But first – how do you celebrate a sweet sixteen birthday halfway around the world?

With a hastily-assembled cake made out of Tim Tams and convenience store candles, of course!

And a carry-on approved gift of “wombat poo” chocolates and an Australia necklace.

And then you take your forensic criminologist/lawyer wannabe history buff daughter to the “coolest place ever”: the Olde Melbourne Gaol.

(Don’t let her mugshot expression fool you – she’s loving this.)

We all got charged, booked, and processed at the watch house (lol – my charge was “cultivation of an illegal substance” – oh, Portland, we miss you), toured the jail, and even tried on the notorious outlaw Ned Kelly’s armour.

(The Boy couldn’t quite figure out why you’d need a padded cell.)

Alas, no sooner was bail posted than it was time to hop another plane – this time, to Cairns.

We got in kinda late, but still had time for a stroll down the esplanade, a trip through the night market, and some happy birthday fettuccini alfredo.

Had to hit the hay early, though, since the next day was a watery adventure – snorkeling!

So proud of my kids. The Boy got a little seasick on the ride out to the reef, but as soon as he got there, he was raring to go. And The Girl is terrified of open water and the creatures that live in it, and yet she was the one who kept asking to stay out a bit longer.

We saw Dory (no Nemo), turtles, parrot fish, and even a (non-people-eating) shark!

We were knackered after a day in the sun and sea and all went to bed early which was a good thing since more wilderness awaited us today – the Daintree Rainforest!

Walked along yet another beautiful beach.

Added a few more creatures to our roster.

But the scariest of them all was the one we were warned repeatedly about all day.

This guy!!

Oh my, we heard the most horrific stories about how crocs attack in a split-second and how dangerous it is to go even within five meters of the most innocuous-looking shoreline.

Fortunately we all made it back, and have just spent the last couple of hours packing up for yet another early start tomorrow as we head off for the next and final leg of this epic journey – Sydney!