We have done so much since the last time I wrote anything. First of all we made our way down to Melbourne on another night bus. The bus driver put the heating on though so wasn't as bad as the one down to Sydney. Melbourne was like a English winters day when we got here but brightened up the more we were here. Melbourne is so cool. Done lots of walking around the city and parks and everywhere. Love the Italian area with all the Italian restaurants and ice cream shops and lemon merigue pie shops, have spent a lot of time there. We are back in Melbourne now too after all our trips into the outback and went to the seaside yesterday and it was boiling, had a really nice day. Just hanging around today waiting for our flight to New Zealand. Really sad to leave Australia but so excited about New Zealand since we opened our guide book the other day and gave it a read, sounds so cool. Our Australia book has been like a bible to us so thanks everyone at Specsavers for that one.

So the outback - AMAZING. We arrived in Alice SPrings which is the only real town away from the coast in Australia, sfter a freezing cold night sleeping in the airport. Arrived in Alice with three jumpers on but they soon came off when realised we were in the desert. Alice SPrings was pretty dull, conquered it in a morning then slept the rest of the day. The next morning we were up at 5 to set off on our 3 day adventure. Saw a hell of a lot of rocks which sounds so boring but was so cool. The famous one is called Uluru, which we got to climb. So lucky that we did. They close it for the smallest reason like if there is a cloud in the sky and are talking about shutting it down all together because it is disrespectful to the Aboriginals and too many people have died climbing it. We survived though and it was ace. It had shut by the time we came back down because the weather was above 36 degrees, at 8 in the morning. It really was hot! By 9.30am we had already got up, ate breakfast, packed up camp, watched sunrise, walked around bottom of Uluru and climbed up it and slid back down - usually would not have got out of bed by then! SO good. Walked around somewhere called Kings Canyon too which was amazing too. We got struck by lightening too. Well bit dramatic - the pub where me and Toyah were having a drink got struck and all tills went down and stuff and it rattled about a bit. Apparently two of the guides from another trip got struck and had to be airlifted to Alice Springs. Meant we couldn't sleep under stars like we did night before but got a pretty cool cabin instead. Can't write how much we loved it and the photos don't do it justice but the outback trip was ace. Had a really cool group too which made it better.

The second trip was pretty much a two day bus with an overnight stop in a cave which was pretty cool. Especially because there were so many beds so me and Toyah had a room just us two which is so nice after having to act normal in dorms! Saw an opal cave two which was ok.

We had a night and day in Adelaide before our next trip so wondered round there and caught tram out to the beach. Pretty nice city, was impressed. Our next trip was through the Grampians and along the Great Ocean road back to Melbourne. Really good group and some amazing scenery. Again pics don't give it justice, some of stuff on Great Ocean Road was amazing. Went on some walks and finally found some kangaroos as i'm sure you have seen from photos, we were excited! Saw Wallabies too. Only thing we haven't seen is crocodiles which I am pretty gutted about. I thought they were everywhere here. Stayed in the nicest hostel on first night and had bbq and a beach house the second night which was really cool.

So much more I could write and stories to tell (such as finding a turd in our hostel lift) but all those kind of stories are better told face to face, something for you to all look forward to when we get back (bet you can't wait)!

Better get off now and get ready to go to airport, so so excited, New Zealand is going to be ace. Big hugs and kisses. Toyah and Katiexxxxxxxxxx