John Cornhill

Hello all, enjoyed bus journey Hervey Bay to Brisbane, saw sunshine coast long streches of gorgeous beach. Been in Brisbane 24 hours now. Walked around 4 hours last evening, botanical gardens very impressive, including boardwalk thru mangrove on boardwalk that extended for a mile or so along riverside lovely then went into Brisbanes Chinatown had meal there. Slept well last night! Today missed boatride so took bus to Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary 130 koalas including kindergarden, 'retired' ones in their own sanctuary, nursing mums with joeys hanging out of their pouches, southern ones which are bigger and darker. Also Wombats (theyre ugly) a Cassowary (lots of concern about these dying out they get hit by cars) 2 dingos (also a worry because few pure bred left due to interbreeding with ferral domestic dogs) dozens of kangaroos in a field where you can walk among them and feed them they are very tame) eagles flying about with handlers including a huge sea eagle 1.8m wingspan, sheep dog 'trials', with 2 dogs herding about 15 sheep into a pen then sitting on the sheep which is what they do when sorting them for shearing, an echidna but only saw its backside in a log very prickly, crocodiles but only small 2m ones, emus, parrots, bats, monitors, lorikeets a very pleasant day. Bus driver on way back just returned from world travelling holiday including a stay over in Torquay Devon also visited Paignton chatted to him all the way back its like that out here. 6pm now, am meeting Bing later who I met on dive on Great Barrier Reef off Cairns. He lives in Brisbane we're going for a pint. Train to Sydney tomorrow. Been here 4 weeks now, only 2 left in Aus not enough Best wishes to everyone, John ps checkout www.koala.net/photo/2510006534.htmJohn Cornhill