So we got on our last ever greyhound bus, which was only a short 2 hour journey and arrived in cairns, our last stop on the east coast. We couldn't believe we were at the end of our australian east coast adventure and were so excited to explore cairns.

As soon as we got off the bus, we immediately could feel the intense humidity which everyone had warned us about, it was literally like someone was blowing a hot hair dryer in your face. For the first four nights we were staying in a hostel called gilligans, it was like a hotel and was a party hostel with a massive nightclub next door.

As soon as we arrived we were directed to read the cyclone warnings, which were all around the hostel. At this point it was predicted to be a category five and it was thought that we would not be allowed to leave the hostel for the next few days. We were told to go to the supermarket and stock up on essential supplies. So we went to the supermarket, and it was literally like clacton tesco on Xmas Eve but worse. Everyone was running around, there was no bread, or water left on the shelves. Mine and lees essentials included crunchies and bottles of coke!!!!!

The next day we were meant to be doing our Great Barrier Reef trip, but unfortunately due to the weather it was cancelled so we rescheduled it to do after the weekend. Fortunately the cyclone wasn't as bad as predicted, however it was really windy and heavy rain so it meant for four days we couldn't do much, and also everything was shut. We spent the first four nights going out partying, it was really great as a lot of friends we met along the coast all ended up in cairns at the same time. We met our Canadian friends who we me to Fraser Island most nights which was great fun and it was sad to say bye!

Fortunately after the weeekend, the weather started to improve, and on Monday we left the party hostel and checked in to travellers oasis. This was a great homely chilled hostel, one of our favourites! On Monday we were due do a rainforest trip and visit port Douglas, Cape tribulation and the daintree rainforest. We were both really excited for this as it is meant to be absolutely stunning and we couldn't wait to do a croc cruise. To our disappointment we were unable to do the trip as the daintree river had flooded. We were both absolutely gutted however it was just one of those things! We will have to go back and do it again one day now!!!!!

Luckily we managed to do our Great Barrier Reef trip on Tuesday, one we have both been looking forward to since sydney. It was an early start, and by eight we were all checked in on our lovely boat and heading out to the reef. After a bumpy ride, lee made sure he took some tablets, we arrived a Norman reef our first stop. We were all so excited to get in the water. We had an introductory scuba dive booked and were given a briefing and I was really really anxious! I just didn't like the thought you cannot lift your head up! In fact I was more scared about this then jumping out of a plane.

We were one of the first groups to dive, which suited me so I didn't have to worry about it all day. Before I knew it we were in all our gear which is so heavy with weights attached around our waist to make us sink to the bottom. Firstly we had two tasks to do underwater before they could take us diving, so we jumped off the boat and went a metre under and held on to a metal bar attached to the boat.

I was so nervous and sure I would come back up, but I was so determined to give it a go as I knew I would regret it and most of all I was dying to see a turtle. We were in a group of four, and we all went under, one by one we had to clear our mask of water by tilting our heads back, pressing on the mask and breathing out hard from our nose. The next task was taking our regulators out of our mouths blowing a few bubbles, then put it back in spitting the water out and then to resume breathing normally. Of course lee breezed through both without any hesitation and to me it sounded so complicated I was sure I would have pop back to the surface.

To my surprise I did both first time, they are so much easier than they sound. The two other girls we were with found it harder and ended up popping back to the surface and coming back under various times. While me and lee just waited for what seemed like a lifetime just chilling under the water. It was such a surreal feeling. Finally one of the girls got it and one decided she didn't want to dive, then we all linked arms and started sinking ten metres under the water.

It was amazing but scary at the same time, the coral was beautiful and we saw some great fish, but to my disappointment no turtle. We were under water around twenty minutes and I am so proud that I actually did it as I was so scared but it was worth it. I will never forget it and what a great place to do your first dive. It went really quick under water, as it was an intro dive we all had to stay holding hands so it was hard to take pictures of each other. Before we knew it our life jackets were filling up and we were slowly reaching the surface!

At our next stop, lee decided to do another dive, this time he could go off on his own and swim around, which he loved plus the second reef was much better. I opted not to go again once was enough for one day so I opted to snorkel. The snorkelling was also amazing, me and lee saw a two metre reef shark which we couldn't believe, and so many colourful fish and the coral was the best we have ever seen. It is one of our favourite trips during our travels, and we wish we had longer as we would have gone out on another boat trip as it was that spectacular.

By the end of the day we were absolutely shattered, we got an early night as we were up early in the morning to pick up our camper van which we would be driving back to brisbane, where we would catch our flight to fiji. We were looking forward to the experience and it was much cheaper than flying, as it was a relocation deal we only had four days to drive 1700 km.

We really enjoyed our time in Cairns despite the weather and the Great Barrier Reef was so amazing words cannot even describe. We are sad our time in oz is almost at an end, it has been everything we hoped and more, we have met some lovely friends, and made some unforgettable memories. We will miss it but not the expensive prices and are excited to continue our journey with our next destination being the beautiful fiji!

We cannot believe we will be home in two months although we are so excited to see everyone we are hoping time slows down a little bit :)

Can't wait to update you all on our road trip in our hippie camper!

Lots of love

Xxx