Green Island, Australia...and the mysterious itch

A lazy day on Green Island, just outside of Cairns, Australia. Sun, soak and sand. I know these first couple of photo seem boring, but this is part of my post where I reveal a tiny little secret about myself. I figure that I had better just get it out of the way. You see, it was a moment when I decided to walk into the wooded trail area of Green Island and take off my then wet and sandy shoes.

Green Island, Australia

I had been plodding along the sandy beach for a while and it was about time to clean out the mud before I explored the rest of the island. A wooden bench stood next to me and quietly called out for someone to sit on it.

Green Island, Australia

The shade from the trees was wonderful and along with the slight breeze, I began to cool off. I removed my small backpack, which housed my camera, a bottle of overpriced water, and then I peeled off my wet socks. As I stood there, I began giving my weary bones a good stretch upwards, then sideways. I closed my eyes to enjoy the slight bit of sunlight that cut it's way down through the trees and listened as the chattering of Mandarin approached from down the trail. At first I didn't notice the tingling on the top of my left food. I kept my eyes closed for the moment and then imagined that a small leaf blowing across the wooden planks had landed on my bare skin. Then another one tickled across my right foot.

Green Island, Australia

As I stood there, three Asian travelers walked past me and said "Hello" with a thick accent. I opened my eyes and responded with a smile as I saw the friendly man and ladies walk away. As the tickling began to bother me, I reached down to brush away the "Leaves", which unfortunately turned out to be rather large spiders that had decided to make themselves familiar. Within seconds I saw that a number of spiders had made their way up onto the planks and were both surrounding and crawling on my feet. Sadly enough, I screamed like a girl, yes, I admit it...and jumped 10 feet into the air. It wasn't my intention to scare the hell out of our Asian friends...but non the less, I did. My secret is that I have a fear...no...unhealthy terror of spiders. Add to this that I've seen way too many nature documentaries and the BBC has done a great job of convincing me that everything non-human in Australia is capable of carrying off a small mammal, making lunch of it in a dark hole somewhere.

Green Island, Australia 

For the rest of the day, I had to endure the pointing and snickering from various Asian tourists as they mimicked my jumping into the air along with a look of sudden terror. Apparently, it translates into Mandarin quite well.

Green Island, Australia

So, let's roll back to the beginning of the day, and start from there. I was standing on the bow of the ship and marveling at the amazing scenery before me. The city of Cairns stood up against mountains that were blanketed with green trees and gave off that familiar tropical vibe that I had been encountering so far in Australia. No desert, no dust, just water and green. It was still early morning and the sun was coming down through some clouds and brightening the buildings of downtown Cairns. Our approach was beautiful and peaceful. I was quite happy that the port was right on the edge of the city.

Cairns, Australia

I was quickly running through my mind trying to figure out how I was going to spend my time. Even though I was traveling while Virgo, I am often quite spontaneous with my travel plans, thus forgoing the traditional pre-arrangements that would generally come naturally. I was impressed with what I saw of the city so far, it was immaculately clean and organized. After hopping off the ship... and proving to the port officials that I wouldn't even think about trying to smuggle bananas into this wonderful land... I found out where the nearest tourist office was, and ran.

Cairns, Australia

Luckily, it was only a few blocks away. There were a number of people already crowding through the doors and behaving in typical cattle-like fashion. There were pictures and brochures everywhere around the office. I listened as others were trying to figure out their plans and how much it would cost. Cairns, has a lot of interesting attractions. Aside from the fact that it's a great entrance to the Great Barrier Reef, there are also various land-based trips such as the Kuranda Scenic Train ride, white water rafting and a Skyway cable ride back down the mountain. I'll give you a bit more information on those things later.

Cairns, Australia Port Worker

As I finally made my way up to the tour desk, I quickly decided that I wanted to go out to an island and see part of the Great Barrier Reef. There were a number of options for day trips, diving, snorkeling, etc... I finally settled on a trip to Green Island. The cost for the day, which included lunch, the trip out there and snorkeling gear, was about $60... and it leaves in five minutes... of course. So, I paid and ran my butt off to the wharf. I finally found the ramp to the boat and was greeted by four very friendly Australian guides who ushered me onto the boat.

Cairns, Australia

The boat was the size of any millionaire's yacht and had three levels. I found a spot on the outside railing and leaned while watching the motors start up and push us off. Within seconds, the intercom of the boat was broadcasting Mandarin. I had just spent months in Asia and was wondering what was going on. As I looked around, I realized that there were about three hundred Chinese tourists throughout the boat, and they were all on a group tour to Green Island. After a few moments of the Chinese guide speaking on the intercom, an Australian bloke came on and began to speak about our destination and the rules.

