Port Douglas

Left Mission Beach at about 9am for the drive north to Port Douglas. Noticed the temperature creeping even higher the further north we went! Drove for about an half and hour on 'Bruce Highway' then went onto another highway called 'Captain Cook Highway' After being on that for about another half hour the road went round the mountain right along the coast. It was very pictuesque, the road was right on the edge of the mountain and went really high, with fantastic views over the ocean but a bit scarey! Arrived at out hotel, Treetops, at about 12.45pm. Checked in, had a quick look round and had lunch at the pool restaurant which was set amoungst the trees. The rooms were set out very similar to Elandra, in the rainforest. Went for a drive into town. Definatley a lot more here than in the two previous towns, loads of shop, resataurants and bars. Went down to the marina cause we wanted to book our trip out to the Barrier reef. Booked a trip on a catamaran for the next day which was going to stop at three different locations to snorkel. We left the marina at 9ish, it took about 1 hour 20 mins to get out to the reef, weather was hot and sunny. We both got in and snorkled at each stop. The fish were really pretty and we saw a wrasse, which is a huge fish, about 5-6 feet long and its body was about 2-3 feet in depth, it was amazing to see. On the third stop we went out with a guide, he started to go a bit far out for us so decided to go back to the boat, only to find we were sruggling big time to get back. Apparently the current had changed and we were swimming against it and basicly going nowhere. It frightened the life out of me and John, various people had to be helped back to the boat including John. He said afterwards that he was swimming for his life and was getting further away from the boat and he just run out of energy. One of the guys helped him back. I managed to get back but I was exhausted and a bit shaken I have to admit! Soon after, we started our journey back to Port Douglas as on the horizon there was a storm brewing. It took us 2 and a half hours to get back though because the turbo on one of the engines had blown, mind you we didn,t mind too much cause we went up on deck and sunbathed. Went for a nice meal that evening and then went back to pack ready to leave the next day for Melbourne.