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Cairns isnt so great but the cruise will be as I'm dguessing you'll be doing the great barrier reef and some of the other places around there. Sydney has a few great beaches but your missing the best part of Australia by not going WA

it is as bad, we are just used to it!

Killed 3 redbacks and had to remove a bob-tail from my garden this weekend. I seriously don't think twice about it, but i can understand from an overseas perspective, it must be a bit weird.

Just if you do get bitten by anything, make sure you catch it, and take it to the hospital with you, so that they can identify what it was.

Just if you do get bitten by anything, make sure you catch it, and take it to the hospital with you, so that they can identify what it was.

This really is very important (even if it's a snake, try to get a photo).

Australia has 9 of the 10 most deadly snakes in the world but as someone said as long as you know what type bit you and can get to medical help you should be fine. I think the Blue Ringed Octopus is even more deadly. Also have to watch out for Sea Wasps (you can't swim on most beaches in Cairns) and Portuguese Men of War. I remember my old Uncle was stung by one during WWII while swimming up north somewhere and still had horrible scars in the 1990s.

I love Cairns probably my favourite place to visit, the reef is amazing. You can take the ferry out to green island and go Snorkling right off Green Island. There are tons of diving schools and many will take you on a "resort dive" even if you don't have a licence whichis incredible. I remember sitting on the bottom once while snorkling and seeing a whole school of rays glide overhard. I guess you also heve to be sensible with them seeing as one killed Steve Irwin.

Sounds like your plans are set but if you get any chance to jet to the center even for just a couple of days do it. It is an experience you wont forget. Uluru, the Olgas and Kings Canyon are all incredible.

PS: The best way to stay safe from Drop Bears (their technical name is Phascolarctos Raptus) is to smear some Vegemite behind your ears, they can't stand it.

PPS: Lots of people are attacked by Magpies each year resulting in many cases of blindness, one trick that really works is wearing your sunglesses on the back of your head.

Last edited by yodabig at 12/12/2011 6:30:43 AM

Lmao these aussies are unbelievable!

When I was travelling OZ I almost believed this Drop Bears story haha (our driver was really convincing). Anyway, as long as you follow the guide's instructions you don't risk anything. Don't believe everything he might say, he's just trying to scare tourists :P

From a european sight (I'm swiss), australians are some of the coolest and craziest people worldwide. It's impossible not to enjoy a stay there.

I personnally loved Broome (WA). However, my best experiences were from Fraser Island and as Yoda suggested Uluru. A 2 days trip to Uluru isn't enough to see both the rock and King's Canyon as far as I remember. Though if you have 3-4 days it's definitely worth it.

wow thanks everyone for the advice! I'll keep my phone with me in case im attacked by anything and so will my mrs. I think itd be quicker to list everything that isn't dangerous!

i really wonder how you guys survived and colonised australia and still have such a great sense of humour...

i am really looking forward to the cruise to the great barrier reef. I think im safe from the rays though, Steve Irwin was tempting fate after teasing all those crocs and scorpions all those years... something in the animal kingdom was going to stick him when he least expected it...

Well, the one thing we don't really have is large carnivorous mammals - the dingo is about as close as we get (although it can take a baby!) so you can pat anything that's fluffy and you should be ok. Unless you're in a zoo and it's a lion, then perhaps not.

no large carnivorous mammals?
im 6'2 and i reckon its Hungry Jacks time!

we do have large carnivorous reptiles.
and large carnviorous sharks
and large carnivorous oh enough already.

Q: Why aren't there any large carnivorous mammals in Australia?
A: Because the spiders killed and ate them all.

So i take it there are no rabid camels then?

im not surprised if there are no carnivorous mammals left if they can get ate,bit,stung,diseased,poisoned, hung in a web just by minding their own business!

OK so fluffy stuff is good everything else is bad.

do you guys watch australian masterchef? undoubtedly the best cooking competition to watch on tv in the world. far better than the uk version. im surprised the short bald chubby presenter hasnt got eaten yet