As we depart the ‘Port of Airlie’ at Airlie Beach (8am) to head to the Great Barrier Reef, the captain made an announcement that we will make a quick stop at Hamilton Island for more passengers to board. How wonderful to see the port of Hamilton Island and the main street where the shops are.
Leaving Hamilton Island, we travelled past Whitsunday Island and then through Hook passage to the Coral Sea. Getting to the Great Barrier Reef on this tour, is by boat and they say we should reach it by 10.30am -11am (about 3 hours travel time).
A yummy morning tea is being served and then the staff entertain us by demonstrating the snorkel equipment. Now that is interesting and a little bit funny! Yeah, we are now at Hardy’s Reef pontoon. So exciting!! We head straight for the snorkelling equipment & stinger suits. We climb down to the landing, put our flippers on and we are off snorkelling the Great Barrier Reef. A dream come true snorkelling the Great Barrier Reef. We still have to get in the semi-submersible to motor around the reef. This is great if you do not want to snorkel. Getting hungry, so I head back to the boat to the smorgasboard lunch. Oh this is good! Once lunch settles, I want to go to the underwater viewing chamber to see what is happening down under. Might see a scuba diver on their way back up. I am definitely heading back for a final snorkel. Time to get back on the boat and cruise back to Airlie Beach. Oh, and they show all the photos taken on the day on the big screen. I might just buy that one of me and my family. What a fantastic day and we are back home by 6.30pm, tired but so happy we visited the Great Barrier Reef.