The last few days in Cairns and indeed Australia were really cool. The penultimate day was very 'touristy' with souvenir shopping, Ice Cream and sun lounging to be done! Apart from daytrips Cairns doesn't seem to offer a hell of a lot in the city itself so it was probably a good thing that we didn't have too many days reserved for here! After a very 'taxing day' of shopping and sunbathing we hung out at the lovely hostel that we have moved to called 'Northern Greenhouse'- almost double bunks (that you can actually sit up on!) kitchen area in each room, pool area, deck- lovely! We had started out at Calypso which was also absolutely lovely, but a bit of a way out of town!

On the last day I was booked into go on a day trip to the great barrier reef! The 65k journey out onto the first reef took about an hour and a half which wasn't too bad and we then had 2 and a half hours snorkelling time before moving onto the next reef. It was really cool to see the reef and there is some amazing coral there, although the colours are not quite the same as the posters you will have seen lead you to believe, lots of yellow, green and orange, but beautiful all the same! There were some really pretty fish at this reef too, no Nemo yet but we have been promised that from the next reef visit!

After a gorgeous BBQ lunch we moved onto Hastings Reef. I met a really lovely Irish couple onboard the boat that I chattered to in-between the snorkelling which was cool and a few other English and Canadians too and we compared notes on our trip up the coast! Hastings reef had more fish than the first site and was a bit shallower so we got to see a lot more as a snorkeler which was great. The company that I went with had a little semi sub contraption that we got to go out on and see the reef from a little deeper which was great, we finally saw a Clown 'Nemo' fish which kept everyone happy! There was a huge Maori Wrasse fish that came upto the boat, he is absolutely huge! Everyone was hugging him and one enthusiastic diver gave him a kiss, on his very green lips, eugh! I watched in amusement from the safety of the boat!

Arriving back at the Hostel at about 6, looking like a creature from the sea due to all of the salt water, there was just time for a quick shower before heading out to meet a few of the people that we had met on our trip up the east coast at the 'Woolshead'. Lots of cheesy music, dancing on the tables (this is encouraged, we haven't turned into strange table dancing weirdoes) and vodka's it was time to say goodbye Australia! I have had a great time here and will miss the friends made along the way! Next stop Singapore!