Cairns&Darwin.

Cairns. The final destination on our long old road trip up the coast of Australia. We arrived to a beautiful sunny afternoon and parked our dear little car for a well deserved rest.

Cairns is a pleasant city, very busy and full of other backpackers and tourists staying over to explore the Great Barrier Reef and the jungles just North of Cairns.

Of course our first day was spent on a boat trip out to the Great Barrier Reef. This is something I had been looking forward to ever since I knew I was definitely coming to Australia. Being a biologist and also a huge fan (probably the biggest ever fan EVER) of 'Finding Nemo' I was so excited to see the reef close up and swim among all the crazy fish and stunning coral.

We booked our tour with a company called 'Passions of Paradise' ... yes, I know what you are thinking. It does sound like a dodgey adult film or something weird like that but it was in fact the best deal we could find for a snorkeling day trip out to the reef. We booked it through the YHA and with our membership discount we saved about $30 getting our cruise ticket for around $135 which was very good.

It was an early start as we met the boat at 7.30am on the harbour. There was tea and coffee and even a muffin; all incredibly chirpy and civilised for that time of day. 

As we set off the captain announced "should anyone wish to get a seasickness tablet, please see the desk now". As my dearest Lydia turned to me and asked whether she should get one, I reassured her that we would be fine and it is a psychological thing, so we just need to not think about it... well talk about seal my own fate. I was so bloody seasick. In fact, it was so bad I had to practically crawl to the other side of the boat, whilst getting weird looks from the other passengers and jeering from the crew, until I found a spot which was about 1 metre by 1 metre, where I didn't feel THAT bad... and I just stood there, with my eyes shut, trying to think of anything that wasn't how much I wanted to be sick.
Thank goodness for Lydia who had to run around like a loop, collecting our snorkeling gear and relaying the safety brief back to me whilst I stood there like a zombie, scaring young children.

When the boat finally stopped we got straight out and into the water. Snorkeling is not exactly as you would imagine. Firstly, if you think you are going to look like a stunning mermaid, gracefully moving through the water, with your hair all free and shiny and the beautiful creatures of the deep surrounding you, then you are wrong. Flippers or 'fins' are the hardest things to walk in and swim in. Snorkeling masks do not fit your face or gel with your hair and that dreamy mermaid movement in the water does not come naturally...

Once we were in the water it took a bit of getting used to but once you get going and your snorkel has filled with water a few times and you've accidentally breathed in through your mouth and nearly choked yourself and once you have stopped wondering if you are swimming alongside Darth Vader, realising that it is just you, breathing...you are onto a winner!

Alas, most of the above probably only applies to me as I did catch a glimpse of some true diving professionals. Although sadly, the only thing about me that came close to 'Ariel' was how red my hair looks in the photos!

It was so surreal to see the reef right there in front of you. After seeing so many pictures, it still looked different from what I had imagined. It is so awesome having fish swimming so close to you; not just your average gold fish either, huge fish of all shapes and sizes and bright colours.. it was amazing and we got some great pictures with our waterproof camera (which was so nearly lost to the depths of the ocean on many, many occasions).

There were two diving locations on our cruise and they were broken up by an onboard buffet lunch which was really nice. We met some crazy Americans and some others Brits too, so it was a really good day and we even saw a turtle which was a total day maker.

We couldn't stay in Cairns and not visit the jungle. So we decided to take our little car on one last trip to Kuranda, a village that lies in the jungle, about one hour North of the city. 

Kuranda is a tiny little place with a lot of character and possibly the cutest little information lady ever! We explored all three of Kurandas amazing markets; selling everything from the worlds hottest chillis to bottle openers made of kangeroo scrotums! (That was very nearly Mums travelling present but I figured it wasn't a safe move) 

We sampled an interesting beverage called 'fruit poo' ... very weird but very delicious! It was basically a mixture of mushed up frozen fruits, very exotic and refreshing in the heat. 

There were a lot of walks to do around the village too. After a solid lunch of nutella sandwiches we walked through the jungle to follow the railway around the river and up to the village. There was another walk to a beautiful waterfall which we drove to on the way out of Karunda, just in time for the rain to come! It was a really lovely day.

