Cairns

Having rounded Cape York, we turned south and wended our way through the cays and islets of the Great Barrier Reef. Now it all looked picturesque, but these corals are fiercer than icebergs and even less forgiving, but our great ship, like the Titanic, seemed to discount any danger posed thereby, and steamed on through!

At one point when we were up front, it seemed as if we were going to collide with two islands in line ahead, blue water on either side, and we watched apprehensively as we approached them at full speed - "left hand down a bit please, Captain". At the last moment possible, a beacon appeared on each island, and, doing a deft S-bend, we slipped between the two corals and went on our way. Obviously a prepared channel...

Cairns is a lovely city but unfortunately Anne wasn't feeling too well (something she ate) so we didn't do too much there.

Today we travelled through the Whitsunday islands with scores of islets on either side - very attractive too.

Photos.
1. The coral reef.
2. Christmas on board.