Last day of tour and we were heading to Cairns. We drove through lots of small towns which had been built during the gold rush but were still suriving with a few tourists and the cattle farms. At MT Surprise we stopped and visited a man to see his snake collection. Everyone was able to handle the snakes and have their photo taken with them around their neck. I needless to say spent the hour walking around trying to avoid anyone with a snake!! im sure it was vey interesting to all those people!! We headed into the Atherton Tablelands where the landscape changed and was much hillier and greener. THis area has lots of rainforest. we stopped at MIllstream falls for lunch and then walked to the waterfall. It is one of the widest falls in OZ. after a quick walk here we drove to Nandroya Falls. To access these falls we had to walk 30 mins through the rainforest that had been hit badly by Cyclone Larry in April. the when we arrived at the falls we all went for a swim. the water was freezing but still nice to relax in the water. WE then carried on driving through the tableands and seeing banana trees, tea plantations and sugar plantations. It is also a dairy farm area. Eventually got to Cairns at 6pm. we all met at 8pm for our free meal and some drinks. Think we were all in need of civilasation!!

This was a great trip, to see some of the real Australia and the remotest areas. IT is interesting to see how and why people would like/choose to live in this area and still make a living. It was different to the Stuart  Highway as there, there were always lots of cars passing and more roadhouses. here there was nothing but desert.