Day 12 Port Douglas Cruise to the Great Barrier Reef

Meals included: B L

Breakfast: Served at the hotel from around 6:30am-10:30am featuring hot and cold dishes.

Morning: We'll depart the hotel around 7:45am for a 15-minute drive to the Port Douglas marina to begin today's exploration: The Great Barrier Reef.

At around 8:30am, we'll board our catamaran and depart Port Douglas for the Outer Reef, arriving at our first site by 10.15am. Possibly the best description of the Great Barrier Reef we've ever heard comes down to five simple words: “the world's largest living thing.” Its nomination for World Heritage status stated, “The Reef supports the most diverse ecosystem known to man ... an ecosystem which has evolved over millions of years.”

After our catamaran drops anchor, we'll begin our discoveries of the Reef, with a local marine biologist along as we take our first peek through diving masks. The Reef is a true sensory explosion, an azure scene of non-stop activity. We'll witness tropical fish darting about amid sea fans and anemones swaying with the waves. And it's all mere inches from the water's surface. As we explore the Reef today, we may also come across signs of coral bleaching—a natural occurrence that is a result of warmer water temperatures that cause corals to turn white. Today, you can ask our marine biologist more about the effects of rising temperatures on the Reef. We'll re-board our vessel around 11:30am to head for a second snorkeling destination.

Lunch: We’ll enjoy lunch onboard the catamaran around 12pm with sandwiches and fruits available.

Afternoon: Around 1:40pm, we'll once again be briefed on the best areas to snorkel before we dive once again into the crystalline waters. There's no one “right” way to explore the Reef, so you can swim or snorkel among the fish and wide array of corals. An experienced marine biologist will point out the astonishing tropical fish and giant clams here. We will spend roughly 1-hour exploring before climbing back onboard around 2:30pm. Afternoon tea will be served as we sail back to the marina.

Upon arrival at around 4:30pm, you will be able to choose between an approximately 15-minute drive back to the hotel or a quick drive to the center of town to enjoy dinner on your own.

Dinner: You may try the hotel’s restaurant or venture into Port Douglas for a local dish on your own. Perhaps you'll relax at a local café with a cup of Daintree Lemon Myrtle Tea, or seek out a restaurant serving fresh barramundi, a favorite fish specialty.

Evening: After a long day on the water, you may choose to use your evening to relax and refresh—or experience Port Douglas at night with a recommendation from your Trip Experience Leader.

5/14/23

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