PORT DOUGLAS AND THE GREAT BARRIER REEF

From Magnetic Island we took the ferry and bus to Cairns where we stayed a night before getting a shuttle bus for two hours to Port Douglas , further up the East Coast of Australia. We stayed in the YHA there for two nights. It is a beautiful place. Steven Speilberg and Tom Hanks were staying there last year because they were filming their latest blockbuster. (Don't know what it is called ) it is due to be released soon apparently. We went for a wander down by the seafront and saw a little old wooden church that had been built in the 1800's.

I ventured inside and was blown away by the view from the window at the back of the alter.
It looked out over the sea and there were stained glass windows at both sides. I do not know why but it made me feel very emotional and I sat down at the back of the church and had a little cry. I reflected on just how lucky I am to be able to undertake this whole trip and see such beautiful things.
Then we walked a bit nearer the sea and came across a great little restaurant called Soul and Pepper,
they served the most delicious spicey calamari and fish dishes. The owner was so friendly and funny.

We sat there for ages admiring the view and drinking some glasses of bubbly. We decided to splash out because the setting was so perfect. Then we went to a bar called 'Groppers Bar' because we had been told that a massive Gropper fish comes around five thirty at night to be fed.
We grabbed a seat and a cocktail and waited. Sure enough around five thirty the giant Gropper fish appeared, and we were all startled because it was far bigger than any of us imagined it would be.It was very entertaining seeing it get fed and it came right out of the water.(But seemed to miss it every time I tried to take a picture!!) But I did manage to get one of it in the water. We got talking to a couple from Vancouver called Pat and Lauren. They were going on a trip to the outer barrier reef snorkelling the next day, it sounded good, so we decided to take the trip as well.

In the morning we got the Quick Silver boat to the outer Reef.
It took about an hour and a half and the water was pretty choppy.Thankfully Lauren had some sea sickness tablets and she kindly gave me one. I managed to survive the outward journey pretty much unscathed. They took us out to a platform on the outer Reef that is all geared up for everyone to get a good look at the Great Barrier Reef.

we were all kitted out with Stinger suits, flippers mask, tube and goggles..very fetching!!!!And off we went to explore the Great Barrier Reef. I loved it, there were so many beautiful fish so close to me and it was so relaxing just swimming around. You can see why it is one of the great wonders of the world. When I finished snorkelling there was a lovely lunch provided for us.

Then we went in a glass bottomed submarine to explore even further around the reef, with a running commentary from a guide.We saw sea Turtles and sea snakes amongst the beautiful coloured coral.


As you can see I kept missing the fish as they swam by. I only managed to take a few rubbish pictures, but they are better than nothing.But we had a fantastic time on the trip .
And even though Carolyn did not snorkel she managed to see just as much of the reef as Pat ,Lauren and me, because she spent most of the time going backwards and forwards in the submarine exploring the hidden corals and fish.

MAGNETIC ISLAND

From Arlie beach we took the Grey Hound bus for 4 hours north to Townsville, where we got the ferry to Magnetic island.

I could not believe my luck after the sailing trip. We were to stay on one of the most beautiful islands I have been to. The youth hostel was magical. We got a little hut at the top of the field and they warned us not to have any food in our rooms because the wild animals will break into or dig their way into the hut to try and get to the food.
There were exotic birds flying around everywhere and possums running loose around the compound. There was also a Koala and wildlife section where you could have breakfast with the animals. We opted not to do that as we had seen a lot of wildlife and cuddled Koalas already.
One night when I went to the loo block, I came out to see a Possum sitting on a wall opposite, just yards away from me, looking straight at me.I was petrified at first but then I just looked at its big eyes and prayed it would not attack me and rushed off back to the cabin. My heart pounding in my chest!
The food at the YHA restaurant was first class. There was a special deal that if you ordered before six, you got a fantastic curry meal with either a glass of wine or pot of beer for fourteen dollars (about seven pounds). Carolyn and I decided that we could not cook it much cheaper so we opted for the special every night...the fish curry was my favourite!

We were only a fifteen minute walk from the nearest bay..Horseshoe Bay.It is beautiful. We spent a couple of evenings just sitting on the seafront watching the sunset and having a drink.

There are special swimming areas that are netted off so that you can swim safely without being stung by Stingers( a type of jelly fish). But I decided to stick to swimming in the pool at the YHA site.

One day we took the rickety island bus on a round trip around the island and we decided that we were near the nicest bay...Horseshoe Bay.
We had a lovely three days just chilling out in the hammocks by the pool at the YHA, listening to the music coming from the bar.

Life does not get any better than this!!