Cairns – Day 2
The day is finally here!
After another wonderful buffet breakfast, we all walked together as a group down to the pier—because today we were heading out to the Great Barrier Reef.
Out to the Reef
We boarded a beautiful catamaran for about an two hour ride out to the reef.
On the way, we had a safety briefing and a rundown of what to expect once we reached the pontoon.
A couple things surprised me—in a good way. They had GoPros available to rent, and even better… you could book a helicopter ride over the reef.
Uh, yes please!
A Hidden Gem Below
Once we arrived at the pontoon, we had a little time to explore. I noticed a set of stairs going down—didn’t look off-limits, so of course curiosity kicked in.
Best decision.
It led to an underwater viewing area, and it was amazing. I immediately went back to grab John and a few friends so they could see it too.
Up in the Air
Next up: helicopter time.
I’ll admit, I got a little nervous. I’ve done a helicopter ride before in Alaska, but that one boarded with the blades off. This time? Blades spinning, crouched walk, straight in.
But the moment we were buckled in and lifted off… all that anxiety disappeared.
The views were unreal. The colors, the different depths, the shapes of the reef—it was like looking at a living painting. It was only about 10 minutes, but it felt like we saw so much.
Honestly, if you’re anywhere near the reef—do the helicopter ride.
Into the Water
Back on the pontoon, we grabbed a quick bite before gearing up for snorkeling. Sting suits on, fins ready, masks in place—we met our guide and headed out beyond the main snorkeling area.
And wow.
Corals in pinks, greens, purples, and blues—shapes like feathers, fans, and brains. Giant clams with neon colors and fish everywhere you looked.
It was incredible.
We even had a little free time to explore the snorkel area on our own, which made it even better.
Over Too Soon
Like all the best days, it felt like it went by way too fast. Before we knew it, we were back on the catamaran heading in.
We were equal parts exhilarated and completely exhausted.
After showers and dinner, it was an early night—because tomorrow we head back to Sydney. But not before one more stop that I am over the moon about.
This one is a shorter blog… I’ll let the photos and videos do most of the talking.