Our last day in Cairns and the last day of our holiday began with a disappointment. Due to the heavy amounts of rain our train had been cancelled. Apparently trains don’t work as boats? Ridiculous right? We booked a flight for the next morning.. we were going to be home a day early!

This brought mixed feelings. Excitement about seeing my family and about the comfort of my own bed, but sadness that the experience of travelling and learning was nearly at our end. We were motivated to enjoy every last second of Australia Day in sunny Cairns, especially since it was raining back home.

We set off for one last swim in the Lagoon and discovered the numerous events that were on around the water front. We explored the markets, grabbed two dollar sausages, watched thong throwing competitions and had a quick dip in the jam packed lagoon. After drying off and laying in the sun for a short while, we headed on down the pier to the Salthouse. Here we were able to indulge in cheap beer and pies, while listening to the Triple J’s Hottest 100, an Australia Day tradition of mine. We talked to some interesting people while overlooking the water that was beginning to look less brown and more like the Cairns I had imagined. We later headed down to the Pier Bar for their Australia Day party. Cheap drinks and food were enjoyed and ironically we met some fun Americans to spend the rest of the day with and to dance to the top ten of the Hottest 100 to.

Happy at Cairns Lagoon

Aussie pies on Straya Day

Suitably happy by this time, we were aware that we had to get up early in the morning to head home but were not quite ready to end the night just yet. So instead we headed down the Esplanade for once last holiday drink. We reminisced about the last four weeks and professed what we were most looking forward to about getting home. Continuing to the YHA, we ran into people we had met at The Pier Bar for a final goodbye then eventually got back to our well received beds.

The morning was rushed as we got up and packed to make the airport shuttle. We made it on time and the majority of the flight was spent resting our exhausted bodies. We were welcomed in Brisbane by rain. Apparently a Cairns to Brisbane flight is not of high enough importance to warrant a proper gate… so we were soaked through after a quick run across the tarmac. As we walked out into the airport, Mum and Dad had the cameras ready in true parent style. A well anticipated hug was enjoyed, before collecting our wet bags from the conveyer belt.

Last selfie on the plane

It was time for Steve and I to say goodbye and to go and greet the rest of our families. This goodbye really felt like the true end to our journey, a final hug to represent the appreciation I felt for Steve for sharing this amazing experience with me. I was overcome again with a wave of mixed emotions. I realized that after this, while home was still home, it would never feel the same. I would always have this restlessness to explore, to see, to learn. As cliche as it sounds, I had been bitten by the travel bug, and bitten hard. I had wanderlust.

At the first touch of my bed at home, this feeling was soon forgotten. I slept.

Wanderlust – a strong desire for or impulse to wander or travel and explore the world.

Teen on a Train