Page 80 - Port Douglas Magazine 32

OUR

FAMILY

WEEKEND

Cassie Flinn takes the family on a magical and educational
Coral Sea adventure with local eco tourism operator Sailaway

“LET’S DO THIS” announces the wildly mindset that “it’s all about the environment” on the seabed and as our attention zeros
passionate skipper as the dock lines drop. and encourages our children’s curiosity to in the endangered animal glides upwards
The anticipation bubbles and pops within seek and question everything. When it’s go to the surface for air, inquisitively cruises
the intimate group of wanderers as we time the crew doesn’t have to ask us twice around us, feeling safe and protected even
leave behind the sheltered waters of the to get geared up. In fact I think we are all with the snorkel squeals of excitement
Crystalbrook Marina. Sailaway VII calmly modelling masks, fins and protective suits in coming from our wide-eyed tribe.
captures the prevailing tropical sea breezes record time. We joke that nothing bonds a Between the exclusive snorkelling sites
in her sails, pushing the 25-meter eco luxe group of like-minded strangers faster than a glass bottom boat tours us to a distant
catamaran to the northern lagoons of The sharing travel stories in full body lycra! coral cay, a deserted island of pure white
Great Barrier Reef. Our world’s oldest Time stands still the moment we put our sand formed by the very ecosystem we
rainforest kisses the Coral Sea as we sail faces in the water. We transport to a whole have come to explore. It’s a place where
between Snapper Island and the Daintree new world, a world of colour and movement, dreams are made of mother nature’s most
covered coastline. She is the only boat in a world where the more you look the more instaworthy backdrop echoing the travel
sight and heading straight for the horizon. you see. The protected cays of Undine mantra “leave only footprints”.
This is our family’s maiden sailing voyage, and Mackay reefs showcase stunning Tummies rumble as we reboard the luxury
our first trip in the slow lane to the outer reef translucent aquamarine water . Shimmering boat, but they are soon satisfied with a
and we are hooked. The largest living thing schools of fish flitter about the colourful coral menu serving up delicious locally grown
on earth is now surrounding us from below, gardens as we admire from the surface. and sourced food which is all part of the
we are truly immersed in nature. But before Giant clam shells are sprinkled across the Sailaway sustainable quest. But, the post
our toes taste the salty ocean our Master shallows and by giant, I mean almost as big lunch food coma has to wait, the power of
Reef Guide enthusiastically educates us as my 9-year-old snorkelling buddy! Our the reef is drawing us back into the deep
on the reef’s biodiversity, energising a Marine Bio spots a Green Sea Turtle resting blue wonderland. Our little mermaids are
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