Sydney to Cairns and back to Melbourne!

For our final day in Sydney we hired a car and went to the Blue Mountains, so called because of the morning mist that makes them look blue.  We drove 2 hours and as we finally arrived the famous blue mist settled in with rain so there was a complete white-out! Visability of about 5 metres max.  Understandedly our language was also a little blue!  We decided to visit a few of the little towns and a local waterfall then head back to Sydney, but as we got to the waterfall we watched the mist rise off the mountains which was pretty spectacular.  We then rushed back to ride the cable car and old train and see the famous 3 sisters.  The story behind the 3 sisters is that there were 3 beautiful aboriginal sisters who were turned to stone by a wizard for enhanting the men.     



300m Wentworth falls

The top of the waterfall

The train is the steepest in the world and was like a rollar coaster!  There was also a horizontal cable car from which the view was amazing.  



3 sisters from the cable car



The next day we flew up to Cairns (over the floods) and tried to figure out what to do next - we were planning to get a campervan and go down the east coast but because of the floods that was no longer possible.  Phil and Jane arrived the next day so we spent the next few days with them, mostly eating and drinking! The second evening together we went on a dinner cruise down the river to see Cairns by night followed by more drinks and dancing on the tables! 



In height order on the cruise!



Dancing on the tables!

The next day (a little worse for wear) we hired a car - V8 - and drove up to Cape Tribulation which is, according to Scottish, where the rainforest meets the reef, taking in a crocadile cruise on the way.  We were on high alert all day as there are lots of things that can kill you just knocking around.  Scottish had a close encounter with a spider in the ladies, then just as we were about to paddle in the sea we spotted a stingray in the shallows.  Needless to say we didn't go in the sea!  The crocodile cruise was good and we saw scarface the croc who was about 4m long and hiding in the mangroves, along with some babies and a 10 year old. 



Where the rainforest meets the reef

 

Crocodile hunting

The next day we chilled out at Phil and Scottish's hotel pool where the lads invented a game called battleships which involved hitting each other in the face with a small ball.  Drinks were needed afterwards!



Post battleships drinks

On our final evening together we went for an amazing thai meal after a few too many whilst watching the cricket in the pub.  And then that was that, we had to say a tearful goodbye to Phil and Scottish and get used to being on our own again.

To cheer ourselves up we booked a day scuba diving on the reef as a late Christmas present.  We went to 2 dive sites on the great barrier reef and did 3 dives which were fanatastic.  I felt like the little mermaid the whole time! There were turtles, clown fish (nemos), huge eels, parrot fish and loads more and the coral itself was beautiful.  The day was great too as our boat had a buffet and later on wine and cheese! 

On the boat after diving
By this time floods were definately inpassible but luckily Shaun and Rebecca came to our rescue and invited us to stay in Melbourne- we didn't think twice, just booked a flight and now here we are back in Melbourne.  Just in time for the Australian Open much to Tim's delight.