Chasing Sunshine and Sea Turtles at the Great Barrier Reef

As you may know, we traveled to the land down unda so our Kidney-Donor athlete could run the Sydney Marathon. Wanting to make the most of our time there, we visited the magical land of Uluru; we drove the Great Ocean Road; we gazed at the temporary master pieces in Melbourne; and we got a bit misty taking in an opera the Opera House. But no trip to Australia could be complete without chasing a little sunshine and spying some sea turtles at the Great Barrier Reef. Join us this week for a trip to the tropical region of Cairns.

Getting There

As with all our other destinations in Australia, we took Jetstar. This time, we went from Melbourne to Cairns. Although it is definitely less “bougie” than our normal carrier, Delta, the flight was on time and the staff were friendly and helpful.

First Impressions

It was quite a shock to the system to go from the cold in Melbourne to the tropical temps in Cairns. For those in the US, imagine traveling from Michigan to Key West in February. Oh and also for those in the U.S.A., this location is pronounced “Cans”, just in case you need to know later. Here are a few shots of our room at the Heritage Inn.

First Night Fun

After changing into more appropriate attire, we headed out to see what the city center was like.

It Didn’t Take Long

Once we determined where we needed to be the following morning, it didn’t take long to find a spot for an afternoon repose. We hopped on board the Prawn Star for some adult beverages and our favorite app!

And then…Pizza at Vitalia’s

Since we had our fill of fresh seafood, it seemed appropriate that dinner was…pizza! And boy, was it scrumptious.

The Next Morning

We had to be at the dock early to catch our charter to the Great Barrier Reef. The ship had 3 decks and as someone who negotiates her life around motion sickness and vertigo, I immediately headed to the top deck. I figured that fresh air and eyes on the horizon were my best bet.

First Spot

Even though I took Dramamine, wore Sea Bands, and had on adhesive motion sickness patches…I couldn’t participate in the first diving site. While I learned from the crew that sitting on the upper deck is the worst possible place for those who have motion issues, Stephen was able to hop into the water and catch these AMAZING shots!

After about 4 ginger beers, which is the same as ginger ale, I was able to enjoy the next diving site.

Ginger beer to the Rescue!

The Buffet and the Ride Home

Refreshed from the swim and able to eat, we TOTALLY loved their amazing buffet on our way back to shore.

Can’t Miss It

If you get the chance, we cannot say enough about this AMAZING experience. Thank you, Ocean Freedom, for such a GREAT day!!

Thanks for joining us as we chase sea turtles and sunshine at the Great Barrier Reef. Join us next time as we visit the rain forest, spy alligators and hold koalas! And you can always catch us in real time on Instagram. Until next time!