'Boomerang' was the name of the 83ft maxi sailing yacht that was to take us around the Whitsunday islands (and back as the name suggests!) and as we jumped aboard we were dubious that it would hold the 28 of us plus another 4 crew members for a whole 3 days! However me and Han were in for a bit of luck when we found our 'quarters' for the duration was one of the biggests beds on the ship (woop woop!) alas... it was also right next to the septic tank so that splish splashing sound we drifted off to sleep listening to...well i won't go on :)

We quickly took sail and with the 'vast' sailing experience i claimed to have gained during my first year uni i jumped at the chance at steering the boat - and did pretty well i reckoned until the captain decided that my idea of 'steer 50metres away from those dangerous rocks' varied significantly from his idea. Fun while it lasted tho. haha.

The next morning i think we were both glad to have not excessed on the goon the night before as our early wake-up call and swaying boat certainly wasn't apprieciated by other members of the crew! Jumping ashore the very picturesque Whitsunday island we trodded over to the Whitehaven beach for a few picies and a sunbathe before sailing off to our snorkling spot!

Out of the 28 people on board i was pretty anxious that i was one of two ppl that had signed up for the scuba dive - but i didn't get much chance to worry as within 10minuts of being briefed on how to breath 12 metres under the sea i was thrown in backwards and sinking. Besides being petrified that i would forget to breath or run out of oxygen i still managed to appreciate how amazing everything was in the reef. Sooooooo many fish and crazy coral i didn't know where to turn with the big highlight being the MASSIVE Manta ray 'flying' over our heads (to be completely honest when it was pointed out i wasn't sure whether it was to show me this amazing animal or what was going to kill me) Anyhow - got out alive and was very glad i did it.

Unfortunately han had picked up a really bad cough and didn't even get to do the snorkling (sod's law) but managed to get a pretty good scout of the reef from the dingy using some weird apparatus that looked like a traffic cone...i'm sure she would say that not getting her hair wet was a very good thing gathered that my hair was beginning to form dreads by the third day!

Once we docked on the third day i don't think either of us could of been more thrilled that we had booked a twin room for our night in Airlie beach after 'roughing it' on Fraser Island, an overnight coach and Whitsunday islands. Needless to say we did very little the rest of the day except the very much needed R&R.

The next couple of nights were spent on Magnetic Island where the days were spent on isolated little beaches (literally - we were the only ones in the bay!) and catching up on our reading.

Getting to Cairns we were finally able to throw away our bloody greyhound tickets but at the same time disappointed that we had reached our final destination so quickly. The humidity here really hit us hard (with my hair being completely untamable) but it hasn't stopped us trying to catch a few more rays so we look that more bronzed and beautiful when we get back and see all you pasties. Last night we got a taste of a bit of 'bushtucker'....well as bushtucker as we dared...Emu with panchetta and a creamy mushroom sauce and Kangaroo sirlion with bok choy (ooo yea) ...but no witchety grubs for dessert i'm afraid! And if you would like to know, they don't taste like chicken - more like aged beef. yummy.

Tomorrow we're looking forward to doing some snorkling in the great barrier reef and then on our final day *sob* we'll be touring the Atherton Tablelands by car with our new french friends.

As you can imagine, we are DREADING our 35 hour journey home. And even more so that our trip is practically over.....but good news is - off to Majorca in 7 weeks!! Hurrah!