Tuesday 19th August

We decided to use the morning before our flight in the best way possible so we went on the ferry down to the IMAX cinema to watch Hubble 3D.  The film was about the last repair mission to the Hubble Space Telescope. It was really interesting as it showed loads of amazing photographs of faraway galaxies and star nurseries.

The three of us saying goodbye to Sydney

We then got the ferry back went to Pie Face for one last pie and collected our luggage.  I really didn't want to go home because I had had such a fab holiday.

My favourite place in Australia is without a doubt Sydney.   It is a vibrant city with lots to see and do.  I have really enjoyed my holiday Down Under.  The highlight for me was either cuddling a koala or snorkelling with turtles and sharks at the Great Barrier Reef.

Me and my koala in the lounge at Sydney airport

Megan xxx

Monday 18th August

Today was our only full day in Sydney before we set off on the long flight home.  Dad had been working for all the days that we had been in Sydney previously so we let him choose what to do.  We went on the ferry to Watson's Bay.  It was great and we walked to the top of a cliff where there were some amazing views (see piccies).

Watson's Bay beach

We then went to the famous fish and chip restaurant called Doyles for lunch - this is right on the sea front.  It was quite nice.  I spilled ginger beer all over myself which was quite embarrassing because it looked like I had wet myself!

View of Sydney from Watson's Bay

After that we got the ferry back to the centre of Sydney and walked up to the QVB (Queen Victoria Building) for some shopping and to let Dad see the beautiful building.  It was really cool but we couldn't buy too much because our cases were already bulging!  Overall a brilliant last day in Sydney!

Friday 12th, Saturday 13th and Sunday 14th August 2011

Friday and Saturday were two brilliant final days on the beach and by the swimming pool.  I had really enjoyed my time in Queensland but there was still one thing I wanted to do.  Ever since I had been told we were going to Australia, I wanted to go to a zoo and cuddle a koala.  On Sunday morning we got up early, checked out of our hotel and drove 5 minutes down the road to Cairns Zoo.  We went to see the koalas in their enclosures whilst we waited for the cuddle a koala session!

Although we had already seen koalas in the wild, they were really cute close up.  The koala that I was about to cuddle was a four year old girl called Piper.  She was so cute and she felt really warm and furry when I held her. It was probably my number one highlight of the holiday!

After the three hour flight back to Sydney we arrived at our hotel right next to the Opera House - it was awesome!  The balcony of our apartment overlooked the Harbour Bridge.  It was really cool and it felt good to be back in Sydney!

Dad on the balcony at the Quay Grand in Sydney

The view from our balcony!

Thursday 11th August

Another relaxing day on the beach so time for another top list:-

Accommodation
This includes all the accommodation we have stayed in so far (for however short a time!).

Mariners' Cove
Location: Paynesville, Victoria
Duration of Stay: 3 hours!
Comments: We arrived at Mariners' Cove expecting the worst and the worst we got!  It felt like a prison cell in there!  The slightly stand-offish receptionist/owner described the room as a deluxe room with a mezzanine floor.  You have got to be kidding me.  My bed was on the 'mezzanine floor' which by the way had one tiny window.  The carpet was stained, sticky and completely vile and everything was dated beyond belief!  We left (unsurprisingly) and stayed at our next hotel for two nights instead of one!
Star Rating: -1

Me on Ferry from Paynesville to Raymond Island to see koalas in the wild

Merimbula Beach
Location: Merimbula, New South Wales
Duration of Stay: two nights
Comments: A nice enough place with three bedrooms and two bathrooms.  It was a chalet.  The beach below the resort was beautiful and one of the best of the holiday.  My one criticism is that my bathroom was infested with insects on the ceiling.
Star Rating: **

The beautiful beach at Merimbula

Meriton Apartments
Location: Pitt Street, Sydney, New South Wales
Duration of Stay: four nights
Comments: A really great place with two bedrooms and two bathrooms.  A good location near to transport and good shops.  There was some road noise (it didn't bother me) and it was quite hard to keep warm (again not a problem for me - my room was toasty).  On the Sunday morning was we were walking down Pitt Street to the ferry, there were lots of police cars and some blood on the pavement where a woman had been stabbed the previous night.  We were all shocked when we saw it - especially dad.
Star Rating: ***

Drinking coffee in the Meriton Apartments, Pitt Street, Sydney

Grand Mercure Rockfored
Location: Palm Cove, Near Cairns, Queensland
Duration of stay: 2 weeks
Comments: A two bedroom, two bathroom apartment, 30 seconds walk from the beach.  You really can't complain.  The pool area was absolutely beautiful - probably among the best in Palm Cove - as well as a pristine beach that was virtually empty.  We had a nice balcony that overlooked the pool.  A lovely place.
Star Rating: ***

In bed at the Rockford Mercure Apartments, Palm Cove

Silver Water Resort
Location: San Remo, Near Phillip Island, Victoria
Duration of Stay: One night
Comments: A beautiful clifftop apartment with gorgeous views overlooking the Southern Ocean.  We went to the hotel restaurant for dinner which was really high quality and then had a game of pool in the gaming room.  The whole experience was made better by the Penguin Parade.  A really enjoyable stay - somewhere we all wish we could have been for longer.
Star Rating: *****

Me on the balcony at Silver Water Resort with the ocean in the background

Medina Grand
Location: Elizabeth Street, Melbourne, Victoria
Duration of Stay: 4 nights
Comments: I really enjoyed staying at this hotel - partly because I got to be in the main bedroom which (in my opinion) was way better than Mum and Dad's room.  The reason for this was that the second bedroom had a window which apparently made it superior so Mum and Dad took it.  I was really pleased about this.  We had a takeaway curry one night which Dad was plating up in the kitchen.  Mum and I had decided to share a curry.  Dad was plating up Mum and my curry when he dropped it on the floor.  We ended up having two spoonfuls of curry each whilst Dad enjoyed a full one to himself (in all fairness Mum had some of Dad's curry).  A great stay with some funny moments.
Star Rating: *****

Dad and me on the terrace at the Medina Grand

Penthouse Apartment
Location: Huskisson, Jervis Bay, New South Wales
Duration of Stay: 2 nights
Comments: My favourite place of the holiday.  It was massive and was really modern.  The kitchen was great- this caused us to cook both nights we were there which was really nice.  The apartment had two balconies, two bedrooms and two bathrooms.  It was very warm at night.  On one of the balconies was a tree that seemed to be a favourite with parrots so we saw loads of them flying about.
Star Rating: *****

The lovely apartment at Huskisson

I hope you  have enjoyed this entry.

Megan xxx