Farewell to Australia – Day 31

We left a very wet Cairns in the early evening bound for Dilli in East Timor, 1400 nautical miles away. This was our last Australian landfall after over for weeks in the country. It is sad to leave Australia, a country that we found hugely hospitable. We have thoroughly enjoyed our stay here; it is a marvellous and surprising country. Without exception we have been received with friendliness and enthusiasm. The public infrastructure is excellent and everywhere is immaculate. Against expectations the food has been very good, and we have eaten some exceptional meals. The cities have been vibrant and interesting, while the countryside has excited us. Hopefully it will not be too long until we return.

Our plans for Cairns were changed and judging by the reports of others it may well have been for the better. The trip to the Barrier Reef involved much too much walking for Marion so we opted for a different sort of day. I took a zodiac trip to the mangrove swamps that surround Cairns; two experts who explained this unique habitat and the creatures that live there accompanied us. The mangrove tree can withstand saltwater so grows on shallow silt deposits that are exposed at low tide. The roots system cleanses the water run-off from the hills, this is important for the Barrier Reef, as it means that the reef is protected from pollutants. In turn the reef protects the mangrove habitat from strong waves.

I returned from the tour in late morning and joined Marion for lunch, after which I explored the city of Cairns while dodging heavy showers. It is a modern city, which has grown in recent years due to tourists coming to the Barrier Reef. Like many others it has built an attractive promenade and because jellyfish make the sea inhospitable has a large lagoon like swimming pool on the foreshore. It had a lovely art gallery with a David Hockney exhibition and attractive shop.

Those that went to the Barrier Reef reported poor conditions due to the rough seas and little sign of fishes or reef, so I think that we may have had the best choice made for us. We are now looking forward to four days at sea.