Hi,
Myself and four friends are travelling from Sydney to Cairns in September and wondered if anyone had any recommendations for accommodation (in particular, advice on what we should expect to pay for an average hostel would be helpful). Also info on nightlife/ places to see/ and how easy it is to get bar work etc in Cairns, would be much appreciated.
Thanks
Jeni (Warrington, UK) 
hey
i just did the opposite trip from cairns and i arrive in sydney tomorrow, highlights are the whitsundays, frazer island, noosa has a nice beach there is brisbane and surfers paradise which doesnt live up to the hype, mission beach is good to relax and cairns is fantastic i recommed in cairns to stay in global palace its the best hostel ive been in and is right in the cnetre of town, hostels down the east coast are generally $20-$23 a night, i suggest that you book in for one night and see what its like then you can leave if its horrible or stay if you like it, most hostels are a good standard but there are a few really bad ones.
jobs in cairns are plenty there are loads od coffee shops and restaurants if you need work its best not to be too fussy and you'll be fine
i hope some of this helps anything else i can help with?
sarah
Hi . .
Word of warning bed bugs are rife on the east coast at present, so be prepared! 
Two hostels I really enjoyed were Ozzie Pozzie in Port MacQuarie and Halse Lodge (YHA) in Noosa. Prices were around $20 to $25, there were cheaper but 
I heard those places had real problems with bed bugs (especially at Airlie Beach).
Spend some time in Whitsundays, get on a overnight cruise if you can. I had a fantastic time on Solway Lass (tall ship).three nights which is more than most and definitely worth it.
Hope this is helpful.
B
Becky/ Saz,
Thanks very much for the info...I'll watch out for the bed bugs!
Jeni
Hi,
I enjoyed the Sydney to Cairns route with McCafferty's not long ago.
Really loved the "Cool bananas" Hostel in Town of 1770.
Simply a relaxed place were you will meet a lot of nice people on the same or oppsite route.
Don't miss out on Great Keppler Island, and if your into diving grab the M/V Nimrod Explorer(liveboard) from cooktown or cairns, this is one of the 3 boats that goes out to the remote Ospray reef.
Amazing diving on the "North Horn" at Ospray Reef....
Enjoy
/Stefan
Morning all.
good thread as I and friend are going to be doing the same in Jan 05 - lord it will be hot then! We also want to take trip to GBReef so all info on that welcome
Don't want the touristy thing tho' but I expect that may be a bit inevitable, but we want to do a bit off the beaten track things, so if any of you out there have some really good ideas - let me know.
Thanks guys.
--shopgirl
"- lord it will be hot then! " Yepp 30-38C 
and huge amount of Rain....
for sure in the north parts.
Hade never seen so much rain before, sometimes the bus had to stop due to that the driver couln't see the road outside the windscreen throu the massive rain.
Have a nice stay
Stefan
Stefan Better take a brolly with me then
Thanks babe