Yeeehh! Finally we are here in Tropical Cairns. It feel a bit weird though: maybe it’s because we are reluctantly aware that this amazing trip is getting closer and closer to its end, on the other side, it feel like we just conquer the whole Australia, though we only had driven a small part along the East Coast embarking on this roadtrip in Melbourne. Can’t believe we actually made it to the Far North Queensland all in one piece with our van still running!

First impression of Cairns? Well I have to say is a backpackers mini-urban jungle, a bit too commercial for our taste, packed with hostels, bars, heaps of travel agents but when you have so many natural wonders all at its doorstep such two greatest World Heritage zone that meet together, The Wet Tropical Forest and the Great Barrier Reef, and so diverse and so spectacular landscapes such long sandy beaches, sugar cane fields, banana plantations, lush forest vegetation, countless waterfalls like the one encompassed by the famous Milla Milla waterfall circuit, streams flowing through deep gorges, then it’s hard to blame it for.

When you have enough of the hot and muggy days down in Cairns you could easily cool down within a short, winding drive in the green rolling hills of the Atherton Tablelands and, trust us, you will need more than a sleeping bag to keep you warm if you planning to camp up here. If you feel like getting wild then there are lots of occasions to meet the local big crocodiles or get a chance for a Jurassic encounter with the cassowaries up at Cape Tribulation or just go wildly crazy in Cairns’ nightlife. Fancy instead pampering yourself and mixed with style among the holiday makers? Then hit upmarket Port Douglas. If adventure is what you are after, get a 4x4 and gear up to get full of dust by driving north through the dirty road to Cooktown.

For us, as million other travellers, we flock here first of all for one very specific reason: see one of the 7 wonder of the World, The Great Barrier Reef and its acclaimed coral gardens. An armada of boat is waiting in the harbour to take us to the reef. Now, we only have to decide which one, any suggestion?