The rest of our time in Cairns was spent at the Saturday markets which were absolutely huge. We wondered around them for ages, exploring the many stalls selling fruits, vegetables, jewellery and other interesting things! Alot of time was also spent at the lagoon, sunbathing and relaxing (we did earn it though!).

All in all Cairns was a lovely few days and although action packed, we did find time to relax and catch some sun! ... The free pancakes in the hostel were a particular highlight too. It was a little bit of a sad end to Cairns though as we did have to give back our dear old car, Rigby (yes we named him) back. He had been our trusted friend and companion all the way from the Great Ocean Road and he had put up with a lot of my antics and heard a lot of my worst singing. He was a hero and I grew very attached to him.

Thankfully we decided to fly to Darwin which made a nice change from all the driving. It was an easy little domestic flight and a definite first for me; made obvious by the fact I carried my passport around the entire time, getting almost angry that no one wanted to check it and wondering where the hell customs was...

Arriving in Darwin hit us hard; mainly because it is so incredibly humid here. I realise I am a single girl who probably needs to be selling herself, but, I have not stopped sweating since I have arrived. I must point out that all thought for appearance has gone out the window now and I know Lydia is with me on that. Make up sweats off, hair triples in volume and sweat patches - you stand out if you don't have them. 

The crocodile cruise was first on our Darwin agenda, actually, lets be precise here, the 'spectacular jumping crocodile cruise'. Well, I must say, it was pretty spectacular! We drove to the jetty which was on the Adelaide River, about an hour from Darwin (or 2 hours if, like us, you miss all the turnings and have to drive the long way around). 

We were greeted by a very friendly, all-female crew (girl power) and had tea and coffee before we boarded the boat. We were surrounded by newspaper articles of recent deaths by crocs, incredibly reassuring. These monsters are such a big thing up in the North. They are respected immensely as pretty dangerous people killers but weirdly loved at the same time. 

We didn't have to wait long to hop on board and after a bit of down time and the opportunity to hold a python (I let Lyd take that one, it was her birthday after all) we got on the boat and headed off down (actually it could have been up, I have no idea) the Adelaide River.

Almost straight away we could spot a croc swimming towards the boat. They aren't the easiest to see in the murky water but the closer they get, the scarier they look! We were told by the crew that they are so used to the boat coming out now that they know it means no harm. Usually these guys are apparently pretty shy and stay under the safety of the water, to assess what is going on. The crew knew their stuff and could even recognise certain crocs coming over to the boat! They were really strict as to which crocs they fed and how far away from the jetty they were as they try to maintain a normal wild instinct within the crocs, so they don't get used to human contact - I liked that. They also make sure that whichever croc they pick to feed, has to work quite hard before they get the meat.

These crocodiles are just so big. We even got to see a massive male come over, fondly nicknamed 'Stumpy' due to having a front leg missing. He still jumped though and the snapping shut of his jaws (which has a force of 2.5 tonnes) sent shivers down everyones spine!

Despite getting a tad (extremely) lost, we had the best day at the croc cruise and got back in time for a quick change before heading out for dinner for Lydias birthday! We went to an aussie grill called 'Ducks Nuts' and had this incredible mixed grill between us which had kangeroo, lamb, crocodile sausages and this amazing fillet mignon which was so good I almost cried.

Kakadu National Park. Now, I am not quite sure how to go about telling you about this place...

We left Darwin, merrily on our way for a two day, one night adventure in the much anticipated Kakadu National Park. It is hard to describe to you just how big and remote this place is. It is about the size of Wales and takes 3 hours just to get to, not even to drive around. It has one main village called Jabiru which has one bakery, petrol station and the tiniest inkling of phone signal and aside from that, it is pretty much the outback. We weren't aware just how interesting our trip to Kakadu was going to be...

It all began when we started to become very aware of just how many crocodiles inhabit the area. Everywhere we went there were warning signs and danger zones. Now, had it been full of people and buzzing with any kind of atsmosphere, it would have made everything much less eery. But as we set off on our first walk at a recommended lookout, we didn't expect to be the only human beings in the vicinity. We also didn't expect the river to creep up on us so quickly or there to be such weird animals making such weird noises in the bushes. We tried to be manly about it all, but we didn't get very far, it was way too scary.

