Hi, it is now our last week in Australia and we have done lots since our last blog! We flew from Perth to Cairns overnight and arrived at the YHA at 5am, really tired having not slept. We put our luggage in storage and had to wait until 1:30pm to check in, though we both wanted to sleep (Lisa managed to sleep for an hour in reception)! After checking in, we dozed by the pool and had an early night. We really liked having sausage muffins with barbecue sauce for brunch a few times mmm. We booked onto a Great Barrier Reef tour (at the outer-reef) and had a really good time. We saw turtles, a shark and both enjoyed the snorkeling. We also ate LOADS as we were on a nice big boat, which was only half-full and the buffet didn't seem to compensate for that! We got our hair cut, spent a day by the lagoon and generally had a nice relaxing time.

We started the OZ experience bus tour in Cairns and made our way past Mission Beach and a Croc Farm to Magnetic Island. The croc farm was really good - we held a small crocodile and fed the tiny kangaroos. We enjoyed our few days at Magnetic Island, mainly sunbathing by the beach. We started one of the walks but didn't last long as it was so hot, back to the pool! We liked the restaurant at the hostel as it made nice curry and sticky date pudding (our favourite).

I bought some sunglasses in Townsville as we left Magnetic Island because the ones I found in Fiji finally snapped on me. Incidentally I think I bought exactly the same pair! We got the bus to Airlie Beach and there was lots of dust from the huge dust storm sweeping across the country. We enjoyed two days sunbathing by the lagoon, either side of our day trip on a boat out to the Whitsunday Islands (which was the highlight of the East Coast so far). Although the boat was small, overcrowded and the food/drink was poor, the place more than made up for it! We enjoyed snorkelling on the Great Barrier Reef by one of the islands and saw a turtle and a wally fish (a big fish). We then went to the Hill Inlet Lookout to see the stunning view of Whitehaven Beach, despite all the dust that was still lingering. It was really nice and is apparently the third most photographed place in Australia (after Ayers Rock and Sydney Harbour). We then spent a couple of hours down on the white beach and in the clear water. We ate out every night and had really good meals, including crocodile. Oh and a few more sticky date puddings! Lisa didn't get much sleep in the hostel, which wasn't very nice. A girl in her dorm was sick on the top bunk in her sleep having come in drunk in the middle of the night. Airlie Beach is really touristy and we didn't like the place much as the only people there are drunk backpackers and more drunk backpackers - not an Australian in sight.

We left Airlie Beach inland for Kroombit Cattle Station. Here we learnt how to crack a whip and how to lassoo a goat (I was the only person in the group to catch one). I rode a mechanical bull and lasted 8 bucks - most people didn't even manage 1 - and I shot 2/5 clay pigeons with a shotgun! We then drove down to Rainbow Beach and stayed overnight, before heading to Noosa. We really liked Noosa and ate out every night - curry, ribs and more sticky date puddings! We went on a day trip to Australia Zoo and saw Terri, Bindi and Bob Irwin and Wes do the croc show and had a nice day. The next day we went on an 8km walk and saw a turtle, dolphins and whales from the cliff-tops. The sunsets were really red, but the evening we climbed up a massive hill to the lookout it was really cloudy and not as good.

Our next stop was Brisbane, where we didn't do much for 5 days. We walked around the city (shops, south bank, botanical gardens), sunbathed by the rooftop pool and played on the hostel's Wii for free! Lisa beat me a few times at Wii Bowling and even at golf! We both managed more than 200 at bowling. I won the two killer pool games on the first night and got an hour of internet time.

We then went to Surfers Paradise, which was much bigger that I expected. We got dropped off in the middle of the city and had to make our own way to the hostel, which involved a short walk and then paying for a 15 minute public bus drive! We weren't happy with the OZ Experience as it is basically just like the Greyhound bus (which is about $150 cheaper), rather than the tour bus it should be. It doesn't stop anywhere interesting, just drives you to the next place and then doesn't even drop you off at your hostel! Complete rip-off! Anyway, it was a 45 minute walk from our hostel to the centre and we didn't do much other than look around the shops. It was too windy for the beach, but I went anyway because the waves were huge! The current was really strong and going in the sea was lots of fun.

As I'm writing this, we are waiting to get the bus down to Byron Bay in the rain. Our next stops are Surf Camp (where presumably we will learn to surf) and then Coffs Harbour. We then fly out of Sydney on Sunday and have arranged to stay at my friend Michael's house for the 2 nights we are there (I worked with him). He is already looking after one of our suitcases for us as we travel around Australia and he has offered to drive us to the airport which is really great and nice of him! We are flying to Singapore (5 days) and Hong Kong (7 days) and we have already booked our hotels. Yes, that's right - not hostels - I said HOTELS!! A little bit of 3* and 4* luxury for us to look forward to! J We are then back in England on the 30th October and will try our best to come around the country to see everyone. Lisa's driving as I sold my car!

See you all soon!

Paul