Hello again!

Sorry we have not been keeping you updated but we had a slight change of plans as Michelle and I were ill, pretty much after our last entry and spent two days in bed!!! This meant cape tribulation and the reef were postponed!

FRI DAY 4

Right...so when we were feeling better we took a trip to the Botanic gardens. We had quite a nice walk (which we have some piccys of) After the gardens we came back into the centre of Cairns and went to Cairns museum. It was a quirky little place run by an old man who also showed us a strange pic of a wallaby being eaten by a snake and told us to keep safe at night!

DAY 5 CAPE TRIBULATION

This was a nice early start as we had lots to fit in for this tour. Cape Tribulation is where the rainforest meets the reef. The tour started by popping into Port Douglas which is a small town north of Cairns and our first stop was the rainforest Habitat. The rainforest Habitat allows you to get close and personal with the native Aussie wildlife, it was great fun and we met our first very friendly kangaroos. We had a few walks through Daintree rainforest and went to places such as Mossman Gorge before we made our way up to Cape Trib.

At Cape Tribulation we had a lovely buffet lunch, swam in rockpools, then headed to the beach. It was amazing the sea was so blue, the beach so calm and deserted and lovely views where the rainforest and reef meet.

We then went on the famous Daintree river cruise....Croc spotting!!! We saw 2 crocs on the river, an ugly looking toad and various other creatures!

When we arrived back to our room we found some random people sleeping in our beds! It seems we had been double booked so we had to change rooms. We are impressed with our new room though as we have an 8 bed dorm with just us two in it!

DAY 6 THE GREAT BARRIER REEF

Another early start as today we went cruising around the reef. The boat was nice with friendly crew who decided with my (Zoe) serious lack of tan I was from Iceland but I wouldn't worry too much as we are now in complete pain and looking like lobsters!

On the trip we went to two reef locations where we could either snorkel or scuba dive. We were both booked in for a dive. After we had our prep talk, we were then put into groups which included us and another English girl. We were all quite nervous as they put all the scuba equipment on. Michelle got as far as getting into the water and Hannah just got under before they both chickened out. So guess what...I was going alone (with the instructor of course!) Diving in the barrier reef was just amazing, it was strange really as once you get under the breathing comes naturally and all you want to do is take everything in. I felt very safe as the instructor was attached to me all the time and it always helps when he is pretty fit!

In the meantime Michelle was getting all her confidence in the water as when I came back from the dive she was well away snorkelling. I soon joined her and it was just as good but different! You could see so much as we were so close to the coral and occasionally it liked to touch Michelle, which did not impress her at all!

We then had lunch and we went to another reef location, it even had its own heli pad! I decided to take another dive as this time I could get some pictures. Hannah gave it another go so off we went again, we even saw Nemo and a few of his friends!! Michelle went snorkelling again which was not as good as the first location but she also took lots of piccys!

Then we went to lay upon the deck as I really don't have the right legs for the sea and needed air! When we got off the boat we realised we glowing - RED! We are now struggling to sit down and write this entry and it just slightly painful!

We have just got back from the cinema where we saw Juno.

So its our last night in Cairns and we have had a great time here despite the illness and sunburn. We will be sad to leave but Mission Beach here we come!!!!

Hope you enjoyed what you have all been waiting for (finally a new entry) we are off to pack now!!