OK folks so we last updated you after our visit to Cape Tribulation after which we traveled back South via the Atherton Tablelands. This meant a bit of a trip inland. We started to head for the scenery and were passing through the town of Mareeba when we saw a market being held. So we stopped off and had a look around at all stalls, invested in some fresh pineapple juice (which was seriously nice and freshly squeezed), looked at all the fruits and veg, which are all 10 times bigger here and mingled in with the locals. After refueling and making off with some very nice Avocados, we started to reach some of the views it really was quite beautiful in the Atherton Tablelands and we hope the pictures do it justice.We then drove to the Millaa Millaa and waterfalls circuit. Millaa Millaa was a really strange little place we didn't actually take any photos as to be honest we were too scared to stop - after running into a loo, as we sped past the shut/run down cheese factory/museum (in the middle of nowhere) ???? we could see the locals staring at us from the local pub. Honestly you were just waiting for the tumbleweed to roll past, we were glad to find the waterfall circuit a lot more exciting and less scary. At one of the waterfalls we also found some baby turtles taking in the rays. Very cute.

After our action packed days of driving and seen as the weather was hotting up we decided to pop back to Cairns and stay a few days for a rest.

We then traveled to Charters Towers (again inland) via Mission Beach. Mission Beach is a lovely Beach area with views of Dunk Island, but there isn't a great deal to show and tell, just a laid back village that had a very nice fish and chip shop!! (But not as good as Roy & Kim's).

Charters Towers is 130 kms inland, west of Townsville and was Australia's richest town when they found gold in the mines here in the 1870's. Because of this the town was known as 'The World' and even had its own stock exchange. The trip to Charters Towers was good fun as it's the first time Katie had seen a Road Train and oh my god they are scary and we could actually drive with a bit of speed so Matt was happy. The town itself was great with some lovely old buildings and sites in the middle of nowhere, the people were ever so friendly and happy to tell you about the history and made you feel very welcome. We also watched a proper Outdoor Drive-In Movie here, one of only six left in Queensland - which was really fun.

We then left Charters Towers were we bombed down the road with the Road Trains and decided to pop back to Airlie Beach and see if the sea was calmer so we could do our tour of the Whitsunday's. We were chuffed to find that the weather was beautiful and the sea was quiet as a mouse so we booked something ….. Well it just so happens that the Whitsunday's now offers a new luxury cruise around the islands so instead of the usual sailing tours you do for a couple of days on a quite small boat we decided to take the luxury route instead, now we were lucky as this particular cruise was half price (although expensive enough to make us go and get a job for a bit) so it just seemed right and well it is our honeymoon after all??? Now I think the best thing if you want to have a look at the website which is www.fantaseaammari.com/ and this will tell you about it if you want to have a look. It really was an amazing trip and here is where we went and what happened.

To get to the boat we had to travel by ferry to Hamilton Island where we got our first views of the Islands passing Daydream Island and stopping at Hamilton Island, from here we were picked up by a speedboat a 12.5 metre, 32-seat state of the art transfer boat built especially to transport guests to and from the Ammari. It was very cool and rumours were it cost about $1 million! It even reversed up to the beaches so you didn't have to get your feet very wet!! We arrived on board to the 'mother ship' to a champagne reception, where we met Peter and Iris (Hi Guys) and well the drinking and the fun began. The boat left and traveled to Hardy Reef anchorage, although the majority of this was a blur and it was quite scary to wake up the next day (with hang over) in the middle of the ocean with nothing in site. We had not been deserted and left in the middle of nowhere, and the hangover eased after a nice breakfast and off we headed to see the Great Barrier Reef. This was at Reef World a floating pontoon that is a 2½ hour boat trip from land and from here you can snorkel and see the reef the huge fish or visit an under water observatory or hop in the submarine that travels around for you, or as Matt did get carried away with the underwater camera and take photos of yourself snorkeling. We seriously have never seen fish quite so large and it was amazing to see the Reef.

