Deciding we didn’t want to spend the next three weeks at a caravan park we left to go to James Sharp Park. J.S Park is a beautiful spot, right next to a gorgeous flowing stream were we spent most of our sunny afternoons splashing around and having fun. We even managed to make a couple of friends while we were there and had an awesome game of cricket in the slowly diminishing light. We spent 3 days at J.S Park and while we were there we even spotted a Platypus swimming around the creek.

On Sunday we drove to Tamborine Mountain and went for a walk to have a look at the Curtis Falls. When we were walking along the track we could hear the gentle lapping pitter patter of the water fall, falling over the crest of the cliff then slowly descending down to the water pool below. It was such a serene and beautiful image. To be able to walk through a tropical Queensland rainforest and realize how different all the states are is just so mind boggling.

On Monday after we had left J.S Park we slowly made our way back to the Gold coast and now I’m just twitching with excitement about going to the Theme parks. I don’t think I’ll be able to sleep tonight.

It was the time I’ve been waiting for, finally we get to go to the theme parks. People have always been telling me about the rides and I’m determined to go on every- single- one. First off we were going to Wet ‘n Wild. I wasn’t sure if I was excited about Wet n’ Wild particularly or if I was just excited because we were actually going to one of the theme parks. Well we arrived at Wet n’ Wild in no time and were soon racing down the eight lane racer. When suddenly Jordan and I were standing in a little tube with a different coloured plastic floor underneath us and then 3 2 1… Aghhhhhhhhhhh, all of a sudden I fell. The floor from beneath my feet was gone. I was whizzing around in a blue translucent water slide almost getting stuck in the loop, my adrenaline was pumping inside me and then AIR. Fresh air. It was over in less than 10 seconds, I was safe. After this total phenomenon I replayed the whole story to Mum and Dad. Dad seemed interested but not so much mum, anyway Jordan, Dad and I raced up the stairs to do the whole Aqua Loop experience again. The rest of the day we went on more rides and enjoyed them all it was a really fun day and I can’t wait ‘til we go to Movie World tomorrow.

Yay, we’re going to another theme park I‘m just so excited. We arrived at Movie World and went under the big gate. I was totally rapt about the whole thing. The first ride we went on was the Batwing Spaceshot. Dad, Mum, Jordan and I were soon strapped into the seats and in no time we were waiting in the air about 2 metres off the ground. Then it started counting down 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 then SILENCE. During this silence my stomach started getting all knotted up and the butterflies were whirling around like crazy, then Whoosh we were up in the air in a matter of seconds. It was totally pumping and really fun.

After a couple more rides we went to watch the Hollywood Stunt cars show. I loved the show so much it was thrilling and amazing, my favourite part was when the car jumped out of one building into the next building and then a big explosion happened. It was so HOT!

After the show Dad, Jordan and I went to go on the Lethal Weapon while Mum took Levi and Miriam to WB kids zone. While Dad, Jordan and I were walking through these well-crafted Chinese back alleys I couldn’t help notice that my stomach was turning upside down and inside out. While I was getting strapped into my harness I felt that same feeling as on the Aqua Loop. Then it happened. The rollercoaster started moving, slowly going up and we all know that what goes up must come down. It did come down, but at terrifying speeds we were whizzing through the air and I thought I was going to hit my legs on one of the pylons. We went upside down and while we were just dangling there underneath this big metal body I was silently praying I wouldn’t die. Suddenly it stopped with an abrupt halt. Oh what I wouldn’t give to do it all over again it was just terrifyingly awesome.

For the rest of the day we watched shows went on some more rides which were; Wild West Falls, Batman Simulator and the Scooby-Doo spooky coaster. Somehow though I thought we were missing something, Is it a Bird, Is it a Plane No it’s the Superman Escape. Yes it is, the Superman escape. Jordan and I lined up while Mum and Dad looked after Miriam and Levi then vice versa. After about 10 minutes Jordan and I hopped into our seats when I realised it was that feeling again except this time it was 10 times stronger. We then started moving, going slowly through this really awesome set about how the subway is going to collapse because of an earthquake, then suddenly someone starts speaking it was Superman and he was going to get us outta here fast …. Superman Fast. ZzzzzOOOOoooooMMMMmmmm off we went from 0 to 100km/h in 1.2 seconds I felt like I was flying it was so much fun, I think I didn’t have enough air left in me to be able to scream so I just sat there stunned and had no idea what to do. It was heaps of fun though and I’m glad I went on it. Well how’s that for a school excursion I think it was heaps of fun and I really don’t know what to say but I hope tomorrow comes fast …… Superman fast.

