In the winter of 2017, we journeyed to the vast and beautiful continent of Australia. The first part of our trip was based in Queensland, which is incredibly diverse and boasts two World Heritage sites: The Great Barrier Reef and The Daintree Rainforest. You can also gain access to the rugged Outback in the Northern Territory. During our stay in this amazing country, we are proud to say that we enjoyed each of these spectacular regions firsthand.
Our first adventure was scuba diving and snorkeling in the Great Barrier Reef, which was exceptional, to say the least. The day began as we boarded a large catamaran in Cairns Bay. As we made ourselves comfortable on the top deck, we admired the sight of the glorious ocean, which became even more beautiful as we journeyed to the most extensive coral reef system on the planet. While we had mixed results with our first attempt at scuba diving, we did greatly enjoy our time snorkeling. The Great Barrier Reef is home to countless colourful fish and other marine life, and we weren’t disappointed during our time submerged within its vast ecosystem. As we snorkeled, we came across several Rainbow Parrotfish. This particular fish is appropriately named: when the sun hits its body under the water, its glossy scales look like a rainbow. All in all, it was a wonderful day full of new and amazing experiences. We can understand why this is one of the most popular destinations in Australia.
During our stay in the northeastern part of Australia, we also took a tour to go ziplining in the Daintree Rainforest. It is the oldest rainforest in the world and has large, majestic trees that rise high above the leaf-covered ground. Ziplining, or “Jungle Surfing” as the locals call it, is an exhilarating experience. We basked in the thrill as we flew across the canopy, enjoying the scene of the captivating tropical landscape spread out before us. We even temporarily overcame our fear of heights and went ziplining upside down! For anyone wanting to try something new, we definitely encourage this fun activity in this glorious and ancient rainforest.
On our way back to Cairns from the Daintree Rainforest, we stopped at the Port Douglas Wildlife Habitat, which has a variety of different terrains full of many types of mammals, birds, and reptiles. The Savannah Habitat was our favorite, as it was there that we saw the many adorable Wallabies, Kangaroos, and Koalas. Wallabies are small, cute animals that look like mini kangaroos. This makes sense as these sweet creatures are cousins to the larger kangaroo family. All of the Wallabies at the Wildlife Habitat are tame and we were given the opportunity to feed them food pellets by hand. A few of the Wallabies even let us pet them! It was truly an incredible ending to an incredible day.
To enjoy all of the unique aspects of Australia, we also decided to take a day excursion to the middle of the Outback in the Northern Territory. As our rugged vehicle drove inland, we noticed a surprising change in landscapes: from coastal cliffs full of thin trees, to lush rainforest, to the vast red desert where large termite mounds could be seen for miles around. The first stop of the day was at a wetland reserve a couple of hours from Cairns, where we took a small boat ride and enjoyed the calm water that was covered with many beautiful lotus flowers and white swans.
As the day progressed and we were shown around several areas of the Outback, our guide taught us about the many different animals that make this part of the world their home. Later in the afternoon we arrived at the Chillagoe Caves, where we got the chance to explore the many maze-like caverns. On our way back to Cairns, we passed several wild kangaroos that were lounging in the middle of a large golf course. It was a busy, yet fulfilling, day and we’re glad we took the time to experience the vast and unique Outback.
Australia is a gorgeous land full of wonder and excitement. We’re so glad we were able to see and do everything we wanted to while in this great country. The memories we have from these diverse landscapes will last us a lifetime! 😀
For additional photos, please see:
– Australia 2017: Great Barrier Reef
– Australia 2017: Daintree Rainforest
– Australia 2019: Brisbane
– Australia 2019: Moreton Island
– Australia 2019: Byron Bay
– Australia 2019: City of Gold Coast
– Australia 2019/2020: Sydney
For more information about this country, please see our other articles:
– Australia 2017: Cairns & Sydney
– Australia 2019: Moreton Island, Byron Bay, City of Gold Coast
– Australia 2019 – Holidays in the South Pacific
– Australia 2019: Brisbane
– Australia 2019/2020: Sydney