22nd Jan – day 132 –I arrived to Brisbane late in the evening and Tim was waiting for me at the airport. It was luxury going to the toilet for the first time in Australia, clean, no squatting and toilet roll! I knew I’d like it here.

23rd Jan – day 134 – I got up fairly early and used the train to get into Brisbane. Public transport in and around Brisbane is so easy to use. They have TransLink cards which you top up (like Oyster cards in London) and a super helpful app that help you figure out how to get everywhere! After trying (and failing) to avoid all the shops I headed to the Riverside, past the ‘Brisbane’ sign and took the river walk past the City Beach and Maritime Museum. I soon realised I was going to need more factor 50 suncream so before hoping back on the train I went to Woolworths to stock up!

In the evening I had my first home cooked meal in months! Then Tim and I went bowling (I lost).

24th Jan – day 134 – I got up early to catch the train to meet up with my friend Chris, who I had met previously at Bodega in Chiang Mai! We took his Ferrari down the Gold Coast, had some fish and chips at the beach and caught up on eachothers travel plans.

25th Jan – day 135 – I relaxed and topped up my tan at Redcliffe Beach (which is apparently not so great, but if you’re from England if there is sand and sun… Its a good beach!). In the evening Tim and I went into Brisbane and rode the Wheel of Brisbane, and walked around the city in search of some electric scooters! After hours of walking we gave up the search as they were either all in use or needed a service. Apparently Friday nights in Brisbane are a popular time to go on a scooter.

26th Jan – day 136 – AUSTRALIA DAY! I managed to get up and go to Redcliffe parkrun, no PBs today though after hardly any running in months, and the smell of Australia Day BBQs on the seafront were also a little distracting. However to make it a bit easier in the heat it did rain and I found it very amusing to hear one person say ‘I’ve never ran in the rain before!’. After an early morning we had a few drinks in the sunshine and watched films in the evening.

27th Jan – day 137 – We woke up extra early today to drive up Mount Coot-Tha for sunrise! This mountain is one of the easiest I’ve ever climbed, because you drive to the top and walk approximately 20 steps! It was very romantic to see a wedding happening as the sun came up over Brisbane!

We had a bit of an 80s themes afternoon of roller skating and going to Yatala Drive-in Theatre. It was great piling the mattress and cushions into the back of the ute (pick up truck for those who also have no idea what ute means) and relaxing with some popcorn under the stars!

28th Jan – day 138 – We took the drive down the coast to Dreamworld. The ques were so small so we got to go on all the rides a few times and get lots of funny pictures. We then cooled off in White Water World next door, which was included in the ticket price!

29th Jan – day 139 – We packed our things ready for a few days away on the Gold Coast. We stopped off at Surfers Paradise and went up to the sky point. The ticket up to the observation deck was included in our dreamworld ticket! The view is amazing, looking down at miles of beach and blue sea. We grabbed a bite to eat before continuing the drive until we reached Cabarita. We were staying at The Beach Cabarita, thanks to Tim’s uncle! We took a stroll to the beach to get the last of the days sun before having some tea and heading to bed.

30th Jan – day 140 – We drove down to Byron Bay and relaxed on the beach and cooled off in the sea. The sun is pretty strong in Australia, even with factor 50 suncream on! After some sun we walked into the town and looked in some of the querky shops and had some food at a cafe. We then went up to Byron Bay Lighthouse and the Most Eastern point of Australia. We got some pictures and saw some dolphins down in the sea. In the evening we headed back to Cabarita and sat by the pool and went to the beach which was almost empty.

31st Jan – day 141 – We had a relaxed morning sat around the pool before driving down to Byron to visit The Farm at Byron. This place has a super cute cafe, sat amongst a working farm with pigs and cattle and sunflowers! We then took the hour-long scenic drive inland to Nimbin which is a little world of its own. This place is busier on market days but we had a walk through the small hippie shops and cafes, and it only took a few minutes before someone was asking if we would like some special cookies!

1st Feb – day 142 – On the drive back from Cabarita to Brisbane we stopped off at Dreamworld again to watch the Tiger Show which we had missed last time, and had a go on a few rides again. We then filled our belly with a famous Yatala Pie! Once we were back we had a few drinks with Tim’s brother, Daniel, and friends Joe and Kirra. Tim might have had one too many (lightweight!).

2nd Feb – day 143 – We had a very lazy day after leaving Joe’s. Sitting in the garden, Netflix and napping.

3rd Feb – day 144 – We visited Australia Zoo!! We got to pet the kangaroos and koalas, see loads of different animals. The home of Steve Irwin put on a great bird and crocodile show!

After Australia Zoo Tim dropped me off at my cousin Bredans house near Caloundra, on the Sunshine Coast. We went for a drive to show me where some of the beaches were and went to a lookout point.

4th Feb – day 145 – Today I learnt how to drive an automatic car!! I drove to Dicky Beach and it started to rain (typical!) but after an hour or so the sun came out and I sunbathed all day and got a little sunburnt! In the evening we drove up to Maloolaba and had some Japanese food.

5th Feb – day 146 – On my second day on the road I ventured a little further to Happy Valley and Bullcock beach. Bullcock beach is like a lazy river, you get in the water at one end and within minutes you’re all the way at the other end of the beach!

6th Feb – day 147 – Back in Redcliffe I spent most of the day relaxing in the garden, trying to plan some of our trip to the Philipines. In the evening Tim and I went to Bounce, a indoor trampoline Park with parkour and obstical course like Tekeshi’s Castle!

7th Feb – day 148 – I headed into Brisbane again and went to the Museum of Queensland, which was free and passed a couple of hours. I then done a bit of shopping and some food before heading back.

8th Feb – day 149 – I got up and went for a walk around some of the nearby parks and then packed my things ready to go camping! Once Tim had finished work we drove up north to Double Island and set up camp with Jordan, Joe, Daniel and Ash. It was great to drive up the beach on the sand! We sat and drank into the evening. There were so many stars in the sky, I had never seen so many!

9th Feb – day 150 – We woke up when it got too hot in the tent (6am!) had some bacon and eggs for breakfast and then drove further up the beach to the lighthouse! We relaxed all afternoon and played some cricket, then cooked some steaks and had a couple of drinks around the fire.

10th Feb – day 151 – Another early morning and we started to pack away the camp. We spent the morning in the sea and then drove home to try and beat the traffic. Once we were home we packed away all the camping things and washed the car.

11th Feb – day 152 – Spent the day at Sutton Beach and then in the evening had a steak and made a cottage pie!

12th Feb – day 153 – Woke up at 4am to go to Moreton Island. I had bought a package for $129 through Tangalooma Resort which included the ferry that left at 7am, desert safari adventure and $20 food voucher. The Desert Safari included a trip to the dunes in a 4×4 bus and sliding down the huge dunes on sledges (plywood boards). I grabed some fish and chips with my voucher and then hired a snorkel for $50 (yes, a little expensive!) and swam out to the wrecks. I spent the rest of my time sunbathing on the beach before getting the ferry back to Brisbane at 4pm.

13th Feb – day 154 – My last full day in Australia (sad face). I packed my bags and then went for a sunbathe at the beach. In the evening Tim took me into Brisbane where we had Italian and then went for drink at a rooftop bar. It was a great end to my trip.

14th Feb – day 155 – I spent my Valentines Day leaving Australia and flying to the Philipines