bay, just made it before the rain started again

Now, more good news!!  Today is our first day back on the road and, you guessed it, we are faced with rain again.  This time, it has held us up just 2 hours outside of Byron Bay.  We are now in Coffs Harbour, where we will stay until the rain and flooding stops.  The fields along the highway on our way down were quite wet and we learned from the information center that another 100km south the highway was covered with water and closed for the next 24-48 hours.  The good news is Coffs Harbour is a beautiful place and the van park is well equipped with a huge indoor kitchen/rec room to enjoy (and free internet for downloading movies and blogging).  Maybe not the most ideal circumstances, but we are making the best of it.

The next stop for us is Sydney, and hopefully we will get there in the next few days as we have only 2 weeks remaining with the van rental.


Wish us luck!!