Hi Barbara!

What a great trip you all had! You're making me want to take up diving!

I'm curious about the rental apartment you left after the first night. How did that work out? Did you get your money back? How did you rent it?

Looking forward to getting together with you to see your pictures!

Barbara I am a southerner so others will correct me but Mossman Gorge will be fine for Cawhite to take a swim in June unless there is some deluge .It is the dry season and so water levels will be quite safe .

Thanks Pat - you're always so great to help everyone!

Dayle - Thanks! I'm always happy to share my pictures. We'll have to plan something for the new year.

We found the house at the Rocks online through Stayz http://www.stayz.com.au/26453. The two story house was appealing because it had four bedrooms and was in the Rocks.

Here's our complaints about the house: The bedrooms of the house are on top of a convenience store. The tiny door into the house is right next to the store. People hang out in front of the store (the house) eating their ice cream, drinking their soda, or smoking. One guy sat on the steps going in to the house to smoke, and the smoke came under the door and filled the living room. We had to ask him to leave. Later there was a knock on the door and someone asked my son for money. The door didn't have a lock inside the door and I felt a bit unsafe. The downstairs was really tiny and very dark.

But we decided to make the best of it and went grocery shopping and then out to dinner. When we got home from dinner it was dark, my husband turn on the light in the kitchen and roaches scattered everywhere. Since it was late and there was nothing we could do until morning we spent the night there. As we lay in bed trying to get to sleep, the people at the bar across the road were so loud they sounded like they were in the next room.

In the morning we walked down to the rental office and told her about the roach problem and that we wanted to leave. She said she would have the exterminator come in the afternoon, but we didn't want to stay and deal with all the problems. We told her we were happy to pay for the night we spent there, but she said she wouldn't be able to rent it out and would have to charge us for three nights. But we decided we had spent so much money to get there, that it would be worth it to spend a bit more and be happy with where we were staying.

Luckily, I remembered some of the other places I had researched online before leaving and we were able to find a great place.

I had doubts about the house, and I should have listened to my instincts. Live and learn I guess.

Thanks for taking the time to read about my trip!

Wow, I understand. I would have left too!

I once had a room in Yellowstone in the Snow Park Lodge that was directly above the main entrance on the parking lot side. Not only did all the smokers stand right under my window to smoke, but the tour bus exhaust came in too. I didn't even unpack or spend one night there before asking to move.

Great report & super photos. Very helpful -- and I'm so glad you enjoyed my recommendation of the East Ocean restaurant in Sydney I can hardly wait to go back for the Yum Cha.

Thanks Songdoc - I can't wait to read your trip report when you get back. Have a great time!