Australia – Page 3 – HurricaneMaine

When I realized that the southernmost part of the Great Barrier Reef was closer than traveling all the way to Cairns I was excited. Lady Elliot island is a really cool island that is the only one in the reef chain that has it’s own runway.

The great barrier reef is the chain of islands that run along the coast of Australia.

It is not a cheap trip. It was 829AUD or about $567 USD. It includes hotel pickup, transport by air, drinks, food, and snorkeling. For those wanting to do this it is cheaper from the Gold Coast than from Brisbane. I was intending to do the trip in Brisbane so extended my stay here at the Gold Coast instead. I was excited!

We arrived at the airport in Coolangatta. It was a small plane and as I was by myself I sat in the copilot seat which was awesome.

Some great sights at first and we flew for about 2 hours. Where we were heading was a tiny dot on the panel.

The end of the pink line is the island. You can’t even see the island as the line is the same thickness!

And then I saw the island… Yes it is small. Good thing the plane is small too.

The runway runs from bottom right to top left of the picture.

This island is in a protected green zone. They have solar panels for all of their electricity needs and also use it to distill Sea water for their own drinking water. It is a reef education center, protected sea turtle area, and an eco resort.

You can see the solar panels at the end of the sidewalk running along to the right.

This island is gorgeous. It would be great to stay here for a few days in the resort.

After storing our things and a little look around, we were given snorkeling gear and met for the glass bottom boat tour and snorkeling.

In the glass bottom boat we saw a Manta Ray. It was enormous and they do not sing like sting rays do. The pictures are a little fuzzy as they are taken through glass and water.

Below are other pictures of coral from the glass bottom boat.

Then it was time to snorkel. It was amazing. I’m glad I remembered my go pro (especially since Australia was not planned on this trip. The closing of school due to the coronavirus allowed me this time.)

I took some great video following green Sea turtles and schools of fish.

Sea turtle nesting sites. They are marked with the dates the eggs are laid so when they hatch they are monitored and they can be assisted making it to the Sea.

They offered a really yummy lunch and we were free to explore or snorkel again. I met some great people while visiting the island.

Of course I snorkeled again. Half of our 12 hour day was spent in traveling to and from the island. It was totally worth it. Seeing the Great Barrier Reef was amazing.

So I’m in Australia. The coronavirus had me alter my flight plans and avoid China. It will make it easier to go other places.

The first night in Australia I stayed at a different hotel and used the time in the morning to work on setting up online lessons for my biology students. After several hours I went for a short walk down to the beach then packed to move to another hotel (the first night was so expensive there because it was a weekend). The first hotel was retro and swanky.

On my walk I saw an Ibis. It is caring plastic in it’s mouth. It saddens me.

After checking into the Marriott, I headed to find a tour I could do.

Carrumbin wildlife sanctuary.

I don’t like animals on display but they focus on education, rebreeding programs, and environmental action. You know when the lizards and birds are all walking free it’s a good place.

These two were having a stand of when I arrived.

Koalas

Yes. I had to pay to get a picture and hold a koala. They only do this for 30 minutes. Hey name is Snow. They only pose a few times a week.

Mama and baby. I watched them for awhile.

Grassland Kangaroos

They are free to rain around and take breaks whenever they want.

Outback kangaroos

These are mostly in the desert area in the outback. They require less food and water. These guys were so full it was difficult to find one that would eat.

I am at the edge of the area where they can go to get away from people. This one came out to see if I had food.

This Joey came out to see us while I was talking to one of the volunteers.

Tasmanian devil

These guys are so endangered did to Los of habitat and a disease that causes facial deformity that is fatal.

Visitors while I ate lunch. They really wanted good and would edge around closer. I’m

Alligators

Capybara

Dingo

Echidna or Spiny Anteater

Emus

Red panda

These guys are also critically endangered for to habitat loss.

Tree kangaroo

Wombat den

It is tough to see as it was a nocturnal exhibit.

Lorikeet

These birds are wild but they are used to the daily feeding of nectar and will congregate in the trees and sweep down to feed from the plates. To their little tongues are like paint brushes. No

Birds. Most of the birds come from an ecotone where 2 different biomes meet. Here the rainforest and the open woodland offers many places for the birds to live.

Cotton top Tamarin

Lizards

Aboriginal show

Category: Australia

Great Barrier Reef

Currumbin wildlife sanctuary