For the afternoon they took us to Whitehaven Beach which has to be the most beautiful beach we have ever seen. The view was amazing the sea looked lovely and even the sand was special, it was called 'silky sand' and it really felt like silk and also never heats up in the sun. Lush.

It was here that the staff decided that we would play some cricket, Matt decided to step up being the only pommie to defend our Country. 'Oh God' thought Katie and hastily went for a walk up the beach. Now bearing in mind that he never plays cricket and hasn't got a clue what he was doing it was nicely surprising that he actually whooped their butts (this is Katie typing so it's true) and did a very good job of catching everyone out. He got so into it he injured himself - see photos. The Aussies didn't mention the cricket again……………….

That night we er drank again and had a blast with the on board entertainer who did requests and we can vaguely remember trying to get everyone to sing along to The Proclaimers?, (by the end of the cruise we were on first name terms with the entertainer).

And so the next day began fairly similarly, hung over, not sure where we were and after a recovery breakfast and checking that everyone else was still on board we were hustled up to be taken to Blue Pearl Bay on Hayman Island for more snorkeling. Whilst on shore a whale and a baby whale swam past the top of the bay we could just about make it out and it was very exciting. Then we were taken to Black Island for a picnic on the beach, we sat there with our lunch and looked over the amazing views, it was very surreal. We spent the afternoon sunbathing on the sun deck and taking in the beautiful views were there was no one else around.

That night we had decided to not drink and guess what by about 9pm we were drunk again, and whilst looking over the back of the boat Katie saw a Reef Shark swim up ( I know this as I was talking to someone and they pointed it out I have not turned into Steve Irwin).And we laughed the last night away.

On the last morning (with hang over) we traveled back from Hayman Island to Hamilton passing Daydream and Molle Island and going through The Narrows between Long Island and the main land (this is incase you really want to look at it on the map?). It really was depressing as the views were gorgeous and we had had such a good laugh with Peter & Iris and the staff we didn't want to go, but we had to and it honestly was the best 3 days.

So feeling slightly deflated, but having made some good friends and an excellent trip we travelled back down the coast with the next destination Hervey Bay for some whale watching, we stayed at Hervey Bay if you remember on the way up the Coast and we could not go out and see the whales as it was all still too rough from the storm. We booked our boat trip and had good weather. They found whales after about an hour of being on the boat and it was pretty special to see the mother and baby swimming around. They come to the coast of Oz from the Antarctic to have their babies so you most commonly see a mum and a baby. The thing was these whales were not very active to start with and it took a while for them to get going, they did eventually start jumping around when a male came to see them, but this happened to be when both the battery on the camera and video camera died, so don't expect any amazing footage. However it was a really lovely and peaceful thing to see them breaching out of the water and we felt very lucky to see them.

So that was actually the last stop on the tour and we have headed as most of you know to Brisbane to have a rest for a bit and make some money for Christmas. Matt has found work with a local barber part time and is helping his uncle with gardening. Katie was going to attempt this too but the word 'spider' was mentioned and excuses were hastily made. Matt is really enjoying it and has got back into the swing of cutting hair and is loving learning how to be a gardener. Due to the fear of spiders Katie decided that an office may be slightly safer and is now doing some temporary admin work for Brisbane City Council, which is good and the people are nice.

We have not been up to a great deal although we have sampling lots of the local grog spending time with family. Our Sundays are generally spent down at the Beach and this week Katie had her first lesson from Matt on how to surf. (I think I looked like an octopus having a fit on a surf board, but it was a laugh).

The weather (sorry) is now really heating up and last week we were in the 30's and had some terrific thunder storms. It's a weird feeling when you have been in an air-conditioned office or shop all day working and then you step out in the evening into the heat.

We have a few places we plan to go to on our days off and we shall let you know how we get on with work.

Hoping that everyone is safe and happy, we miss you all very much.

Lots of Love

Laine Beachley & Alan Titchmarsh

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