Green Island, Ile Vert

22Nov08

Green Island, an ancient coral cay, is 27km across the Coral Sea from Cairns. 100 years ago, historians had documented that the island’s vegetation was so scarce that they could see over it. The island is so conveniently petite, you can walk around it in about half an hour. And an hour if you were slow and let’s-savour-the-moment-at-every-step.

We had three evenings on Green Island and one in Cairns. Everyday was us acting like stagnant lumps by the gentle tide, very light breeze and welcoming tropical heat.

‘Isn’t this just so relaxing?’

‘Oh my god, this is just what I needed.’

‘I love you’

‘I love you too’

Every evening at sunset, the restaurant staff would offer complimentary sparkling wine and with the haze of wine, we farewelled the sun each night in a very happy state.

We booked a tour with Great Adventures to snorkel around the Outer Reef. This experience, was something we will never forget. At one stage, we swam so far out, enraptured by the marine life that our ship blared it’s siren begging us to come closer to the pontoon.

‘Baby… where is everyone?’

‘There’s a great white shark. They’re asking everyone to come back!”.

Of course, great white sharks don’t swim in such warm waters. I swam frantically however, not realising that Nicholas had just momentarily exaggerated a tad and my life was actually, never at the risk of being amputated.

No photos could capture the beauty of the Great Barrier Reef. It’s in our backyard and all Australians should see it before it disappears. C’est magnifique.

Nicholas took this charming photo of me whilst I dozed off on the plane. We departed at 6:50am. With exam notes in one hand, a bottomless cup of airplane coffee and just a three hour flight from home. Had I just been on a holiday? Maybe… maybe not… maybe so.

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Tags: Australia, Green Island, Photography, Queensland, Travel