G'day from OZ!!!! I arrived yesterday morning (having had my boots thoroughly cleaned of dodgy cannabis smelling soil at the airport! (from work not pleasure!!)) Arrived in Cairns and had a look round the town as couldn't check in till 2pm, and wandered round like a zombie. Went to a lovely lagoon and explored the area. Then crashed out by the pool and made friends with some Irish girls in my dorm. Was feeling a bit overwhelmed - think from lack of sleep - and had a relatively early night. Cairns was not what I expected but when I go back on 5th Dec with Dave we are going to do some diving and tours so I'm sure it will be great.

Woke up very early this morning and started the Oz Experience!!! Everyone I have met on it is my age which is great as I was expecting to be the eldest by miles! We went to a crocodile farm which was so cool as I got to hold a baby croc, lizard and snake! Not sure if I ever want to get in the water here as they are bloody terrifying up close (the big ones not the baby one he was cute!) and I saw my first kangaroo with a joey.

Arrived at our first stop Mission Beach which is a pretty quiet town but nice and relaxing. The hostel is great and they serve free wine for an hour and free champagne for girls after 2030!! Booked to go white water rafting tomorrow which I'm looking forward to. The town also has a large sculpture of a Cassawary (spelt wrong!) which is a large dangerous bird - apparently Oz has over 50 'big things' including a big lobster so I wonder how many I will see on this trip!!

Anyway off to get my free champagne now xxx