Cairns / Sydney, Australia – 16-18 August 2024

We pull into Finger A Wharf (in Cairns) at 4.25pm on Friday 16 August 2024. It’s been a great two days out on the Great Barrier Reef.

Our hotel is a short 5 minute walk away. So nice that we don’t need to go get our luggage. Check-in is nice and easy. A shower is even better (well, being clean is).

Kylie had recommended a few places for drinks / dinner. We wander along the Marina to Salt House for a drink.

It’s super busy! Then we realise it’s Friday night. In the end we find a seat. We are both swaying after being on the boat.

 

Before leaving Carins yesterday Kat had made a reservation for dinner.  We tried to go early but were told there is no way they can seat us until our reservation time in another hour at 7.30pm. What a pain!

We wander around until we find a bar for another drink.

 

There is a long line at the restaurant when we return. Our table is basically at the entrance so when it's our turn to be seated we don't need to go far.  It's a great place for people watching - there is a constant stream of people coming in. The food doesn't disappoint either. 

We are tucked up in bed by 9.15pm - both still swaying and super tired!

I eventually wake at 6.40am on Saturday 17 August. I had been super cold overnight.

Thankfully my togs are mainly dried. Our balcony has sun which should finish them off.

Kylie had recommended a good coffee place so we go off in search of that.  As expected, the coffee is amazing.

We check out of the hotel then say goodbye 😢 Kat’s heading to the airport for her flight home. I have a couple more hours until my flight to Sydney.

I walk in the sunshine to meet Kylie’s two sister and fiancé for breakfast. A lovely place on the water.

My Uber arrives a few minutes after booking. It’s then a short ride to the airport.

The lines are check-in are crazy! Thankfully I can use the business class line and within minutes are walking through security then to the lounge.

We land into Sydney at 4.20pm. The pilot announces its 21 degrees - woo hoo! I was so worried it was going to be super cold. My trip is nearly over.

I have a good 20-minute wait for the airport bus but it passes quickly chatting to others waiting as well.

To say check-in is annoying would be too nice. There are sooo many people and only one desk open. Complete BS! I’m very unimpressed and will be reconsidering where I stay in 3 weeks when I’m back (for work).

When I get into the room the TV is going at full volume and I can’t find the remote. FFS. Not a good start at all Moxy Sydney airport. After searching everywhere, I find the switch at the back of the TV. Aah silence.

After a while decide it’s too silent, but I can’t have that annoying noise again!  As I’m about to leave the room to go ask for a remote I spy it under the bed. Not good housekeeping….

Susan arrives just after 6.30pm. She’s booked an Italian restaurant about 5 minutes drive from the hotel. As we are walking there, I spy a supermarket which is due to close in 8 minutes. Yes thanks, I’ll quickly run in to get a few things. Sooo much cheaper than in Hong Kong!!!

Dinner is delicious. We sit chatting for ages.

My alarm wakes me at 6.30am on Sunday 18 August. Opening the curtains the domestic airport is in full swing. It has been a short night (I was awake at 2am for a while), more sleep is definitely needed.

Thankfully check-out is much much much better than check-in.

The bus back at the airport arrives at 7.30am. It’s chocka block with both people and suitcases.

It’s fairly easy at Sydney airport with check-in, immigration and security then I’m straight to the lounge for coffee and corn fritters.

Goodbye Australia - see you in just over 3 weeks.

Great Barrier Reef, Australia – 15-16 Aug 2024

After locating Finger A Wharf on Thursday 15 August 2024 we then need to work out where the boat is. We join the line to “check-in”. A lot of people have literally a handbag and we have two small bags each. Hey ho. More and more people keep arriving.

When it’s our turn to check-in we realize that a lot of the people around us are doing a day trip only. Phew! I was worried how many people would be on the boat tonight. Those of us who are staying a night or more are ushered upstairs. 

We pull back from the wharf at 8.10am. The 1.5 hour boat trip goes smoothly.

When we arrive at the Reef Encounter (boat) there are divers in the water so we have to wait before parking up next to it and letting those of us staying off.

The newbies are given a boat briefing before been given our room number.

It’s then like a well-oiled machine - get fins and masks then wetsuits before attending a mandatory scuba diving briefing.

We have some spare time before lunch time.  I had thought we were going to be diving soon after arriving on the boat but alas no.  Lunch is very good.

My left ear played up a bit on the first dive (location was Norman-Fingers), which stressed me out.  This of course made me go through more air.  In the end it came right.  Was great to be under the water again.  One of the highlights was seeing a giant clam, a couple of grey reef sharks and of course the coral and many different types of fish.

As soon as we get back on board, it’s a hot shower on the desk before going to stand in the sun.  The water is so much colder than in Asia (typically 28 degrees).

