Great Barrier Reef, one of the seven wonders of the natural world and the only living thing visible from space... Check!

Yesterday we were up early again, waking up to a beautiful Australia Day in Queensland, and were on board the boat and off out the harbour by 8am. Stopping at a couple of islands to pick people up, we corssed a rather choppy shipping channel, then got to the pontoon on the reef by 11am. Cruise Whitsundays pontoon was awesome, with so many things to do we struggled to get everything done. First, we went on a semi-submersible, that took us around looking at the coral and the fish, with a marine biologist on board to give us lots of information.

Then, it was snorkelling time. We donned our stinger suits, flippers and masks, and took to the water like little fish. The snorkelling area was great, as we were able to snorkel right over a huge patch of reef that was only about a metre from the surface. There were rest platforms everywhere that meant we could take a break when we wanted. There was also a fish-feeding station where lots of fantastically coloured fish were all gethered, nibbling on something or another. We saw a maori wrasse (female) but failed to see the giant male maori wrasse called Wally. We did see lots of butterfly fish and wonderful stripey lads, but didn't get to see Nemo (he must have been hiding). After our snorkelling, we had a fabulous buffet lunch, where Howie really got his money's worth.

Right after lunch we were too full to swim, so we got on a glass-bottomed boat and took a tour around the reef on that, which was very intereresting as there was someone on board to tell us all about the coral. There was lots of blue coral, which was great, and we saw some feathery black starfish and some giant clams too.

Back on the pontoon, we realised we had gone the whole day without going on the water slide, so obviously that had to be done straight away (it's the only water slide on the reef). Then it was back to snorkelling again, where I stalked a blue and purple parrot fish all around the reef, Howie and I both saw a puffer fish, and Howie snorkelled out far too far, and the staff from the pontoon had to get a boat out to him to tell him off. It was great.

It was a rather choppy journey back, and to be honest I still haven't recovered from it, feeling like I'm bobbing up and down or swaying from side to side. Crossing the shipping channel was extremely rough and Howie and I sat on the top deck to make sure we had fresh air. Otheres, however, were silly and stayed below the decks. When we went down to get afternoon tea after we had got back to the islands, lots of people were lying around on benches looking green, and there was a poor member of the crew who was hosing vomit off the deck. Yuck. It didn't manage to spoil our tea though, so that was good.

Overall, it was definately one of the best things we've done in Australia and a real highlight of our trip. Definately recommended.