Port Douglas - Great Barrier Reef

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We stopped off at Mossman Gorge on the way to Port Douglas. It was a really nice place with lots of nice little water falls and a big rainforest walk.

We had a nice look around Port Douglas - it's a very nice place. Bill Clinton has a house there as do lots of other rich people. We, on the other hand, stayed in a tent at Dougie's hostel. We met some really nice Aussies in the evening and had a really fun night.

Up early the next morning (not good) to go to the Great Barrier Reef. It was awesome. We were on a luxury boat with brand new equipment. I snorkelled and Olly went diving. The coral alone is just unbelievable. So colourful and so many different types (over 400). We both saw so many fish. At the second site we both snorkelled. The water was pretty deep in some parts and we spotted a silver tip shark. It was about 2m long! We didn't have an underwater camera so the pics weren't taken by us. At the last site I was lucky and saw a rare hawksbill turtle! It was on the bottom and then swam up and I swam along just above it. It was wicked! Olly's first dive was ok, but the second dive was amazing. It was a drift dive and he spotted so many fish - big and small, including a starry reef moray eel (which are pretty rare). A really good day that was well worth the money. One wonder of the world down, six to go.

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Photos

Silver-tip reef shark
We spied one of these when snorkelling. It was safely deep down below but Charlie was not amused when I grabbed on to her fins just after seeing it! Her face was a picture.

Coral gardens
An example of some of the corals we saw. And we saw loads of Nemo fish too!

Hawksbill turtle
Just like the one Charlie saw.

Aristocat
Our boat for the day. Extreme comfort.

Barrier Reef
A shot of a reef that makes up the outer barrier reef, which is better for snorkelling and diving. We visited the Agincourt reef system.

Comments

[Mum]

Under the sea
The coral gardens look stunning, such vivid colours and the rest of the photos are brilliant too. Hope you both enjoyed Christmas I imagine it seemed surreal?, we missed you both and the Farrow family missed you too but said it was great to speak to you on Christmas evening (Boxing Day in Oz).Yes it was good to hear your voice. Take care. Love Mum xxxxxx