We booked in to stay in a 'cabin' in a village called Cooinda. I say village, it was just the camping resort and hotel. We knew it was going to be basic but I wasn't quite ready for what lay ahead. The room was a tiny little cabin which had only one bunk bed, a mirror and possibly the worst excuse for air con I have ever seen. Although we were very upbeat, as we walked across to the 'outback kitchen' we were slowly losing our sense of humour, especially when we realised that we had no pots, pans, cups or plates. I suddenly wished I had saved that last bite of my cereal bar at lunchtime...

So there we were, stuck in the middle of nowhere, with no dinner or phone signal, surrounded by signs warning us that crocodiles had been spotted wondering around the campsite... brilliant. 

Thankfully, we managed to stumble across a group of aussie campers, about our age, who immediately welcomed us to join them for a beer. We got chatting to them and discovered that it was one of their birthdays and tagged along to get some dinner at a restaurant back at the hotel. Not only did we crash a birthday meal, we also got a free drink, lots of beer and some chocolate cake ... I'd say we landed on our feet there! They were a great bunch.

I was quite pleased when bedtime finally arrived. We went to brush our teeth and found that the bathroom was a pretty long trek away, across some camping grounds... I joked to Lydia "imagine needing the loo in the middle of the night!" .... but guess who did need the bloody loo at 2.30am.
I so wish I could watch a video of me getting to the toilet that night. I had no torch, no idea where I was going and I was pretty scared. All I can say is that I did end up tripping over a few tents and I did walk into a washing line, taking out various items of clothing and I did jump on several occasions as I saw all walks of wildlife crossing my path. I learnt not to make jokes about crazy scenarios as they will happen to you as a result.

The next day we woke up early to embrace the day and get some sights seen. Alas, we were only an hour into our drive when just up ahead we noticed a car had stopped. Now, when you are in Kakadu and you see another car, it is a very exciting time. It means that there is another human over there... as we drove closer we realised why the car had stopped. On the side of the road we saw a massive, and I mean massive, buffalo.

The next few minutes went a little like this..

Jess: Oh wow Lydia look there's a buffalo!
Lydia: Oh my god, that's insane! Look at those people they are getting a picture.
Jess: So cool! It's so big ... wait ... Lydia why are those people running...
Lydia: Shit Jess the buffalo is running!
Jess: Oh my god it's charging right at us!! GO GO GO!!
*Whacks car into reverse and pops the fastest u-turn ever, driving away up the road followed by said buffalo*

We proceeded to spend the next hour stuck on the road, waiting for the buffalo to move. There are no re-routes or other ways to get somewhere in Kakadu - if a road is blocked, you can't get to where you want to go. 

We did our bit, flashing oncoming cars and helping the big caravans, that had upset the buffalo even more, to turn around and get the hell away from the crazy zone. Unfortunately, this buffalo was having none of it and despite us patiently waiting (from a great, great distance) we had to abandon ship and abort our plans.

It is important to note that seeing a buffalo like that is not normal. We saw no other buffalos that whole entire time, so he was obviously a bit lost. You'd think that would maybe be enough weird luck for one day but oh no... we set off to embark on our new plan and new route and as we drove along laughing about the buffalo incident, we suddenly hit a massive flood. For some reason, the whole section of the road was under nearly a metre of water... plans changed again.

We finally attempted one last walk, choosing a little lookout to trek to; it was only about an hours walk there and back. 

We were enjoying our walk until we saw a sign up ahead. This wasn't just any old crocodile warning sign, oh no. This warned of 'extreme danger' and 'very large' saltwater crocs. 

I can't describe what it was like but it was so eery and so quiet and after seeing a sign like that and proceeding to trek through metre tall rushes, right beside a river, is so scary! 

Now, laugh all you want to but we were definitely chased by a crocodile. We heard a noise and sprinted so fast back to the car; I couldn't look behind because I may have tripped and been eaten, but I know we were chased and I know it was a croc.

We just had to laugh about it, it was funny! Poor Lydia, I did warn her that travelling with me could bring some weird and wonderful situations. It's okay though, we had a great drive home to Darwin. I whacked my ipod on in the car and lucky Lydia got her very own live version of some absolute classics. 'Mariah Carey - Hero' was executed to perfection and there wasn't a 'risk of crocs' warning in sight.

