After staying with Mum and Paul at their hotel in Cairns for 2 weeks our arrival in Perth meant that it was now time to move back into backpacker accommodartion. To say that it came as a bit of a shock is an understatement. After walking out of one possible place to stay due its condition, our highly recommended hostel was just as disgusting. I really had forgotton what living on a budget is all about. Perth itself is a great city. Clean, modern with a great...

SIMON GOES WALKABOUT Whilst I have had an absolute ball on the East Coast of Australia, I was itching to get into the outback and see the real Australia. As Lisa felt that she would be unable to function in the heat, I was on my own. My route took me overland from Cairns through the rainforest and bush into the desert, travelling mostly on dirt roads, and dodging the iconic road trains. Arriving in Alice Springs 3 1/2 days later, I then spent the next 4...

We survived our last long journey in 'The Beast' which took us to Cairns, the capital of the tropical far north of Queensland and the major city closest to the Great Barrier Reef. We had come here to dive and after bidding a tearful farewell to our trusty companion of the last 3 months, 'the Beast' we went out to the reef. We went to live on a boat for 4 days to do as much diving as we could. To make sure our brains could still function - its been a whi...

Our grins from seeing the turtles soon disappeared as we had to endure a 10 hour car journey in 30-40 degree heat in a car without air conditioning to Airlie beach. Being 10 hours closer to the equator brought us an increase in heat and humidity and after suffering overnight in our tent, we packed it away for the final time. Simon would have happily lay awake sweating to save a few quid but not me, I put my foot down and from that point on we were staying in air ...

Having been away from the coast for over a week, we were glad to get back in the surf at the swanky resort town of Noosa on the Sunshine Coast. As there are no decent surf beaches North of Noosa, we had our final fix of wave riding. Between spells on the beach, we explored the surrounding National park and got to see dolphins playing in the waves just off the headland where we sat watching the sunset. The only down side to being in Noosa was walking past all...