Monday 2nd March - I was up on deck to watch the ship dock at Trinity Wharf, Cairns (left) around 07.00am. We did a complete 180 degree turn close to the pier and for the first time we docked on the port side. The dock area, which is a short walk from the city centre, was not what I‘d call impressive, a tin roof shed, and around 08.00am we went ashore and walked the 10 minutes along to the Reef Fleet Terminal. I had booked a tour online the previous day, with Big Cat Green Island and after checking in at their counter, we found our boat and took a seat on board. We had a 4 hour tour which included the 45 minute trip each way, about 2 hours on the island and a glass bottom boat trip, all for A$69 per person , Bill and Shelley arrived shortly afterward and after dumping our bags on our seats we decided to spend the 45 minutes from Cairns to Green Island on the front deck of the catamaran. The front deck had some bench seating extending from the superstructure but we chose to stand facing forward against the waist height front bulkhead. It was a beautiful morning and as we left the dock at 09.00am the sky was clear blue and the temperature was 30 deg C (86 deg F). The big cat started out slowly and the resulting breeze was a relief from the humidity, as we cleared the dock area, the boat captain announced that as we got into the open ocean, the movement up front would be considerable. I could hear the low rumble of the engines steadily increase and soon we were up to full speed as we were treated to a roller coaster ride slapping across the water, being soaked occasionally as the waves sprayed across us.
Windswept on front of the catamaran (left)
Fortunately there was a handrail across the front of the bulkhead, without it I’m sure one or two of us would have been pitched overboard, and all too soon we were slowing down in preparation for docking at Green Island (above). We made our way directly to the only patrolled beach and settled down on the sand with our ships towels. The beach was not anything like I remembered from our visit 20 years ago when we’d walked out 100 yards in waist deep water followed by a myriad of fish, now it was perhaps 200 yards long by about 10 yards of waist deep cordoned off before falling off into deeper water. It was much busier than we’d remembered and interestingly most of the beachgoers were Japanese. It was probably busier since they had built a large hotel on the island in recent years and I assume it is largely marketed in Japan.
We’d been in and out the water a couple of times when we noticed some hurried activity over to my left, the lifeguard, accompanied by a couple of other swimmers was dragging a small lifeless body in toward the shore. A young Japanese girl was laid out on the beach and as the lifeguard administered first aid, he was quickly joined by, first 2 then 3 and 4 medical types. As they all continued to work on her, I didn’t see any movement, but I assume she was recovering since they carried her off on a stretcher (pictures, left). I decided to walk around the island to see if there were any better beach areas and soon after starting, I saw some familiar figures heading my way, along the beach.
Shelley and Bill, (left) with a stout walking staff in hand were just completing a circuit of the island, apparently most of the rest of the shoreline was rocky, so I cancelled my planned circuit and we all returned to Izzy.
As it was now getting close to the time for our side tour, we headed back to the pier and were soon crammed into the glass bottom boat (inside shown left). We saw a few fish but nothing spectacular and soon we returned to the dock to rejoin the Reef Rocket, our transport back to the mainland. The trip back was as windblown as before, I’m sure we’ll both look like giant tomatoes, tomorrow, from windburn. We walked back to the ship, a slow walk as I was dragging our 50lb bag and it was hotter than h e double hockey sticks, back on board we had a quick lunch and shower (the sandwiches got very soggy) and went back off again as we wanted to do some shopping and visit the Reef Casino. We both broke even in the casino, but weren’t so lucky with the shopping. Soon we were heading back with our bags of junk, hope you like the $3 tee-shirts, kids, back on board again after a short nap, we decided not to go to the main dining room and instead just eat up in the Bistro. Izzy went up to the top deck and I went to the Promenade deck as I wanted to watch the ship’s departure from port. Our departure time came and went and we were still firmly tied to the dock, the gangway was still down and several officers and crew were standing around. Then about 15 minutes after scheduled departure the side gates, in the dock area, were pulled open and 4 figures raced toward the ship. It was some of the casino staff and they quickly ran on board to the cheers and applause of the watching crowds on board. I found Izzy on the upper deck and we sat talking to Seattle Jim, Lucy, Maine Bob, Doreen, Welsh Bob and Dave, for a while before going into the Bistro for dinner. I had some nice black bean and beef chowder followed by some rotini in oxtail sauce then for a change, a western omelette. It was all delicious and when we went back out on deck around 09.00pm, Lucy and Jim were in the pool, we were tempted to join them as it was still very warm and humid but I was tired and decided to come down to the cabin and do some work online, Izzy stayed on deck chatting before coming down to the cabin about 10.30pm.