Our last big day in Darwin was spent visiting Litchfield National Park. Litchfield was a much less daunting trip. It is much closer to Darwin, only and hour and a half away and it is a lot smaller, so perfect for a day trip. We had a lot to see in Litchfield and manages to do it all, with no buffalos - hooray!
We saw magnetic termite mounds, we swam in the waters of the Buley Rockhole and visited the stunning waterfalls of Florence Falls, Tolmer Falls and Wangi Falls. 

It was a really beautiful place and so easy to get around. Although you can't see everything without a 4WD, you can still see alot. Being able to swim in the waters and get so close to some of the waterfalls was a great experience and we really enjoyed our day - safe from the crocodiles too!

It has been a very eventful few days, we have diced with death and faced a few fears (ran away from them mainly) but with every mishap or scary moment, we have a hilarious memory to share with you guys, so in the end it just adds to our adventures.

We have come to the end of our time in Australia now. I can't believe how quickly these last few weeks have gone. It's been an amazing stop and I have done things I didn't think I ever could (namely hitting that high note in

'Hero') and I've had the most immense time.

Next stop Asia! We fly to Indonesia tonight.

Standby for the final leg of this crazy journey - stay tuned! X

Travelling Folk.

Travelling has taught me a great deal already but one of the things I have become an expert on is people.

Hostels are breeding grounds for people who are weird and wonderful. When you are constantly on the move, a new hostel a day brings with it a room of new faces, personalities and interesting characters.

From my experiences so far I have grouped these travelling folk into ten 'traveller' types which range from the sweet, to the sour, to the just plain weird.

If you've travelled before, some of these may sound familiar and if you haven't, then take notes because you are bound to come across some of these along your way...

1. 'The Scarer'

The scarer is probably the most common individual among the travelling community.

Thriving off the fear of others, the scarer enjoys watching you squirm as they recall tales of travelling horrors from places that you have just told them you are due to visit.

They are usually not experts or anymore experienced than you, but they speak with such arrogance and confidence, hoping it lures you into believing they know their stuff.

Scarers have usually visited the places they are trying to scare you about, and most likely they too were scared before they visited. However, in classic 'scarer' style, surviving their experience has granted them the power to act boastfully, evoking fear into those who are to follow in their footsteps. They often disguise their scaring as friendly advice, but don't be fooled.

"Oh Townsville, that's where you'll catch Dengue Fever"
             
- Little Old Lady, Airlie Beach -

"You want to be really careful in Malaysia, there's a lot of theft and other things.. stick together and be very, very careful"
            
- Lady at Market Stool, Cairns -

2. 'The Competitor'

The competitor is equally as common as the scarer. Their sole purpose is to compete over travelling routes, activities and experiences. They will, at first, make you believe that they are just being friendly and showing a genuine interest in your journey, however, just like a predator striking its prey, they will suddenly attack.

They go out of their way to either top anything you have done with some extravagant tale or they aggressively defend their own choices, as if to convince themselves that their way was best, even though it clearly wasn't.

"Well we like thought about hiring a car but we thought well we won't like meet people like you do on the greyhound"

-Annoying Girl, Yamba -

3. 'The Encourager'

This is everyones favourite type of traveller.

The encourager doesn't judge, or give you reasons why not. They just listen, offer valuable advice and get genuinely, really excited for you... they may even express their immense jealousy at your plans.

They are such a massive boost that gives you confidence. They generously share their wisdom and experience to help you, not to put you off or dishearten you.

They are the ones we try to smuggle in our backpacks to be our personal tour guides.

"Oh girls you will absolutely love Bali! It is so beautiful, you won't want to leave."

-Market Lady, Cairns-

4. 'The Language Barrier-er'

The language barrier-er is one of the most frustrating types of traveller.

They are clearly lovely people, so sweet and friendly, however, we simply don't speak the same language.

This causes great problems in communication and often means that bar a few hand gestures and laughing nods, you can't speak to them.

- quote unavailable due to language barrier -

5. 'The Dosser'

The dosser has a very different travelling outlook.

They have usually intended on travelling around but have become settled in one place, usually working for their accomodation at the hostel where they meet other dossers and form a mini dosser community. Very quickly, their motives for travelling become less about covering ground and more about comfort.

