Back on the road...

As our flight out of Australia was from Sydney we decided to fly from Melbourne to Cairns and make our way down the east coast back to Sydney over about 4 weeks.

When we left Melbourne its fair to say it was bl00dy freezing, so landing in the tropics and back to the warmth was just what the doctor ordered. Checked into a place called Gulligans which is a bit of a party hostel with a MASSIVE outdoor screen to watch the world cup and wimbeldon on which was quality. Really great place actually, met some really nice people.

Its from Cairns we also got a boat trip out to the Great Barrier Reef to scuba dive for 3 days! This had been in the planning for so long and was one of the main reasons we did our PADI over in Thailand at the beginning of the trip. The compnay we went with was Prodive and the boat was ScubaPro3. Early start that morning to meet up with everyone and get out on to the reef.

It was abouta 3 hour journey out to our first dive site, and bl00dy hell was it a choppy 3 hours. Before leaving anyone who was sea sick were suggested to take motion sickness tablets, which a few people decided they would be fine - Ermmm wrong!! I'd say 80% of people on the boat were sea sick. I managed to hold it in - only just tho, I've never been on such mental boat ride - up and down side to side. Was so glad to get out to the reef and anchor up.

We spent 2 nights 3 days out on the reef visting about 3 or 4 reefs and did with a total of 12 dives available. Some people were doing their Open Water or Advanced Courses. Everyone else was certifed and given briefings prior to each dive on where to go what to look for etc... and then left to our own devices. I found the first dive a little strange as it was the first time out by ourselves and the our first dive since October last year. Just took a little getting us to again, once I was use to it again tho it was amazing and had the best 3 days. Saw so much, the reef and fish were stunning, and swimming with turtles in crsytal clear blue water will stay with me forever. Even did a couple of night dives which is a very odd feeling and little nervie at first - especially when you first get in the water and your greeted with a reef shark!! Scared ya say - nah not me - honest!!

At night everyone would relax and have a few drinks on the deck which gave for an awesome few of the stars... because there was no light pollution anywhere the you could see so much - very impressive sight. We even managed to get a watch the Netherlands - Uraguay at 4am one morning which was quality. then just as finished got a dive in before breakfast, the reef at sun rise is a hive of activity its like rush hour everyone waking up. Very memerable dive - saw so much.

Diving on the reef is one of the hightlights of the trip - and something I will be doing again when I can.

Back on dry land a little tired we just relaxed and chilled out in Cairns for a few more days.

All of our travel down the coast was booked on the Oz Exprience which is a hop on hop off bus that covers most of Oz, and the bus drivers are like tour guides stopping off at places along the way and keeping everyone on the bus's entertained. First bus was Cairns to Magnetic Island with our driver Disco - who an absolute legend! Such a funny guy. On the way to Magnetic Island we stopped off at a Crocodile farm... saw some big crock's and someone put a snake round my neck... Ermmmm get that thing off me!!! Wasn't that bad really! But won't be rushing out to get a pet snake thats for sure!

We had only one night in Magnetic Island which was a bit of a shame as it seemed really nice. We had planned 2 nights but a mix up by our tour operator meat we had to cut it short and head straight down to Arlie Beach, which meant hopping straight onto the Bus again with Disco and heading straight down to Arlie.

Where we would spent nearly a week... including 3 days out on the Whitsundays. Which is where I'll pick it up from next time.

Much love
Ravey
x x