TOWNSVILLE

Hi All,

well we have arrived into townsville safe and sound. In fact we arrived two days ago, but our internet and the hotel has been on the fritz but it seems to be working perfectly now.

The morning of the flight;
Dan and i woke up at 4.30 to be at the airport by 5.30. What a frosty morning we woke up too. We got to the airport and check in our extremely heavy luggage of a combined 63kgs not including our two carry-ons which im very certain weighed more then 7kgs each. but oh well the plane didnt go down so it must of been fine.
We said our tearful 'see ya soons'. We didnt want to say goodbye because it wasnt a goodbye, were coming back eventually.

The flight to Auckland went smoothly, we both kept thinking its finally happening. Once we landed into auckland we made our way to the international terminal quite a pleasant walk. Went in through passport control. I got to go through the special screening one because my passport has a chip where dan and VG (Adam Van Gelder another airforce person going) had to go through another area. we got our duty free - southern comfort for Sarah - I later realised that they probably don't have L&P in Aussie :o this was later confirmed that evening! and Daniel got his Jack Daniels Black.

We pretty much didn't have much time between our domestic and international, so it was great because we didn't have time to be sad about leaving New Zealand. Our flight from Auckland to Brisbane was cool. We were on a Boeing 777-300er it was FLASH and the meal on the plane was awesome. Cajun chicken salad. aparently it was a business class meal that was very successful that they brought it into economy!! We aint complaining.

Once we arrived into Brisbane we/i were expecting massive immigration checks similar to our MAF but no collect our bags and then go straight through. When we went through passport control the lady said they just had 3 international planes arrive so they were expecting at least 800 people to pass through and this was at 11am local time (1pm NZ time)

Here we meet up with another couple Becky & Phil Boyce. we all caught the train to the domestic terminal.  For those that are looking at coming to visit. their is also a train that leaves at the same spot to go to the gold coast aparently it is only and hours train ride. and i cant personally guarantee it will be amazing scenery.

The heat here is definetly different to that of new zealand. Its humid! not an intense burning heat like what you get back home. you start off feeling quiet sticky but you get use to it soon enough.

So the flight from BRisbane to TOwnsville was pretty much what you would expect flying Palmy to Auckland just a little longer and a bigger plane! Couldnt wait to land.

We were greeted at the Airport by Dave from the Australian Army - he is the one daniel and the rest will be reporting too. THen we picked up our car - a Holden Barina 5dr much to daniels dislike its a automatic lol

We then went and checked into our hotel - The Aquarius which is located on the Strand. To those of you who dont know this is the name of the strip of beach. its very beautiful, palm trees, walk ways its great to walk along in the evening :)
 after we checked in. Our room has a view over the ocean towards MAgnetic island.
we went out for dinner with the others to The steak house - The Seaview hotel. they make the most delicious wood burned pizzas yum!
Then back to the hotel.
The temperature here is amazing 30degrees everyday and sunshine galore.Thank goodness for airconditioning in the hotel.
Because were by the beach you get a gentle sea breeze and it makes it a bit more bareable for us kiwi folks.

Talk to you guys soon
p.s My nz phone is still working here, were looking at getting our new cellphone numbers today
will let everyone know once we get them

This is pretty much it for now