Argh!!! Crocs!!!

Cairns was hot!!

We arrived and couldn't believe the humidity. It's a pretty town tho, with a huge man made lagoon. You can't swim in the sea because of the man eating crocodiles. Signs everywhere.

We had the first day to ourselves so we walked into town along the promenade and spent most of the afternoon sheltering from the heat in the cinema watching Avatar in 3D. It was stupendous! I loved it and didn't think I would.

Next day our paid up 18 day tour to Sydney started in earnest with a early morning pick up by Ciarns Dive Centre, from our hostel out to the Kangaroo Explorer (posh boat) 2 hours off the coast of Cairns, to the Great Barrier Reef.

We had our own room with a double bed, cotton sheets, ensuite bathroom and air con. We came to the realisation that we were 2 out of 3 snorkellers on a professional dive boat, that most people had paid hundreds of $$$'s for.

All meals provided, we stayed for 2 days and 1 night. The snorkelling was amazing. We saw reef sharks, turtles, rays, loads of pretty fish and ultra violet coral on the reef and best all Nemo Clown Fish, peeping at us. It was truly like being in Finding Nemo.

The first afternoon James was brave enough to have a go at proper diving with and tank and everything. The crew were really pleased with him. Said it was one of the best ever first time dives. A camerman went out with them and filmed everything. We watched the film later on the boat and James indeed does look like a consumate professional - but we can't afford the DVD just yet. We'll buy it when we're back home and have proper jobs again.

We returned back to the mainland, back to our dorm room, and prepared for the next adventure which was a one night trip to Cape Tribulation, north of Cairns.

If we thought Cairns was hot and humid, this was some'ink else.
Was a bit too much for me. And the mozzies were rife.

On the way we visted a crocodile farm, that had kangaroos, wallabies and vicious cassawaries. We jungle trekked with our Aboriginal guide - the lovely George - and had a swim in a gorge.
At PK's (our accommodation) we had a whole day before we were collected the next afternoon to laze around and inspect the beach.

Inspect is the correct term of phrase as we can't go anywhere near the water at the moment as it's stinger season - deadly jellyfish lurk everywhere - oh and man eating crocs in the mangroves. Australia appears to be fully of things that can kill you dead.

On the way back to Cairns the next day we stopped off for a crocodile spotting cruise and ice cream. Tourist heaven.

One more night in our dorm and we were catching our first Greyhound bus to Airlie Beach, where we are now. It's a small strip that reminds us of Newquay. It's a party place and lots of young 'uns are biding their time drinking until their boat trips out to the Whit Sundays, where they drink some more.

We are just back from our boat trip. There were 26 of us and we all got on great bonnded partly by a common dislike for the crew. These chaps were uninterested, unwelcoming and often downright rude. Their favourite subject was how little they were paid.

Nevertheless we were a great group and we met some lovely people.