G'Day to you all again, feels like all we have done recently is update the website!! However this is our fault as we are cramming so much in!

Before we start on ourselves we do have to congratulate our friends Craig and Lorraine on the birth of their beautiful baby girl Erin....we say beautiful however we are yet to see any pics not that we are pulling you up or anything...we know you will have your hands full!!

Now where did we leave you last, think we had just left Cairns for Darwin on yet another early morning flight......honestly you think this travelling lark is a piece of cake but it aint......probably gettin up earlier than most of you back home!!!!

Our main reason for visiting DArwin was to hike in Kakadu National Park and see the wild Crocs jumping out of the Adelaide River....the latter we didnt manage as there had been a cyclone before we got there which meant massive flooding in the park...the Adelaide River was more like a floodplain....oh and they now had no idea where the crocs were!!!!!!

Due to the flooding we could only enter the park at the south end which meant a long drive the first day (couple of hours, which is nothing to the locals!) but we broke this up with some lunch and a visit to a croc farm. Loads of the creatures there, luckily enough they were behind some serious fences however that did not stop one crazy croc trying to have a go at every person that passed his spot...needed some huggies pull-ups after that one!! We also met the start of Crocodile Dundee...well we say star but really the croc that they used in the filming...his name is Burt and he is one awesome brut!!

Headed onwards for our first trek which was only a few Klms to the top of a hill for a view over Edith Falls, then back down for a well earned rest at a swimming hole. UNfortunately we spotted the Croc sign before we got to the swimming spot and on questioning our guide he quite calmly said that there probably were fresh water crocs in most of the swimming holes but the SHOULDNT be any Salties........to be sure we let the guide go in fo\irst and have a 15min swim before any of us ventured in!!

We stayed at a caravan park in a dorm instead of the planned camping due to it being the wet season and we were glad of that when the storms came in after dinner!

Following day we had to complete an hours walk in 35 degrees heat (and the humidity you wouldnt believe...around 90%) to Motorcar Falls which were stunning and again there was a huge swimming hole that was around 16m deep...Greg had a great time in there but I still didnt manage to get int he water...couldnt see the bottom you see!!!!!!

Spent a few hours there and then it was a further 1hr 30min trek to the last waterfall of the day Boulder Creek Falls....the walk was anightmare in the heat and our feet were hurtin by the time we got there but they were well worth it! There were 3 different falls that led into each other all with swimming holes (that you could see to the bottom to may I add) and Amanda managed to get herself in....then couldnt get out they were so cool! AT the top falls you could jump off the rocks and into a deep water hole which Greg took great pleasure in doing as you can imagine!

Back to the camp for the night and another wonderful storm to look at!

Final day we went to an aboriginal rock art site that had a number of caves and overhangs in the rocks with some amazing rock art from thousands of years back....its quite amazing but you can see the tales of their past, how their way of living has developed over the years and how they are absolute masters of making tools for themselves.

Then we headed off to a final waterfall of which the name completely escapes us....however another fantastic place to rest your wary bones it some crystal clear, cool water.....have a look at the pics we know you will be jealous!

Once again we had the red eye flight back to Cairns to complete the final but most magnificent part of our East COast adventure...The Great Barrier Reef!

Amanda was extremely nervous on the boat ride out (for those of you who dont know my bigeest fear is that of the sea and I have never been able to overcome it!). Took around 2 hours to get to the first island Michealmas Cay, which is a small but beautiful sand island in the middle of the sea and is also a bird sanctuary. It was 80m to the shore from the boat and Greg happily jumped in and snorkelled back.....however Amanda was a bit nervous so got taken to the shore by boat...step by step as they say!

Adorned with goggles, snorkel and flippers Amanda made her way into the sea with a lot of coaxing from Greg and finally got herself out into deep water....and what an experience!!!!!! The fish are awesome, as you will see from the pics, we were sometimes surrounded by them however other were a little more timid and difficult to get pics of. The coral is beautiful and full with amazing colours and shapes...its a real shame that the reef itself is being destroyed by the climate change and shipping, it really should be treasured! We were told that if you bunched the reefs together it would easily fit into the size of the UK...unbelievable!

We then headed back to the boat for some lunch and headed off to one of the outer reefs called Hastings....this was open sea and presented a new challenge for both Amanda and Greg!! Amanda as she had never been in open sea and Greg as he was about to complete his first scuba dive!

We first done a snorkelling tour around hastings reef and seen Nemos brother...the Black Clownfish...along with Giant Clams (they really are massive) and somemore amazing coral and fish! Greg then got into the scuba gear and done a bit of practising at the top with his breathing, then they gently lowered to 5m and started their tour of the underworld.....it really is another world and definatley not ours!! The fish rule down there! The experience was amazing and scary at the same time and lasted around 45 mins......just cant wait for the next one!!

Well thats us for now...more amazing once in a lifetime experiences have been had and we cant wait for the next instalment in Ayres Rock and the West COast of Oz.

Just to let you guys know out there who dont already know, ours plans have changed a little...we are leaving Oz early and heading to Vietnam for a month.....the place looks outstanding and the fact that you can purchase yourself 100 locals beers for a mere US$10 does not have anything to do with it!!!!!!!!!!!!!! JUst awaiting confirmation of a Visa for Vietnam and the flights will be booked!

Well as always we hope all are well at home, take care and speak with you all soon.

Luv,

Amanda and Greg xxx