Day 7 - hot chocolate and platypus

Alyson in platypus country

My morning broke really early today, 5:30. Had a cup of hot chocolate and ventured into platypus territory. The heavy and never ending rain of last night increased the river, hence the area where we could see platypuses. We were asking for at least one. But we didn’t see any. They probably went to new found tributaries after the big rain. But honestly, the single idea to be where I could, indeed, find platypuses was good enough. The tall trees, the shorter palm trees in the bush casting shadows over the river, the vines and butterflies. The fact that there are still lowland rainforest amidst the massive extension of sugar cane plantation was a happy moment. We did not see platypuses, perhaps next time.

We went for a hike in Eungella National Park and since I had forgotten my swimmers, Alyson had two dips in a wonderful waterfall. She looked around with my diving mask and saw the blackness of the deep. We were spared from leeches, luckily. Came back to our camping site and had one last swim in platypus territory and started our driving to the Whitsundays.

Photo credit: NASA

The Whitsundays are one of the gateways to see the Great Barrier Reef. That amazing natural ecosystem that can be seen from space and is home to a myriad of species. One of the most biodiverse marine ecosystems on Earth. Where the blue is blue and the white is white. The area that set the backdrop to my dream of being a marine biologist; the cover of many books and subject to many documentaries that led me to follow my – then – passion. No wonder why it is called the Great Barrier Reef… one of Australia’s crown jewels…

We set camp in a caravan park and started looking for options to make the best out of our stop here. We decided on an overnight tour to the outer reef. We probably overpaid the price of our dream, but we feel it was worth it. Aren’t all dreams though? The idea of being able to sleep with the stars as our ceiling and the Reef as our (watery) floor is beyond any wildest dreams I ever had. Alyson’s too. We are going out tonight to celebrate being broke for the rest of the trip, perhaps even the next few months, but very much worth it. I will let you know on Thursday.