Almost the end of Australia...

Saturday in Cairns we joined a chartered boat and headed out to the Great Barrier Reef. The last time I went snorkeling there it was stormy, the water was rough, and I wasn't feeling well so I didn't enjoy it at all. This time was much more pleasant. The weather was perfect and the water as calm as could be. The company we chose is the only family-run reef charter in Cairns and they were awesome! We went to two different sites and we were out there longer than any other boats. There was plenty of time to get your fill of snorkeling. They also offered scuba diving but since I couldn't dive while pregnant Neil opted not to. Although in hindsight, we were out there so long and the longer I snorkeled the harder it was to breath that Neil actually spent a lot of time in the water by himself and he could have gone diving too. But as a consolation, diving is really unnecessary at the reef. Snorkeling really is the best way to see it since the water is so shallow.

I had already abandoned the water when Neil found a sea turtle. I had to get back in just so I could come back and tell Sadie that I had seen one. She did a report on them once and is very knowledgeable.

Neil was out there so long that he completely burned the back of his legs. Five months later and he still has an awesome tan line.

 Sunday we went to church and then went to walk up Crystal Cascades. Of course the first path Neil took us on wasn't the "real" path and went up a different fork of the creek with over grown paths and cobwebs. But it was pretty at the top.

There's a foot path that paralells the creek. Occasionally there are ladders and steps that go down the cliff to swimming holes. There were lots of families out that afternoon. At the top are lots of boulders and falls.

Of course Neil had to get as far out over the water as possible.

Monday in Cairns was one of our busiest and favorite days. First up was Mossman Gorge. It's a National Park and may be the only rain forest spot that we had to pay to get in to, but it was well worth it.

 There are several paths through the forest. I was kind of tired and suggested going aways and then turning around but Neil really wanted to walk the whole thing. It was only supposed to be a couple of kilometers but it sure took forever to get through. It satisfied our craving of damp dirt tracks and rock covered stream beds though.

At the end of our hike there was a nice swimming hole. Of course the water was freezing but eventually I made it in.

After swimming we ate at the visitor center where Neil got to try barbecued kangaroo. He thoroughly enjoyed it. I liked the ice cream we ate on the way back to the car!
Cairns proper doesn't have swimming beaches so we stopped at Port Douglas on our way home from Mossman Gorge to find a beach. They have netted areas for swimming so that you don't get bothered by jelly fish and such. The water was so warm and clean it felt like being in a bathtub. We walked out as far as we could and just floated forever. So much fun.

 This is Ellis Beach - one more little beach spot we stopped at on the way home. There was a little creek (behind us here) flowing down into the ocean and it made for good exploring.