Finally reached Cairns and sad to say my Island Suntanner tour has ended...still having lots of fun, a few of the group are staying in Cairns for a little longer so the party's are to continue :)

The drive from Airlie Beach to Undara was exceptionally long, 10 hour day on the coach but a very scenic journey - only a few 'hairy moments' on the one-lane (supposed) highway involving the coach and head-on huge trucks - survived thankfully, lol :) The swag-tents were good fun and really comfortable considering we were in the absolutte wilderness...and of course i really loved sharing my bed with bugs (not)!!! Went on a sunset champagne nature tour and saw so many Kangaroo's, Wallaby's and Wallaroo's (a shorter & more muscular Kangaroo), as well as cane frogs (infestation) which the tour driver proceeded to run over!!! With Undara being a volcanic national park, there was lots of climbing over and up volcanic rock to get the best views of the area. Had to climb to the top of this rather large rock face to get my champagne but was well worth it for the stunning views over Undara, was able to see for miles and miles inc. the extinct volcano's in the area. Surprising that there is so much wildlife and plantlife over the land considering the extent of lava that flowed over the land thousands and thousands of years ago - you'd think nothing would have ever been able to grow again!!! Visited the lava tubes (giant hollow tubes where lava once flowed) briefly at night which are now home to thousands of bats (5-6 different types). Was freeky watching all these bats fly out of the tube, managing to miss me completely because of their 'radar' abilities - couldn't take my eyes off them, was sure they were going to hit me!! Ended the night sitting around the camp fire enjoying a bush BBQ dinner and listening for distance Kangaroo's :) Completed a bush walk in the morning before leaving Undara and managed not to get lost :) (came close, lol, everything looks the same) - climbed over more rock faces to see the view(s) and saw a group of bouching Kangaroo's - got very excited, fascinating animals (found out that they can suspend their pregnancy for upto 2 years if the conditions aren't right for the joey to survive or if the mother is in danger etc.) how cool :)

Well before Cairns and the Great Barrier Reef I would have said Fraser Island and the Whitsundays sailing trip were the best parts of my trip, but not anymore after my scuba driving adventures. The Passions of Paradise catamaran trip was 'totally awesome' - the girls and I are now officially the Barracuda's - best scuba driving team on the trip :) Completed two dives in two different parts of the reef and got to see 'Nemo' - lots in fact - in the anemones, as well as a turtle (swam right past me), sea cumcumber's, sting rays, 'Dory', parrot fish and so much more. Was the WOW in my tour, something i didn't plan and had the most fun. It was a little scary at the start of my first scuba drive, freaked out a little bit but the instructor's were so good made it fun that it didn't take long to adjust - now a 'natural', lol. Got lots of photo's under the water, including one with me holding a sea urchin :) Did some snorkelling aswell, just off the little island Passions took us to, was good fun, although nearly stood on a sting ray which was hidden in the sand :s The Girls and I have been on a high ever since, partying into the early hours. Ended the trip going on the skyrail upto Kaunda village - was a good trip even though it was raining the whole time - got to cuddle a Kolar (another higlight of my trip). They are gorgeous animals :) The markets were nice, lots I wanted to buy but managed to refrain!! Heading to the Pier tonight before heading back to Sydney - going to miss the east coast and the group but looking forward to exploring more of Sydney and continuing my trip - east coast has been amazing :)