Cairns, Australia Marina

In the best sing-song accent that my Australian intercom brother could muster, he talked about the safety of snorkeling and what to expect. After a few safety tips on equipment, the Chinese interpreter came on and repeated everything. Heads turned and passengers chatted in agreement. Australian guy came back on and talked about other Reef interests before finally getting to the subject of deadly Box Jellyfish and Sea Lice. My ears perked up. Huh? Yes, I had heard about the scary and infamous Box Jelly, but didn't really think about them being here. However,  it became clear that these critters were not going to be anywhere near where we were going. I think it was a combination of season and area. Apparently they don't really go that far out into the ocean.

Cairns, Australia

I wish I would have thought to record this entire speaking ballet between the Australian and the Chinese interpreter. In typical Aussie fashion, our guide described the Jellyfish and their potential of completely obliterating the human race and your grandchildren with one sting... all the while keeping the biggest smile in his voice as if he was describing a Keg of Beer that just feel from Heaven. I understood the humor and laughed... but none of this translated into Mandarin very well. The Chinese translator came on and began talking. I watching as the Asian tourist listened... and listened harder... and then their eyes got big as saucers. A collective gasp of air... and then massive chatter. Apparently, Box Jellyfish sounds WAY scarier in Mandarin. It took a few moments of back and forth whispering between the guides before a proper interpretation was given to a satisfied crowd.

Cairns, Australia

I had a lot of fun with the Chinese group. The boat ride to the island took a couple of hours, so I had plenty of time to engage myself with the curious tourists. I volunteered to use a married couple's camera to take their photo for them. Then of course I did it forty more times in the duration of the trip. That will teach me. I had a lot of fun with the other tourists and many of them wanted to practice their English, so it kept me busy. However, at one point, an American couple came over and stood by the crowded railing. In no time, I realized that I recognized their accent. I said hello to the man and his wife. Yep, from Oklahoma???? I grew up in Oklahoma, and people from Oklahoma just don't travel around the world. Okay, obviously some of them do, but the people I grew up around... never. It was a retired Sheriff and his wife. Really nice people. I won't get into the intricate complexities as to why it was surreal for me to be talking to an Oklahoma country Sheriff in the Great Barrier Reef, but if you grew up there, you'd understand.

Green Island, Australia

We finally arrived to the island, it was beautiful. The water was so incredibly blue. The camera didn't capture that properly, but trust me, it was clean and wonderful. I could see so many fish swimming around. Hoards of birds would dive down and try to catch them on occasion. It was the most interesting, chaotic site. A long pier stretched all the way from where we dock to the island. I could tell from just getting off the boat, that the island was pretty small.

Green Island, Australia

There was activity everywhere. Sea Planes taking off, Divers going out to the dive house, Snorkelers everywhere and various other water activities. By this time, the sun was hot and bearing down. I couldn't get enough of the fresh ocean air though. It's like an injection of life when you get to breath that in.

Green Island, Australia 

I made my way to the island. When you enter, you walk into the woods. The small gathering of buildings and businesses are all built into the woods. This was nice to help with the shade from the hot Australian sun.

Green Island, Australia

I decided to head off to my left. There were trails that went in three directions, but I was interested in exploring the island and it's beaches. I began walking through the wooded area, and of course got sidetracked by a bird. Well, there were lots of these birds walking all over the ground and through the woods. I have no idea what it was, but it made for an interesting picture.

Green Island, Australia (Edit: Recently informed that this is a "Buffbanded Rail")

Anyway, the wooded trails were supported by a nice planked walk. There were various signs pointing off into various entrances to the beach and other parts of the inner island. I made my way onto the first beach area and watched as tourists played in water. Green Island is a resort island and it's not a place where people live. It's simply a small island with some hotel bungalows, a small shop or two and a few small places to eat.

Green Island, Australia

Don't get me wrong, it's not insignificant, it's a beautiful place and controlled this way so that the guests can have a unique and wonderful time. A lot of people take day trips here to enjoy the island and the water sports, such as snorkeling. The reef all around the island is teaming with life and color. Guests who rent bungalows for the night are treated to a more upscale experience. Accommodations run about $560 and up per night, so if that's not your thing, then a day trip is perfect.

Green Island, Australia

I finally found a patch of beach that I liked on the side of the island. The island is not round, but long and narrow. I was surprised that the beach wasn't crowded, but I was told that they limit the number of non-overnight guests that can come to the island each day. I guess this makes it a bit nicer for everyone involved. 

Green Island, Australia

I finally settled down by dropping my things off on a patch of beach and went into the ocean. Ahhhh...pure bliss. As I was saying earlier, the water is so clean that it's...strange. There is nothing like being out in the water and looking back at a small piece of land miles out in the ocean. I waded and swam for quite a while. I could hear the distant laughter of kids and parents, along with various accents and languages from around the world. I always find it great to watch people from all walks of life have fun and laugh.

Green Island, Australia

I know that you're still thinking about the two words that I casually mentioned earlier in my story and yet somehow managed to not elaborate any further on...."Sea Lice". It just twirls off the tongue. Okay, here's the skinny. They're in warm waters all over the word, including Mexico, the Caribbean and even some coasts of the United States, so don't go thinking that it's Australia's fault! Sea Lice are not actually Lice, but microscopic larvae of the thimble jellyfish. They are about the size of a flake of pepper, so you generally don't see them. They're not dangerous and they're not going to swarm you and kill you. Basically, what happens is that they tend to get into the folds of bathing suits and body crevices such as your underarms.