We all envy the dosser, they are often living the dream with no real plans to return to normality.

"Yeh I work here now, I just go meet people off the bus and that's it really, easy!"

-Quirky European Girl, Byron Bay-

6. 'The Old Age Pensioner'

Probably the most inspirational of all, the old age pensioner is a traveller who has the courage to come out and backpack among all the young travellers.

They hold their own, with immense wisdom and knowledge. Refreshingly open, we have often found them to get themselves into more outrageous situations then anyone else and have a crazy good time doing it.

"I just turned down this random street to find a massive chinese new year parade going on. They were dancing in the streets so I joined them, it was great!"

-USA Lady, Christchurch-

7. 'The Jekyll & Hyd-er'

This type of traveller is the master of the false sense of security.

They don't give much away. They may be so friendly in the evening, but you will awake in the morning and it is as though you don't exist to them.

They may even have taken your number or added you on Facebook the night before, but you can be sure that come morning, they will want nothing more to do with you.

8. 'The YOLO-er'

The yolo-er is crazy. They are a rare breed but not easily forgotten once you have met one.

They are usually eighteen year olds on gap years, buzzing from the novelty of the freedom that comes from the first time you are away from home.

We could all learn a lot from them, their attitude is refreshing albeit a little wreckless as they commonly have no regards for any budget whatsoever.

"We say ...fudge the budget! "

-Gap Year Guy, Katoomba-

9. 'The Dissapear-er'

The dissapear-er is always on the move.

They usually arrive in the middle of the night so all you can catch of them is a sleepy glimpse of their silhouette.

Not many can be found, but they do exist.

Despite their late arrival, you wake up in the morning, eager to get a proper look at your 'unknown' roomate, only to find that they have already got up and gone.

You will never learn anything of the dissapearer or where they are heading. Completely and utterly dedicated to travel, these guys don't waste a second and they certainly aren't interested in making friends.

10. 'The Breath of Fresh Air-er'

The breath of fresh air-er is a happy traveller to end on.

They aren't the most common but they are the best to meet.

They can be all ages and from all parts of the world but whoever they are, they share your opinions and interests and make for the best conversation.

This particular type of traveller shares all your main interests in travel; where they want to go, what they want to do and why they are travelling in the first place. These are the guys that you just click with and end up chatting to for hours over a drink or a monopoly board (best game of monopoly I have ever played). Because you share so many common interests, they can usually offer you the best advice and we like that, a lot.

So there you go guys, my guide to the top ten travelling types that you may encounter on your adventures...

I like to think I fall into a positive category myself, although I fear I may be a 'struggle-er' - the traveller who can't gracefully mount the top bunk without causing great harm to those around her and/or herself... exiting with minimal grace and maximum disturbance...

On the road to Cairns.

We left Sydney after a lovely stay in Cronulla and began our mammoth road trip, heading North to Cairns. Unfortunately in Sydney we left behind Max, who had to return to England for work. When Max had gone, it really did hit home just how crazy we were; two girls, with no experience of real navigating (or sense of direction), about to navigate ourselves up the coast of Australia...with no satnav.

Now I would just like to clarify that at this point, the furthest I had ever driven since passing my test, however many years ago, was about thirty minutes from my house; not even on a dual carriageway let alone a motorway. In fact, I had to retake my pass plus (yes, that is possible) due to a complete motorway meltdown and the unfortunate incident that ended up taking me and my driving instructor to Gatwick Airport. 

I would also like to add that Lydia and I don't do maps. We find them completely illogical and weird.

However, I would like to say, ladies and gentleman, doubters and sceptics...we DID IT! 

We have driven over 6000km, starting from the Great Ocean Road and have made it to Cairns. 

It has taken us around 4 weeks, 12 drive thrus and 1236 replays of 'Pharrell Williams - Happy' (Aussie radio is not all there) but we are safely in Cairns.

I have attached an image that we have seen a few times now, showing Europe inside Australia. When we first saw this picture, back at the start of our trip, we really hadn't grasped the sheer size of this country and seeing it like this made us realise what a massive place it is... it also shows that we have effectively driven from Greece to beyond Poland, which is something I am now very smug about. 

