Great Barrier Reef - Part II (Diving & Snorkeling)

Juice and I booked a diving and snorkelling trip from Port Douglas out to the Agincourt Ribbon reef.




We got an early start.




Getting ready for the first dive of the day.


Relaxing on the deck in the 31 deg sunshine.


Great picture taken by Juice.






Juice snorkeling on the reef.






With 25 deg water temp you could stay in the water all day.



We're still waiting for our under water pictures to be processed. So check back during the week for more pictures of Juice snorkeling and the coral reef.

Great Barrier Reef - Part I (From the Air)

This blog comes with a WARNING! After viewing you may run off and book a flight to OZ.


After diving and snorkeling on the reef we thought it would be great to see it from the air.




















This has been one of the highlights of our lives. What a great way to see the reef.

Far North QLD - Daintree Rain Forest

It was a little overcast so we headed off to the Daintree Rain Forest and Cape Tribulation.


The Daintree is the oldest rain forest in the world – older than the Amazon.


We took a lazy walk through the forest.


It's so peaceful here




This is where Cpt. James Cook ran his ship the Endeavour aground.


A view down to Cape Tribulation.


Once again we found another fantastic beach.


Beware of the stingers! During the summer these waters have the very dangerous Box Jellyfish and the deadly Irukandji Jellyfish.






Oh and if it wasn't dangerous enough with the Jellyfish there are also saltwater crocs.


Cape Tribulation...where the forest meets the ocean.

Far North QLD - Palm Cove

Palm Cove is around 25 mins drive up the coast from Cairns.


We really enjoyed Palm Cove. It's a small sleepy coastal town. For now only, developers have their signboards up all over the place. The malls are coming!!! So Sad.


The beach front road.


And this is the Palm Cove beach.


A little bit of paradise.

Far North QLD - Kuranda

Kuranda is a small town located in the tropical forest just outside Cairns.




One of the best ways to get to the town and enjoy what the rain forest has to offer is to take the skyrail. It takes around 20 mins with various stops along the way to view the rain forest.


There are plenty of crocodile warning signs around.



The Barron Falls are found next to the Kuranda - Due to "The Dry" the falls don't look all that spectacular (It's no Vic Falls)

Far North QLD - Cairns

Cairns is the largest city in the Far North QLD area.



It has some nice old buildings and neat roads.




You can find fruit bats hanging around in trees.


When last did you hug your local Koala?


Luckily for the police Cairns is flat but is very hot.


There's no such thing as winter/summer. Its called "The Dry" or "The Wet" up here.
The Wet: Dec - Apr.
Rains around 2m during this time. Avg temp is 37 deg.
And you can't swim in most areas due to the jellyfish.

The Dry: May- Nov
Avg temp is 28 deg.


Locals enjoying a Tuesday afternoon swim.

Far North QLD - Port Douglas

We took a week off to go up to the Far North Queensland. It's a 2.5 hour flight to Cairns from Sydney.


The towns we visited were:
Cairns,Port Douglas, Palm Cove, Kuranda, Cape Tribulation
and the Great Barrier Reef (life changing place!)


We based ourselves at the Manta Links Golf estate in Port Douglas. Port Douglas is around a 1 hr drive north of Cairns - I have clearly changed as I never took my golf clubs!


4 Mile Beach at Port Douglas.


Juice on 4 Mile Beach . "Too Easy" as the locals say about their lifestyle.


Down town Port Douglas. Port Douglas is one of the many gateways to the barrier reef.


One of the local drinking holes.