Samantha, Garry & Jaime's Oz Trip 2008

Day 1 :   Flight EY018 LHR-AUH

                 Abu  Dhabi - what a bizarre airport !!   They still use a hole in the floor for a toilet !!!!

Day 2: Flight EY450 AUH-SYD

Day 3:   Arrived in to SYD on time at 07:15 and got to Shangri La Hotel by 08:30.

              Check in was on the 30th floor - the Horizons Club Lounge private check in for VIP's like oursleves with   an unbelieveable view straight over the Harbour Bridge and Opera House.

              Having adjusted to Oz time via several sleeps on the plane, we spent the Day strolling around the Botanical Gardens/ Opera House and City.

Day4: Picked up at 10:30 by David (Mum's Cousin) & Tim and taken around the Eastern beaches - Bondi, Tamarama, Bronte & Clovelly with Lunch at Doyles Restaurant at Watsons Bay.

Finished up with drinks at their house in Redfern before being dropped back at the Shangri La.

Day5: A day trip to Manly via the Manly ferry from Circular Quay.

              After visiting Oceanworld (stroked a baby croc !!! and saw lots of Sharks etc.) and a quick Lunch, the afternoon was spent on the beach before a very choppy ride back to Sydney.

After making the most of the free cocktails in the Hotels, we took a cab down to Darling Harbour for something to eat and a few beers in the Watershed Pub overlooking the Water with a fantastic backdrop of Sydney City.

Day6: Back to Darling Harbour by Ferry this time, to visit Sydney Wildlife World with all the different Aussie animals.

We met our first Koalas and had a nice pic taken with them  - Samantha was very privileged to be peed on !!! (by the Koala).

Another excellent lunch looking over Darling Harbour before strolling back to the Opera House for yet another load of pics.

Spent the evening taking advantage of the free cocktails again in the Horizons Lounge beofre going up to Level 36 to the Blue Horizons Bar with a 180 degree view over Sydney Harbour

Day7: Up bright and early for our 08:15 flight from SYD - Ayers Rock - an easy 2hrs 45min flight.

 Got a great view of the Rock on the approach in to land.

Picked up our hire car and got in to the Desert Gardens Hotel where our room had another great view of the Rock. We decided to chill for the afternoon and spent it by the pool - nice and refreshing with the Temperature at 95degrees.

Went out to view the sunset over the rock and found a v quiet spot where we managed to bump in to a semi-pro photographer who was kind enopugh to take a few pics of all 3 of use together.

Day8:  Up even earlier and picked up at 06:10 by the Helicopter pilot for our sunrise flight over Ayers Rock (Uluru) and Kata Tjuta (The Olgas).

Can't really describe the views but hopefully the pics will give an idea when we download them.

Then drove around the rock for a close up view and some major photo taking (400 pics!!!) before visting the Aboriginal Culture Centre.

Afternoon by the pool and then back to the rock for Sunset before a few beers at the Outback Pioneer Hotel.

Day9 : Flight QF1105 AYQ-MEL - arrived in Melbourne 15:20 and took a cab to Radisson on Flagstaff Gardens.

A quick bag drop to our room and then out for a stroll in the City where we took luncj in Federation Square overlooking the City skyline.

Then a stroll down the Yarra River where we found a big event called 'Moomba' -  an annual Family event with displays on the Yarra and a big funfair / live music etc.

Got back to our Hotel after another stroll via Swanston Street (Melbourne's main shopping street) and had a few drinks in the Radisson Bar.

Day10: Train to Geelong