Hi everybody! Right now we are in Australia and we've been doing some really cool things since we got here.First we flew into Brisbane and were met by our friends Dick and Liz. After spending the night with them, we went back to the airport early the next morning to take a plane to Hamilton Island. Once we got to Hamilton Island we headed to our resort to settle in.
The next day for breakfast we went to a place called the Koala Gallery where you can eat breakfast with koalas. It was really cool to be able to go get cereal or something to eat and pass koalas on your way. Later that day we went on a catamaran ride called "Adrenaline Sailing," where we got to literally hang out on wires over the water at really fast speeds. We also got to go and sit on a net in the front of the boat and we got totally splashed by the water and ended up soaking wet.
After
a day of getting soaked, swinging off wires, and a good night's sleep,
we headed out the
next day to take a boat to a place called Reef World,
which is right on part of the Great Barrier Reef. At Reef World they
had many things to do, but the first thing we did was go snorkeling.
There was so much to see on the Great Barrier Reef, like giant clams, wrasses, sea turtles and parrotfish, all in the same place at the same time. I loved diving down to get a closer look at the giant clams and when I waved my hand over them, the shell would snap shut.
After spending a few hours snorkeling, everybody left, but we stayed because we were doing "Reef Sleep," where you stay overnight at Reef World. We got to snorkel even more and saw a really big fish called a Queensland Grouper with a few "cleaner fish" swimming around it and eating the parasites off of it. We also saw a really cool sea cucumber that was about a foot long and had a bunch of yellow spikes on it. There were tons of colorful tropical fish that were great to snorkel with.
One
really cool thing about staying overnight at Reef World was when our
guide Craig put a light on over the underworld observatory so we could
see the fish that come out at night. There were really big giant
trevallie fish (G.T.'s for short) and they were eating the baitfish.
But that wasn't all ... then George, the 9-foot Queensland Grouper,
came and started eating the G.T.'s!
Being at the Great Barrier Reef was an experience I'll never forget. Now we're heading back to Brisbane for our next Australian adventure.
Take a look at George in action!
next day to take a boat to a place called Reef World,
which is right on part of the Great Barrier Reef. At Reef World they
had many things to do, but the first thing we did was go snorkeling. There was so much to see on the Great Barrier Reef, like giant clams, wrasses, sea turtles and parrotfish, all in the same place at the same time. I loved diving down to get a closer look at the giant clams and when I waved my hand over them, the shell would snap shut.
After spending a few hours snorkeling, everybody left, but we stayed because we were doing "Reef Sleep," where you stay overnight at Reef World. We got to snorkel even more and saw a really big fish called a Queensland Grouper with a few "cleaner fish" swimming around it and eating the parasites off of it. We also saw a really cool sea cucumber that was about a foot long and had a bunch of yellow spikes on it. There were tons of colorful tropical fish that were great to snorkel with.
One
really cool thing about staying overnight at Reef World was when our
guide Craig put a light on over the underworld observatory so we could
see the fish that come out at night. There were really big giant
trevallie fish (G.T.'s for short) and they were eating the baitfish.
But that wasn't all ... then George, the 9-foot Queensland Grouper,
came and started eating the G.T.'s! Being at the Great Barrier Reef was an experience I'll never forget. Now we're heading back to Brisbane for our next Australian adventure.
Take a look at George in action!
Hi, love the santa hats and snorkeling suit! I too have ridden in the 'trapeze' on a "cat". I was totally surprised at just how FAST they are. And it is a bit unnerving when you are hanging out there over the water ... but what an experience!
hugs deb~la
PS- yesterday was 70 degrees and today 55. Bizarre but fun to have such warm weather in Dec. A wind from Canada is on it's way, back to COLD weather by new year's day.
Yikes, a 9 foot fish!!! That is to big for me! Also, the birds were so colorful, and pretty. Love the updates. Glad you liked the ecard for Christmas! Hugs, Deb~la.
You guys really went out there that is so cool! i wish i was u!!I would love seeing all of those animals!! y? well because i love animals ! and how was going snorkling it seems very very scary i would be screaming( underwater) My friend is from australia and she says she misses it but coming to america was some time!! A 9 foot fish that is something you wouldnt see every day! But i hope u had fun well i know you did because i read it!! LOL Bye!!
MERRY CHRISTMAS