First Glimpse of the Reef

The Great Barrier Reef

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May 4th 2005
I took advantage of a 'cheap' flight and headed to Cairns for three days for a spot of diving and snorkelling. Didn't get up to much on my first day in Cairns - it was 26ish degrees, but raining - yuck! Just explored the town, but there's not much there besides hotels/hostels/bars/clubs. There's no beach just mudflats but they've built this lagoon type pool as was done in Brisbane. Howe ... read more

Oceania » Australia » Queensland » Cairns

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Aboriginal settlers arrived on the continent from Southeast Asia about 40,000 years before the first Europeans began exploration in the 17th century. No formal territorial claims were made until 1770, when Capt. James COOK took possession in the name... ... read more