After 9000kms and 31 days travelling we arrived back at Mount Macedon this afternoon.  Today is Noel's birthday and Mum had a birthday cake waiting for him, along with the presents which we hadn't taken with us to save space.
We've had a fantastic trip and seen a lot of Australia's east coast, but still loads more to see.  Time for a rest now, though.

The planning of this trip has been half the fun!  We'll be covering quite a lot of ground but plenty of stays of around 2-3 days in between drives.  During the trip we'll be stopping in Canberra, Sydney, Tamworth (roll on the Country Music Hall of Fame!), Tenterfield (have to see the birthplace of Peter Allen), Brisbane, Cooroy, Hervey Bay, Emerald (Noel wants to find a "thunder egg"!), Townsville, Tully/Mission Beach, Airlie Beach, Rockhampton, Surfers Paradise, Port Macquarie, Sydney, Canberra then back to Melbourne on Christmas Eve.  Should be great fun - we'll update the site wherever we can with photos and entries.
We'll be staying with friends, some motels and quite a few youth hostels.  We've joined YHA and are really looking forward to meeting new people and to prepare us for our overseas travels.  The travel's definitely going to be on a budget so that we can travel longer - no more 5* hotels (woe is me!).

We've been with Melissa's parents (and brother in Mount Macedon) for about a month now where Noel's been busy helping with the garden and outside painting.  Melissa became very adept at ironing and cooking so we've been earning our keep!  One day whilst gardening, Noel heard a strange noise and turned around to see a mummy koala walking across the back yard with a little one on her back!  Very cute, so photo attached.  Melissa's parents live up in the hills about an hour north of Melbourne so lots of wildlife around.