Our last day in Australia was an exhilarating and inspirational finish to our travels. We were tired and shattered, and to top it off, it decided to pour with rain.
Final Stop: Cairns
Cairns marked the final stop of our 6-week trip to Thailand and Australia. We had booked the reef tour in Sydney 4 weeks prior, not realising how exhausted we would be by the time we reached our last destination before flying back to Sydney.
Great Barrier Reef Adventure
Seeing the Great Barrier Reef is a must-have for any bucket list. Despite a bumpy 80-minute boat ride, we arrived. Many of our fellow travellers were feeling the effects of the rough sea while sitting on the deck, looking worse for wear.
Claire and I made ourselves comfortable on the bottom deck, sleeping off the previous night’s festivities.
Finally, we reached the reef’s major attraction. Despite the threatening weather, I took the plunge—the water was bluer, clearer, and warmer than I expected.
After ten minutes, I got out and waited for our next stop on the opposite side of the reef, where our tour group had exclusive access to shallower waters. I brought my Tesco swimsuit, which I like but is not particularly reef-friendly.
Lunch and Further Exploration
After a big lunch (all you can eat!), the boat headed to the other side of the reef. I grabbed my blow-up ring tube and paddled around.
I was the only one with a line in the water, brought from Bangkok and hardly used. The different colours of the reef were breathtaking.
Colourful fish and odd-looking animals swam together without a care. The sun came out, the water calmed, and divers were 10 meters underwater while snorkelers explored the coral tops.
I floated around the reef, enjoying the waves and playing on my blow-up tube.
Reflections on the Journey
After capturing such beautiful images and meeting such a fantastic team, I am overjoyed with how the day turned out and the memories that will last a lifetime. I could swim for hours. The warmth and freedom were so private! Some claim I was a fish in a previous life… Is that a compliment or not?
We chatted with a tablemate on the way home. Cheese, wine, and entertainment were free—the best entertainment I’ve experienced. Australians are generous and open. I’ll do the driving course next time because it was so much fun, and the reef sights must be unique.
Sydney, Dubai, and Heathrow followed. Back in Edinburgh, I smile at my land, sea, and colour adventures—not everything is photo-shopped! I realized I needed heat and comfort again. I need to swim and surf whenever possible. If you can, do it. This trip taught me that material goods don’t matter when you’re in nature. Free. (Obviously, the boat!).
I’ll make sure to keep you updated on my upcoming blogs as I continue to explore destinations around the globe!
More About My Travels
For those dreaming of visiting Thailand, check out Facts About Thailand.
