So yesterday (Saturday) we got back to Sydney in the afternoon! We then went for a walk and a bit more shopping then had a nice dinner in Sydney Harbour! Sunday we went and did a Harbour cruise from Darling Harbour and saw all the sights as you can see from the pics!! We had a nice meal in Darling Harbour and then walked the 3pm back to Sydney Opera House. The last time we went there it was really raining so we wanted to get some better pics!!!

Off to the airport in the morning to finish off our big adventure with a 24 hour plane journey home!!

We've had an amazing time and can't wait to see you all and tell you all about it!!

Xxxxxx

Back to Sydney today....bye bye Brisbane!!!

So whilst we are in a cafe and there is free wifi I thought I'd do a quick update! We have just watched the Olympic welcome home parade and got a few pics! It was great atmosphere it makes us wonder what the one in London would be like!! Anyway we need to get back to relaxing and eating in the sun! Back to Sydney tomorrow!

Xxxx

Brisbane, Queensland, Australia at 8:11pm EST.

Today we went to Australia Zoo- the Zoo made famous and owned by Steve Irwin (The Crocodile Hunter).
It was an early start as it took 2 hours to get there so we were up at 5.30am to get the 7am train to Beerwah and then an adjoining bus!
Eventually we got there just after 9, the zoo is so open and you can get really close to the animals (as you can see from the pics!) we saw a few shows with the crocodiles and other animals. We also had some pics holding certain animals....guess which one I forced Dave into doing!!!
It was a brilliant day and we left at 4.30 so after a very long but good day we are off to bed! Ready to explore Brisbane city tomorrow!!
Xxxxx

Sydney, New South Wales, Australia at 8:28pm EST.

So today we took the train and bus to Bondi beach, it was nice and sunny but a bit chilly but we had a walk along the beach and a nice bit of lunch. In the afternoon we got the bus back to the CBD and then got the ferry to Manly, another nice little beachy town. We had another little stroll and had an ice cream in the sun before getting the ferry back to the CBD and doing the long walk home. We are going to have a lazy day tomorrow, washing and pecking before off to Brisbane on Tuesday!!!

So today we walked to Darling Harbour and had a look around, it's another lovely place to go for lunch/dinner in the sun. It's very much like the Southbank in London. Then we went into Madam Tussauds and the Sydney Aquarium at the Harbour, both were good fun and we gave put some pics up. Then we wandered around the city a bit more and now we are having a few jugs of VB and fish and chips for dinner before the OZ vs NZ rugby starts!!

So we got to Sydney about 3 ish yesterday (Thursday) and found our hostel....after all the dramas we had there we are now in a much nicer hotel...well we have our own apartment!
This afternoon we walked around the Harbour and took some pictures, we are both so tired after our stressful day and night tomorrow so I think another early night is in store...as well as a nice dinner cooked in the apartment!!
XxxxX

So we are at Melbourne airport, just about to board our flight to Sydney!
Yesterday (Wednesday) we had our last full day in Melbourne and we did the Neighbours tour, it was quite an early start so we made our way to the office for 8.30am. We had a bus driver, who thought he was quite funny whern in reality he wasnt but he did tell us lots of cool info about Neighbours.
We went to Erinsborough high school first, but it was an actual school so it felt a bit weird to be there! Then we went to the set of Grease Monkeys Diner, the garage and Dial a Kyle. We went met by Toadies now wife, Sonia. We hadnt watched Neighbours for about ten years so we didnt really know her but it was cool to 'meet a star!!'
Then we were taken to Ramsey Street where they were filming at the time so we actually saw a couple of scenes being filmed. We saw Toadie and Dr Reece (?) on set. We also got some pics with the Ramsey Street sign, and with a car that will be appearing in an episode soon- well in Australia soon, it will be on in November in the UK.
We had a nice bit of lunch and then went back to the hotel to pack and get ready for Sydney, we also watched Neighbours!!!
We went out for a nice meal in the evening on a road close to us and then had a early night.
We should arrive in Sydney this afternoon, where the weather is about 20c at the moment!
xxxxx

North Melbourne, Victoria, Australia at 2:32pm EST.