Alas, please don't be fooled into thinking I am now some professional navigator/driver. We experienced some very dark moments and at times we did get lost, very lost and manoeuvres were made that quite frankly should never be done and there are many, many people I ought to hunt down and apologise to... but the point is we got through it and I am so amazed we did it, it really has made the Aussie experience even more of an adventure.

So how did it go and what did we see en route I hear you cry...

Newcastle was our first stop along the way. It wasn't a long drive from Sydney, although we did manage to arrive on the hottest and busiest day, so parking proved a challenge. We decided to embrace the weather and hit the beach with some body boards which was so much fun. The waves were enough to enjoy splashing around and trying to look as though we knew what we were doing, but not so strong that we drowned. I did learn that body boarding requires a pretty sturdy bikini though, it is not cool to accidentally flash anyone on a family beach (I wouldn't know from experience though...)

From Newcastle we drove via Port Stephens to Port Macquari. Although there wasn't a great deal to see in Port Stephens other than a beautiful harbour, it was the starting point to a few drives out to a number of beautiful lookouts and we even visited some sand dunes, which were something we hadn't seen before.

Our second stop was Port Macquari which was a really awesome little town and the place that we put on our wetsuits and went surfing! 

It was an early 5.45am start but it was nice because a lot of people at the hostel were coming too, so it was good fun. The guy who owns the hostel runs the whole thing and after a brief (and humiliating) surf lesson on land the previous evening, it was obvious that no one really had a clue what they were doing. 

The beach was so nice at that time of day and added to the experience completely. We were able to watch the sunrise, the sea was warm and there was no one around to watch and laugh at our attempts to surf. 

Surfing is so much harder then it looks, you need a lot of balance and you have to be pretty agile.. so as you can imagine, I was a natural. 

It is so much fun though and once you've been whacked by a board, swallowed a gallon of sea water and been submerged under a wave, you really can't do anything except laugh and enjoy it. 

We spent about 3 hours on the beach and by the time we returned back to the hostel it was warm and sunny - all before we checked out at 10am! It was only $25 as well which is significantly cheaper then a lot of the surf lessons on the beach, so well worth it if you ever stay there. 

On our way out of Port Macquari we visited their local Koala hospital. It was free to visit but pack the tissues because some of their stories are just heart breaking! They are the best little creatures and you can't not love them. They are so docile and chilled, we could all learn from their attitude to life! The work they do for Koalas in Australia is really great and it was nice to see some of the success stories, happily sleeping in their trees.

From Port Macquari we drove to Coffs Harbour. This was a very quick stop for us as we arrived late afternoon and were off again in the morning, but we still managed to take a walk to the Jetty and saw some beautiful views.

Yamba, our next destination, is a very small beach town. The hostel itself was nearly as big as the town and was buzzing with other backpackers, dotted around everywhere. It was a huge building with a bar underneath and did seem to be the local hangout. 

There wasn't a great deal to do in Yamba without driving out but we settled for crashing out on the beach for the afternoon and it was a good decision. 

Byron Bay was next. We drove from Yamba and arrived in Byron that afternoon. I loved Byron Bay! The hostel was perfect, with a massive kitchen and dining area where we were able to talk to other people and socialise.

This place has to be the most laid back and idyllic spot of all the places we have visited. The locals were so friendly and the whole mood is relaxed and casual. The streets are dotted with dozens of tiny, quirky shops, selling all sorts of handmade souvenirs at really reasonable prices. A short walk from the shops takes you to the beach which was heaven; golden sand and beautiful, crystal water and absolutely alive with people of all ages enjoying it everywhere you look. 

We spent a couple of days here to give ourselves a rest from driving. On our second day we took a walk to the lighthouse which was a good hour away from the beaches and shops, taking you right up the hill to see great views, as well as the most easterly point of Australia.We met a lovely English couple there too who kindly took our picture by the sign and the man told a joke about how it should read 'perth that way' or something, but I didn't really get it so I had to pretend laugh, a lot.

Due to a very last minute tour booking, we no longer had time to stay in Surfers Paradise for the night. Instead, we decided to leave Byron nice and early and drive to Noosa via Surfers Paradise so we could still see it. Unfortunately I can't say I was blown away... it was a lovely beach but the city itself seemed to be almost over-touristy. I could have easily been in a Spanish holiday resort with hotels everywhere and bars and restaurants spilling onto the streets. 

