We have just returned from two days on Hamilton Island on the Great Barrier Reef, full of tropical experiences. The island is very small with no cars, just rather reckless motorised buggies that can be hired for a ridiculous rate. It is full of beautiful tropical flowers, coconut palms, blue lagoons, and wallabies grazing on the grass in front of our bungalows. While we were there, we had breakfast with koala bears; swam in numerous pools; and relaxed in hammocks.
But, of course, we were there for the Great Barrier Reef. The main beach, Cats’ Eye Beach, gave direct access to the coral reef, though you had to swim out to the largest and best section. But just wandering along the shoreline in the shallows, you could see tiny fish darting everywhere, and larger fish, up to about eight inches, just swimming at your feet. Snorkelling just a little further out meant you could see even more fish, some with neon blue colouring, or pale yellow, and we even saw a lion fish.
However, John was the one who really experienced the best of the reef. I hate to say it, but the ladies were a little spooked by swimming over stingrays, and by swimming way out of our depth, so we stayed where we were more comfortable. I was snorkelling for the first time too and sometimes struggled with flipper management! John, on his more intrepid expedition, saw turtles, brightly-coloured corals, and far more larger fish – though my heart was in my mouth watching a lone dark head in the distance, accompanied by various flipper splashes and disappearances below the water!
Nana Down Under 