Anybody in Cairns?

[Mrs f.]

Our ship, Oceania Regatta,  will dock in Cairns in December.    We want to go snorkeling  with Great Adventures GBR Pontoon.  I asked if we are within walking distance of meet up point. They said there are multiple moorings in the Cairns area and where do we dock?

 

Called Oceania....they have no idea.  Is there a way to find out?

[OzKiwiJJ]

She's docking at the Cairns cruise terminal. I looked it up on the ports schedule.

 

https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/os-data-2/portsnorth-com-au/listingforms/page612/cruise_schedule_-_2022.pdf

[Aus Traveller]

Cruise ships dock at the Cairns cruise terminal. It is near the corner of Wharf and Lake Streets.

[OzKiwiJJ]

It looks like it's about a four minute walk to Great Adventures.

 

 

[Aussieflyer]

Depending on your timings and how long Regatta is in port, you might want to look at a ship excursion. If Regatta is late for some reason you might find that you will miss the Great Adventure departure for the day. 

[Mrs f.]

Thanks to all for your findings.  

We get in at 8am...hopefully 

Great Adventures website says sign in at 9:30 and it leaves at 10:30.  Do you think its too much of a risk?

Ships tour us more than 2x the price. And I don't snorkel. Going with hubby who does.

 

The one I really wanted was the Skeddale  half day tour but it's not running. Says due to covid.

[Chiliburn]

10 minutes walk I was there 2 weeks ago.

There’s better things to do than go snorkeling, catch the train to Kuranda .

[possum52]

36 minutes ago, Chiliburn said:

10 minutes walk I was there 2 weeks ago.

There’s better things to do than go snorkeling, catch the train to Kuranda .

Philip, some people prefer snorkelling to going on a train to a very commercialised village. We went to Green Island yesterday and there were many out snorkelling.

Edited August 3, 2022 by possum52

[possum52]

41 minutes ago, Mrs f. said:

Thanks to all for your findings.  

We get in at 8am...hopefully 

Great Adventures website says sign in at 9:30 and it leaves at 10:30.  Do you think its too much of a risk?

Ships tour us more than 2x the price. And I don't snorkel. Going with hubby who does.

 

The one I really wanted was the Skeddale  half day tour but it's not running. Says due to covid.

Covid is hitting the tourist industry hard in the Cairns area at the moment. We have been in Cairns for 10 days and went on an excursion last week to the Atherton Tableland. The place we were going to have breakfast at cancelled at the last moment due to not having enough staff well enough to work.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited August 3, 2022 by possum52

[Chiliburn]

4 hours ago, possum52 said:

Philip, some people prefer snorkelling to going on a train to a very commercialised village. We went to Green Island yesterday and there were many out snorkelling.

Maybe they weren’t aware of the over commercialised world heritage area Leigh. Cairns has some of the worst reef on the coast.
 

[lyndarra]

12 hours ago, possum52 said:

Covid is hitting the tourist industry hard in the Cairns area at the moment. We have been in Cairns for 10 days and went on an excursion last week to the Atherton Tableland. The place we were going to have breakfast at cancelled at the last moment due to not having enough staff well enough to work.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Is that where the lava tubes are? 

[Aus Traveller]

2 hours ago, lyndarra said:

Is that where the lava tubes are? 

The Undara lava tubes are just over 200 km south west of the Atherton Tableland.

[possum52]

15 hours ago, Chiliburn said:

Maybe they weren’t aware of the over commercialised world heritage area Leigh. Cairns has some of the worst reef on the coast.
 

Philip, I assume you mean the coral bleaching throughout the reef? According to some reports I have read, tourism has very little affect with the health of the reef. The bleaching of the reef is due to weather conditions and is also not just confined to the GBR but is in reefs all around the world.

 

This is from the The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority - 

Most reefs used for tourism aren’t severely affected

True. Most recognised tourism areas had no, negligible or moderate bleaching. High Standard Tourism operations contribute regularly into the Eye on the Reef system that provides the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority with excellent real-time awareness of Reef health at high value tourism sites.

Coral Bleaching in the GBR

Snapshot of Reef Health

 

[Chiliburn]

43 minutes ago, possum52 said:

Philip, I assume you mean the coral bleaching throughout the reef? According to some reports I have read, tourism has very little affect with the health of the reef. The bleaching of the reef is due to weather conditions and is also not just confined to the GBR but is in reefs all around the world.

 

This is from the The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority - 

Most reefs used for tourism aren’t severely affected

True. Most recognised tourism areas had no, negligible or moderate bleaching. High Standard Tourism operations contribute regularly into the Eye on the Reef system that provides the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority with excellent real-time awareness of Reef health at high value tourism sites.

Coral Bleaching in the GBR

Snapshot of Reef Health

 

It must have been a epic day to green island there Leigh.

Got a selfie with snorkel and flippers for us?

[Tripmode33]

Not sure Mrs f. If you're familiar with Queensland waters and the very real threat of Irukandji jellyfish. Take care.  I'm sure your tour provider will supply stinger suits so make use of these. Good ones will cover hands, feet and have a hood. My husband and I love snorkeling and are from Qld but will never swim or snorkel in Qld now north of about Noosa. We still have a snorkeling holiday each year but definitely not in Qld. Even on our last trip to Fraser Island (where we swim in the beautiful lakes - not snorkel) they airlifted 8 people off the island from the western side of island from Irukandji stings in one week. It is simply not worth the risk for us. The threat is there all year but definitely elevated during our summer season. The reef coral is definitely showing signs of recovery, although not yet in diversity. Enjoy your trip by all means as it's very special, but just take the precautions offered. 

[Aus Traveller]

45 minutes ago, Tripmode33 said:

Not sure Mrs f. If you're familiar with Queensland waters and the very real threat of Irukandji jellyfish. Take care.  I'm sure your tour provider will supply stinger suits so make use of these. Good ones will cover hands, feet and have a hood. My husband and I love snorkeling and are from Qld but will never swim or snorkel in Qld now north of about Noosa. We still have a snorkeling holiday each year but definitely not in Qld. Even on our last trip to Fraser Island (where we swim in the beautiful lakes - not snorkel) they airlifted 8 people off the island from the western side of island from Irukandji stings in one week. It is simply not worth the risk for us. The threat is there all year but definitely elevated during our summer season. The reef coral is definitely showing signs of recovery, although not yet in diversity. Enjoy your trip by all means as it's very special, but just take the precautions offered. 

Irukandji and box jellyfish can be a problem in tropical waters, but they are found on coastal beaches or close to the coast. A person snorkelling at reefs a considerable distance off-shore shouldn't have a problem. 

[Tripmode33]

13 hours ago, Aus Traveller said:

Irukandji and box jellyfish can be a problem in tropical waters, but they are found on coastal beaches or close to the coast. A person snorkelling at reefs a considerable distance off-shore shouldn't have a problem. 

Completely agree Aus Traveller re the Box Jellyfish preferring coastal beaches, but we'll have to agree to disagree re Irukandji.  From my research, the experts in this field clearly state that the distribution includes off-shore islands and outer reefs, unlike the Box Jellyfish.

[MMDown Under]

On 8/6/2022 at 9:55 PM, Tripmode33 said:

Completely agree Aus Traveller re the Box Jellyfish preferring coastal beaches, but we'll have to agree to disagree re Irukandji.  From my research, the experts in this field clearly state that the distribution includes off-shore islands and outer reefs, unlike the Box Jellyfish.

Yes irukandji can be found at off-shore islands and outer reefs, including the beautiful Whitehaven Beach.