We arrived in Noosa late that afternoon. It took us an unusual amount of time to find the hostel, due to an unfortunate google maps mishap, which had sadly lost the final few steps of the directions. 

Noosa was our stop for the much anticipated Fraser Island and Rainbow Beach for which we had a tour booked for the morning. 

The hostel was one of the stranger hostels we have stayed at; being a historic building it had no plug sockets in any of the rooms... it was Noosa that taught me how much I love electricity. Not being able to charge your phone or camera whilst travelling is a complete nightmare and within the space of an hour some poor guy had had his iphone stolen after leaving it to charge at a plug socket in the hallway. 

The alarm went off at the horrible hour of 5.30am as our tour bus picked us up at 6.30. We forgot that the kitchen didn't open until 7am so actually we were ready way too early and had no breakfast .. it is still a touchy subject and we choose not to relive it. 

We booked our tour with 'Fraser Island Adventures' and it cost $150 including lunch and (to our absolute delight) morning and afternoon tea and cookies! 

We first headed to Rainbow Beach and saw the coloured sand there which, as you can imagine, was awesome! The sun was shining and the beach was so quiet, it really was beautiful. You can only access Rainbow Beach and Fraser Island by 4-wheel drive and driving across the sand alongside the sea in a car was pretty cool. We saw some wild dingoes in the sands and the drive along was deceivingly smooth. When we reached Fraser Island we hit the bumps. I haven't ever done any off road driving (although arguably I have done some pretty sketchy on road driving) and I was not ready for it. Even though we were in a massive 4WD bus, we were thrown about all over the place and we soon realised that it is a good job we hadn't had breakfast! 

We finally reached the stunning Lake Mackenzie, which you can see in our pictures. The sand was completely white, silicone and so smooth and the water was crystal clear and turquoise. It really was like a desert island and so beautiful. We watched as everyone was swimming and began to scrub the sand all over their skin and then we copied them, because that is what you do when you are a tourist.

Lunch was a bbq in the woods and it was great to sit around and chat to other travellers. One of the highlights of the day had to be when a giant kookaburra swooped down and stole Lydias sausage from her plate (don't worry she got a new one). After lunch we continued our bumpy drive around the island, learning a lot about its history and current status as a world heritage site. We got out for a guided walk and that is when... we saw our first wild SNAKE! It was a big moment and although I had to holdback the David Attenborough in me, who was desperate to get right next to it for a photo, I calmly held back, very, very far back... up the hill.. away from danger. 

Fraser was amazing and such a stunning island.

Aside from the plug sockets, I did really enjoy Noosa. It is also the place that I met my soulmate. He was our roomate and the most beautiful Spanish man I have ever seen and we definitely shared a moment. Sadly there was a slight language barrier and the fact that he saw me fresh out of the shower, no make up, with my hair in a towel and rocking my finest (not finest) pyjamas; which is never great for a first date. I was going to leave a note with my number on his bag, but sadly I overslept and in the tornado that was me getting ready, I dropped my bronzer on the floor and it flew everywhere, in a million pieces, all over the historical bedroom floor... I am pretty sure I woke him up.. and got a bit of bronzer on him too.

Hervey Bay was our next port of call. It was such a quiet place and the hostel was dead, but it did have plug sockets AND we had a room to ourselves which is so disgustingly luxurious. We only had one afternoon there which we spent on the beach and in the sea. In hindsight we definitely should not have got in the sea. The beach was deserted and there were no swimming flags and that is probably because of the dangerous killer jellyfish in the area... no wonder the beach was empty. We like to say 'you live and learn' (that is now our new motto)...

We drove from Hervey Bay to Gladstone which was one hell of a journey. It also marked the start of the first rain we hit. 

Now when it rains in Australia, it rains with feeling. There is no drizzle or mucking about; there isn't even any warning. It rained and rained and there was thunder and lightening like I have never heard or seen in my life. I tried to reassure myself that it was just God moving his furniture around but it didn't work like it did when I was five (twenty). Unfortunately the rain stayed with us for the next four days! Even when we reached Rockhampton amd attempted to visit the botanical gardens and the zoo, it was cut short by the rain. Due to this torrential weather the highlights of Gladstone and Rockhampton include: going to use the libraries free wifi, reading a book, eating too much, doing a celebrity crossword, watching 'Hunger Games' and learning how to check the oil of my car (thanks to the guy who showed me and sorry for nearly slamming the bonnet down on your head).