Wow another theme park and this one is just meant to be about the rides. I can’t wait. Early in the morning we left our camp site to go to Dream world. I’m really looking forward to this one because I’ve heard it’s all about the rides and they have got heaps of thrill rides.

We got to Dream world and pretty much had no idea what ride to go on first so we did whatever. As a family we decided we would go on the Moto coaster. The Moto coaster is a roller coaster with lots of motor bikes all in 2’s. It’s really fun because it feels like you’re riding a real motor bike. After the Moto coaster we all went to Nickelodeon Central and we went on; SpongeBob Flypants, Runaway Raptor and the Spooty Coaster. For the rest of the day we went on more rides and then Mum and Dad suggested Jordan and I go on the Tower of Terror II and the Giant Drop before we have lunch. Although I strongly protested I might do it next time we come back.

For lunch we went to the Billabong Restaurant, it was all you can eat and kids eat free. So we ate all we could and they even had and ice-cream dispenser it was so cool I loved it, especially the chocolate mousse.

After lunch we all went over to the Cyclone. I’ve got to admit that as I was hopping into my seat I was feeling a little bit queasy mainly because this is actually the first time in my life that I’ve been on a rollercoaster, apart from the Superman Escape, and well look how that turned out. So I’m sitting there with the harness around me and then it moves slowly at first then starts ascending upwards and yes we all know the theory so I just wanted to get it over with. After it went down I was actually enjoying myself and I thought this is really fun woohhooo. The Roller-coaster even spiralled through White Water World and went around the slides, it was really funny seeing the people wave at you.

Now finished with that, we slowly made our way back to the car but not until after one more ride. Jordan and I decided we would go on the Claw, it looked fun and the line was small, so we hopped in our seat. It started moving and gaining altitude each time it swung, in fact I thought I it was going to do a 360 spin but it didn’t and after a while the ride was finished and so was our day at Dream world.

Wow, what a week, crazed aqua loop rides at Wet n’ Wild, Insane speeds at Movie World, Family fun at Dream world. Now it’s time for us to relax and the animals get to work because today we are going to Sea world. Dad decided he would park the car facing the mono rail so people could read our sign, not a bad idea. After that settled we slowly walked into sea world and got a copy of the show times. The first show at 12 pm was the Pirates Unleashed so we decided we would just chill until the show started.

We were all missing the rides from the other parks a bit so we went to go on the Jet Rescue. The Jet Rescue was a bit like the Moto Coaster except that off course it is a Jet Ski not a Motorbike. The second difference is that it goes a lot faster than the Moto Coaster. We all climbed aboard the Jet Ski and waited for the people to check the harness then we moved and fast it’s amazing how it can accelerate that fast. I really liked the Jet Rescue except the fact that I couldn’t breathe because my harness was squashing my lungs but other than that I thought it was awesome.

The next ride is the Sea Viper. The Sea Viper actually wasn’t that good so in that case I am not allowed to right about it in full detail I’m just allowed to say it was okay. 12 o’clock on the hickory dickory clock. It means it’s time we go and watch Pirates Unleashed. We found our seats in no time and once the show had finished we were talking about it all the way to the Sesame Street beach. I truly loved the show and thought it was awesome how they can manage to do so many backflips and everything they were so acrobatic and it was really cool to watch.

The next show starts at 2pm and that’s the fish detectives with Buddy and Claude. The Fish show was awesome I can’t believe how they can train the animals to do that. The animals in this show were seals and sea lions it was really fun to watch them do what they were trained to do. It was hysterical when they chose a volunteer to go up and get questioned and Claude rested his head on the unsuspecting volunteer’s shoulder. We caught the mono rail over to the Castaway bay and played on the Sky playground it was really fun. At 3pm we all walked over to watch the Dolphin show Imagine. After the Dolphin show, which by the way was very amusing and fun and I loved seeing the dolphins jumping up and down and especially when the guys rode on the dolphins back, then we left finished, done, our day at Sea World was over and so was week 15.

