6 - Great Barrier Reef excursion 9/5 - 11/5/2019

Entry 6                  Great Barrier Reef excursion, North Queensland 9/5 – 11/5/2019

Another “Bushtracker Caravan owner,” couple whom we had met previously 2014 WA, 2015 NSW and now 2019 also owned a property about 500 metres as the crow flies from Smicks home or about 2 kilometres via road. Norton and Margaret, (Meg & Norty) had also offered their Lake Tinaroo property for our use. They were Cairns based with lots of local knowledge, helped by Meg spending many years as Cairns deputy mayor.

A visit to the outer, “Great Australian Barrier Reef,” was on our bucket list for one of our Australian experiences and Norty recommended sea-star-cruises for consideration. Our research of many reef cruises on offer showed this was a good recommendation where sea-star had a maximum of 36 passengers with all inclusive, including photographs of the day’s activities, where the others charged extra for everything other than sitting on the boat. Meg & Norty also offered for us to stay with them in Cairns, when we decided to do our cruise, about a 1 ½ hour drive from our location at Tinaroo.

We visited Meg & Norty on a Tuesday whilst they were at their Tinaroo property to negotiate a date for our Barrier Reef cruise. The following Friday looked good. Meg got on the phone and spoke with the sea-star-cruise owner, booking our cruise. We arrived at their Cairns home Thursday afternoon where Norty personally introduced us to the owner located not far from their home and we were provided with a discount fare. To our delight Norty decided to accompany us for the days’ cruise.

Our accommodation on level 8 in the low blue area

The view from our accommodation

Vessels returning from the outer reef

Morning breakfast provided by Norty with the sun about to put in its appearance

We had booked to travel on the “Seastar,” fast cat but it had encountered engine issues the previous day. We were offered to travel on their jet boat, “Skedaddle,” which normally did half day tours to the reef. The first stop on Seastar was 1 ½ hours travel time with Skedaddle travel time at 45 minutes. The negative on Skedaddle (top speed 78 kph) you were strapped to your seat for the trip but the positive you got to spend substantial more time on the reef as we had booked for a full day reef cruise.

Mary & Norty next to our boat for the day

Steve & Mary about to board

First stop was at Michaelmas Cay a small sand island. Steve chose the option to go onto the island with Norty (an avid birdy) to view the bird life. Mary chose to participate in the snorkel option from the boat with snorkel guidance provided.

Mary in her suit, with flippers and goggles - check

Mary into the water

Mary to the right

Birdy Norty in his element

Michaelmas Cay birds

A young Tern with mouth open for parent to provide a freshly caught fish

Michaelmas Cay

Michaelmas Cay

Michaelmas Cay

View from Michaelmas Cay of Mary resting on boat steps

Mary's views

Mary's views

Stop two was ocean views as far as the eye could see. Norty stayed onboard with Steve & Mary spending most of the time in the water snorkelling and a little bit of glass bottom boat time.

Steve & Mary getting ready to enter the water

Steve & Mary about to enter the water

Steve & Mary in the water

Great views

Great views

Over the day the wind had picked up and we were warned by the skipper to expect a bumpy return ride back to port. It certainly felt like a roller coaster ride with the boat regularly getting airborne. We struck many a wave, sending water high into the sky soaking all on board. It was an exhilarating return trip with lots of OH’s and laughter. It was a wonderful, enjoyable day.

The following morning, we were up at first light accompanying Norty on one of his bird spotting walking routes around Cairns. We traversed through several parks and spent some special time in the Cairns McLeod Street Historic Cemetery where we counted 21 Bush Stone Curlews. The Bush Stone-curlew call is a haunting, unforgettable sound. It is a penetrating, forceful wail, rising with a slight waver, dropping at the end and often repeated a number of times in quick succession. Curlews forage at night and it would be an unnerving experience to be walking alongside of the cemetery at night with any shrills from the curlews in the air.

Whilst in the cemetery a pair of impressive looking Brahminy Kites flew in with one landing in a large nest high up in a pine tree. We thoroughly enjoyed the historic cemetery experience.

We emerged near the coastal mangroves a few kilometres north of Norty’s home returning along the beach front about an 8-kilometre morning walk.

Kuranda Train leaving Cairns early morning

Breakfast or possibly lunch with Norty & Meg was at one of many eateries along the esplanade with us departing around 12.30 pm. We had initially planned for some more exploration along our route back to our caravan but decided to leave this for another day due to our fatigued feeling bodies. We thought hamburgers might be a nice idea for tea to share with the Smick’s where we purchased the required ingredients along our route only to find the Smick’s had thought along the same line purchasing almost the identical ingredients.

It was early to bed and a late morning rise.