Tag Archive for Great Barrier Reef

bubba | 04/16/2012
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Our Day at The Great Barrier Reef on Reef Quest

Thursday , 22nd October, and what a perfect Cairns day to go to the Great Barrier Reef… and we made a great choice to go on “Reef Quest“, from Cairns which gave us an absolutely fantastic day cruise.
After flying in from Sydney this morning I was looking forward to some tropical weather. It was a little cooler than I’d planned and I was glad I had brought along pants and a jumper!
I’ve been holidaying in Cairns for almost 12 years and have been out on my share of Reef Trips and let’s admit it, they all do basically the same trip: 2 different dive sites, snorkelling gear, lunch and coffee & tea – so it’s the reef destinations and little extras that make the difference.

From the time you get on the boat to the moment you get off, the service and crew are impressive. The crew to passenger numbers are high, as there was always someone around to help with any queries or problems. The crew seem genuinely content and their service and attention were great.

Reef Quest provide a wetsuit for everyone which is usually an extra (usually $6.00 hire) on other cruises. As a snorkeller a wetsuit offers you with sun protection and also buoyancy which makes snorkelling simpler and more fun.

Reef Quest have a choice of 17 different scuba diving sites and select the best 2 reefs based on the days conditions. A guided snorkelling tour is also on offer at both sites and this is a real plus for first time snorkelers or anyone wanting to learn a little bit more about the Great Barrier Reef. The snorkel guide dives down and picks up things like sea cucumbers and shells and brings them up so you can all have a close look. They also know where the best coral is, so it does add a bit to the days experience.

Lunch was yummy with heaps of variety including pasta salad, bean salad, Greek salad, local fruits, cold meats, bread rolls and prawns. There was tea and coffee and soft drinks from the bar available throughout the day.

All in all it was a fantastic day out.

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bubba | 04/07/2012
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Check Out A Week in Cairns

Monday

For day 1 of our Cairns backpacker package we thought we would get the adrenaline flowing by going white water rafting on the Russell river in two person sports rafts. Although the Russell River isn’t as high a grade as the Tully this is still an adrenaline ride. As you are in 2 man sports rafts there is no guide in the kayak with you. They are paddling their own kayak with you.

Tuesday

Today we thought we might to have an easy day lying around the pool. Some cold drinks and mudcrab for lunch made it a great day.

Wednesday

On Wednesday we finally got to go to the Great Barrier Reef. We went to the reef with Quicksilver cruises. They have an artificial island permanently moored at the outer reef. The snorkelling was amazing with literally hundreds of fish of all shapes and sizes swimming with you. The coral was fantastic and was so close you could virtually touch it.

That night we went out for a meal and a few beers and watched some Cane Toad racing. They are ugly lumpy creatures.

Thursday

Today we went to Kuranda on our package. It’s a quiet little town in the mountains behind Cairns. You can get a bus there, but we travelled via the Skyrail Cablecar. The Skyrail took about an hour with 2 stations on the way. Kuranda’s an interesting place but a little too tacky for me. Just about every second shop is selling didgeridoo’s and the ones in between are selling souveneirs. A must see is the Kuranda Village Markets, with more didgeridoo’s for sale as well as lots of local handmade knick knacks, as well as more didgeridoo’s. We returned by the Scenic Train with more beautiful scenery.

Friday

Friday was another lay day of sorts. We took the opportunity to spend the day at the lagoon. For a place with deadly crocodiles and stinging jellyfish, the lagoon is the ultimate idea.

Friday night we went on a boat cruise on the Cairns Inlet, the food was of a high standard and the singer was top quality. Finishing by 9.40pm, it wasn’t too bad.

Saturday

Today we cruised to the Great Barrier Reef again. This time we went with Pro Dive on a diving cruise. However we only did the snorkelling, as none of us are trained scuba divers. The reef was even better than the first day. The lack or crowds makes it a much different experience than on the big boat trips.

Sunday

On Sunday we took a tour to the Daintree Rainforest . The Daintree is the worlds oldest rainforest, and it’s quite spectacular. They market it as “where the rainforest meets the reef” and thats what happens. The rainforest runs right down to the white sandy beaches.

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bubba | 12/29/2011
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Some Facts About The Barrier Reef

The Barrier Reef is one of the natural wonders of the world running from the northernmost point of the country to just north of the border. It’s coral reefs stretch over 2000km along the countries coast.

The Barrier Reef is home to well over 900 fish varieties, dolphins, turtles. An impressive amount of birdlife make their home in the area.