It is a beautiful sunny spring day today, the sun is shining the birds are singing and to top it all off it’s the weekend. I never thought I would be so happy about a weekend on this trip. Today we decided we would turn it down a notch and go for a leisurely drive to Brisbane. Dad was very excited about going to Brisbane because it’s the last capital city he needs to go to so he can say he’s been to them all.

Brisbane wasn’t exactly how I thought it would be in fact it looked very depressing. All the buildings were grey and the streets were really bad the only part of Brisbane I liked was southern Brisbane. It was beautiful we walked down this walkway with bougainvillea’s they are exquisite plants with green vines that climb up the arch and expose the glorious purple coloured leafs. Once we had finished strolling along the boardwalk we came upon a man-made beach. It was called the Streets beach. It was very pretty and had lots of people splashing around having fun. After a while of looking around we headed back home to get ready for our trip to the all you can eat buffet for dinner.

For dinner we ended up at Patios restaurant in the Gold Coast international Hotel. Dinner was lovely we had a choice of seafood, hot rices, and curries, there was a selection of salads and a choice of assorted breads also available. Finally for desserts the food at offer was; chocolate mousse, fruit salad, small assorted tarts, little cakes, apple crumble, rhubarb fool and last but not lease Ice cream. For the lack of savoury food I had I made it up with desserts.

After our belly’s complained of too much food or not enough it was finally decide that we would go for a leisurely stroll along the beach before returning to our caravan suite.

Today was freezing. I was starting to question if I was insane or not because today we decide we would go to White Water World. We tried to go on most of the rides which were nothing compared to Wet n’ wild. There really is nothing thrilling to write about except to say that the water was freezing and I think I am going to die from hypothermia. Soon enough we decided to leave go have a warm shower and then stroll along the paths at Harbour Town.

At Harbour town we were determined to find the My Family stickers which happen to be the latest craze in the Gold Coast. After talking to a few unknown sources we discovered what we were looking for. For dad we got a business dad, for mum we got a shopping mum, for Jordan we got iPod older boy, for me we got a socialite older girl, for Levi we got a soccer younger boy and finally for Miriam we got an artist little girl. We were all relived that we now have a family and drove home raving about all the stickers eager to put them on the car when we got back “Home”.

For the rest of the week we revisited all the parks and went on all the rides again. When we went to dream world though I felt this nagging thought tormenting me saying ‘ Emily do the Tower of Terror and the Giant Drop, Seek the Thrill’ and do you know what I did I went on those rides. Once I was buckled into my seat on the tower of terror I felt my heart leap into my throat and I couldn’t breathe I had heard this thing could go from 0 – 160 km/h in a few seconds I had no idea what I had talked myself into and I’m pretty sure Jordan felt the same way. Then that familiar count down started 5 4 3 2 1 ZzzzzzzOOOOOoooooMMMMMmmmmmm.

The deep rumbling sound started the we were off at a 160 km/h flying up up up the ramp then it felt like it had stopped only for a milli second then we fell down facing gravity face first I was so……… utterly ……….happy that had to be the best ride I’ve ever been on it was awesome I cannot explain the way the butterflies started jumping up and down in my stomach all I wanted to do was to feel that adrenaline pumping rush all over again.

I had my chance I was lining up for the Giant Drop all by myself waiting patiently and expectantly when Jordan runs over to me and waits there too. I’m thinking why on earth would Jordan come at the last minute. After 3 minutes we were on strapped in and slowly ascending already I was telling myself I was born to do this is what I had longed for the feeling of the unknown the blood pumping adrenaline the rush of the ride this. This is what I love this is the feeling I’ve been longing for.

By the time I had finished day dreaming we were at the top and any second now we will drop all the thoughts of when is this going to drop had long left my mind because by that time we were dropping descending like a tone of brick dropped of a major skyscraper. This is breathtaking and it feels like I’m floating on air with no seat underneath me. I love this, it is mindboggling and the view wow it is indescribable so serene and beautiful. I love this feeling of being the wind beneath the wing I love floating in the air and falling knowing I’m not going to die I just love it.

It’s all over. The rush of adrenaline, the fun slow rides, the feeling of the floor falling beneath your feet: it’s all over. We are ready to start travelling again but in my heart I know that I will never forget this experience. It has been so awesome. I just loved it.