22nd

SO today I drove !! Woo, was funny - in an automatic car - to drop the guys off back at the ferry and then take the car back ! I miss my car !!Then lou and I just did washing and chilled out. In the eve we went to the bar again, was just such a nice atmosphere, being warm, outside and right by the sea. Met up with a few people, one of which we had met before in Surfers Paradise. Played giant Jenga J

Next day we went to the post office to send some stuff home on the way to the ferry.. will take about 3 months, so ill be home before it..We got the ferry over and then another greyhound to Mission Beach where we stayed in a Treehouse in the rainforest !! It turned out to be awful though, didn't like it and we got bitten so many times L Was nothing to do and…urgh just didn't like it, so we cut our stay there short and only stayed the one night.So the next day we left for Cairns, had a long wait for the bus and finally arrived and it was raining ! The people in our hostel had been locked in their rooms earlier due to a cyclone warning - but it never hit. We met a guy Tor we knew and Laura J So we cooked a nice meal in this night and had early night ready for our trip the next day.

25th Today we walked around Cairns, and to the waterfront with Laura. Then around the shops.

In the eve we walked round the night markets, had a nice dinner and a Chinese massage - which youll be pleased to know wasn't as bad as the thai one ;)

26th

Reef Experience trip…well what can I say….the rain was horrendous…within about 30 mins of being of the boat about half the boat were out the back being sick L It was so choppy !! Like the perfect storm film ! Not nice !! And this one going to be something to tick off the to do list - Diving on great barrier reef…but I felt really nervous when I got on the boat. The girls tried to calm me and I felt better then we had the safety talk and I was feeling fine, so got ready, put everything on and jumped in to the sea. The middle of the ocean by the way ….no lad to be seen, and NO coral or sea floor to be seen under the water ! I still tried to stay calm, went under the boat and held on to the bar…did the skills they wanted us to do…and then it came to letting go…and I wanted to go up ! there was no way I was letting go in to the deep dark ocean. I just didn't like it, my breathing felt weird and I didn't want to do it. I think id try it again, but if we were shallower, or going in from shore, it was just all to scary and quick for me for my first time….so "Snorkelling on the Great Barrier Reef - tick"

Tonight we had dinner in the hostel which was nice and a drunk woman came and nearly started on me, apparently I was staring at her ;)

Next day was our Cape Tribulation trib so we checked out of Cairns and got the bus to the wildlife sanctuary. And I got to hold a KOALA !! Was soooo excited !! Then it was raining but that didn't stop us from feeding the kangaroos J We then did a small rainforest walk, followed by a croc spotting river cruise J Saw 3 little baby ones !! Funny how even crocs as babies are strangly cute !

In the eve we checked in to lovely chalets and met Laura and Vicki who she was with and a guy Andres we have been meeting along the way so we all went out for dinner then to the bar - where I beat everyone at pool !! J Woo ! I should start playing for money !! Was a great night !

Next day we went jungle surfing….in the rain !! Didn't matter though as it was so much fun !! Swinging through the jungle…the pics are up ;) We then got the bus to Port Douglas for our last few days in Australia.

Was a gorgeous little town we just spent our time wandering (the shops) and had nice lunches and walk to the beach. We treated ourselves to a lovely meal too in the evening.

Then was time to leave …we got the bus to Cairns airport with Laura (she flew to Brisbane) and got the plane to Sydney ! Was a good flight - although I think the 3 glasses of wine helped… so later in the hotel I was pretty useless whilst Lou tried to plan the next part of the trip !

Next flight was great though - I didn't need wine at all J Actually kind of enjoyed it…..then we arrived in Christchurch ! Wasn't impressed the 1st day really. Everything was shut being a Sunday, but yesterday was much much nicer ! The sun was shining, we had a nice brunch, met up with Andy from our 1st trip and we went on the Gondola….amazing views !!

Then made a curry in the hostel and a couple of drinks in the bar…

Today arrived in Kaikoura - the 1st stop on our magic bus…and it's a gorgeous little town and what a day - out on the boat being surrounded by 500 dolphins !! Enjoy the pics !!

So tomorrow were off to Abel Tasmin National Park J

Love to all & speak soon xxxxxxxxx