And so the second leg of my trip has begun! First impressions. Oz is awesome.

Bounced into Brisbane on Wednesday with the worst jetlag imaginable – to say I was zombie-fied would be an understatment. In the first 24 hours I managed to lock myself out of my room twice and when I was told we were having meat pie for dinner I went around saying ’oooo meat pie Monday my favourite!’ and didn’t realise for hours that it was actually Wednesday…

Anyhow – my first port of call was a great little hostel called the Kookuburra Inn. I would definitely recommend it to anyone as although it’s not the liveliest place in Brisbane the couple that run it are so so sweet and did everything they could to help my intro to Oz go smoothly.

One of things they did help me do was organise a trip to Fraser Island – If you visit this end of Oz you simple have to get over there. I headed out with a tour group of 9 and we bounced around the island in a four wheel drive for two days visiting lakes and beaches and rainforests which looked like they’d stepped right out of the setting for lord of the rings or something.

That said, Brisbane itself is really a beautiful city – I can already see why so many people want to emigrate here!

Yesterday, having a day to kill before heading down south I took myself up to Lone Pine – a koala sanctuary about a 30 bus ride out of Brisbane. It was the cutest place imaginable – I go to cuddle koala’s, feed kangeroos and avoid emus (I just think they look evil – no way I’m petting one of those….).

My time in Brisbane unfortunately went all too quickly though and so last night I jumped on a greyhound bus down to Tamworth where I’m about to go and play cowgirl.

Tomorrow morning I’m being picked up and taken out to a ranch in the outback – I’ll be shearing sheep, mustering cattle and cracking whips in no time (hopefully!). With no internet connection or phone signal it’ll be more than a little strange though, I’ve never been that cut off from the world and I think I’m already getting withdrawal symptoms!

I should probably confess that being a cowgirl has been a lifelong dream… ever see Thelma and Louise? You remember that scene with Brad Pitt? Well let’s just say it’s a good job I’m not single because that was easily the catalyst for my entire sexual awakening… think I might just have to bring back one of those cowboy hates for the boyfriend….

• australia
• Brisbane
• Thelma and Louise