Let's go Down Under

We actually started in Cairns which is in Queensland in north eastern Australia (the pointy part on the map)

This is a great place to check out the Great Barrier Reef

Off we go on our snorkel tour - it took about an hour and a half to the inner reef and a sandy cay and then we did a small jaunt to the another stop at the outer part of the reef...

Of course if you aren't boat inclined you can always just head to the beach...

Though in stinger season it is recommended to stick to the netted areas!

You can take a train through the local rainforest...

...see pretty flowers and plants...

... picturesque waterfalls...

...and soar over everything on the skyrail

Of course you must always remember to say hi to the locals

Now we're in Sydney and this is the famous Sydney opera house.  It has quite a back story, it's a work of art and an amazing engineering feat!

Of course sydney is more than just the opera house.  They have a bridge (double click and you might be able to see the people climbing the bridge).

They have awesome food (and awesome people who took us out for awesome food...you know who you are!)

Interesting parks (this is manly)

...rock pools (and crabs of course)...

...beaches...

...pretty plants (this is a jacaranda and they seem to be everywhere in sydney, from the air the city had this great purple tinge)...

...robust plants...(yes that plant is growing in a burned out area - apparently some australian plants actually need fire to reproduce, though i think this particular just managed to regrow after the fire - see how its trunk is black?)

...wine regions (ok so these aren't in sydney but they are only a few hours away)

...and of course you can't forget the local wildlife...

...so we cheated a bit and these particular locals are located at the Taronga zoo...these are the locals you meet if you go on the wild australia taronga zoo tour

Australia is so big and there is so much more to see and do...too bad we have to head home.

Bye Sydney!