The Bellview Cairns

Left the lovely Paradise on the beach this morning early as we have to return the car to Cairns via dropping off suitcases at the Sheridan Plaza where we stayed on arrival in Oz. Walked and breakfasted for the last time around Cairns with a rather hot walk along the seafront back to the hotel for checking in around lunchtime. First thing - down to the pool to cool off then a nice ...

... about - one school of about 1,000 yellow snappers; 1 school of about 200 large trevally, and another school of hundreds of a smaller bait-type fish, about 6 inches in length. Then there was your typical abundance of fish swirling about the coral- wrasses, clown fish, fairy basslets, parrotfish, triggerfish, surgeon fish, etc, etc, etc.

One of the most prolific types of fish here were the Anthias/Fairy Basslets. These come in a variety of colors ...

... at times to resist the urge to just stick your head above the water when things got difficult but on the whole thoroughly enjoyable and I couldn’t wait to get back in for day 2.
Day 2: More theory and an exam and then back into the pool. This time with a splash as we took a giant step into the deep end for the first time. We descended to the floor of the pool - a whole 3 meters! Once on the bottom the first things I noticed was a dead spider, trying to distract ...

... to spot Lumholtz's Tree Kangaroo, Lemuroid, Green and Herbert River Ringtail Possums, gliders, frogs, owls and more. Every night is full of discoveries. Later over supper, we reflect on what we have seen, and return home with an increased appreciation of rainforest life.”

We met Wayne, our tourguide for the day, promptly at 2pm. He gave us all binoculars and special portable floodlights for nightspotting during the tour. As we drove ...

... From Port Douglas we also went to see 'Cape Tribulation', a beautiful tropical rainforest, one of the oldest in the world and one which grows all the way down to the sea. Loads of warning signs here for the lethal stinging jellyfish and crocs reminded us that we were in proper aussie territory - although this didn't deter some people from going into the sea for a swim! Either very daring or very stupid people (or they simply missed the signs!) Just ...

... rays unfortunately. The stingers are slimy, wet and gross. But all suited up, we make our way to the back of the boat, stick on the flippers (I've a blister on each toe for my troubles there) and jump in - without an ounce of fuss. I'm kacking myself. Then we grab a rope that we'll use to assist our descent and off we go. I'm breathing faster than you can imagine and therefore using oxygen at a very unsafe rate - I am ...

Day 67 Monday 9th March - Ravenshoe to Cairns We all got up at 6am as normal so we could get our stuff together and get the flock out of here. We weren't sure what the situe would be with breakfast so we decided not to give Harry the pleasure of telling us we couldn't have any if we weren't working and just packed up the car. We said our goodbye's and Harry to the chance to have one last dig about my comments in ...

... hot and humid! And because we are in the tropics there are so many enormous bugs. I have a pet gecko in my room that likes to hide behind my lamp. He is very cute. There is a spider outside of my window that is about the size of my head. Her name is Henrietta. She stays in the same place, which is how I like it so I don't find her in my room. My apartment has a pool, a sand volleyball court and a bar; all very fun activities! I ...