Gold Coast

We've left NSW and arrived in QLD, more specifically the Gold Coast.  A place our kids have been hanging out to see.  For that reason Charlotte will be writing the blog entry, seemed a good idea for people to hear it through her eyes.  I'll add a few captions for the photos.

We stayed in a caravan park called Treasure island.  Mum took us to the playground and for a swim at the pool at the caravan park.   There was a slide. 

We went to Movie World and Sea World with Katelyn and Sam.  Saw Polar bears but they weren't doing much.  I climbed up the climbing thing at sesame street all on my own.  There were lots of rides.  We saw a seal show, pirate show and the dolphin show.  I liked all of them.  Me and Katelyn got a hair thing (braid and wrap) like Chelsea, Bella and Amelia have.  Jake got an Elmo toy.
We went to Movie world and I went on the Sylvester bounce.  There was Looney Tunes rides.  Mum and Dad took us on the Scooby Doo ride, it was really freaky and fun.  We watched the stunt show, Batman show, Scooby Doo show and the Looney Tunes show.  Dad, Tracie and Leon went on the freaky frame ride (lethal weaponed) it was scarey.

These penguins were so interesting they came right up to the window and just watched us.  Think we were entertaining them or annoying them.

The first hug, the girls were so pleased.

All good!

Playing at a park by the beach

We took the kids on the Scooby Doo ride, was actually a bit scarey but of course Jake went on it twice!

The theme parks were all go, didn't seem to stop all day, the kids were tired as by the end of it.

We went to dinner with the Bells and their friends to the Casino Buffet.  We played our DS.  You got to choose your own food.  And Daddy could hardly walk after! (as per Mark).  Mummy loved all the seafood (as per mum).

Jake's mate

We got to have jelly beans on our desert.

I taught Jake and Sam to play thumb wars

We went to Outback Spectacular with the Bells and their friends.  We saw a show about cow boys and cow girls.  We had dinner and got a cow girl hat.  Dad got to be in the show with Leon and Gary.  It was funny cause they had to get in a boat and run and someone tripped and they all fell.

Outback spectacular was great, Charlotte especially loved it.

Mum and Dad took us to Dream World.  Jake was super super super excited about going to Wiggle World.  We went on the big red car ride 5 times.  We went on the kids roller coaster.  We saw shows.  We got to drive an old car.  We  went on the log ride and got wet. 

The four buddies, they had such a great time together and got on so well.  Hard to say goodbye.

Katelyn and Charlotte were happy to pose with the characters but no way could we get Jake anywhere near them.   They frightened him.  I even tried telling him it was just a 16year old in a costume but still no use.

This is Kenny and Belinda koala, Mark was so stoked to see them, they were there when he went with his family years ago.

We got to see this gorgeous baby koala, was so cute.

I'll just add a little more comments.  We stayed at this great caravan park, lovely and leafy and green for ten days.  Plenty for the kids to do with 3 pools, jumping pillow and playground.  Not to mention all the other kids around.  We met another family travelling like us.  Fiona and John (from Victoria) are travelling with their four kids in a camper trailer, kids loved having others around.  Mark and John went out to the casino, John did well, Mark not so much.  Was nice to have some other adults around to chat to and find out their travel ideas.  We went to all the main theme parks, and it's safe to say I'm just a tad over them now, was great for the kids though.  We spent lots of time with the Bell family and also got to catch up with Meg and her girls Carly and Sophi.  I also got time to head out for some shopping with Tracie and got a much needed hair cut.  Mark went with Leon to the Dick Johnson Racing museum and work shop tour, said it was great.  We also took the kids to White water world.  Was so much fun, not sure who enjoyed it more Mark or the kids.  I couldn't believe how brave they were, especially Jake, he went on some seriously big waterslides.  It was lovely and warm in QLD, nice to sit outside at night with a beverage.  We are now heading back to NSW, I know seems strange but we need to get some adjustments made to the van and managed to book into Coffs Harbour.  We going to stop at Kingscliff for a few days.  Mark keen as to head to Coolie Rocks, a 50's rock event in Coolangatta.