Brisbane, Australia Zoo and Byron Bay

I have got a litle bit more behind myself, so i will have to do a quick catch up on what i can remember. Brisbane is a fantastic city, very sunny and laid back, like most of Australia i'm finding, but there were lots of sparkling skyscrapers and tropical gardens thrown in there too. There seemed to be loads of great alternative nightlife but i kept being too tired to make the most of it! We ended up spending almost two full days chilling in the botanical gardens, which was full of yet more new creatures. We were even spectators to a garden wedding which was lovely, although they did play westlife! got to be something inherently wrong there.

Oh we went to see In The Persuit of Happiness while we were there and whoever told me it was very sad (anna i think) you were so right! Glad i saw it though.

I keep getting distracted by mother charly and jen so i may not write about everything i want to today, am getting a litle hungry! So i will just tell you about the big things...

Australia Zoo! Orignally started up by Steve Irwin's parents as a reptile sanctuary and later taken over by Steve and his wife Terri, it is now massive and still growing. There are endless amounts of animals there, and it is more like Dalton wildlife park than the zoo, though i am happy to announce that the emus are one of the few animals that aren't let loose there! they prowl along the fence making hollow threatening noises like underwater bombs. The whole zoo has such a friendly open atmosphere and wombats and suchlike are wandering around on leads for you to pet. The Kangaroo enclosure is amazing, acres wide and the kangaroos are very happy to let you pet them, unlike the wild ones we see crossing the highway every now and again. Less legs for you Charlotte:

The workers hold displays and feedings all the time with all the different animals, the tigers are amazing. I really want a pet tiger in my country mansion when i'm a millionaire, then i wouldn't have to worry about robbers and rapists so much! They held amazing bird snake and croc displays in the Crocoseum, The birds are so well trained, they freefly around the arena will land and move anywhere they're directed. I also want a macaw! The whole park is filled with pictures and memorials to Steve, and it is very obvious that everyone is still feeling the loss keenly. The zoo was not just an investment, he and his wife and children live on the zoo grounds and have/had a very active part in the running and development of the place, so the staff all knew Steve very well. Our bus driver worked for him for a good few years and got very emotional just telling us about him. The atmosphere of loss conveys Steve's passion for conservation of the environment yet further when visiting.

The elephants were beautiful:

We're now in Byron Bay, the Autralian surfing equivalent of Newquay, only more chilled out, and containing many less drunken yobs. Nice. The hostel we're in is great, right next to the beautiful white beach (which we went on last night in the dark, big crabs were running in and out of the sea - never again!) and the people in our dorm are fantastic company. We went a few k down the coast today to lennox head to try a bit of surfing. Dave had done it before and is getting quite good, but i am yet to master the sport! I'm not too bad at getting up on the board but once i'm up there my falls are spectaular! I have grazed both my knees badly today, but it's all part of the fun! Well i am starving now, so I think i'll return to the hostel and my sausage butties! I'll add the photos on a another day for you all.

Just a quick photo for Anna