We move locations once everyone is back on board.

The second dive was good (location was Norman-Troppos).  Unfortunately had issues with both ears, but they eventually came right. Highlights was seeing a grey reef shark, bump head puffer fish and many many different schools of fish.

Like after the first dive, it’s a hot shower on the deck before going to sit on the top deck in the sun to warm up.

As I was 50/50 on going on the night dive I attended the night dive briefing (a requirement) before we had a delicious dinner.

 

In the end I elect not to do the night dive. A hot shower is needed! And it’s probably good my ears have a wee break.

To say its sharks for Africa would be an understatement. Wow wow wow! As well as giant trevally. Who needs to go under the water when you can stand on deck. It’s memorizing.

It’s a struggle to get out of bed on Friday 16 August. For me it had been a short night - and lots and lots and of lots rolling. Thankfully I didn’t feel sick (my motion sickness pills are great).

Just as we sit down at breakfast one of the staff members calls out whale whale. We all jump up to see. Amazing! Even though it’s far away you can see it breach - wow wow wow!

We enjoy a proper coffee during the downtime between breakfast and our dive.

For our final dive it’s just Kat and I and the guide (location was Saxon-Twin Peaks). I have a small problem with my ear but thankfully it comes right fairly quickly. Timo (guide) was super patient which helped.

It ended up being one of my best dives ever. Super chilled and lots to see. Triggerfish, lion fish, grey reef shark, clam, barracuda’s, angel fish to name a few plus many different types of coral fish.

 

 

After having a hot shower in the sun we head upstairs to the top deck to relax in the sun. It’s so nice having the huge wide-open spaces as the view.

 

 

Lunch is just as good as the other meals we have had since being on board.

Back to the sun we head.

We go snorkelling for our last water time. Both electing not to wear a wetsuit. As soon as I jump in, I do regret that.

We are given our final briefing before relaxing until the day boat comes to collect us. It’s been a great trip!

About half way back to Cairns the captain slows the boat and someone calls our whales. Wow! Amazing to see them!!!

The boat trip passes by quickly when you are whale spotting.

It’s been a fabulous two days out on the Great Barrier Reef. Would absolutely recommend people come and see this amazing part of the world.

Cairns, Australia – 14-15 Aug 2024

Pip drops us at the hotel in Cairns on Wednesday 14 August 2024 just after 2pm. We have had an amazing time with her!! Definitely can't leave it 20+ years to meeting again. 

To say check-in is a nightmare is an understatement!! There has been no water at hotel since 7am this morning. Apparently they tried calling Kat to let us know but we never got the calls. There is no assistance in trying to find us another hotel room.  So poor.

We spend a good 45 minutes searching for another hotel. The cheapest one is AUD 100 more than our rate here. Crazy! Especially since we will be out of our room by 7.15am tomorrow morning.

When I go back up to the reception desk to ask them to call the Novotel Hotel again, I overhear someone ask a staff member walking by if the water is back on yet. She’s told that it’s been working for the last 10 minutes…..right!

The lady informs us the Novotel has two available rooms but they will not honour our room rate. Aaah. But if the water is working again then all is good. Although there are no towels. Hey ho.

Once in the room we sort out our things for the dive trip. The alarm is set for crazy o’clock tomorrow….6.15am. Will be a HUGE shock to the system. At least we have some kind of view! 

I’d arranged to meet Kerry (Kylie’s Mum) for drinks and dinner. She had chosen two places close to the hotel which is great. Nice for Kat and I not to have to think where to go. 

We enjoy drinks across the road from the beach. A great way to end a day.

Dinner is at the aquarium - fun seeing lots of fish. Tomorrow we should see most of these at the Great Barrier Reef.

 

 

We wake before our alarm at 6.15am on Thursday 15 August. The bloody birds had woken me a while ago.

No one is at reception when we leave. So pleased we sorted out the bill last night when we got back from dinner.

The Uber arrived within two minutes of booking. It’s a short drive to our hotel where we are staying on Friday night. We drop our suitcases then walk along to Finger A wharf. There is next to no one around until we get closer to the wharfs.

Goodbye for now Cairns, it’s been short and sweet.

Port Douglas, Australia – 9-14 August 2024

I arrive within one minute to spare (on Friday 9 August 2024) before the doors on the Airport Express close. Port Douglas here I come! 

Check-in is nice and easy. After security I decide to give the Qantas lounge a miss and head to the Cathay Pacific First Class lounge.

 

I enjoy a bite to eat before having to get on a work call. 

We depart HK a few minutes late. I’ve been surprised how “calm” the boarding process was. Hopefully a good sign for a chilled flight. I received a message on Wednesday night that my update to business class (via points) came through. A nice surprise. 

