World Cruise QM2 Cairns by tender followed by the Whitsunday Isles
Saturday 29th February
33 degrees Hot, sticky as we arrive early into Yorky’s Nob, Cairns. Eventually a 30 minute tender into YN, followed by a further 30 minutes shuttle into Cairns. Watched as people climbed aboard the catamaran, heading to the reef. Took them a good thirty minutes to fill it.
Tenders were used for transporting people ashore, it was calm, but the journey was long and laborious. Partly due to the distance that the ship had set anchor, presumably down to tides.
Found out later, that everyone had to undergo a test to show they could manage to board the tender. They had to prove they could step over a gap of approximately 3 foot. Two white lines on a black mat. But that didn’t take into consideration the steep metal steps down to the landing stage, or the rocking and rolling platform that spanned the gap between boat and ship.
I kept on with my 45 minute walk, watching the proceedings unfold before my eyes. I had taken the opportunity to put my washing on earlier this morning. Realised that everyone had the same idea.
We waited until the tours had been disembarked, and the majority of passengers and crew had gone before we headed out.
Fortunate enough to catch one of the large catamaran that swiftly got us to the port, where we hopped onto the shuttle for the 30 minute trip into Cairns.
The place was amazing. Not surprisingly it had morphed into a large sprawling conurbation since we last visited 32 years ago.
Walked through the park and along the wharf to the brewery. A relaxing drink, then a slow meander through the shopping area, past the old hotels and pubs. It still retained a lot of its character.
Sunday 1 March hot 33 degrees, but fortunately not too steamy
Late arriving into Airlie Beach in the Whitsunday Isles, due to the delayed departure yesterday. There are strict speed limits between the reef’s, so the captain couldn’t catch up. We set anchor at eight in the morning, then the slow process of getting the life raft off the ship to act as tenders began. Fortunately l had completed most of my walks by this time, so headed down to Judith with a fresh donut and coffee.
Managed to get back on deck by 9.30, to walk with Judith, and watch the local catamarans take people out for the barrier reef scuba diving. Then it was the turn of the tours to get off. We went downstairs to get our tender tickets at 10.15, boarding at 10.30. The catamaran was quite large so it took approximately 20 minutes to fill, and a further 15 minutes to reach shore.
Headed through the ferry terminal, with four or five different islands serviced by regular small passenger ferries.
The local people were welcoming and charming, and pointed us in the right direction for the broad walk that hugged the coast and Yacht basins. The harbour was full of expensive boats, you could see that this area was made to support the rich and famous. Nevertheless the locals had provided a shuttle service to get people into the centre of this one horse town, albeit a rather expensive horse.
We walked round the bay, passed the swimming beach, then the yacht club and onto a large sweeping lagoon. They had set up a covered market, selling local handicrafts, sarongs, jewellery and fresh coconuts. The latter being sold by two likely lads , probably beach bums in camouflage gear, drugged up to the nines.
Then onto a recreational area, with attractive pools, bars and cafes. With it being Sunday , all the families were out enjoying the sun, the children frolicking whilst the extended families relax and
One passenger didn’t return. He unfortunately was found face down whilst snorkelling, and even though he had 90 minutes of cpr, by the time he had been medivact he was pronounced dead.
33 degrees Hot, sticky as we arrive early into Yorky’s Nob, Cairns. Eventually a 30 minute tender into YN, followed by a further 30 minutes shuttle into Cairns. Watched as people climbed aboard the catamaran, heading to the reef. Took them a good thirty minutes to fill it.
Found out later, that everyone had to undergo a test to show they could manage to board the tender. They had to prove they could step over a gap of approximately 3 foot. Two white lines on a black mat. But that didn’t take into consideration the steep metal steps down to the landing stage, or the rocking and rolling platform that spanned the gap between boat and ship.
I kept on with my 45 minute walk, watching the proceedings unfold before my eyes. I had taken the opportunity to put my washing on earlier this morning. Realised that everyone had the same idea.
We waited until the tours had been disembarked, and the majority of passengers and crew had gone before we headed out.
Fortunate enough to catch one of the large catamaran that swiftly got us to the port, where we hopped onto the shuttle for the 30 minute trip into Cairns.
The place was amazing. Not surprisingly it had morphed into a large sprawling conurbation since we last visited 32 years ago.
Walked through the park and along the wharf to the brewery. A relaxing drink, then a slow meander through the shopping area, past the old hotels and pubs. It still retained a lot of its character.
Great pint of IPA at Hemingway's Brewery
Brilliant food markets with a vast variety of fruit and vegetables along with an assortment of pop up restaurants
Banyan tree
Pity we didn't bring along our swimming costumes
Sunday 1 March hot 33 degrees, but fortunately not too steamy
Late arriving into Airlie Beach in the Whitsunday Isles, due to the delayed departure yesterday. There are strict speed limits between the reef’s, so the captain couldn’t catch up. We set anchor at eight in the morning, then the slow process of getting the life raft off the ship to act as tenders began. Fortunately l had completed most of my walks by this time, so headed down to Judith with a fresh donut and coffee.
Managed to get back on deck by 9.30, to walk with Judith, and watch the local catamarans take people out for the barrier reef scuba diving. Then it was the turn of the tours to get off. We went downstairs to get our tender tickets at 10.15, boarding at 10.30. The catamaran was quite large so it took approximately 20 minutes to fill, and a further 15 minutes to reach shore.
Headed through the ferry terminal, with four or five different islands serviced by regular small passenger ferries.
The local people were welcoming and charming, and pointed us in the right direction for the broad walk that hugged the coast and Yacht basins. The harbour was full of expensive boats, you could see that this area was made to support the rich and famous. Nevertheless the locals had provided a shuttle service to get people into the centre of this one horse town, albeit a rather expensive horse.
We walked round the bay, passed the swimming beach, then the yacht club and onto a large sweeping lagoon. They had set up a covered market, selling local handicrafts, sarongs, jewellery and fresh coconuts. The latter being sold by two likely lads , probably beach bums in camouflage gear, drugged up to the nines.
Then onto a recreational area, with attractive pools, bars and cafes. With it being Sunday , all the families were out enjoying the sun, the children frolicking whilst the extended families relax and
One passenger didn’t return. He unfortunately was found face down whilst snorkelling, and even though he had 90 minutes of cpr, by the time he had been medivact he was pronounced dead.
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