So today we had a bit of a lie in after our late and very exciting night with Neighbours stars last night! We then got the tram to the MCG (Melbourne Cricket Ground) and decided to do the tour. It was really interesting and we both enjoyed it, despite feeling and looking a bit hungover!! Then we went back into the CBD and had a bit of lunch at the brilliantly named 'PieFace' and went to the ACMI (Australian Centre for Moving Image) Museum afterwards. It was really good and we saw lots of props and stuff from films and tv (more Neighbours stuff!) but also things from Elizabeth, Moulin Rouge, Crocodile Dundee. There was also some old video game consoles you could play on!
Will probably have an early night tonight as up early for the Neighbours set tour tomorrow morning...with another star meeting!!

ACMI at 3:40pm EST in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.

So we had our second day in Melbourne on Monday, and we decided to brave the slightly complicated tram system and go yo St Kilda for the day and have a mooch before the Neighbours night was held there.
St Kilda is quite a pretty little beach town around 20 minutes outside Melbourne, it has loads of beach front restaurants and shops and a harbour. So after we had had a walk around and then some dinner it was time for the Neighbours Night!!
It was held in a British pub, the elephant and wheelbarrow on the main road on St Kilda. After a few drinks, we went through and we got talking to a couple on our table also from London and a doctor who was from Brisbane via Scotland! They had Stingray, Natasha Williams (?) and of course Dr Karl Kennedy there, it was pretty much the Karl show!!!!
They did a short Q&A session with the "stars" and then they all came round to the tables for photos etc. You can see our photos, then we had a couple of quizzes, which we ended up coming second in, the winners won a trip to the Neighbours set bit had too many passes so gave them to us, unfortunately we are already doing the tour on Wednesday!
Then Dr Karl got up and sang a few songs with his band and then Paul Robinson did!! It was such a good night, highly recommend it to anyone who has a few days in Melbourne!!

Arrived in Melbourne at 8am and we firstly made an effort to drop our bags off at the hotel then go for a much needed breakfast!! We then had a wander around Melbourne and booked a Neighbours trivia and meet night for tomorrow night (Monday) and a neighbors set tour for Wednesday!! Very exciting! Now chilling in the room, it's lunchtime here but will have a low key dinner late and then an early night ready for a day and evening in St Kilda tomorrow!!!

Christchurch, Canterbury, New Zealand at 8:05pm NZST.

So since we have been in Christchurch we have been around the red corden zone (from the earthquake), walked around Hagley Park and have been to Riccarton Westfield. Today (Saturday) our last day here, we went for a lovely brunch in 'The Coffee House' and then went to the Canterbury Museum, which is on the edge of Hagley Park. It was a good way to waste some time and to learn about the beginnings of the South Island.
In the afternoon we had a sightseeing bus tour, which took us as close to the red zone as we could and showed us the damaged buildings from the earthquake. They are still feeling aftershocks now, one as recent as Wednesday night (the night before we got here!) we saw the ruined cathedral and other buildings and also learnt a bit of the history. We also went to Mona Vale Gardens, Pont Hills and Summer village. You can see some of the pics. We had a nice dinner at Running Bull this evening, and are packing as we've got to go to the airport at 3am!! As we are off to OZ!!!

Christchurch, Canterbury, New Zealand at 4:46pm NZST.

Christchurch, Canterbury, New Zealand at 8:21pm NZST.

Thought we would make use of the free Wifi at the airport! Have had a really lovely time in Queenstown and the views are breathtaking! Bit sad to be leaving as today (Thursday 9th) very sunny, but onwards to Christchurch!

Also would like to say a very happy birthday to my favourite Aunty Jean for tomorrow! Hope the family have an awesome time, the sun shines and you have a few winners!! (my favourite jockey colours are green with gold/yellow!! And back any 2yr old horses that are BF (beaten favorites).

See you all soon!!!!!!!!!!

Love

Dave and Vicky

Xxxx