Having spent a couple of frustrating days in Cairns I was looking forward to my three day trip to Uluru (Ayers Rock), the Olgas and Kata Tjuta national park in the 'red center' - the Northen Territory. I had enjoyed most of my time in Cairns but over Easter weekend everything had been closed, even the pubs. Alcohol was banned for 24 hours over Easter Sunday - imagine the authorities trying that at home - there would be a riot! No off licences and no visible resta...

My last destination in Oz before leaving for New Zealand was Cairns and it was going to be my base for over a week, although I would be flying to Alice Springs and visiting Uluru for some of this time. I found Cairns to be sunny, lively and good fun with plenty of like-minded travellers and a good nightlife. Whilst the beach wasn't really up to much, nor very often used by anyone - Cairns has an artificial lagoon which allowed for swimming and sunbathing without ...

Townsville was the last stop-off Liza and I experienced together in Australia. Townsville looks like a small city with several tall buildings claiming to be banks or corporate entities. It is the nearest place to Magnetic Island which lies just off the coast. Magnetic Island itself was quite pleasant, as we visited a couple of picturesque but above all near-deserted beaches. Liza and I were surprised but delighted to find the beach deserted and we went for a swi...

Since last writing we have reached Australia! We have now been here for 3 weeks but almost didnt get in at all as I didn't have an Australian visa - bloody STA charging me money for a visa and then never getting it for me. My predictions in the last entry regarding sports was not too far off. Spurs are 11th not 10th in the league (but only on goal difference) and England finished above Wales in the 6 Nations - hahahahaha. Maybe I shall start betting on sports t...

Hello Well, it's been a few weeks since we last wrote during which we had been to several more islands. After our visit to Koh Lanta we left for Koh Phi Phi, it was a beautiful island with fantastic sunsets, however, we found the food and accomodation very expensive, so we moved from the main town to a smaller bay called Long Beach. First we went snorkelling in the water off Maya Bay on Koh Phi Phi Lee which was where "The Beach" was filmed. The nex...