A day in The Great Barrier Reef

We visited Hardy Reef which 78km/48miles from Airlie Beach, reaching there on a boat via Hamilton Island. There were helicopters available to travel out to the Pontoon, but, obviously it was rather pricey.

We paid $450 (£225) for the two of us for the trip which included tea/coffee, breakfast, lunch on the pontoon and afternoon tea on the journey back. It's winter so the sea was rough and a few people suffered with sea sickness. I slept most of the way back so didn't really notice it.

The pontoon is moored in the reef and we found out once we got there that you could actually spend the night on the Reef, it's something I'd like to do if we visit again.

The was a semi submersible submarine and underwater aquarium as well as seating area and all equipment needed such as rash suits, wet suits, snorkels, fins and floats.

Although I am a competent swimmer I've always struggled with snorkelling, preferring to just swim under water with goggles, however a woman suggested I tried a float so I could focus on the breathing and not the swimming and it was a game changer. I was in the sea head down for almost an hour. I did drift but within the marked area and there was a life guard on the pontoon and a boat on the outer edge to nudge people back into line.

There was a lot of footage from my iPhone 8 in a waterproof pouch I bought for $15 (£8)

Peter has always wanted to try scuba diving and where better to try it than in The Great Barrier Reef. It cost $179 (£80) for 15 min training and a 30 minute dive with an instructor holding onto him.

It took 2 hours each way by boat, through the islands.

It was rather chilly in the water but the wet suits and rash vests helped.

The vivid colour of the reef was visible on approach, bright turquoise and although you weren't allowed to, you could've reached down and touched it without going under the water. 

Peter and I are both well travelled and have had many experiences that we would describe as 'once in a lifetime opportunities' but this day topped everything.

Week 32 One daily Positive and Project 365. The Whitsundays and Sydney

We had quite a lot of downtime last week and I've read literally all my spare time. We read on a walk, out for coffees, on the boat and just sitting on the balcony. I've also caught up with blog post commenting and scheduling. To be fair we've done a lot of walking and travelling.

This week we're with child 3 in Sydney and I doubt our feet will hit the ground as he has so much planned for us. I'm not complaining, but I'm already looking forward to our 3 nights in Kuala Lumpur for a rest.

219 Sunday A two hour boat trip out to the Great Barrier Reef, followed by 4 hours of snorkelling off a permanently moored pontoon. Peter went scuba diving for the first time. It was totally amazing and to date the best experience I've ever had.

220 Monday Last full day in the Whitsundays, we had a lazy morning and walked along the Bicentennial Boardwalk for lunch, then back to the apartment for a couple of hours and out for dinner in the evening. Distance walked 11km.

221 Tuesday Moving day. Checked out of our accommodation, airport transport was 3 hours later, so we sat on the grass near the beach reading and drinking coffee. Flight delayed by 2 hours, straight forward transfer at Brisbane and arrived in Sydney at 9pm. Son picked us up and took us to the accommodation via the supermarket. 

222 Wednesday Woke late morning, met son for a coffee then he went back to work and we caught the train into Sydney for a coffee and a walk. Son came round in the evening. 

223 Thursday As yesterday morning then into Sydney to the Chinese Markets. Peter went to the cinema to watch Oppenheimer and I wandered round the shops and had coffee. Distance walked 14km.

224 Friday Peter and I walked over The Sydney Harbour Bridge which had spectacular views. Operation Malabar was in full force which is a naval exercise involving Australia, The USA, Japan and India. We walked along the coast in Kirribilli stopping for lunch and coffee. Son visited in the evening.Distance walked 11km.

225 Saturday A lazy morning, son picked us up at 11am and we headed off to Bondi Junction for a spot of shopping. In the evening we went to the Alianz Stadium to watch a Rugby league match, The Roosters v The Dolphins. Peter and I walked back to central station then caught the train back to Sydenham where we are staying as son went off with his mates for the evening. Distance walked 14 km.

On the blog this week:

A week in The Whitsunday Islands

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Post Comment Love 11-13th August 2023

Welcome back to #PoCoLo with Stephanie from Lifeat139a and I, a weekly linky where you are welcome to link up with any post written this week. Don't forget to leave a comment with the host you link up with and visit any other post or two to share the love.

Our week in the Whitsunday Islands finished with a full day in The Great Barrier Reef. I went snorkelling successfully for the first time. In the past I've found it made me feel claustrophobic, despite being a competent swimmer who has no issue being underwater, I found the having a float under my chest meant I could focus on my breathing and not worry about trying to stay afloat at the same time. The flippers always drag me down as naturally I'm a breast stroker, but I was grateful for them when returning to the boat as I'd drifted quite a distance. I loved every minute of it. 

My husband went scuba diving for the first time and he said it was amazing.

I took this footage with an iPhone 8 in a waterproof case, I purchased for $14. The colours aren't as clear as they were in real life.

This week we're with child 3 in Sydney who has lived here since 2017. 

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I'll be catching up with reading your posts, sharing and commenting over the weekend.

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Week 32 One Daily Positive and Project 365. Australia.

The first 5 days in Australia passed in a blur caused by jet lack and then failure to establish a sleep pattern. I took till Friday night before I had my first full nights sleep and didn't have to nap in the day.

We're staying with child 3 and his girlfriend who moved out here 5 years ago. I last saw him in July 2019 after visiting here for 3 weeks on a road trip from Sydney to Melbourne and along the Great ocean Coast. This time Peter is with me and we've travelled north to Cairns, been on the Great Barrier Reef. Next week we're heading south to the Sunshine and Gold Coast, north and south of Brisbane.

217 Saturday We flew from Gatwick on a night flight, having caught the train there.

Fresh faced for the first part of our journey.

218 Sunday Landed in Dubai and had a couple of hours in the lounge before a 14 hour flight around 7am Dubai time.

We had to wear masks for the 7 hour and the 14 hour flight and in the airports.

219 Monday We arrived at 7am in Sydney and were met at the airport. We unpacked, handed over gifts, had a sleep and set off to find coffee and explore the local area.

At dinner, body clock saying it was breakfast so a cocktail had to be had.

220 Tuesday We. took ourselves into Sydney around midday and walked to the Harbour to explore the Sydney Opera House, walked round the botanical gardens, into the city and back to the harbour.

221 Wednesday Off into Sydney by train, caught a ferry to Manly and explored the area, we saw dolphins in the sea and got caught in the rain. Back to the house then out in the evening for dinner in a revolving restaurant and went down to the harbour to see the Sydney opera House lit up in memory of Oliver Newton John.

222 Thursday Out for a coffee, packed and headed to the airport for a 3 hour flight to Cairns, checked into our accommodation and out for dinner.

View from the balcony.

223 Friday Early morning start and a boat trip to Fitzroy island for the day, snorkelling on the Great Barrier Reef. The rest of them went out on a glass bottom boat, while I explored the coral at low tide and read my book.

Clam and coral.

On the blog this week:

Work experience as an adult

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