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The Great Barrier Reef!

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January 18th 2009
Wow! What a day . . . Started off on old sailing boat called Lalla at 8:30 and sailed out about 21 miles to the reef from Cairns centre. Crew were a good laugh and there was a good crowd from all over the world on board - all excited about seeing the reef . . especially the French and Japanese - once we got out to the reef the Japanese couldn't stop taking photos and jumping round and all the ... read more

Oceania » Australia » Queensland » Cairns » open water

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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