great barrier reef tour
Jan 14th, 2007, 03:04 PM
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2006
Posts: 12
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
great barrier reef tour
Hi Pat and tassie twister.
Thank for your advice with our enquiries about our stay in your amazing part of the world.
The lizard Island day tour with Greg at Daintree Air lived up to our expectations and rewarded us much more than we expected or had read about on the forums.
Most importantly as Pat predicted,the weather was just perfect.
The low flying over reefs, ship wrecks, rainforests and out back gives a wonderful overall picture of the tropical section of North Australia.
The guide knows the Island and every thing along the way intimately.
The information and knowledge conveyed to us during the day from the air, while snorkelling and during the most amazing 60 minute hike was informative,interesting and at times hilarious.
Our ten-minute hike to the beach took an hour as we sampled all things Australian along the way.
Black native figs (chocolate figs Greg named them) native passionfruit, native apples, green ants and mangrove oysters.
The hike to the beach was a gourmets delight.
We walked across a small tidal river in which we spotted rays, huge mud crabs, lots of fish and many birds on the bank waiting for the tides to go out so they could feed on the small fish. We sat and watched as hundreds of these birds (king fishers) dived into water no more than knee deep to retrieve small fish.
Once on the beach Greg noticed tracks leading from the Ocean into the long grass.
He followed the tracks to find to two huge sand monitors feasting on Turtle eggs, which he said must have been laid there the previous night.
We all felt so sorry for the turtles as it was evident the mother had worked extremely hard to first of all drag her self so far up the beach and then dig a huge hole to lay the eggs only to have the monitors eat the eggs the next day.
Next we dressed in stinger suits and headed for the reef.We were guided immediately to a place where several hundred extremely inquisitive clown fish were busy getting along with the day, we then swam with turtles, napoleon fish, trigger fish, damsel fish, octopus and watched as one covered him self with shells while in his house.
It would be impossible to even try to describe the colours and shapes of the reefs, corals and the thousands of fish.
We swam from one end of the bay to the other visiting several major reefs along the way.
We were actually in the water for over two hours before some one mentioned lunch.
After lunch we rested under the trees before more swimming on the clam garden.
We hiked back to the aircraft via Chainman’s ridge enjoying breath-taking views of the coral sea and more of the beautiful beaches surrounding Lizard.
There were seven people in our group and we did not see one other person all day.
We departed the Island at 5.30 in the afternoon (two hours late) Greg’s attitude was who cares if we are late,we had seen the reefs and most of the mainland during the flight up in the morning so returned to Cairns flying high above the reefs.(45 minutes)
We were back at our Cairns Hotel just after 6.30 after the most unforgettable day we could have wished for. The day at Lizard may not be for every one as it is quite physical. For those of a reasonable fitness level there is no doubt this is the way to see the very best of the Great Barrier Reef.
Thanks again.
Jacko.
Thank for your advice with our enquiries about our stay in your amazing part of the world.
The lizard Island day tour with Greg at Daintree Air lived up to our expectations and rewarded us much more than we expected or had read about on the forums.
Most importantly as Pat predicted,the weather was just perfect.
The low flying over reefs, ship wrecks, rainforests and out back gives a wonderful overall picture of the tropical section of North Australia.
The guide knows the Island and every thing along the way intimately.
The information and knowledge conveyed to us during the day from the air, while snorkelling and during the most amazing 60 minute hike was informative,interesting and at times hilarious.
Our ten-minute hike to the beach took an hour as we sampled all things Australian along the way.
Black native figs (chocolate figs Greg named them) native passionfruit, native apples, green ants and mangrove oysters.
The hike to the beach was a gourmets delight.
We walked across a small tidal river in which we spotted rays, huge mud crabs, lots of fish and many birds on the bank waiting for the tides to go out so they could feed on the small fish. We sat and watched as hundreds of these birds (king fishers) dived into water no more than knee deep to retrieve small fish.
