On our final day in Australia, we drove on the left-hand side of the road down the Esplanade in Cairns, where local townspeople gathered at the eleventh hour of the eleventh day, and read inscriptions, in English, recalling the heroic support of Australia’s small ships for the efforts of the allied navies in south-east Asia. For all its differences and extremes, Australia isn’t so far from home.

I agreeI disagree

1.  
2. Send to friends

In Australia the star of the show is the Great Barrier Reef. The only living organism visible from space is in fact a collection of corals, living and growing in the shallow seas and forming hundreds of reefs which stretch 1,430 miles along the Queensland coast, home to thousands of fish and plants.

As a first-time snorkeller, I swam from pristine sandy beaches and from the dive platform of the Coral Princess into another world so beautiful it takes your breath away – especially when your snorkel’s on the wrong way round and you swallow half the Coral Sea! Unforgettable.

I agreeI disagree

1.  
2. Send to friends

The southern night sky was an amazing sight from Cape Tribulation beach as we danced in the dark at the instigation of Martin, owner of the Dragonfly Restaurant, driver of the Cape Trib shuttle, guide for the half-day Daintree Experience, and all-round Aussie gem. Never has the night seemed so dark or the stars so many, so bright and so close.

I agreeI disagree

1.  
2. Send to friends

An outstanding memory from our trip to Australia was the view from the deck of our cruise ship, the Coral Princess, as she sailed south down the edge of the outer Great Barrier Reef with a line of white surf stretching in either direction as far as the eye could see, where the deep ocean waters break on the continental shelf.

Every now and again the surface was broken by a flying fish skittering across the waves.

I agreeI disagree

1.  
2. Send to friends

In Sydney it’s hard to imagine there’s a water shortage. This beautiful city grew up around the natural harbour of Sydney Cove and its neighbouring bays, and their sparkling blue waters are a stunning backdrop to the icons of Sydney harbour bridge and the opera house. Our first view of this well-known pair, from Mrs Macquarie’s Point is one of my five most magical memories from our adventure in Oz.

We arrived there, aboard the Sydney Explorer bus (hop-on, hop-off as many times as you want for the duration of your ticket – 3,5 or 7 days in 7) and were blown away by the view. We walked around Farm Cove on our way to a close-up of the giant sails, the botanical gardens on our left, the water to our right, the Sydney skyline in front. These were moments beyond magic.

I agreeI disagree

1.  
2. Send to friends

In Sydney, get a Sydney Pass. We had unlimited travel on buses, including the two explorers (Sydney and Bondi), trains and ferries for A$110 each, allowing us to see what we wanted at our own pace.

I agreeI disagree

1.  
2. Send to friends