Hey. Again, sorry it has been a while! Though it was about time that I let you know what I have been up to since getting back into Australia.

I spent a lovely relaxing week, catching up with Lucy and Debbie in Melbourne. And then I got a bus to Adelaide to meet Selga, a girl I met in New Zealand (she lives in Leeds, so she has given me lots of advice about where to go, ready for uni!). We planned to spend a few days in Adelaide and do the wineries, but we got a cheap flight for the next day to Alice Springs! We spent a day here resting my ankle (which seemed to be getting worse instead of better) and then set off on a three day tour around the Red Centre.

The Red Centre was amazing!! On the first day we went to Kings Canyon, which was very impressive. The pictures just can't show you how massive it was and strange it was to be able to look out and see nothing for miles, just flat, red land! That night we did bush camp. That meant sleeping in swags (a sleeping bag with a mattress built in), under the stars. Being bush camp we had no tents, no showers... and no toilets. Just had to take a walk 50m into the bush! The food was also amazing, chilli, rice and roast veg cooked on a camp fire! Probably some of the best food I have had on my trip! It was bloody freezing at night though, dropped to about 1 degree. I really didn't get much sleep the first night!

The second day we went the Ulgars, which were also so amazing. You just can't desribe the immensity or colours. Bright red rock against the bluest sky I have ever seen and not a cloud in sight! That evening we got to see Ayers Rock at sunset... the colours were breathtaking.. no picture can do it justice. It was such a cool experience, there was just a massive group of people all there to see this great big rock! Quite surreal! We followed this by a very early morning to see it at sunrise. We then did the base walk (a 2 hr walk around the bottom). It was very interesting, we got to hear all about the Aboriginal beliefs and see some ancient rock art. Probably the best thing I have done on my trip!!!

After this we headed up to Darwin... it took us 3 days on a bus. We were told we would be camping, but we were actually in little canvas huts, with beds in!! They were better than most hostels! We also had proper kitchens with ovens and fridges! That is not camping in my eyes, but I wasn't complaing! On the way up we got to the Devel's Marbles (not that impressive), Katherine Gorge and Edith Falls. Edith Falls was beautiful and very refreshing after the uphill walk to get there (in about 30 degree heat).

From Darwin we headed to Litchfield National Park and Kakadu National Park for 3 more days of "camping"! Litchfield was fantastic, lots of waterfalls and swimming holes. We also got to go on a wetland boat cruise and see lots of wildlife and crocodiles! Kakadu was also waterfalls, but we also went to Ubir Rock, which has lots of fascinating ancient Aboriginal art work. It also has some of the most fantastic views from the top!

I then spent 3 days sunbathing in Darwin (32 degree heat)! Was lovely to hav some hot weather after New Zealand. I have now returned to Melbourne and have spent a week with Debbie and Lucy! Today we fly to Perth for 2 weeks and then I start my journey home!

I hope you are all well! Lots of love xx