First Step: Cairns

To overcome jet lag, it was important to stay awake! So after checking in at Northern Greenhouse (highly recommended!), I headed towards the beach. Unfortunately, the lagoon was closed due to construction work, it is also winter.

So I just wandered the streets for a few hours, visited the shopping center, it's huge! Then back to the hostel. It was Saturday, so there was a free BBQ.

I joined a group of two Italians and a Finnish girl. After a while, the Italians and I understood each other so well that we went out partying, despite being tired. And of course, that night I had my first, although certainly not last, goon (wine from a box). Because if there's one thing that's very expensive in Australia, it's alcohol!

The first day was over. The next few days I spent relaxing, organizing a SIM card and bank account, and buying a car :-)

After a week of my arrival, I finally started the diving course. Two days of theory and splashing around in the pool, as well as a theory test. Days three and four were the really cool open water dives in the Great Barrier Reef. We saw many fish, a few sharks, and turtles. It was simply an amazing experience!

After the diving course, I just wanted to leave Cairns. It had been ten days there and I had nearly two weeks before my farm job in NSW was due to start.

In Cairns and the surrounding area, I saw everything important to me. We even spent a day in Port Douglas, enjoying the sun and swimming in the sea. Now it was time to get out of the city, I need nature. So off to the north :-)