It’s Pronounced ‘Cans’

As soon as we got off the airplane in Cairns, it felt like a completely different world than Sydney. The weather in Sydney compared to the weather in Cairns is like comparing New York to South Carolina in the winter – y’all do know it’s winter in Australia right? We went from wearing pants almost everyday in Sydney to being hot in shorts in Cairns. (I packed all the wrong clothes…but is anyone surprised?) While we are in Cairns, we’re staying in hostels with 6 girls to a room – it’s the Hunger Games for a shower. But besides that, the coziness has really forced us to get to know each other and I’ve already created so many friendships that I know I’ll bring back with me to school.

My favorite part of Cairns so far (FYI it’s pronounced ‘cans’ like a soda can) has definitely been the Great Barrier Reef. The boat ride from our hostel to the Reef was about 2 hours but after a chilly week in Sydney, it felt amazing to lay out on the deck of the boat and relax in the sun. We went on an all day excursion to the Great Barrier Reef and it was one of the coolest experiences of my life. We got to snorkel and swim through two different reefs and see all the colorful, vibrant coral, fish, and other marine life. AND GUESS WHO I FOUND?!?!? NEMO AND MARLIN !!! And ‘heaps’ (Australian lingo for ya) of Dory’s too !!! I literally felt like I was in the Disney movie and it was ~aus~some. If you haven’t already gone, you HAVE to add the Great Barrier Reef to your bucket list.

Another one of my favorite parts in Cairns has been Hartley’s Crocodile Adventures Zoo. Our group started at the Crocodile Farm where we got to learn all about how a crocodile commercial farm operates and how it contributes to wildlife and habitat conservation. We saw a pool of crocs laying on top of each other, basking in the sun which we learned are raised for their skins and meats. We then got to tour the wetlands on a boat cruise where we saw the bigger crocs (don’t worry we were caged in). Our driver lured the crocodiles in with chicken dangling from a stick about as long as a fishing pole and it was SO cool to see their teeth and jaws up close and personal – literally like a foot away from us. When the crocodiles snapped their jaws to try to grab the food it sounded exactly like a hand clasp. I’m still scared shitless of crocodiles but I definitely have gained a different perspective of them after the boat cruise. 

I got to pet some kangaroos and wallabies (yes, they are different animals) and the best for last …… I GOT TO HOLD A KOALA !!!! For those of you that know me, you know I am abnormally obsessed with dogs but the koalas completely stole my heart. I can’t believe I’m even saying this but koalas may have taken the lead. They are the cutest and most cuddly little animals ever !!!  I didn’t know this before, but koalas spend almost 16 hours of their day asleep. The koalas are only allowed to be used for about 15-30 minutes for photos, then go back to sleep.

We have two more days left in Cairns until we head to the Gold Coast – stay tuned for more stories and pics ;)