Australian Adventure...Part 1

I felt that it was about time to update you all on my big adventure I have not long returned from. As you will remember, I posted earlier in the year about my plans to visit Australia... well I did it! I made the long, 26 hour journey all by myself and was greeted by one of my best friends. The journey wasn't too bad however; the day after arriving I did feel rather tired. That didn't stop me from exploring though. It takes a lot more than jet lag to hold me down. 

After a month away I have so much to share with you all so I thought the best place to start is at the very beginning...I know, call me crazy? 

My first major stop was Uluru or as it's more commonly known as Ayers Rock. Also here is the formation known as Kata Tjuta (or the Olgas). Both were rock formations which were forced out of the ground but in two different ways which account for the two differing looks. They also have great significance with Australian aboriginals. All around Ayers Rock there are indentations and marks in the rock which represent a number of aboriginal stories. The rock is a sacred site to aboriginals and has a number of fascinating stories. Kata Tjuta has a number of stories to it also but is a lot more private and there are even certain parts of it you are not allowed to visit due to how sacred it is for the aboriginal people. 

What is rather amazing about both is the sunrises and sunsets - the rocks and sky change colours throughout both. It truly is something magical to witness.

Uluru and Kata Tjuta

After that I headed out to the coast (after a rather big party night in Brisbane) and began my time at the Whitsunday Islands and then up to Cairns. I must say that I had one of the most amazing times in my life while there. I spent a night at sea, stayed on South Molle Island as well as scuba diving in the Great Barrier Reef.

Time out sailing was pretty amazing and peaceful. Sleeping in a little cubby hole, so to speak, with the ocean waves rocking me to sleep was so nice. I then was able to snorkel and get a taste of some of the sights I would be able to see when I went scuba diving. That same day, I made my way to South Molle Island and stopped by Whitehaven Island in the Whitsundays. Honestly, Whitehaven was one of the most stunning islands I have ever visited, the sand was just perfect and the calmness was so refreshing. While I was on South Molle for a couple of days, I took the pleasure of lying and relaxing. The group I was with for this part of my journey, mainly stayed around the pool which meant I was the only one of the beach. This in itself just felt magical, I lay and took in everything around me and thought how lucky I was to be experiencing what I was, from the lapping ocean to the bright sunshine... it felt like paradise. 

Queensland Coast - Whitsunday Islands and Sailing

After time on the island, it was back to the mainland and a place called Airlie Beach, to start the bus journey up to Cairns. My first impression of Cairns, I have to admit, was that I wasn't so keen. It all seemed very commercialised and that was something I had forgot while away on a quiet island. But, in the morning sunshine, things changed when I set off on my scuba diving adventure. I was extremely scared about scuba diving as what if I touched the coral? What if my breathing mouthpiece fell out my mouth? What if I just panicked? All these thoughts were in my mind but I pushed through it as I knew I would not be disappointed and I wasn't. After having too many weights on my for my first dive where I promptly began to sink and had to work extremely hard to stay away from the bottom, the second dive went perfect. It was just me and the instructor; we made it 8.9 metres below sea level and saw the most amazing sights by the coral reef wall. Being underwater was just wonderful. I could hear my breathing and just had this feeling of calm and awe all in one. With being one on one with the instructor, he was able to show me so much and would even take my hand to guide me around the reef. In total, we were down for about 50 minutes and I could have stayed down longer. After the awesomeness of scuba diving, myself and the group had a night to party in Cairns before I headed back to Mackay the following day ready for another Airlie Beach visit.

Now you'll have to wait for Part 2...