Well Perth WA was simply fantabulous, so clean friendly and sunny!! The lovely Barbara and Derek picked us up from the airport and spent some fun days with them in Freemantle, playing mini golf (very badly on my part!) and even went for a swimming session (the rib providing a good excuse for my lack of fitness at the moment!) One of my best days so far in Oz was spent on the stunning Rottnest island - no cars are allowed so we straddled on push bikes and cycled all around the island and some, in awe of the amazing beaches and views! We stopped at one of the desserted beaches for a snorkel and got to see some cute fishies. After cycling over 40k on the worst bike ever my bum was feeling it by the end of the day though.......!! We stayed in Scarborough beach, just outside the city which is fampous for it's surfing or standing on the edge trying to cool off and getting knocked to the ground, whichever tickles your fancy! The hostel was quite small but had a wicked group of about 20 of us, nights were spent having bbq's on the beach watching the sun set, many many beers, talking, singing, swimming pool fights and having the police called on us at 4am for being a tad too loud....definately blame that on the lads from 'Byker Grove'. Good Friday was spent on the beach with mum's friends Pat, Steve and their cute son Hudson-was so nice to meet them and hear all about mum at my age but unfortunately after wearing my rediculously large sunglasses all day, i had impressive white patches on my face-much to Nicola's amusement! Upwards we went to Darwin, Northern Oz-the home of the deadly crocs and setting for 'Crocodile Dundee'. We set off on easter weekend for our next adventure in a 4WD to Kakadu national park, enroute stopping off for the 'jumping croc cruise' from the safety of a boat we watched the deadly 'salties' jumping out the water for food (the boat we were on is soon to be featured in horror film 'Rogue' released in August.....!) We hiked to lots of waterfalls and swam in them and billabongs even though we were warned by the signs that there were crocs about-aaaggghhhh must be crazy fools but still here with all my limbs to continue the tale........We camped out in see-through tents star gazing-literally were millions of them, never seen anything like it! Gave a shot at playing the didgeridoo round the campfire but just sounded like i was making naughty fart noises! Our tour guide was brilliant-would randomly swing round the 4wd and go back to where he's seen some creature-he picked up a Python and a frilly lizard form the side of the road! Another fantastic day was had at Litchfield National Park with the funniest tour guide EVER! whilst driving along he spotted a snake-jumped out the minibus and caught it, carefully bringing it to us for some photos, even climbing aboard for close-ups, while saying how dangerous and deadly the snake was-this didn't go down particularly well with Nicola jumping and cowering on his driver's seat, the guy behind was petrified and trying to get out the window when suddenly the guide shouted 'aagh it bit me' and dropped the snake on the bus-we all were screaming and jumping onto our seats when it became apparent that the snake was infact plastic!!! B%&&tard got us good and proper!! Most of the return journey he had us all crying with laughter with funny impressions (passers by got treated to him stripping and panicking when he was dressed as a terroist, with a tea-towel on his head holding the front passenger hostage with a large fake gun, ha ha)