June 25 to July 2, 2017
From Brisbane, we embarked on P&O’s Pacific Aria for one week cruise in the GBR with stops at Hamilton Island and Cairns. In retrospect, this was not the most efficient way, in both time and money, to visit GBR (flying to Cairns and use it as the base would be simplest).
GBR is composed of 3000 different reefs and 2000+ KM from top to bottom with a land mass similar to Italy’s.
Hamilton Island
This island to part of Whitsunday Islands group in southern GBR, and is owned largely by one family.
Above, we tendered to the island. Below, Catseye Beach. The region was hit hard by a cyclone just 3 months ago.
Above, view from One Tree Hill – a high point on the Island
Above, Katy waded into the water, while I hiked undeveloped portion of the island – post in my hiking blog.
GBR snorkeling
Our ship docked at Cairns for 2 days, a popular base for GBR exploration.
Every local we talked to agree that the reefs are bleaching or whitening. High water temperature causes algae that live symbiotically with and infuse bright colors to the reefs to produce toxins. Corals respond by expelling algae out, losing their color in the process. For example, local expert advised to snorkel in the outer reef over the popular nearby Green Island (Auntie Mabel visited several years ago) due to this process. Therefore, we took a 90 min. speedboat ride out of Cairns into one of GBR’s outer reefs.
Though the speedy catamaran was spacious and modern, the ride in open ocean was rough. Most of us suffered some degree with motion sickness.
Our destination – I believe it’s called Moore’s Reef.
Above – Katy rushed into the water. Below – Jeannette’s getting ready.
Despite bleaching, the GBR reef bested all other sites I had snorkeled from Caribbean, Mexico to Hawaii Islands in terms of abundance and variety of marine life. The underwater photos were taken by Katy (on a cheap camera) – good job!
Atherton Tablelands
The next day in Cairns, we rented a car to explore the mountains, Atherton Tablelands, inland to Cairns.
Above, Lake Eachum Below, the Crater at Mt. Hypipamee National Park
We hiked to the Dinner Fall.
Due to weather related road closure, we could not visit another couple waterfalls which are quite abundant in this region.
Though we returned to ship without incidence, this road trip did not feel very rewarding. Our cruise itinerary did not make any other stop leaving many area, eg. Cape Tribulation/Daintree National Park, and Port Douglas in the north unexplored. This would be one thing we’d change to our Australian itinerary.
We had about 1/2 dozen Kangaroo sightings on rural roads throughout our Australia trip.
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