At 8.40pm the pilot announces we are due to land at 6.30am Sydney time (4.30am HK time) and that it’s going to be 12 degrees. OOH MY MY! I am absolutely going to freeze. Today has been 33 degrees. 

I manage to get some sleep and wake up when the customs video is being played. Opening the windows I see night turn into day. 

 

The lines at immigration are beyond ridiculous!! It’s like they only have one counter open for so many planes. Crazy! In the end I ask someone where the line is for the APEC card. I’m advised because I have a NZ passport I can go through the self service gates at the front. Off I go. Thankfully the line moves quickly. 

Transferring to the domestic terminal is easy. And within minutes of arriving I'm at the lounge having a coffee.

For whatever reason we end up sitting at the gate for a good 25 minutes before pushing back. The 3 hour flight passes by quickly. 

Pip and Kat are waiting for me at the baggage claim. Soooo lovely to be all together again.

It’s around an hours drive to Port Douglas (from Cairns airport). We stop enroute at a bridge to see some crocs but there are none around today. 

Pip drives us around Port Douglas quickly, it’s a lot bigger than I thought it would be. 

We check-in at our hotel, which is a 5 minute walk from Pip and Sean’s place and drop our bags before going back to their place to relax and of course chit chat!!!! The children coming and going while we remain in the same place. 

Many many many bottles of wine later (us girls) walk down to the local Italian place for pizza and more wine / cocktails. 

 

Sunday 11 August I wake just after 7am. It was super peaceful. I wander out to the balcony and am surprised how “cold” it is, 23 degrees. 

Kat and I have a nice chilled morning drinking coffee and chatting. 

We were about to leave the room to walk to Pip’s when the heavens open. Right, we’ll be staying put for now. In the end there is a knock at the door and it’s Pip to collect us. 

Back to their place for coffee and vegemite toast before going to the Sunday market.  Thankfully the rain stopped while we were wandering around the stalls.

Pip managed to get us a table at a Salsa Bar and Grill – typically it’s fully booked on a Sunday. We all have the same thing - crayfish pasta. It’s absolutely delicious!!!

It’s good to walk after the super tasty lunch! We wander around K Mart and Coles - purchasing a few things. I could have brought half of Coles! Everything is soooo much cheaper than Hong Kong.

When we go back to Pip’s, Lin (Pip’s Mum) is there.  She and Charlie have just made chocolate chip cookies so the kitchen smells lovely.

We enjoyed a couple of hours at Ulis’s house (friends of Pip and Sean’s).  Her place is between our hotel and Pip’s house, super handy!

Back to our balcony for cheese and for me alcoholic ginger beer - I couldn’t handle wine after last night!!

Monday 12 August I wake at 8am, heavenly although I could sleep for longer. 

After having coffee in our room, we head out for a walk. Within minutes we are on the beach. 

While the sun has some warmth there is a small breeze which is nice. As we get closer to the town the amount of people increases tenfold. There are even some people swimming. Not for me, a tad too cold! 

Lunch is a delicious tuna poke bowl.  Needed after yesterday’s dinner of wine and cheese. 

Kat and I wander around the “town”, making our way to the marina where Pip comes to join us for a drink.

We have a couple of hours back at the hotel before going for an early dinner with Lin and Chris and the children.  A proper Aussie pub meal. 

I wake just after 6.30am on Tuesday 13 August. Our neighbours had left earlier which had been disrupting. Thankfully I managed to go back to sleep for a bit.

Kat and I have a few hours relaxing at the pool.  It’s far too cold to swim!  But too hot to be in the direct sunshine.

When it’s time for lunch, we stop by Pip’s to do a load of washing.  Then continue to walk down to the Italian place, where Pip joins us.

After hanging out the washing (a huge novelty for me) we go back to our hotel for a couple of hours while Pip returns to work.

Just after 5pm we pack up the things for Pip and wander down to her place. We are off to see the sunset at Rex Smeal Park. 

In the end there are 12 of us. Such a lovely setting and super relaxing. Remains me of my childhood, taking picnics to the park.

 

After unpacking the car Pip, Kat and I head down to Ulis’s for drinks. Thankfully it’s warmer than it was two nights ago. A great way to end the night. 

I wake just before my alarm at 7.25am on Wednesday 14 August. It has been a short night for me unfortunately and more sleep is needed! 

We have a chilled couple of hours in the room before Pip collects us at 11am. 

Toast and coffee back at Pip’s place before we depart for Cairns. 

Stopping enroute at Palm Cove for our last meal together.

 

 

Pip drops us at the hotel in Cairns. It’s been a fabulous few days with her and her family. 

Doors of Firenze, Italia - 25-30 July 2024