Green Island, Australia

Due to the squish or friction, they will create a sting, but you generally won't feel it while you're in the water. You'll generally notice it later that day when you're walking to buy a bottle of water... er... when you happen to be doing something else and all of a sudden it's uncomfortable in unmentionable places. You will generally notice a red rash, and it will feel as though your bathing suit has been rubbing in the same place for too long. Again, this is not dangerous, just slightly uncomfortable and a good shower and some dry clothes will often help. It may take a few days to go away. Because of this possibility, some people prefer to wear wetsuits while snorkeling. The tour companies that take you over for the day will provide these for a small fee. Don't let this scare you out of the water, it's really not a big deal and doesn't stop millions of others from swimming in it every year.

Green Island, Australia

After my horrific spider incident, I put my shoes back on and walked through the rest of the trail. I wanted to circle the island. There were a number of interesting signs along the trail that talked about the various wildlife and plant life on the island. I was impressed that they took the time to do this.

Green Island, Australia

As I came out on the other end of the island, it was pretty deserted. The shore there was quite rocky, or I should say solid with a hard rock like surface, so no one was laying out on the beach. What I found interesting, was another bird who happened to be completely unafraid of me. He was searching for food in the various tide pools along the beach.

Green Island, Australia (Edit: Recently informed that this is a "Reef Egret")

Some beautiful driftwood that had been almost bleached white was up on the shore from a previous storm.

Green Island, Driftwood

I spent some time walking around on that side, but decided to walk back through the woods instead of going all around the island. It was possible to continue around, but I was getting a bit burnt from the sun by then and decided that I didn't want to be exposed any more. The trail back took me to the center area where the food and shops were. The prices for something like Fish and Chips ran about $15 Australian dollars. However, my meal was included with the day trip and it was a buffet... consisting of mainly Chinese food. I guess they were catering for the large tour group. None the less, it was good.

Green Island, Australia

I walked around to the other side of the island where the bungalows were. They're quite nice and tucked back in the woods with a small gate at each entrance. I can see where staying here for a few days would be wonderful.

Green Island, Bungalos

I talked to some of the employees on the island and they were all quite nice and helpful. There is more than one company that sells day trips to the island, so you will see their information booths in the tourist center. There are plenty of showers for men and women, and there are plenty of lockers that you can rent for the day.

Green Island, Australia (Back side of island)

Overall, I loved Green Island, but it's important to know that your day trip can be either a half day (returning at 1pm) or a full day, which leaves at 5pm. You may want to take a book or rent some shade on the beach if you're planning on staying the full day. You can't really sit out in the sun the whole time.

Green Island, Australia

In addition to the water activities that I described, there is both a glass bottom boat, and a small submarine with glass windows. These are great if you don't want to snorkel and want to see the fish and plant life in the Reef. I took the glass bottom boat and it was pretty amazing to see the many sea creatures. They even feed some of the fish, which is fun to watch. I tried to get some photos of the fish through the glass bottom, but they didn't come out too well. The reflection, the dirty glass and the guide who kept telling me to sit down for my safety, prevented my success. LOL

Green Island, Australia...a refreshing bath!

Keep in mind that there are many other places to go around Cairns to see the Great Barrier Reef. There are also other day trips for snorkeling to other islands that are larger in size with more accommodations. Some of the boat tours though are not all covered, so always inquire about the type of boat if you don't want to end up sitting out in the sun for two or three hours each way.

Green Island, Australia

As I mentioned earlier, the Kuranda scenic train is pretty amazing. The train ride takes you up through the mountains to the town of Kuranda. There are plenty of shops and places to eat there. On the train ride, there is a waterfall that you will pass under, but it's not always flowing, depending on the time of the year. The train ride is great for those who want to see the tropical mountain regions of Cairns and it's a nice experience. The way back down the mountain is by the Skyrail. This is a one of those enclosed carts that take you by cable back down to the bottom. The tickets for the Kuranda and Skyrail combination run about $106 Australian as of now.

Green Island, Australia (Reef)

Most of the tours and activities can be booked through the tourist office which is right across from the Casino in town, or you can book them online before you arrive. If you happen to be going to Cairns by ship, then realize that you may have to fight for tickets to various sites if you arrive with a large group. Sometimes it's better to book ahead or just buy your excursions through the ship.

Green Island, Australia

I didn't spend much time in the city of Cairns, so I can't write a lot about it. From what I saw and experienced there, the city is quite clean and safe. The people are friendly and it's certainly a great place to spend a week or so. There are a few more photos of Green Island and Cairns in my Flickr album, which you can access HERE. The main web site for Cairns Attractions and the various things to do, is located HERE. If you'd like to have the link to the Green Island Reef tour that I was on, the link is HERE for Green Island Big Cat.