Day 14 - Jet ski fun

Today we had a bit of a lie in because we were tired. After another delicious breakfast we had some "mocktails" by the pool, (very tasty non-alcoholic cocktails!) Other guests were chugging proper cocktails, I don't know how they manage strong drinks at that time in the morning!

After the cocktails, we went to the island wildlife park. It's quite small, and they only have a few species of animals living in it, but it's really cool because it's interactive. The park woman came and asked if we wanted to go on the tour. She let 3 dingo's out of the cage and we got to pat them and Colin even got to hold one! They were so cute and friendly, but apparently wild dingo's are very dangerous, and will attack humans if they come across them. However, these ones were just like giant puppies.

We also got to meet and touch a 28 year old cockatoo that talks, and stroke a baby koala. If you paid you could hold him and get your picture taken, but it cost about £20.

In the afternoon we went on a Jetski tour of the island. It was so much fun! Colin and I shared a jetski, and I was in the drivers seat first. The instructor took us out around the island in a zigzag path so we could get used to controlling the machine. You can pick up a really fast speed, it was very exhilerating! At first we were stuck behind this girl who was on a jetski by herself - and she wouldn't go any faster than walking pace. We weren't techically meant to overtake each other, but we'd have ended up falling off with bordom if we'd stayed behind her. So I was very naughty and sped past her...

We got really sprayed with water, but it was brilliant! Half way through the tour we swapped places so that Colin could drive for a while. He was able to go a lot faster than me (as it was a bit less choppy on the sea at that point), but when we did hit waves he floored it, so that the setski was jumping through the air! It was so much fun!

After a quick shower, we went for an early dinner at the Manta Ray Cafe, where I had an AMAZING pork chop with sweet potato mash. It was so delicious! That night, we decided we'd watch a film in our room, but when we tried to work the tv, it wouldn't switch on. So we went and asked the reception to sort it out, and were given a free drink each while we waited. Colin taught me how to play chess. I almost won, but then he kicked my ass right at the end.

When we got back to the hotel room, Colin was delighted to discover that there was a Steven Segal film on tv. So he watched that while I fell fast asleep!

Day 13 - Relaxing on Hamilton Island

We got up and had a delicious breakfast. There is a continental breakfast buffet, which has cereal, fruit, pastries and cakes, and then you can also have your choice of hot food made fresh for you! Colin had pancakes with fruit coulis and I had Eggs florentine, it was amazing, but so filling! You eat by the pool so you have the gorgeous morning sun on you, as well as the lovely view over the bay.


We wanted to go snorkelling this morning, but didn't realise it depended on the tides, so it was the wrong time of day to do it unfortunately. So we went and sat on some sun loungers. I read, whilst Colin took loads of pictures! We had a swim, and then a paddle in the sea. We also went and booked some of the activities that we wanted to do in the following week.

If you're a beach club guest you can get a lift wherever you want to go on the island by the staff in a golf buggy. And if you're away from the hotel, you can just go into any retailer on the island (even if you haven't bought anything!) and get them to phone for a buggy for you! So in the afternoon we decided to get a lift to the marina, where we had an explore and an ice cream!

The hotel had a drinks reception for all the guests this evening, with complimentary beer, wine or champagne. So we went for the champagne! It was quite nice, and the managers came and chatted to each couple individually. Guests also mingled, but everyone was was real grownups and just said things to us like "Awww - are you on your honeymoon?" We'd say "Yeah..." and they'd go "That's nice!" It was quite entertaining. Although there was about one other couple there who was nearly as young as us!

In the evening, we decided to go for fish and chips at the marina, and then went along to a local bar/nightclub for a drink. Unfortunately they had a strict dress code for the nightclub, so I don't think we'd have got in due to Colin's shorts and tshirt. We weren't that bothered though, as the atmosphere in the place was similar to that of a nightout in Hartlepool town centre - if you've ever experienced that then you'll realise we weren't to disappointed to go back to our 5* hotel for the evening!





When we got back, the hotel staff had left us a bucket with champagne and chocolates, with a card to congratulate us on our wedding and honeymoon! We were very touched!

Day 12 - Journey to Hamilton Island

We got up early and went to Paddy's market to buy some tourist junk! I got a boomerang for Alex's birthday and some long socks. But we didn't realise that we'd spent almost all our cash yesterday so we couldn't really stay there that long! After returning to the hotel, we checked out and got the monorail to the town hall station, then got on the train to the airport. We had a massive luggage bag which we'd bought in the shopping centre in Sydney. It was so big I can fit inside it, and as we don't have enough stuff to fill it, we just put our existing suitcase inside it. It was heavy, I couldn't really move it, so it was down to Colin to wrestle it through the crowds!

