Flying to Australia

[Friday, January 30]

Our stop in Samoa was short - only an overnight.  But we packed in a great deal of activities in one day.  By the afternoon, we were off to Australia.

Boarding our plane at Samoa to fly to Australia

Captain Paul in the cockpit today

Suitcases ready for loading

Our pilots received special permission to fly in low over the Great Barrier Reef, so for the second time we got a birds eye view of our destination from up close and personal The reef stretches along about 2/3 the east coast of Australia. It was awesome to see it stretch out before us.     The external outdoor temperature was displaying at 75 degrees (from the plane) – so we knew it would be hot when we arrived                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      

Great Barrier Reef views from our 757

                                                                                                                                                                                                                    

We landed in Cairns and indeed, it was hot!  In the 90’s.  We drove along the coast from Cairns airport to Port Douglas – along the Coral Sea.  Very green and lush (summer now in the Southern Hemisphere.)  I didn't realize that 85% of the population live along the eastern crescent of the continent.  We saw groups of wallaby feeding in the grass at sunset.

We arrived in twilight at the Sea Temple Resort and Spa.  We stayed in a second story condo with an above level patio, barbecue and Jacuzzi.  Amazing swimming pool.   The condo has 2 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms.  We had a buffet dinner out by the pool, with lots  of seafood and fruit.  We also had a special visitor – a koala bear (a rescue animal) brought over by a naturalist.

Our condo hotel in Australia

Hotel pool was fantastic - wrapped continuously around all the buildings

View of the pool from our room's balcony

Our gift from Nat Geo for Australia - we now proudly own a boomerang...