Work & Travel New Zealand 2008/2009

September 19 - October 6, 2008

On Friday, September 19 I boarded a train at Brisbane's Roma Street Station which took me to Maryborough West. Then, after 30 minutes bus ride from Maryborough, I arrived in Hervey Bay in the late afternoon. I was really excited and looking forward to 6 days of Whale Expedition, 3 days on Fraser Island and 3 days on Lady Elliot Island.

Hervey Bay is situated 300 km north of Brisbane. It is a very popular holiday destination, also for Australians. The whole township consists pretty much of hotels, backpacker hostels, restaurants and bars and shops. And a campground is there too. In winter, the temperatures are between 14 and 23 degrees, in summer between 22 and 29 degrees (celcius). Very nice, isn't it?

It wasn't too easy for me to find a hostel because I would be staying for 8 nights but with breaks in between when I was on the boat and on the tours. The hostel I wanted to stay in, the new "Next Backpackers" wanted to put me into a 12-bed-dorm after coming back from the Whale Expedition, of course it was no question I wouldn't go there! So I ended up at one of the smaller places in Scarness, the "Friendly Hostel". I was lucky because it was cheaper than the other one and ... I had a 3-bed-dorm for myself the first two nights! Very luxury for a backpacker

Before I could enjoy Hervey Bay and really look forward to my Whale Expedition adventure, I had to get over a very annoying incident: I lost my new (bought it a few weeks before I started traveling...) little Canon IXUS 80IS camera!!! I left it on the train when I left it in Maryborough West. I was so angry with myself because ... how can one be soooooooooo stupid and simply forget the camera in the seat pocket? I still can't believe it! (Hmpf!) So I spent most of the evening on the phone, talking to Queensland Rail if the camera was found. Of course it wasn't, someone must have found it and kept it... I left the phone number of the hostel in case it would be handed in, but unfortunately this didn't happen...

On Saturday, September 20, I took a bike from the hostel (they are free for guests staying there - great!) and had a closer look at Hervey Bay. There is a very nice bike- and footpath that goes along the beach to the harbour at the end of the town.

When I had a closer look at the beach I saw some people fishing. And where people are fishing - there are pelicans around I absolutely love these birds, they are sooooooooooooo funny! Of course I had to have a closer look and was able to take some nice photos:

After a while, one of the fishermen started talking to me and then he took a photo of me and the pelicans. Well, at least one of the pelicans

I went back to the hostel quite early in the afternoon (after checking out some shops and getting something for dinner from the supermarket), because I had to get ready for the Whale Expedition. On Sunday morning, 7.30 am, I had to be at the marina