On the plane to Hamilton Island, I asked for a Gin and Tonic, and it came ready mixed in a can! It tasted like lemonade. There's definitely a market for this in the UK I think.

We arrived at the Beach Club accomodation where we were greeted with a cocktail. The room is spacious and has a balcony. You have to keep the door closed or cockatoo's come in and open the minibar and eat everything they can.



We had a paddle in the sea, but it was starting to get a little cold so we came in. We had dinner at a Steak house that night, which was delicious! The temperature in the island is about 25-27 degrees, very comfortable most of the time!

Day 11 - Harbour Bridge

We got up and walked over the the Paddy's Market, but unfortunately it was closed. As we walked back towards the harbour, there was a torrential rain storm and we got totally soaked through. I was so cold and wet, that we stopped in the shopping centre next to our hotel and bought a dry jumper and a top, as well as an umbrella!

As we'd had a late breakfast, we weren't very hungry by lunch time, so we just shared some chips and had a drink in a bar by the harbour. We then went along to the IMAX theatre for the 2pm showing of "Sea Monsters". The IMAX is a 3D cinema, you wear big grey glasses which make the pictures come to life. It was incredible, people were actually reaching out to touch the fish that looked as if they were swimming right past you, it was weird!

We walked up to the Harbour Bridge after that, where we went to the South Pylon. There was a museum inside, which told you about how the bridge was made, but also had a viewpoint from the roof which looked over the bay and the bridge. It was a great photo opportunity for Colin, who took another million pictures.

We went to a German themed bar as the sun started to go down as we were feeling a bit weak and thirsty. I had a coke for some energy, and Colin got a litre stein of beer! It was about the same size as my head!

We then went to a very posh restaurant for tea, which was a loosely Japanese themed restaurant. It was one of those places that made tiny portions and charge you about £25 for it! But then we ordered a pudding, and it was the best one that either of us have ever had! It was a chocolatey creamy minty honeycomb delight. Mmmm!

After that, I proved what a dedicated wife I am by walking miles in the rain so that Colin could take a night time panoramic shot of the Opera House and the harbour bridge. To be fair, he did tell me to go back to the hotel, but I was too afraid to separate, incase one of us got lost or mugged. I can't believe how reliant I am on mobile phones!

It was late when we got back and our feet were so sore! We packed and fell fast asleep.

Day 10 - The Opera House

Today we went to the Sydney Wildlife World early, in order to miss the crowds. It was really good fun, and really interesting. It was such a contrast to the Aquarium yesterday, where we had to fight to see the exhibits - this time we bearly saw another human being for the whole morning! We saw lots of koalas, wallaby's and hopping mice, they were so cute! Colin took about 5 million pictures.

For lunch we were to a bar where Colin ordered a bucket of prawns. There was 400g in it, and he had to peel them all by hand, so he had to work hard for his dinner that day!

In the afternoon we went for a walk around the city. We then got a water taxi to the Opera House via Toronga zoo - the driver gave us a mini tour of the harbour too. The Opera House is amazing! We got a tour of it, and got to go inside the main sails of the building. The interior is incredible, every carving into the walls is designed to produce the purest and best quality sound. We also saw the largest pipe organ in the world, which takes 2 years to tune.

We had a walk through the botanical gardens as the sun began to go down. Colin managed to get some gorgeous panoramic pictures of the opera house and harbour bridge together as the sun went down behind them. After the good light for pictures had disappeared, we walked back to an area called "The Rocks", an are just by the harbour bridge.

We went to an italian restaurant for dinner, yet more lovely wine and food. After we walked back towards Darling Harbour, and stopped in a nice bar for a drink. Unfortunately, Colin spilled his "Schooner" of beer onto the seat and I sat in it, so we had to go home because my pants were wet.

Day 9 - Sea themed day

Today we went for a walk along the harbour to see the sights. We had raisin toast & coffee for breakfast. For some reason, they only give you about 20mls of coffee in the cups, it's ridiculously small!

At 1pm we had a ride on the Harbour Jet boat. It is described as a "rollercoaster on water", and is definitely not to be mistaken for a sight seeing tour. It zooms around the harbour, doing 270 degree turns, fishtailing (going side to side) and doing a power boat stop (stopping dead in the water). We got well and truly sprayed with salt water, which meant our skin was very crusty for the rest of the day, and my hair was wilder than in Phuket - but it was fun!

