I was sent to Sydney on a business trip for a few months and I couldn't have returned without visiting the Great Barrier Reef!
Day 1: I had booked a 3 days package with DOWN UNDER CRUISE AND DIVE and day 1 was exploring The Great Barrier Reef!
The organizers stop the cruise at 2 outer reefs for activities such as Snorkeling and Scuba diving. As the cruise left the reef terminal, the view from the deck was breathtaking!
There was sun, but the cool wind over powered it. But the only thing that was evident at that point was the fascinating view!
We reached the 1st stop - Norman reef. I was nervous about snorkeling, neither did I have anyone with me nor had I snorkeled anywhere else before. Was I confident swimming in an ocean? Absolutely not! But my excitement to see the marine life inside this natural wonder of the world was enough for me to jump in, so I did.
No picture will do justice to what I saw inside water! The coral reefs, the nemos, the clown fishes, such colorful marine life - I knew I was fortunate to visit this place! :)
There was a lunch buffet, and some wine and cheese before we returned in the evening. We could sit on the deck and enjoy the spectacular views on the way back from the reef to the terminal - this was a 3 hour journey from the 2nd reef - Hardy.
This is how beautiful Cairns Merlin Marina looked as we arrived at the terminal.
Near the reef terminal, there is a street that has many souvenir shops, restaurants, and this beautiful park. I explored that street a little and went to my backpackers hostel to call it a day!
Safety tip: If you're a solo traveler in Cairns, I'd suggest that you don't roam around alone after it's dark. Not that I witnessed any crime, but definitely heard about it. A couple who live there warned me to reach the hostel soon as I went out to have dinner after it was dark.
Day 2: Kuranda railway, skyrail, and the village!
The world heritage listed Kuranda railways takes you up to the village with heritage markets, koala garden, bird world, a plane wreck, and a butterfly garden. This train journey is easily THE best I've ever been on so far.
Barron water falls, Barron national park, various bridges, and the tunnels during the train journey are extremely beautiful. I took the train up and the sky rail down.
And that was Kuranda!
Day 3: Daintree National Park and Mossman Gorge, and Cape Tribulation
And guess what! The day wasn't over yet. There still was cruising the daintree river, after so much beauty to take in for the day. And from where the cruise had to start, I saw Daintree river ferry - a cable ferry that moves vehicles from one side of the river to the other. It comes with a cost, and has a limit on the number of vehicles. Read more here - http://www.daintreeinfo.com/region_guide/index.php?RegionInfoID=335&RegionSubjectID=13
The below picture is from the cruise on the river. We spotted some crocodiles on the way. Since I've seen enough of them in many other places including India, the experience was not any different.
And then, that midnight,I flew back to Sydney. This view from the airplane is one of the best I've seen so far.
