In 3 days time we will be in the air, cruising at around 36000 feet tucking into a complimentary glass of something tasty to toast the start of our adventure.

So what are we most excited about? What have we booked that gets us giddy and smiley?

2 days after arriving in Cairns this will be our home for 3 nights:

We will be diving the great barrier reef and hopefully seeing lots of marine animals as well as sunning ourselves on the deck.

We have 2 nights booked on Summertime, a beautiful sail boat to take us around the Whitsundays in early October:

Thank you so much to everyone who contributed to our honeymoon fund. This is one of the lavish experiences we have been able to book as a result of that.

We are camping on Fraser Island for 2 nights later in October through a company called drop bear adventures. Thank you Louise for the recommendation. http://www.dropbearadventures.com.au

I can’t wait to drive a jeep on the beach!!!! Simon, I believe, is a little anxious.

Humpback whale swimming near Noosa:

Thank you so much to Jon for telling us about this experience. Wouldn’t it be amazing to be up close and personal with a Humpback whale, all eco friendly and completely on the whales terms? Fingers crossed please.

New Years Eve in Sydney Harbour:

We will be cruising around on a boat in Sydney Harbour on New Years Eve. This is a recent development, but one which we are super excited about. We managed to get a good deal and we will happily eat cheaply to make up for this one.

Campercar in New Zealand:

Our campercar will take us to such places as Hobbiton, Milford Sound, Rotorua, Fox Glacier and so many more. Our wedding playlists will be making an appearance again here. Sorry Simon, better get your earplugs out.

Elephant Nature Park Thailand:

For 7 days we are volunteering a the Elephant Nature Park in Chiang Mai, Thailand. We are so unbelievably excited to be a part of such an important place and to make a difference, no matter how small.

Thai diving liveaboard with Loveday and Joe:

5 nights visiting, exploring and diving Thai islands, all in whale shark and manta ray season. HOLEY MOLEY. Fingers crossed they show up for us!!! And all with 2 very good friends ❤

We have so much more planned, but these are our main booked ‘once in a lifetime’ activities. Cheap, exploration days will act as a cushion around these ‘big uns’. To say I’m not excited about those cushion days too would be incorrect. Who doesn’t want to lie on a beach in Australia and read a book all day?

Much love,

‘The Dowells’ xx