Cairns is a bit of pilgrimage for backpackers - the town was full of them (us). It was a picturesque little place, although it looked like it was stuck in some kind of time-warp, resembling something that you often see in films about 19^th century America.

There is plenty to do in Cairns itself, but even more to do around it. I went on excursions to Kuranda and Cape Tribulation and on a boat trip to the Great Barrier Reef. You cannot possibly go to Cairns without going to the reef and, as I didn't fancy a scuba-diving course, some snorkelling was compulsory. One word of warning for anyone who fancies doing a bit of snorkelling; for God's sake wear a tee-shirt. Despite the fact that the water is keeping your back cool, it is in reality burning to a crisp. I couldn't lie on my back in bed for three nights and it peeled big time.

It was the first time I'd been in the sea in Australia. Apparently the Box Jellyfish only hang-out around the coastline so it is perfectly safe out on the reef.

Whilst in Cairns, I got chatting to someone who ran an ice-cream parlour on the sea-front and he offered me a job. The idea of spending a couple of months working in the tropical Queensland was very, very attractive. I had the choice of working there, but not being able to save any money for the return trip to England, or of heading back down to Melbourne where I would be able to save a lot of money. In the end it was the head that ruled over the heart and I left to head back down south.