(This is the last trip report to NZ/AU where I flew business class to NZ on Qantas for 125,000 AA miles and $131, returning on Hawaiian Air via Honolulu).

Cairns seemed like a small town to me; we flew there from Sydney, with no boat reservations, big mistake! But our wonderful family-owned hotel, Reef Palms, made lots of phone calls and was able to get us on a last minute snorkeling cruise from Port Douglas, and that evening we went into town for a bite to eat.

 

 

Another dinner of fish and chips, this time with shrimp…the fish throughout the trip was extraordinary!

 

Our snorkeling boat was a small one, which we preferred, and took us to three different spots, which enabled us to see a variety of fish and coral. They provide everything, all equipment, RX snorkeling masks, wetsuits, lunch, and snacks!

These pictures were all taken with my smaller camera enclosed in an underwater casing, which does keep the camera dry. We were told by the captain that the clarity of the water depends on recent rains and the cloudiness of the sky. We had a partly cloudy day, with rain a couple days before.

 

 

 

 

Since I wasn’t sure my other camera would work, the following photos were taken with a throw away underwater camera.

The Great Barrier Reef was a bit disappointing to me. It’s much more colorful than the pictures show, with lots of fish, but just not as spectacular as the Maldives, in my opinion. Good-bye Cairns…

And good-bye Sydney…

 

And hello, Hawaiian Airlines…

Hawaiian Airlines had reclining seats only in Business class, but the friendly service and good food made up for it somewhat!

I spent the day in Honolulu with friends and we drove around the island. (I don’t think this is Hawaii, but I was tired of taking pictures, and it will just have to do)!

Next up is a gem of a museum in the heartland of the USA, Kansas City, Missouri!