Hello everyone

We thought we'd better update the blog, after a couple of comments that we've been neglecting it lately. The truth is, time has just flown by and we really can't believe we've got just over a week left!! We've had a great time since the last update and have met some fantastic people....

After our Noosa stop we stayed at Rainbow Beach for the Fraser Island tour. Fraser Island is about ten minutes from the beach and beautiful. We teamed up with eight other people, hired a 4wd and tents and hit the road! (or sand, as there are no roads on the island). The trip lasted 3 days, 2 nights and we had the best time. Our highlight had to be visiting Lake McKenzie, which everyone should do once in their lifetime! It really is perfect in every sense: the sand was white, the water was crystal clear and calm and the sun was shining (which we were SO glad about!) We felt like we were on the film 'The Beach' and just stood there looking at it in awe. Sadly, my camera broke so we were unable to take some pictures. However, our friends from the tour have said they're going to email me their photographs, so we must show everyone these when we get back home - words fail to do it justice: You have to see it for yourself (or google it?!) Lake McKenzie aside, we also saw some other amazine things, like Eli Creek and the crystal clear ocean from the hills. Sadly we couldn't swim in the ocean as it's home to many sharks - plus there is a really string undercurrent, so if the sharks don't get you, that will! Our group was quite a mix and we all got on really well. There were 2 British people (Chris and I), 2 Americans, 2 Canadians, 1 French, 1 Swiss, 1 German and 1 Israeli! Although the nights were cool, the alcohol we ordered for the trip warmed us up and we spent the evenings playing games and enjoying the ocean views. We also saw some dingoes, but didn't dare approach them!!

After this amazing stop, we stayed in a town called Mackay for a few nights. Our travel book described this town as 'cosmopolitan'......but it really wasn't in the slightest!! It rained for the whole time and we felt like we were in a small, deserted seaside town. Needless to say, we were glad to move on! The only highlight of Mackzy was a rainforest trip where we saw waterfalls and platypusses.. However, even then it rained!

We've been in Cairns since Sunday and intend to stay here until Wednesday 27th, when we fly back down to Sydney. Cairns is lovely: a big city minus the busy factor - everything is more laid back. There's a beautiful lagoon where we intend to spend tomorrow, weather prevailing! We really need to get some colour in us to look like we've been away!! One minute Australia is beautiful and warm, the next is raining like mad! I guess that's what we get for visiting in the winter though! Last night we met up with two friends (American sisters, Emily and Elizabeth) who we met on the Fraser trip. We really got on with these girls and intend to stay in touch. They give everyone nicknames and refer to us as 'Mom and Dad' as we were the only couple on the trip where we met. We intend to do some more activities while we're in Cairns and have booked a hot air balloon and white water rafting trip for Friday. We're also considering paragliding.....but that one needs more thought......

That pretty much summarises what we're been doing. We will write more before we leave Australia but at the moment we're making the most of our precious time here! - When we come home we think this whole trip will seem like a dream....

Hope everyone is ok and keeping well,

Much love, Lisa and Chris - xxx