In Search of Nemo

It has to be said. Four nights and three days were not nearly adequate to soak up all there is to see and do in this part of Queensland. As soon as we arrived I knew I had grossly underestimated how much we would love Port Douglas and the surrounding area! Oh well, we know we are very lucky to have had any time here and we definitely savoured every moment.

Port Douglas is a beautiful seaside town and jumping-off point to the Great Barrier Reef. After four days on the road it felt so good to relax on Four Mile beach and splash in the warm waters of the Coral Sea, and of course give our snorkel equipment a trial run.

On day two in Port Douglas we made plans to get out to the Great Barrier Reef, a short hour-and-half boat trip would take us to the outer Agincourt Reef.


The Great Barrier Reef is world renowned and for good reason. It is roughly 9000 years old, is considered one of the seven wonders of the natural world, is the largest reef system on earth - stretching for more than 2300 kms along Queensland's coastline and 80 km at its widest, is the only living thing on earth that can be seen from outer space, is home to over 1500 species of fish, 400 types of coral, 4000 species of mollusks, 215 species of birds, 6 types of sea turtle. I could go on but I am sure you get my point. It is a very special, unique place to have the opportunity to visit.

Both Dave and I have snorkeled a few times in our lives but it has been at least 15 years since we last had our faces submersed under the water. We had three hours to take in as much of this underwater world as we could. The experience of snorkeling is pure magic. You float above a world filled with life and buzzing with activity - schools of fish that come in all shapes, sizes and colours. We were awed by the Butterfly fish, parrot fish, a few larger-than-life moari wrasses, clown fish and yes, the moray eel. The corals are a feast for the eye, they come in an incredible variety of colours and shapes, as varied as the fish that swim among them. We swam above giant clams, with their colourful "lips" pursed open, prepared to capture passing food, brilliant blue starfish, sea slugs and a variety of anemones. It is so easy to lose track of time and space in this place as you find yourself involved in a game of hide-and-seek with a fish until another one catches your eye and you are off in another direction. Of course, in your periphery you are keeping a watchful eye out for a reef shark or the elusive sea turtle.

This was Gemma and Ruben's second time snorkeling - they had done it once before in Florida. Ruben thought it was "very beautiful, awesome and magnificent!". This is what Gemma has to say of her experience - "I loved all of the fish and coral, it was like you were in a different world. It was so pretty."

Again, we feel so lucky to have another amazing adventure.

Now off to one of the oldest rainforests in the world.
Love H, D, G and R