Great Barrier Reef

"You can’t go to Port Douglas and not visit Great Barrier Reef,” was The Spouse’s holiday mantra. We were waiting for a sunny day and the helpful staff at the visitor centre in Port Douglas did well when they advised us to delay our reef trip for a few days.

The suggested day was warm and sunny and the water pretty smooth when we boarded a sleek Quicksilver catamaran for our journey out to a reef activity pontoon moored at the outer edge of Agincourt Reef.

Morning tea was served when we boarded (with optional sea sickness tablets) followed by the usual safety instructions and then explanatory talks on what to expect.

About 90 minutes out from Port Douglas, we tied up alongside the promised pontoon – a large structure comprising a big dining area where buffet lunch was served, various other places to sit and enjoy the view, areas for snorkeling, an underwater observatory for fish and coral viewing, and scuba diving facilities.

While we’ve been keen on snorkelling in other tropical places we’ve visited, I decided my back wasn’t up to it so instead we went on a long semi-submersible vessel (above) for a 30-minute glide over the nearby reef, and had a great view of the various corals and fish outside. I managed to take in a second trip while we were at the reef.

Lunch was a large buffet spread of salads, chicken, more juicy prawns and tropical fruit. No complaints there. A glass of wine in the warm sun and it was time to reboard the catamaran for the return journey. Definitely an excellent way to experience the reef.

That night we headed for Salsa to check out the menu. I’m not sure what made my duck pate "Thai style” but it touched the right spot.

The kangaroo loin dusted with Ras el Hanout and served with pumpkin mousse was nicely finished with a red currant demi glass and a scattering of the currants themselves.

Some excellent sorbets (dragonfruit, mango and lime) beautifully garnished with tropical fruit and some good old Kiwi tamarillo and I was exceedingly happy.

Too soon our holiday was over. We’d packed a lot into our week and had certainly enjoyed our escape from Melbourne’s chilly winter weather. Tropical North Queensland is certainly the place to do that!

<<Home