Nimbin, Surfers, Zorbing and Brisbane...

So we arrived in Nimbin at 9.30am and headed straight to the candle factory. They use old fashioned methods and no chemicals which is good. Thre were alot of nice candles to buy but I didn't really want any. We went into Nimbin for breakfast etc. Nimbin is actually well known for tolerating cannibis although it is still illegal. We could've bought hash cookies or chocolates but I'm not really like that and I don't think anyone did from our group.
It is such a colourful, hippy place and everyone is so laid back. Everyone seems to live an alternative lifestyle so they grow their own veg, use solar power etc. Quite good really. They also hold a Mardi Grass annually to peacefully protest for hash to be legalised. We checked out the little museum which was sweet.
We left Nimbin around 11.30 and headed to Surfers Paradise. On the way we stopped off at Point Danger, NSW/QLD border, and stopped to take some pictures. We got to Surfers around lunchtime. There isn't really much to do there except shop and surf I guess. We had a wander round and grabbed a pizza slice for lunch. We left there around 3pm and headed out past all the amusement parks including where Oz BB is filmed.
Just past there we pulled into zorbing, you'll understand this more once I am able to post pictures.... We got there and grabbed our swimwear and towels. We did this in groups of 3 so Tash, Kelly and I got taken up this small hill together where the zorb was waiting. A zorb is a large inflatable ball with a small ball inside. The guy at the top was chucking in some warm water into the smaller ball (apparently to stop us sticking to the inside) and then we each had to dive in through the entrance hole. Once in we couldn't see what was going on out side which was a bit freaky. We started to roll down the hill and we were just laughing our heads off as we sloshed about inside!!! People had laid down in front of us as we rolled down so we rolled over them but we had no idea.... Once we were at the bottom we had to be re-born in the sense of jumping out the hole. It was great fun and I'm glad I did it.
We arrived in Brisbane around 6pm and got into our hostel, Palace Backpackers. We were in a 3 bed room so we freshened up and then went to the pub for our cheap $6 steak, it was good a bit like wetherspoons steak I suppose. Had a few drinks with some of the group and probably went to bed around 11ish.
We had to move rooms because we could hear like a rat or something scratching under the floorboards although to be honest after the night we had I doubt that would've made a difference. We had very little sleep due to the TV being really loud and drunken backpackers shouting and running all round the hostel, it got quiet around 6am!! I complained and was told thats what I should expect from backpackers as the majority are like that, not impressed...
Well Kelly and I got up around 7am anyway because we just wanted to get washed and out. Tash left on the bus this morning so we didn't see her. We went off in search of a new hostel and ended up staying in Cloud 9, booked for 2 nights as I was booked on the Saturday bus.
We didn't really do too much this day. I finally got my visa stamp put in my passport!! We wandered round, Kelly bought a camera and we went to the fake beach on Southbank. It was quite nice. We did go back to our new kostel for an afternoon nap which was good and needed. Had a good dinner and an early night.
We got up at 8 the next day and had breakfast on our way into town. We jumped on the bus to Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary which was about 45 minutes away. We spent half the day there. Saw all the animals. Held a koala and listened to the talk about them which was interesting. We also fed the kangeroos which was ok, they didn't care about you unless you had food!! It was a nice day, I had been there when I visited last time so was odd to go back. Its strange now getting to places I came to then, seems a different life.
We left there around 2pm and got the bus back to town. We wandered round the shops where I bought some new tops. Had a nice dinner of Oysters which was good.
Popped on the net when we got back to the hostel, we chatted for a bit and then I called mum and talked to her which was nice.
Bed at about 11pm.
I was up early the next day, 6am, to catch the Oz bus to Noosa which is where I am now. Dane was my driver, who we had met at Barrington - he had looked after Kelly during her chuck up moments!!! That was funny. We stopped to check out the Glasshouse Mountains on our way, we walked up to a lookout which was good. Got to Noosa around 10.30am...
Sorry I keep getting behind, at least it gives you more to read at a time!!! I will try to go somewhere that I can upload pictures from and get a few up there.
Love Dawnie
xxx