After a 2day delay at Townsville the coaches were back running. The coach pulled into Townsville 2hours late but everyone still cheered as this was the first coach going North for 2days. After a non-stop 5hour coach ride, I arrived in Cairns, my finally destination on the east
coast.
 
The next morning I got up at 6am and headed to the ferry terminal for a Great Barrier Reef tour on the Ocean Freedom. I was meant to do an introductory dive, however I found out this was not possible as there are strict rules around diving and asthma in Australia. This was disappointing, however I could still snorkel.

We sailed 1hour to a spot called Upolu Reef’s outer edge, a section of ribbon reef . Up until now I'd only snorkelled on fringing reef (reef off an island) but this reef was in the ocean far from any land. Later in the day we went to Upolu Cay, a small sand island only visible in low tide surrounded by 30 degree turquoise water. It was weird standing ankle deep in the ocean with the main so far away. Around the small island were small clumps of coral and I spotted sting rays and clown fish. The snorkelling on this trip was the best I've done in the Great Barrier Reef.

The next day I got up early and went to Rusty's fruit/veg market. Cairns is tropical climate so fruit such as mangoes and pinapple grow locally and are only 70p each! I walked round and got a bag of fruit, including pam-pam (like melon), passion fruit and green mango, all for £3.50. My favourite was custard apple, a local fruit that honestly tastes like apple crumble with custard. You can't eat the skin but cut it in half and eat the white fruit.

In the hostel I also bumped into 2 dutch guys I first met in Syndey, then again in Byron Bay, on the bus from Rainbow Beach then again here in Cairns. Great to see them again.

It feels like I've been away more like 6months as I've been to so many places, slept in more hostels than I can remember, met many new new people and had lots of great experiences. I came to Australia with the image of beaches, flat red landscape and fosters tinnies, but I leave knowing Australia is far more than this. Its a country with everything: friendly people, vibrant cities, desserts, national parks, mountain ranges, tropical rainforest, amazing diversity of wildlife, counter culture, beautiful tropical islands, pristine beaches, and my favourite, the largest living structure in the world which is the Great Barrier Reef. Travelling here for 2months has unveils a side far richer than 'skippy' and 'shrimp on the barbie' and kept me interested as the sights, sounds, weather, landscape and animals change as you move around this vase country.

Next stop Christchurch, New Zealand. 2months complete, 2 more to go.