Back in Tully we told ourselves that we had made the right decision to sink yet more $$ into our landcruiser instead of taking to it with sledgehammers. But despite handing over great wads of cash we felt okay about our decision to fix what we already have rather than chucking it into landfill and buying more, more, more. Also a bit of respect for the number of kms it has taken us around this vast, sandy, rocky country...
Anyway we were back on the road and heading for the Great Barrier Reef. We all felt excited at reaching yet another great Australian landmark and although we were nervous of the crowds of East-coast tourists, we were excited to have a chance to explore such an amazing natural feature of our glorious country. Due to limited time we had booked a trip to Reefworld - a crazy all-in-one place built right on the reef from which you can snorkel, dive, go on a glass bottom boat, eat lunch, have a massage etc etc. We were really only interested in snorkeling but felt it was a good idea to have back-up activities considering Sash's inconsistent levels of enthusiasm for water-based adventure.
After a night at a caravan park in Airlie Beach we arose early and jumped a fancy boat to Reefworld. I spent most of the journey enjoying the fresh air of the outside deck while the others sat inside and eyed off the snacks from the bar. When I finally made my way inside I found them making friends with a group of fellow-passengers- one of whom turned out to be my former Melbourne Uni workmate, friend and Hong Kong travel companian, Yee Fui. Great to see her and have yet another randomly encounter with people we know in odd spots in Australia. Yee Fui and her friends were spending the day on one of the islands so almost as soon as we had recovered from the shock of finding eachother on a boat in Queensland we had to say goodbye.
Shortly afterwards we arrived at Reefworld and despite the complete ensuing chaos we were soon wetsuited, flippered, masked etc and plunging into the warm water. Sash, our hero, decided that snorkelling was fun and had a great time spotting fish and coral - until his mask started feeling uncomfortable and he asked to go back on deck. Zara, our fish, happily snorkelled around for ages. As many snorkelers discover, the coral isn't very impressively coloured so close to the surface due to the sunlight - you really have to dive much further down to view the sorts of colours they use on the advertising brochures. However, the fish are amazing and the shapes and textures of the coral are amazing to see. We had a great time - which was good because the buffet lunch was revolting - almost inedible! We consoled ourselves by slipping down the waterslide into the ocean, going on the glass bottom boat tour and having another snorkel.
The journey back to Airlie Beach was a hoot. The staff were clearly relaxed and some of the younger ones befriended Zara and Sasha and taught them circus tricks in the bar area. Hours of fun!
Highlights - definitely the blue blue ocean, amazing snorkeling and lovely staff
Lowlights - most definitely the lunch (what were they thinking?) and the loss of my ring (a precious inheritance from my mum which is now nestled amongst amazing corals on the ocean floor).
