Day 147 and we all were up by 930 realising we had to leave and check out by 10. We put all our clothes from the tour in the wash as they were filthy. Once checked out we walked to town as we had several hours to kill before our fligh to Cairns. It was still mega hot. We went to the Rock Tours office where we told them how good it as and how well Greg did with us. We met up with a couple of the Dutch people and found out they were waiting to go on a 21 hour bus to Darwin, madness! For lunch we had Subway. Afterwards, we sorted out some postcards and then headed back to the hostel as the flight was at 4.15. I had a dip in the pool which was well nice as the heat was intense, while the others packed. After I showered Helen borrowed my towel and hung it on the line. That was the last I saw of my precious towel. When we arrived at the airport I soon realised what had happened. The others were happy as they constantly mock me for using the same towel for everything, but never mind. The flight was delayed by a bit so we got some food and drink and just sat around thinking how good the tour had been. We flew at 5 and landed in Cairns about 730pm. Helen was in one of her strange moods where she would repeat things you said and was just generally weird. Coops phoned the hostel to come and pick us up but was laughing for the entire phone call, as she couldn't understand the chinese lady on the phone. All the other hostel buses came and went and finally ours arrived, a small chinese in a people carrier, with the boot full of tools and wires, and barely enough room to sit. His English was broken and laughed a lot. When at the hostel, we paid and checked in. The hostel was his and his wifes house we think and reception was in the basement area underneath as the house was on stilts. They didn't have a till, instead he put the $250 dollars in his top pocket and got the change out of his trouser pocket. Dodgy. Us 3 lads were in 1 room, which stank, while the girls had a room to themselves. When I opened my bag, disaster, my flip flops were covered in moisturiser.

Day 148 and our first day in Cairns and we walked to town early doors. It was mega bright and really sweaty, a wet heat. Burns was quick to point out he prefers the dry heat (Alice Springs) to the wet heat (everywhere else). In town I got a haircut and then we all went and had brunch. Coops, claiming she was starving ordered a fry up and with no great surprise to the rest of us, stopped half way and gave me the leftovers. Helen ate some fruit which was amazing, and she didnt get itchy mouth which she claims she gets after eating fruit or veg. After food, I bought a towel and we all got some chocolate form Woolies as it was on offer for $1. In the room we chilled for most of the afternoon writing more postcards and doing arrow words which have no become our 'thing to do' when bored. We watched the simpsons and neighbours before heading out to dinner where we had a voucher for free food. After dinner, we went to the night market which was pretty poor. Back at the hostel I watched the Champions League highlights and then went to bed.

Day 149 and I had a lay in, and so did Burns, while the girls went shopping to spend some of their remaining Auzzie dollars. Luke went along as well. When the others came back we all went to town and headed to Woolies. It was so sweaty it was painful. Luke went ahead to upload some photos and his blog, while us 4 went to the Lagoon, which is an outdoor swimming pool by the sea, as the sea is to dangerous to swim in. After being in the water for 10 mins and then getting out, it proceeded to chuck it down so we ran to town to try and find Prime. We must have just missed him and so we went to use the net. After we found him by the Lagoon and we went to a restaurant to try some Australian animals for Lunch. Between 5 of us we ordered a meat platter of Kangaroo, Crocodile, Emu and Camel. The waitress found this quite amusing. The food came and it was 4 slabs of meat, with enough for a mouthful of each one per person. 1st was the Roo which was soft and tender, and tasted like steak. 2nd was the Croc which was chewy and like eating white fish meat. 3rd was the Camel which tasted mote like Lamb but was very nice (but fatty). 4th and finally was the Emu which was probably the worst, and tasted like Duck, but not as good. After walking back to the hostel we chilled out, watched an emotional neighbours as it was the last one involving the mighty Harold Bishop. For dinner we used another free voucher and went to the Wool Shed in town. After dinner we all went on the net and uploaded photos while Helen phoned home for an hour or so. Back at the hostel we played Patrty Scrabble, a weird new version and then hit the hay knowing we would be in New Zealand within 24 hours!

Day 150 and after a shower and shave we got a taxi to the airport and boarded our Quantas flight to Brizzy at 10am. As soon as we sat down on the plane, and numerous checks to see if anyone needed the toilet, Coops decided she needed to go just before take off. Like travelling with a child...! The in fligh snacks were awful, we got given Passion Fruit biscuits which were sickly. We arrived at Brizzy at 12, and then went through customs and check in for our 4pm flight to Auckland. I got searched for explosives (which was my 2nd 'random' check on 3 international flights). Luke also got searched, but he was wearing a 'Wife-Beater' vest so it was no surprise. We all had leftover Oz dollars to spend and were craving a Hungry Jacks (Burger King). Unfortunately the airport didn't have one so we had to have Red Rooster, which sells roasted chicken burgers etc. We then killed time until our flight, which was delayed, left about 5pm. On the flight we got food, Butter chicken curry and got 2 beers for free! Helens food didnt agree with her and she had to make a mad dash to the toilets. We landed at 11pm local time, 13 hours ahead of England. We had to get used to a new currency. We got a taxi and checked in to our hostel in the middle of Auckland at 1230am. We had a wander around the area in the middle of the night and used Kebab prices as a barometer to see if NZ was as expensive as Oz. Early indications seem to suggest it is cheaper!

Day 151 and me and Burns got up early to go and have brekkie and watch the footy in a sports bar just down the road. Great value food and drink, but Liverpool lost so I didnt care. The others finally got up and joined us by 12ish. We walked down Queen Street and checked out the shops, with the prices in New Zealand being much better than Aus. An example of this was a milkshake from Macca's was only $3.20 in NZ, bargain. We then walked to Victoria market where we found nothing and soon left. On the way back we passed the 'Sky Screamer' a bungy style ride where you sit in a caged ball and get flung into the air at 200kpm and with 5 G forces. We watched a kid and 2 adults do it and instantly Luke and Burns were convinced to try it. I would but not for $40 each and especially on our first day and we have all of NZ to do jumps etc. It was well funny watching them and looked real good fun. AFter we watched them on the DVD and their faces were intense when they first went up. After that spur of the moment activity. We napped in the room before heading to the supermarket to buy dinner. The supermarkets in NZ are called FoodTown and Pak N Save. Foodtown was cheap, chocolate Milk was only $2! All around the place we were marvelling at the cheap food and it was almost as if we were back in Thailand. Outside our hostel we got a free hot dog. It was turning into a great day. We then walked to Albert park and played some frisbee and sat in the sun. About 8 we cooked Cottage pie and got chatting with some random Americans who were really friendly and chatty. They kept slating themselves and they way Americans are portrayed and had some funny stories to tell from Texas.