Once on the beach Greg noticed tracks leading from the Ocean into the long grass.
He followed the tracks to find to two huge sand monitors feasting on Turtle eggs, which he said must have been laid there the previous night.
We all felt so sorry for the turtles as it was evident the mother had worked extremely hard to first of all drag her self so far up the beach and then dig a huge hole to lay the eggs only to have the monitors eat the eggs the next day.
Next we dressed in stinger suits and headed for the reef.We were guided immediately to a place where several hundred extremely inquisitive clown fish were busy getting along with the day, we then swam with turtles, napoleon fish, trigger fish, damsel fish, octopus and watched as one covered him self with shells while in his house.
It would be impossible to even try to describe the colours and shapes of the reefs, corals and the thousands of fish.
We swam from one end of the bay to the other visiting several major reefs along the way.
We were actually in the water for over two hours before some one mentioned lunch.
After lunch we rested under the trees before more swimming on the clam garden.
We hiked back to the aircraft via Chainman’s ridge enjoying breath-taking views of the coral sea and more of the beautiful beaches surrounding Lizard.
There were seven people in our group and we did not see one other person all day.
We departed the Island at 5.30 in the afternoon (two hours late) Greg’s attitude was who cares if we are late,we had seen the reefs and most of the mainland during the flight up in the morning so returned to Cairns flying high above the reefs.(45 minutes)
We were back at our Cairns Hotel just after 6.30 after the most unforgettable day we could have wished for. The day at Lizard may not be for every one as it is quite physical. For those of a reasonable fitness level there is no doubt this is the way to see the very best of the Great Barrier Reef.
Thanks again.
Jacko.
Jan 14th, 2007, 03:28 PM
#2
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 3,680
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Glad you had a great day Jacko, and the weather did the right thing - its usually pretty reliable in January, but one never knows for sure!
Poor turtles; but just imagine if every turtle egg or baby turtle made it to adulthood. Saw something on TV the other night where National Park rangers further south are covering turtle nests with chicken wire to stop predators, but then the tiny hatchlings still have to dice with death to make it down to the sea, where other terrors await them.
Poor turtles; but just imagine if every turtle egg or baby turtle made it to adulthood. Saw something on TV the other night where National Park rangers further south are covering turtle nests with chicken wire to stop predators, but then the tiny hatchlings still have to dice with death to make it down to the sea, where other terrors await them.
Jan 14th, 2007, 04:49 PM
#3
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 230
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Hi Jacko - Your lizard island day sounds wonderful! Would you mind sharing the cost? Or was this a package tour that is listed on Daintree Air website? We are very interested in lizard island, but not sure if we really want to spend time at the resort. Thanks for any info -
Sharon
Sharon
Jan 18th, 2007, 03:39 AM
#4
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2006
Posts: 12
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Hi stamiya.
Yes we booked a package withe Daintree Air.
We had a very short time in North Quld.
We wanted to make the most of the time so booked with Greg from Daintree Air Services as we had read so many reports going back several years here and on other web sites.
The Lizard day with him is very special. You see and experience so much. He will advise you on weather and what's best for you depending on personal circumstances like fitness level, experience, abillity etc.
Pat, we were all sad to see the Lizards digging the turtle nest, but thought we would be better to let nature take it's course rather than to try and stop the Lizards one way or another.
jacko.
Yes we booked a package withe Daintree Air.
We had a very short time in North Quld.
We wanted to make the most of the time so booked with Greg from Daintree Air Services as we had read so many reports going back several years here and on other web sites.
The Lizard day with him is very special. You see and experience so much. He will advise you on weather and what's best for you depending on personal circumstances like fitness level, experience, abillity etc.
Pat, we were all sad to see the Lizards digging the turtle nest, but thought we would be better to let nature take it's course rather than to try and stop the Lizards one way or another.
jacko.
Thread
Original Poster
Forum
Replies
Last Post
SK2005
Australia & the Pacific
4
May 13th, 2004 04:40 AM
