Frank's Christian Thoughts: Travel Biography Photo Extravaganza

Saturday, 21 June 2025

Travel Biography Photo Extravaganza - Part 27.

Preparing for the sailing to Port Douglas and the Low Isles Snorkelling Trip.

As I sauntered along the streets of Cairns and looked out across the mudflat out to the ocean, I was barely able to take in where I was. Wow! This is Australia! How was it possible to travel so far from the UK? Indeed, I have already tasted the delights of first-hand experience of the Great Barrier Reef, and I was hungry for more. Yet, I also thought about home. My parents were in favour of my enjoyment of long-haul travel. But there was also someone else showing interest in me, yet I was totally unaware. A pretty teenager with a tomboy temperament already had her eyes on me. How could I be aware that in less than three years, I would marry her?

But, in the meantime, as I gazed out into the Pacific Ocean from the esplanade, any ideas of marriage were as far away as I was from my hometown apartment. The recent catamaran trip to Green Island was more than an eye-opener. My new awareness of the marine life making up the Great Barrier Reef has converted me from a mere curiosity to an enthusiast. And I wanted to see more.

Stock photo of Low Isle coral cay.

During the 5-day stay in Cairns, I took three trips. The first was to Green Island. The second was a Quicksilver catamaran sailing to Port Douglas. This trip was just to check out this small resort, around 41 miles or 66 km northwest of Cairns. There were two routes to Port Douglas, the road route by bus, and by sea on the catamaran. This vessel was larger than the Big Cat and provided access to the Low Isles, another coral cay on the inner Great Barrier Reef. This time, there was no pre-snorkel talk.

On the way out of Cairns, the catamaran stopped at a pier, the Palm Cove Jetty, leading to a small village of the same name north of Clifton Beach, looking more like a deserted spot backed by a forested mountain. This was because the village itself was hidden from the view of the catamaran by a copse of trees, giving an impression of being in the middle of nowhere, the jetty serving an isolated beach.

Out at sea, we passed the twin hills of Double Island, also covered in forest, which were all that remained of the sunken continental shelf, which was once above sea level before the thawing of the Ice Age. The whole of the Reef flourished on this sunken shelf, all 1,400 miles (2,300 km) of it. Thus, such an island is known as a Continental Island, and many are part of the Reef complex. These islands include the Whitsunday Islands off Arlie Beach, some of which have Fringe Reefs.

The harbour of Port Douglas was smaller than the Cairns' version, but catamarans sailed out of Port Douglas, and one Quicksilver boat was ready to leave for the Low Isles and to the Outer Reef, the latter was better for scuba divers. However, I wasn't prepared to board just like that. Therefore, with some regret at not being properly prepared, I remained on shore as the catamaran pulled out to sea. But I was determined to be on board at my next visit. Instead, I spent that day first by swimming in the sea, then watching a live band perform across a field, then I had a walk around town and its indoor shopping mall.

The return sailing on the Quicksilver catamaran was non-stop as the boat shot past Palm Cove Jetty as it headed south before docking in Cairns Harbour.

Either the next day or two days later, I made my way from the hostel to the Pier Mall and the harbour. There was a Quicksilver catamaran waiting to depart, and I boarded it and asked whether I could buy a return ticket to Low Isles. The lady complied and sold me the ticket. Like in the Big Cat, refreshments such as coffee and biscuits were free with the ticket.

The catamaran remained moored until it filled up with other passengers. Eventually, it pulled out as it began to head for Port Douglas. Here, I would change boats for the one to the Low Isles. During this journey, my top was a black vest or tank top. But after arriving at Low Isles, I would change into a button-up shirt. This prevented getting sunburnt on my back while I was snorkelling.

The proper name of my destination is Low Isles Reef, but there are two islands, one considerably larger than the other, giving the whole complex a heart-shaped outline when seen from the air. The larger island is covered by a mangrove forest, and the sandbank is submerged during high tide, with the tops of the trees remaining above water. This is Woody Island, and it's inaccessible to the public due to its cyclic submergence. The smaller island is Low Isle, a proper coral cay, smaller than Green Island, but also surrounded by a beach consisting of coarse sand and broken seashells. It's not the beach for building sandcastles!

There was no resort, no swimming pool or hotel on Low Isle, as there were on Green Island, and no public path or trail. In 1997, there was only one edifice, a lighthouse, although a weather station might have existed back then as it does at present. The beach slopes away more deeply into the sea than at Green Island; hence, the coral surrounding the island was richer and grew taller and more compact. However, I also saw that the reef was wanting of free-swimming fish, perhaps a turtle as well. Like at Green Island, the water surrounding the island was murky, but I managed to collect an album of underwater photos of the corals, using a single-use underwater camera I bought on the catamaran.

Click here for the link to the Index, where you have access to the main Biography, Weeks 78-81.

Photos of Port Douglas and Low Isles.

About to leave Cairns for Port Douglas.