When it comes to must-see attractions on a trip to Cairns, the Great Barrier Reef is definitely at the top of the list. It’s a 10- to 15-minute drive from the airport to Cairns City. There’s a marina right next to the city, and from there, you can take a boat out to the Great Barrier Reef—one of the world’s largest coral reefs. This time, I joined Sunlover Reef Cruises’ “Reef & Fitzroy Island Full-Day Reef Tour.” The tour takes you to Moore Reef Pontoon, located on the outer reef about an hour and a half by boat from the marina, where you can enjoy various activities, and then on to Fitzroy Island. It’s a full-day tour that lets you explore both the reef and the island, including lunch and a stroll around the island.
It’s a 1.5-hour ride by catamaran to the offshore pontoon. The departure point is the Reef Fleet Terminal, located along the marina in Cairns City. In the morning, people participating in reef tours offered by various companies were gathering around the terminal. Even though it was early in the morning, everyone was in high spirits. The Reef Fleet Terminal houses the counters and boarding information for various reef cruise operators. Any activity involving heading out to sea from Cairns essentially starts here. After checking in at the terminal, we headed to Cairns Marlin Marina and made our way to the Sunlover, using a map to locate the boarding area. This time, we boarded a large catamaran—a so-called twin-hulled boat. The trip to Moore Reef takes about an hour and a half. From there, we’ll head to Fitzroy Island before finally returning to Cairns. We showed our boarding passes and boarded the ship. There’s a snack bar on board selling snacks and drinks. However, the sea was a bit choppy that day. If you’re prone to seasickness, you might want to eat a lighter breakfast and be careful about how much you eat on board. Once you board, seating is first-come, first-served. The sensation of motion varies depending on your location on the boat. If you’re prone to seasickness, sitting near the center of the lower deck—closer to the boat’s center of gravity—is generally less likely to make you feel sick. The front of the ship experiences particularly strong vertical motion, while the rear can cause nausea due to the smell of engine exhaust. Additionally, the upper deck experiences stronger lateral motion. Once you’re seated, the crew will begin the safety demonstration. This part is somewhat similar to what you’d experience on an airplane. Even though it’s a large sightseeing boat, we’re heading out to a reef in the open ocean, so be sure to listen carefully to the instructions. Even if you don’t understand English, you can follow along with gestures. Now, we finally leave the pier and slowly make our way out of the harbor. Once we pass through the breakwater surrounding the harbor, the ship gradually picks up speed toward Moore Reef. It was incredibly rocky that day. I’m usually very resilient to the motion of boats and airplanes. In fact, I’m the type who gets a little excited the more it rocks, so I was fine. Still, it rocked enough for me to think, “Wow, it’s really rocking today.” The weather was unstable during our stay, and the sea was a bit choppy. When you hear “Great Barrier Reef,” you tend to picture calm, blue waters, but the actual sea is greatly influenced by the weather, wind, and swells. However, Asami from Sunlover Reef Cruises, who guided us on this trip, didn’t seem to mind the motion at all, saying, “This is nothing—you’ll be just fine.” On board, staff members were constantly patrolling the deck, each holding a sick bag. I did see a few people who looked like they were suffering from seasickness, but the staff immediately went over to check on them. If you’re prone to motion sickness, motion sickness medication is a must. Still, it’s reassuring to know that the staff will rush to your aid at the first sign of trouble. The air conditioning on board is set quite high. This is not only for comfort but also a precaution to help prevent seasickness. However, when you return to the boat after going in the water, it feels quite cold. Even I, who usually gets hot easily, felt cold, so it’s a good idea to bring a light jacket or shawl just in case. We arrived at Moore Reef Pontoon in about an hour and a half. The pontoon is essentially a floating dock—a platform set up over the open-ocean reef. From here, you can enjoy activities like sea walking and snorkeling.
© Source travel watch