Our alarms went off at 3.45am. Some partygoers were just getting home from a night out as we came down the stairs and it was just our luck that it started to rain when we left the hostel. There were no taxi's anywhere so we rang one form the 24hour convenience store around the corner. It was $20 and about 15 minutes from the city centre to Cairns Airport. We checked in and breezed through passport control. The airport was incredibly well run and relaxed. Normally I get in a flap when I have to go through security - not because I have anything to hide - simply because I try too hard to look as normal and calm as possible; and plastering an emotionless look on my face (so I don't get stopped), makes me ... read more

Our coach pulled up in Cairns at 8am and we stopped for a skinny latte, on the way to an Internet cafe to find a hostel. We were pleased when we found a cheap deal at Reefs, $16 each per night. We'd budgeted $30 each per night, so decided our "cheap and sober" stay in Cairns could now be a relatively drunken one. Then we ploughed our leftover cash in to a kitty. When we got to Reefs Backpackers Hostel, the nice guy on reception upgraded us to a private double room rather than a dorm. Excellent. I went off for a wander round Cairns while Ellie chilled by the pool for the day. I couldn't help but feel a bit sad - I was starting to miss people back home. Now I'm confused about whether ... read more

Decided I wouldn’t join the group for the rest of the trip. I was still venting about what they did with those frogs last night so couldn’t bare to be near them. They left the island on the boat at 8am and once I was up and showered I booked my ferry back to the mainland at 10.30. The island was completely deserted as we’d been the only group staying there. There’s nothing like a deserted island to make you contemplate life. I’d spotted one staff member who nodded hello earlier but that was it. So there was me, the birds, a few fish and the sound of waves, all alone on a huge island. Bliss. I guess I felt a bit bad for chucking my drink at that guy with the frogs last night. I ... read more

Woke up on the coach to bright sunshine burning my neck… yey! Finally some sun! Unfortunately by the time we got to Airlie Beach it had clouded over, but we were thrilled it wasn’t raining! We’ve now experienced rain on the East Coast for 9 days since the 24th of February and were in dire need of some sun. We entered the town of Airlie Beach and I’m pretty sure if I had a tail it would be wagging! There were shops, bars, restaurants - finally a bit of life! Went to Koala’s hostel and they gave us a cheap deal: 2 nights for $30. We weren’t sure if we’d need the second night because we needed to book an overnight sailing trip, but since 1 night was $28 it was worth it just in case. ... read more

We were up at 6am ready to leave Pommie Palace behind. Shorty gave us a lift to Surfers Paradise where we could catch our bus up the East Coast. He had to hot wire his car to get it started. It was torrential rain outside so within minutes of arriving in Sufers, we were drenched. Fortunately they have lockers at the bus station so we were able to drop off our bags while we went in search of a café. Both of us wrapped colourful scarves round our heads to protect our hair and attracted some funny looks. We looked like little Indian women… wearing flip flops. This rain was miserable and we quickly established there was only one thing for it… we’d simply have to get pissed. And that is how we found ourselves searching ... read more