I have finally been able to steal a few minutes to get in touch with you all again! This part of the trip has been nothing but none stop but it has been insane.

We arrived in Cairns on the 11th and picked up our van on the 13th. We managed to make it to Port Douglas as well for the day where they have a 4mile golden beach which has absolutely nobody on it. The hostel was pretty basic but we made some good mates who ended up travelling with us all the way (Luke, Jacko & Chris).

The first whole day we had we went scuba diving around the reef which was an amazing experience. If you were ever to do your first scuba dive this is really the place to do it! The colours and the variety of the life down there was breath-taking.

We managed to find the Woolshed on the first night which started with their goldfish racing and then went on to wet t-shirt competitions etc, you know the usual. The next day we spent whitewater rafting and we managed to get thrown out of the boat which was almost as embarrasing as being saved by a girl! still at least I'm alive.

Unfortunately the speed of the computers here are so slow I can't get my pics on so I will add them if/when I can but it may now need to wait till the States or home.

Anyway, we left Cairns on the 14th with Luke, Jacko and Chris in tow heading for Airlie Beach (Whitsundays) which was incredibly beautiful. We spent the day on a boat snorkelling around the reefs and the beaches. You really should see the Xmas photo we took for everyone! The sand on this beach apparently is not allowed to be removed or face a massive fine, the last sand to be taken from the beaches there was by Nasa for the lens on the Hubble Telescope. Oooh I hear you all say!

So after a day in stunning Airlie we headed for Townsville and then through to Makay. There wasn't really much to do at either but on the way we stopped at a tiny little town called Seerena where we watched the Liverpool vs Utd game. The pub was tiny and had only three locals in there with the barman. As we got in there we got asked if we had turned up for fight night because a bloke (who later turned out to be the owner) walked out the toilet with blood all down his shirt because his 'mate' hit him?! We were offered free room and drink in the pub upstairs but we decided to keep driving down to Rockhampton.

So we got down to Hervey Bay which is where you go over to Fraser Island. Unfortunately the weather wasn't the best but the 4x4 off-roading around the island was so much fun, hurt a bit but worth it. It was a great Island but not really much else to do on it but go swimming in the lakes and drive around.

After all this we kept moving down to Brisbane were we spent the night out in a backpackers bar where Jacko took it upon himself to get drunk enough for all of us and walk round grabbing girls noses and sticking his finger in their ears! How he didn't get hit is beyond me yet he is insistant that it's his cheeky looks!

Right now we are in Surfers Paradise. We had a BBQ on the beach last night and even Jezza (from Phi Phi Island) came up to join us which was really good. He should be coming out with us tonight as well to show us the best spots. We have been surfing and baking all day on the beach and it'll be the same tomorrow! After here we will be heading over to Byron Bay for a couple of days and then to Sydney for Xmas and New Years. I'm hoping I will be able to get my photos on there for you all.

Well guys and gals this has been (in brief) our 7 day trip in a van with 5 blokes over 2000Km, it has been a marathon!

So look after yourselves and enjoy Xmas and New Years!

Missing you all