OZ - Great Barrier Reef - Day Trip / Short Live Aboard

[pcsanity]

Hi Everyone -

By my post count you can tell I am a new member on this board. I have been certified since 1984 and my wife is recently certified.

We are heading to Australia in September and have some limited time to spend diving in Cairns area.

Do you have any suggestions for some day trips that get to the outer reef without taking 50 or so people? We are looking at taking two different trips.

Also, there is the potential that we could have 3 or so days to do a live aboard. Are there any that do this time frame (Could be a 3 nighter.)

One odd request on the live aboard, it has to have ensuite bathroom facilities - my wife will not go for shared facilities on a live aboard. :doctor:

I know a week on a live aboard would be great, but we only have 16 days to see some various places in Australia. (Melbourne and Sydney in addition to Cairns) In Cairns we still want to do the rainforest.

Thanks,

Matt

 

[caymaniac]

We are headed to Cairns on Friday, we are spending a week there as well as some time in Port Douglas. We are booked on the Diversity out of Port Douglas. I booked them through Pro-dive and I believe it is a "Quicksilver" boat. From what we've learned, the Coral Sea is one area not to be missed, we will be on Osprey reef the first two days of the liveaboard, then it moves on to Cod Hole and the Ribbons reefs. It's not a whole week, but this is our first liveaboard and my wife required that we have ensuite bathroom ( sound familiar?). The Diversity is only a year old so it should be in good shape. We have planned a few things like going on the "skyrail" and the Daintree Rainforest. We are going to be in Oz for over two weeks and then go on to Hawaii for a bit. My thought is if this goes good (liveaboard) then its off to PNG and Fiji - when I save up enough.
So I'll have to let you know how it was when we get back. We are not looking forward to that loooooong plane ride but that is what it will take to get there.

Dive Safe,
Caymaniac

p.s. welcome to the board

 

[scubawife]

We stayed in Palm Cove for 5 days on our trip to Oz a few years ago. (Total trip was 4 1/2 wks). Stayed at Sebel Reef House. Palm Cove was great because it's 1/2 way btwn Pt.D and Cairns. We used Poseidon out of Pt. Douglas. They picked us up in Palm Cove and drove us back. A good operation. All divers an snorkeler. The day consisted of 3 dives on 3 different sites, lunch, tea & snacks after the last dive. Watch out with the reef day trip boats. Most go to a bontoon or their moor on their perminent platforms for day.

If you can swing a few days to stay in the Rainforest you should check out Silky Oaks Lodge or Daintree Ecolodge. A unique, wonderful experience. If you've only got a 1/2 day, head to Kuranda Skyrail. Don't bother with the overpriced tour pkg, just hop a bus or taxi from Palm Cove or Cairns and buy your tkt for the lift when you get there. There are also some good night tours run by local naturalists. We did one and it was just the 2 of us and the guide who's local and has spent the last several years studying the platypus (sp?) and other native animals. We walked through the bush in the dark with infrared lights and saw roos, wallabies, possums. It was pretty neat stuff.

Sydney was lots of fun. We stayed at the Regent Sydney in The Rocks, right by the Opera House. Good restaurants and a great wknd street market in The Rocks. The Sydney Aquarium was pretty good. It's open late so go late afternoon and have dinner at one of the great outdoor restaurants at Darling Harbour.

Melbourne can't be beat for variety of ethnic neighborhoods, food and wine. The wknd boardwalk market on the beach was really good. We got some unique things at street fair prices.

Where ever you go and whatever you do, you will enjoy your time Down Under! This was the only place we've been (and we've been lots of places) that we never had a bad meal. I can't wait to go back!

 

[caymaniac]

scubawife once bubbled...
There are also some good night tours run by local naturalists. We did one and it was just the 2 of us and the guide who's local and has spent the last several years studying the platypus (sp?) and other native animals. We walked through the bush in the dark with infrared lights and saw roos, wallabies, possums. It was pretty neat stuff.

Hi scubawife,
What was the name of this tour operator?

Thanks,
Caymaniac

 

[ColdH20diving]

We spent most of our time in Port Douglas as you can get around much easier than Cairns. If you stay at Silky Oaks, keep an eye on your valuables. We met up with the local police in Port Douglas to exchange patches and say hi. When they heard we were headed to Silky Oaks they told us they've had a problem with thefts at the lodge. You'll love the diving, I can't wait to go back...

 

[scubawife]

Caymaniac -

We did the night tour (that included about 2 hrs watching for platypus to come out of their dam) with Alberto Vale. Here's his website www.wildscapes-safaris.com.au

This is NOT your run of the mill touristy, load everyone in a big bus and let's go see the animals, sort of experience. It was recommended to us by the hotel manager where we stayed. We were a bit aprehensive when this guy picked us up in his van (just me and my husband) and off we went through the rainforest to the Atherton tablelands and onto someones farm property. The river on the property is where he's been tagging and doing his research for several years. He's very passionate about it, and very knowledgeable about all things Australian native (animals and plants). We really got into it and learned so much and saw so many cool things. We stopped in a local town at a local restaurant for the dinner. Nothing fancy at all. After the platypus and dinner we went off to the bush to look for the nocturnals. That was soooo cool. His van is also rigged up with an infrared video camera and monitor. He's not in this for the tourist dollar. This is how he funds his research. If you prefer a more touristy offering, there are other night tours.

If you want any other info about stuff we did on our trip (North Queensland, Melbourne, Sydney, Alice Springs, Ayers Rock), PM me. If you're going to Alice or the Rock, I know a tour company that does off tourist track camping, hiking, camel riding, hot air ballooning and other soft adventure type things.

 

[ns2ny]

Here are a couple useful sites to check out for more info


www.queensland.com.sg/tq.cfm?pageID=127

www.diversionoz.com/en/gbr-overview.htm

David

 

[Jonathan]

as I am heading down in Sept/Oct not sure when exactly as the misses boss is playing silly buggers with her holiday sign-off.

One place I will defintely be visiting for at least a few days is Hervey Bay - guaranteed hump back sightings that time of year so they say. Apparently it is a stop off on their migration.

Jonathan