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GREAT BARRIER REEF:
We got up early for our Great Barrier Reef trip and went to the harbour where we boarded a smallish boat with a fair few other people to set sail. The range of boats that you can choose from range from the most luxurious and expensive to the fairly cheap. Of course we took the cheap option but the quality of the boat and swimwear was still great and we also had a buffet lunch included. We were given a snorkel and a choice between a wetsuit and a stinger-suit and although we were informed that jellyfish don't tend to hang around the coral we wore one anyway- just in case.
Unfortuantely the sea wasn't too blue because the wind picked up fairly fast ensuring the water was quite wavy and difficult to contend with-even for strong swimmers. Never the less, we snorkled for about 3 hours in total visiting two different areas of coral. We saw lots of beautiful fish, my favourite being 'the Rainbow' fish- a very large fish that was a rich blue and purple colour. The coral was also spectacularly coloured and it was great to swim around, exploring the different formations of
coral and the tunnels between it and deep in to the ocean. We laso rented an underwater camera between the 3 of us for the day, giving us the chance to get some really cool photos. It was a great day but I can't say the experience matched up to swimming with the dolphins. That night we ate a good dinner with Jos and Debbie and crawled in to bed exhausted.
MISSION BEACH:
The next day we packed up and left Cairns, heading for a place along the coast called Mission beach. Although it was only really a stop off point where we had managed to get a voucher for cheap accomodation, Mission beach was actually really nice. We were in a quiet hostel that had a small swimming pool and badminton court and we spent the following day walking the white sandy beaches which were once again stunning, but once again dangerous because of salt water crocs and stingers. The day after this we left for Townsville, an industrial man-made port where we were to catch a ferry over to Magnetic Island.
MAGNETIC ISLAND:
The island is a haven for wildlife and is 54% National Park which
is mostly located on steep hilly interior but other than this, neither Shane nor I had a clue what to expect of Magnetic Island. We booked a package deal that included a three night stay at Bungalow Village in a remote and beautiful part of the island. When we arrived we realised that remote really did mean remote- we were miles away from the other strip of hostels and at first it seemed that strolls along the beach were going to be our only means of entertainment. However, the fantastic wildlife kept us more than entertained for the three days and nights.
Due to a mistake, we were once again upgraded and this time found ourselves in a little wooden cabin that was dark and no doubt full of spiders but definitely added a traditional feel to the experience- being that we heard all the animals late at night, plus a few loud thuds and scuttles across our low roof top. We had bought all our food in Townsville before the ferry crossing, as we were informed that the food on the island was expensive and so on our first night we headed to the camper's kitchen to cook
some spagetti. Once that was made we seated ourselves outside and before long noticed a few pairs of eyes and snouts watching us. Gathered around the rooftops were a small bunch of possums and they waited patiently until an elder local man called them down. A possum is a small to medium-sized marsupial native to Australia, New Guinea, and Sulawesi. This man informed us that Australians love them, but that in New Zealand they are treated as pests and killed with rat poison- quite ironic since they are not native to the country and were introduced by man to the island!! They were certainly adorable and it wasn't long until one was sat on my lap sharing my dinner with me.
The possums were a welcome feature through out most of our dinner times and late evenings and we also bumped in to many other hostel guests such as lizards and stick insects. The lizards were always welcome in our room as they darted around eating bugs and (or so I told myself) all the big, hairy spiders. The stick insects were huge and also flew so I wasn't quite so keen on bumping in to those in my
shower cubicle!! In the late afternoons the hostel arranged 'feeding of the rainbow parrots', which was spectacular- hundreds of wild and beautiful birds landing on your head and shoulders trying to grab some bird-seed.
As well as the natural wildlife, Bungalow Village is also well known because of the koala sanctuary that they own. This is attached to the hostel and guests are allowed to visit for a small fee that goes towards taking care of the animals. Shane and I went along and met some interesting animals such as a variety of giant lizards, a python, kangaroos, yet more crocs and some baby crocs, some multi-coloured parrots and of course- the darling koalas that were adorable to look at, but actually smelt really bad and had lethally sharp claws. We got to have our picture taken with them and the snake too.
Any of our time that wasn't spent with the local wildlife we spent walking along the scenic remote beach and sunbathing. On our final evening we decided to take a walk up a local mountain range that was home to the World War II forts. Part of the army forts were still standing and as
this route was originally used as a look out spot, the walk boasted some spectacular views. Unfortunately we didn't predict just how fast the sun would go down and so we were irrisponsibly wandering around trying to feel our way down the track- not the best of ideas when there are poisonous snakes around. Fortunately though, when we heard a strange and mysterious growling coming from the trees, we eventually figured out it was only a koala with rather impressive snoring abilities.
We left Magnetic Island having had an amazing time and I'd definitely advise wildlife fanatics to pay the island a trip.
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