When we arrived in Cairns, we spent the day looking around/shopping for the week ahead.A lovely resort town with a huge pool/lagoon by the marina, which is free for the public to use-very much needed due to the intense heat and stingers in the sea!

Great Barrier Reef. Wow, we were both amazed by the creatures and plant life in the ocean.Saxon and Hastings Reef were the two locations our boat visited and we were provided with a delicious BBQ buffet for lunch.We were advised to wear stinger suits for our protection (we're now coming into jelly fish season) and giggled at the sight of ourselves wearing big blue condoms!We must have spent a good 5 hours in the water and the amazing part was that the water was the same as the air temperature - a balmy 30C! The water was only 5 feet deep - even though we were miles out to sea.Hundreds of tropical fish with rainbow colours, we even found Nemo and Crush!This trip definitely did not disappoint and we were so happy to spend that much time in the ocean.

Our third day saw us visit Daintree National Park and Cape Tribulation.We visited the Moosman Gorge and Cape Tribulation beach where a steak lunch was included.We walked the Maardja Boardwalk and took a crocodile and wildlife cruise down the river - even came across a Red Bellied Black Snake, which we were told was deadly.This didn't stop Ade getting up close for a good picture!We briefly visited the Wildlife Habitat Centre where we were lucky enough to cuddle up to a koala!He actually had to be woken up for this, Holly felt a bit guilty, but it made it all the more cute as he was very snoozy and wanted to snuggle up and not pose for the camera.Holly now wants a koala!

The following day saw us travelling to Karunda (the village in the rainforest) via the scenic railway.This was once a mining train and on the way up the mountain there was commentary on the history of the railway, including information on the construction and the living conditions in the late 18th century.The journey took us past many beautiful views and waterfalls including the Baron Falls - which is especially immense during wet season as the water tumbles from the dam.The heavens opened as soon as we stepped out from the platform.This didn't stop Holly from a little retail therapy.As our guide said the day before - If we come to the rainforest and get no rain and all forest, he figured we only get half of what we pay for.He had a good point!We took the skyrail cable car back down the mountain, which had several stops on the way to walk the trails around the rainforest.For the majority of the ride we had our own cable car so we could sit back and enjoy the sights and sounds over the canopy.Then came the day for our skydive…!

We laughed as the training DVD was only 2 minutes in length and consisted of advice on how to put your head and legs back and simply enjoy!We hopped on the bus with our tandem masters and drove to the airport where we slipped into our harnesses before we boarded the light aircraft.Ade then volunteered Holly to jump first, which meant Holly was sitting sideward's right next to the shutter door! The flight was enjoyable in itself - gorgeous views of the forest and reef, but we couldn't help noticing that we were getting higher and higher!We thought we were really high at one point when the master said that we were only half way!Holly tried to keep her legs still, but nerves and adrenaline were causing them to shake all over the place.Ade told himself to keep smiling in case his tandem master caught him with the camera looking terrified!Holly's master told her that we had got to 11,000 feet - goggles on - shutter up - Christ!!She then had to swivel her legs round to hang outside of the plane and was told that the only thing she was allowed to hold onto was her own harness.She told Ade she loved him!Ready-set-go!Ade thinking where the hell did she go - she was gone in under a second.This didn't bode well for Ade's nerves, but he was next!As soon as he left the plane (we didn't jump - more rocked and flipped) the feeling was almost indescribable.His mouth was dry, so loud he couldn't hear himself scream.It was so strange to be falling at such a speed yet still have time to do a thumbs up to the camera and fool around.The chute then opens with a jolt and it suddenly changes the experience to peace and serenity - gently floating downwards while we got to play with piloting our chutes and changing directions.Our masters then took control to land safely.Whilst Ade and his master landed safely, Holly's master made his final turn to land and said that they were not going to make it.Yes, Holly landed in the sugar cane as opposed to the large grassy field next door… typical!One of the best experiences of our lives, we'd both definitely do it again!

Our last adventurous day was white water rafting on the Tully River.Our 5 hour session entailed us navigating rapids up to grade 4.We all managed to stay in the raft apart from when our guide deliberately flipped us over - except for poor old Carl, who managed to get knocked out twice.When he first fell out, we were approaching a grade 4 rapid.Our guide's attention was on saving Carl and so we went down backwards, hitting our heads on the rocks!The guide nearly pushed Holly in whilst to save Carl!Even so it was an enjoyable day had by all.

We were wise enough to book an extra night at our hostel purely so that we could relax after the week's events, and where better to spend it than at the lagoon and the esplanade.