As we got closer to Cairns we did stop overnight at a few other locations, but they really were just rest stops so we didn't do or see that much... shout out to Mackay and Townsville though, you were great all the same.

Airlie Beach was our next major stop. A gorgeous and sunny seaside town and the gateway to the famous Whitsunday Islands. It was really busy, full of backpackers mainly. 

There were loads of really cool little shops and so many great places to eat and drink. Unfortunately due to time we couldn't squeeze in a Whitsundays tour, but we like to leave a few excuses to come back again for another trip, so it's okay. We did a few nice walks along the coast but spent most of our time at the lagoon. It was our first proper introduction to lagoons, which are like man made beaches where people can swim safely, away from the jelly fish basically! 

The next stop on our mammoth journey was a place called Mission Beach. We were here for one thing and one thing only...SKYDIVING. I still have no idea what possessed me to pay to jump from a plane at 14,000 feet but all I can say is thank goodness I did! It was the best thing I have ever done!

We got picked up at 12.30, after the worst nights sleep and the slowest morning ever! I was so nervous anyway, but as the bus pulled up to the depot and 'drop zone', I was feeling pretty sick! 

We had to watch a very, very brief safety video on what to do and how to land etc ... I did not pay any attention to this and that became apparent when I landed. 

My skydive instructor was an absolute dude called Ryan. He was crazy. In fact, all the guys were pretty crazy, but they do jump about seven times a day, so no wonder - imagine all that adrenaline! 

Ryan and I hit it off from the start. He was completely nuts. In true Bridget Jones style I managed to get the crazy and just like that my dreams of being strapped to a stunning aussie hunk and falling in love and getting married were quickly dashed. Having the harness put on was always going to be awkward, but when Ryan, who was just adjusting the straps around my waist and thighs, exclaimed 'daaamnnn baby got back' I went as radish red as dear Bridget herself.. brilliant.

I can't easily put into words what goes through your mind when the plane takes off and you begin to realise what you are about to do. 

My heart was pounding and I think I asked Ryan about 90 million times why weren't we strapped tightly together yet, to which he replied 'lets take it slow Gillespie, we've only just met!' ... I had to laugh. In fact I laughed hysterically, probably because I was in a severe state of hysteria and on the verge of a heart attack. 

When the plane door opened there was no messing around. These guys do not beat around the bush; people were dropping out of the plane like flies and before I knew it, there I was, hanging out a plane, strapped to a guy who had just commented on my 'back', about to freefall from 14,000ft. 

I can only apologise to the sky for the explicit language that left my mouth that moment. I can't tell you what it feels like to fall like that but it was absolutely incredible! 

Everyone should do it at least once, it is beyond imaginable. 

When the parachute came up and I could finally see the breathtaking views (and how desperately unflattering the harness was sitting in between my legs) it was amazing (or not so amazing in the case of the harness). 

When I landed on the beach I was so happy to have my feet on solid ground and I am still buzzing from the whole experience, even three days on!

So, after a long few weeks of adventure, we left Mission Beach on our final leg of the journey to Cairns.

On the way to Cairns we stopped at Josephine Falls which were situated just off the highway. We were able to go swimming in them which was really cool and although it rained a little, the water was warm and it was nice to swim in a completely natural environment with a waterfall in the background.

About an hour from the falls and we finally made it to Cairns! It was quite a momentus occasion and we were so happy to finally make it after all our travelling.

It has been an amazing few weeks for us. We have been so lucky to do and see so many amazing things and meet some great people along the way. 

From skydiving to just driving a route like this, it really does go to show that things we fear are impossible are very much possible and not only can fears be conquered but you can have a bloody good laugh conquering them! 

It has been one hefty post so thank you if you have made it this far without flicking over to youtube to watch an animal doing something funny. I can't wait to tell you about Cairns and Darwin, which we tackle next!

Much love you horrible bunch! X