DAY 4: IN THE SWAMPS AND ON THE MISSISSIPPI We started our last full day in New Orleans with a swamp tour. We saw a couple of baby gators but unfortunately their mums and dads tend to go hiding during the colder seasons. Sitting in a low to the water, flat-bottomed boat though, I don't know how comfortable you'd be if you were to come face-to face with some of the 20ft residents we were told about - regardless if the swamp boat captain knows them on a first name...

DAY 3: A DAY ON THE PLANTATIONS An early start today as we met up with Cajun Encounters for our plantations tour. They took us an hour west of the city to the town of Vacherie. The drive itself was a bit of an experience - New Orleans was heavy with fog this morning and the highway out is built on, and cuts through, swamp land that was covered in a thick mist. Even when we crossed the Mississippi, you couldn't see the river, only barely making out the top of do...

DAY 2: BY THE RIVER AND AT THE MUSEUM After our day yesterday, it should probably come as no surprise that we all slept in 'a little' today. We woke to grey skies and overcast conditions, but thankfully no rain. We took a short stroll to Jackson Square, Washington Artillery Park and took in the sights along the famous Mississippi River. We then tested the taste buds by sampling the local cuisine for lunch - and let's face it, it doesn't get any more 'local' in...

DAY 1: THE LONG HAUL Well we finally made it to New Orleans! The trip here was a long one, pretty much a full day all up being spent on a plane or in an airport, but I'm glad we knocked it over in the one hit. The 13hr Brisbane-LA leg was pretty smooth, though not much sleep was had (thanks mainly to their inbuilt entertainment system in the back of every seat - two thumbs from Josh!). The long queues at immigration made short work of our 2hr layover at LAX, bu...