The coral which creates the reef itself is also a living creature, made up of 1000′s of tiny creatures. When it dies it turns white, and forms the basis for further reef growth. Different varieties of coral grow at varying speeds, while some are very quick to grow, some species take well over a hundred years to fully grow. The vivid colours are not formed by the coral but by the growth of algae on it.

The barrier reef needs a tropical climate as it relies on warm shallow water to survive. Clean water and lots of light is required to keep the coral healthy.

With 100′s of 1000′s of square miles of reef it is a watersports mecca. Access through day tours are available from the communities all along the coast. Even if you don’t swim you can see the marvels of the reef through reef viewing tours.

The reef is heritage listed and extensive areas are restricted from fishing and removing coral from the reef is prohibited to preserve it for our childrens children.

The colourful and exciting capital of North Queensland, Cairns is alive with exciting activities. Located in the centre of some of the most scenically beautiful and environmentally important areas in the world, Cairns is the natural gateway to the natural riches of rainforest, tablelands, outback, and The Great Barrier Reef. The CBD itself has many attractions – great shopping, theatres, cinemas, museums, botanical gardens, a casino, and fine international dining. Cairns is definately positioned as one of the countries leading visitor destinations, being the departure point for all the best water based adventures. Cairns reef tours are definately the most popular for most tourists, however the area is fast becoming recognised as the extreme sport capital of Queensland.

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bubba | 11/23/2011
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Some Cairns Great Barrier Reef Boats

The Great Barrier Reef, best visited from Cairns Australia is the world’s largest coral reef and home to an amazing diversity of marine life. There are a large number of cruise vessels that depart from Cairns, I’ve listed the best below.

Sunlover Reef Cruises offers the quickest travel time, longest play time at the Great Barrier Reef. Once tied up at their pontoon on Moore Reef, guests have over 4.5 hours to snorkel, take glass-bottom boat and/or semi-sub trips, enjoy a full hot and cold buffet lunch as well as afternoon tea on the cruise back to Cairns. Full day cruise$186/adult, $66/child or $426/family of 4.

Compass Cruises is Cairns cheapest tour to the
Great Barrier Reef price is $50.00 plus $20.00 for levies, trip includes snorkelling equipment, lunch, afternoon tea, boomnetting, 2 spectacular reef locations Local Family Owned and Operated.

Vagabond Cruise & Dive is a 65′ luxury yacht designed for diving, sailing and entertaining for a maximum of 11 guests operating out of Cairns. The tour is two days and one night which is spent aboard the boat out on the reef.

Reef Magic moors at a ponotoon on the Great reef with the smallest passenger numbers on the market, giving you 5 hours in which to spend doing what you like. Included in the cruise is semi-submersible tripcruises, an underwater observatory, all snorkelling equipment included and offer scenic helipcopter flights and diving (not included in price).
Prices: Snorkelling only: Adult – $169, Child (4-14yrs) – $84, Family (2A & 2C) – $415. Introductory dive: $85 (additional).

Great Adventures offers a variety of advanced ecotourism certified tours cruising daily from Cairns to Green Island and the Great Barrier reef. Guests stopping at Green Island can spend up to 7 hours on the island and choose from 3 departure times daily. You can also combine a 2 hour stopover on Green Island with a day at Great Adventures’ spacious pontoon at the Outer reef. The Great Barrierreef cruise include snorkelling, semi-submersible cruises, underwater observatory, buffet lunch and reef interpretation. Diving, Scuba-doo scooter and helicopter trips are optional extras.
Green Island Cruises: Prices from Adult – $77, Child (4-14yrs) $35.50. Introductory dive: $137 (additional).
Outer Barrier Reef Cruises: Prices from Adult – $198, Child (4-14yrs) – $97. Introductory dive: $134 (additional). Family Fares available for all cruises.

Silverswift is a very modern custom-designed dive and snorkel catamaran. She visits three reef sites daily at either Flynn, Milln, Thetford or Pellowe Reefs from Cairns. This cruise caters for certified divers, introductory divers and snorkellers. Silverswift is the only dive vessel in Cairns that has a state-of-the-art ride control system for a smooth journey. Advanced Ecotourism Certified. (Sistership in Port Douglas is Silversonic)
Prices: Snorkelling only: Adult – $142, Child (4-14yrs) – $180. With Introductory dive: $223

Reef Quest This is a live aboard vessel that can best be decribed an a floating 4 star hotel. she is incredebly comfortable. She moves around Norman, Saxon & Hastings Reefs; and visits three dive sites a day. There are transfers everyday to and from the boat daily so you can stay for as little as one night or as many as you fancy. A great boat for scuba divers and snorkelling .

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