Sorry we've not been keeping our blog/photos up-to-date but the internet in Oz is very expensive and our budget is now gone!!!! Since we left Sydney we have been travelling up the East Coast of Australia and stopping in some great places along the way.

First of all we had our second surf lesson at a place called Spot X before heading to the hippie town of Byron Bay which was a very chilled out and laid back kind of place with a pretty little lighthouse. We walked to the lighthouse on the top of the hill one day and stopped half way because we saw humped back whales playing in the sea.

Then it was onto the city of Brisbane. Here we spent 4 days and explorewd the city. There was a man made beach on the southbank which was nice to relax around. One day we also took a boat cruise up the Brisbane River to the Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary where Donna finally got a hold a koala and get a photo taken. The city is very modern but tasteful and our hostel was lovely.

After the city we headed to Rainbow beach which is the gateway to Fraser Island, the largest sand island in the world, and home to some amazing sights including wild dingos. We did a day trip to the island and the weather was beautiful, a bit too many tourist around for our liking but still a beautiful island.

As part of our bus ticket we also had a night on a cattle station which was great. We arrived early afternoon so we got to lasso goats, ride a mechinal bull and have a go a whip cracking. From here we went to Airlie Beach which is the gateway to the Whitsunday Islands. Again we did a day trip sailing around the islands, although the weather was gray and dull, the islands still looked beautiful and we even did some snorkelling too.

After a few more stops, including staying in a 'treehouse' in the middle of the rainforest at Mission Beach, we finally arrived into Cairns. Very hot, sunny and we have been doing alot of sunbathing since we've arrived. We also did a trip out to the Great Barrier Reef to do some snorkelling. It was amazing, the water was very clear, brilliant brightly colourful fish and we even swam with a turtle. Today we start our voluteering project out in the rainforest which we are looking forward too, before we head out to New Zealand next week.