We had lunch, and then walked along to Sydney Aquarium. It was quite good, but it was ridiculously busy. You had to actually fight to get near any of the exhibits, as if you waited patiently people just pushed in infront of you! I think it's the Sydney school holidays this week unfortunately. I was getting a bit fed up by the end of it, but Colin enjoyed the good photo opportunities! Due to my weariness (I think the flight had caught up with me), we went back to the hotel for a much needed rest and a snooze.

Feeling much better after a sleep, we went out for dinner to a seafood restaurant called Ice Cube. It was quite posh, but was very tasty! I had a tuna steak, which tasted SO good! And they did amazing puddings too. Mmmmmm...

We then tried to find a pub or a bar to go to for a drink afterwards, but everywhere was shutting! It was only about 11pm. So we went back to our hotel room and watched Superbad instead.

Day 8 - Welcome to Sydney

We arrived in Sydney around 6.30am local time. By the time we found our bags and declared EVERYTHING through customs (including paracetamol, a wooden bookmark, and the previously mentioned Toblerone) it was about 7.30am. We found a train line that took us to the city centre, by which point we were both perhaps a LITTLE tired and grumpy...

The novotel!

We found the Novotel and following a swift check in, fell fast asleep in our room until the alarm woke us at 1.30pm. The view from our bedroom window was amazing. We were situated on Darling Harbour, right in central Sydney, and we could see the entire harbour area from our huge window on the 3rd floor. This is something we could appreciate much more when we weren't totally exhausted!

We walked into Darling Harbour and had lunch in a little cafe, then found a Chinese Garden tucked away next to all the tall buildings. It was very peaceful and beautiful, providing lots of photo opportunities for Colin! We walked around "Paddy's Market", which resembled the indoor market from Hartlepool where I used to spend many a Saturday afternoon, although on a much grander scale! It was full to the rafters of souvenirs and clothes.

That evening we went to the "Pump House" for dinner, where Colin experienced his first Schooner of beer. They look quite pitiful compared to the pints you get in the UK. The food and wine were really good in the restaurant, and we basked in the cool night air, something we'd obviously been missing! The temperature was only about 20 degrees today, a nice step down from the 35 degrees in Phuket! We slept very well that night, despite the long lie in today.

Day 7 - Long flight down under

We got up early today and had our daily champagne breakfast! Although I am going to miss the luxury, I have to say I was getting quite worn out with the constant heat exhaustion - I can't imagine how people can live with this humidity day in day out! And even GHD hair straighteners cannot control my locks in this environment. As soon as I leave the air conditioning, my hair becomes bigger and bigger, and the frizz begins. Unfortunately my only bottle of hair product which could have averted this disaster was confiscated by the security staff in Edinburgh airport, due to me forgetting about the 100ml rule on flights now. Terrorists have just ruined it for everyone!

We went back to our room to pack, almost leaving all of Colin's clothes in one of the wardrobes. We originally thought we'd just done a really good job of packing everything back in the bag so neatly!

We then had a lift to the airport by a nice black Mercedes this time.

When we arrived in Bangkok airport, we had a few hours to wait, so we spent it just wandering around. It is HUGE! All the shops are designer shops, Thailand is just not that cheap! We expected everything to be pennies. So we bought a Toblerone.

We got on the flight to Sydney and Colin was brave enough to request an upgrade again, and this time we were moved up to World Traveller Plus. This means extra leg room and less seats across the width of the plane. So we were reasonably comfortable for most of the flight, and even managed to sleep for a while!

Day 6 - Lazy day

We spent the morning sitting by the pool and swimming when we got too hot. When you arrive at the pool, someone runs over and gives you a tray in goodies. There's cold bottled water, frozen face towels, mints, fruit and peppermint spray! They pamper you rotten here! I could get used to it...

On the afternoon we went to the beach again and got a 40 minute foot massage each for £4! It was quite funny because they pull on your toes until they crack, and then they all laugh at you when you pull faces.

We played in the sea for ages, taking pictures and filming the waves knocking us over with my camera in the waterproof bag. It was a lot of fun. When the sun started to go down we got a little cold, so we walked back up towards the Banyan Tree. But on the way we decided to get a back massage - another £4 for 40 minutes!

After it was dark, we went to a seafood restaurant down the beach. It was really good food and quite reasonable. They had big tanks full of all the seafood, which was still alive. But fortunately I just had prawns, and being a very unadventurous choice, they didn't make me go and pick out my own!

Then we walked along the beach in the moonlight to get home. We got soaked by the waves unfortunately as the tide appears to come in faster than we can run! It has been such a hot day, we actually feel really uncomfortable unless we're swimming, or in our air conditioned room!