Port Douglas–the Barrier Reef

We arrived from Brisbane to Cairns at just after 11pm after a way too easy drive from Hervey Bay – a journey which was supposed to need six hours could have been done easily in four so we took detours. One was to a patchwork shop – we travel 12000 miles and go to a patchwork shop!! In fact Heather was able to buy some fabric which will remind us of some of the Australian flora. And the couple who ran the shop were delightful and insisted we must have lunch in Malooloobah. Well you have to just for the name!

The flight was early leaving, faster than scheduled and early landing but the transfer was there and we got to the Tree Tops Resort in Port Douglas at about half past midnight in the middle of a tropical rainstorm.

(This is the view through our hotel room window each evening)

The hotel had no record of us being booked there but “no worries” and we had a great night’s sleep,

Next morning we walked for forty minutes along the beach to Port Douglas itself, a smart seaside resort, bought the stuff we needed to avoid paying $30-40 for breakfast (each!!), and booked ourselves on a catamaran sailing to the Barrier Reef for the following day. Mr and Mrs You-Can’t Be Too Careful, hyphen Too Sensible and sailing voluntarily on boats are not phrases usually heard together. But, this is ‘trip of a lifetime’ time and these things have to be done.

I can’t think how to describe that day other than simply perfect. The weather was idyllic – almost cloudless blue skies, maybe 30C and calm water.

The beautiful boat, Wavedancer III, was barely half full and we cruised out to Low Isles, two islands on the inner reef. Issued with our stinger-proof lycra suits Heather snorkelled while I took a look at the coral in a glass-bottomed boat. Heather’s hesitation with the suit was that it looked like a baby-grow and I hadn’t taken a banana with me. Oh well, needs must and they were insistent we must wear these not entirely flattering numbers. It is pure chance, and lucky for you, that Heather didn’t get a picture of me so attired.

We saw turtles, sharks, butterfly fish, other fish of all sorts, sea cucumber, giant clams and loads of real, living coral. The guys leading the trip said it was the best weather they had had for ages and the conditions were little short of perfect. Lunch on board was huge and excellent. We had a little while on the island and a bit more snorkelling time before we had to head back, sitting at the front of the boat chatting to anyone and everyone.

Heather took some pictures underwater using the waterproof bag Simon and Leah gave her for Christmas and the mask and snorkel Peter, Si, Kim and Leah gave her. I can’t put any up here yet because we haven’t got the lead I need to download them. But I tell you this was just the most perfect, perfect day and words don’t get close to describing how we both feel right now at the end of it. Neither of us could quite believe that we were really, really watching sharks and turtles darting about within feet of us in the bath-warm waters of the Great Barrier Reef off the coast of Northern Queensland, Australia. And basking in the best weather the area has had this summer.

It’s the stuff of dreams. Blimey cobber, our luck holds: big time.