| Summary | Third time in Australia for the first time in 12 years. Previous two times,
2 day diving in Cairns. I left Narita at night and arrived in next morning in Cairns. Diving on the day and the next day, It was hard shedule to take a flight around noon and return to Narita at night Though there are routes via Hong Kong and Singapore to Australia, I chose Qantas Airlines because there was a domestic transfer. |
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| Itinerary | This time 2days diving in Yongala, 3days in Airy Beach to White Heaven
Beach and after that 2days in Sydeny. Stay for 3 days at Airlie Beach, first day visit Whitehaven Beach second day explore Airlie Beach. Last day, decide in there White Heaven Beach again or Airlie Beach again. First day in Sydney, go around the city. Second day On the second day, decide in there go to the Blue Mountain or stay in the city. |
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| Sydney～ Townsville |
I arrived in the morning in Sydney. I booked domestic flights with Qantas,
actually Jet star as code shared flights. Pick up my luggage and move on Terminal 2 by shuttle bus. Check-in and luggage tagging myself I booked Shuttle bus from Townsville Airport to Sea Link(Minivan for about 10 people) It seemed we can go to a hotel in the city but everyone got off there. Ships to Magnetic Island and Greyhoud buses departs at Sealink. Sealink departs for ships to Magnetic Island and Greyhound buses. As I had time by bus departure, I went around the area. |
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| To Ayr | It took approximately one hour from Townsvilles to Ayr by Greyhound bus. I arrived at the hotel on the map of Google Earth I had prepared, but it was actually a different hotel. (I have the same experience before) When I was walking around, the midle aged lady who kindly stopped her car and got off taught me way to the hotel. I found a Woolworths, it is closed when I went. The signboard said the store closes on sunday. It was caused that the store located in suburb, as I told him the matter later. 《Cityscape of Ayr》 |
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| To Alva Beach | I asked for a pick up to Yongara dive the next day morning. One night stay at Dive lodge after diving. | ||
| Diving | Yongala Dive | 1st day | 1 | S.S. Yongala | 2 | S.S. Yongala | ||
| 2nd day | 1 | S.S. Yongala | 2 | S.S. Yongala | ||||
| Loading equipment and tanks on a boat and pulling them to the shore, people move with another car and get on the boat at the shore. In the beginning it is shallow, so it's slow, it gets faster after getting deeper, and waves get higher and higher when we get out of the shallows When we arrived, took a buoy, we were helped by the rope from the boat, but the exit was very hard. On the second day, We got into the boat once but it was too shallow to went foward at all. Everybody got off the boat and lightened, then the people move by land on the car. We got on again at another place and departed barely. It might be a weekday, there were no other boats for two days. |
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| Four dives for two days I could see many big fish trying to prey on small fish. Giant trevally, Napoleon,Barracuda etc, Every one was so big. The purple soft coral ws also beautiful. I could see school of batfish under the buoy for safety stop twice. On the second day I did not know who was my guide, they told me buddy diving with person who I don't know. Iit is generally named "Yongara Wreck"in Japan. But "S.S.Yongara"in there. I asked them what S.S. means. "S.S."means Sterm Ship. |
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| Alva Beach | After 2 dives on the first day, I returned about 2 pm and had lunch. Then finished lunch walk around there. Waving hands from inside of cars when I was walking. Perhaps there were few people. |
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| There were 3 boats, which were used according to the number
of people. I heard that there will be more locals at the weekend. The number of person increased by one person on the first day and the second day, but they used different boards. |
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| Ayr～ Airlie Beach |
Due to late departure on the second day Returned about 2:30 pm. Finished lunch in a hurry and wait for the towed boat to come. I packed the equipment immediatelly without washing upon arrival. We arrived at Greyhound's bus at 3:40 leaving 3:40 at around 20:20. I departed at 3:20 and arrived at 3:40. It was just on time for bus departure. But Greyhound bus arrived 30 minutes late. About 2 and a half hours to Airy Beach |
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| Exchange | About 5 days before departure, it was reasonable for AUD1 = JPY80. **. It was 82 to 83 when I saw it just departure. As I had AUD 40 remaining in privious travel, considering rate. Kansai Airport 90. **, Sydney Airport 107. ** (one shop 90. **) Later I found 85.** around Sydney Station. I decided to pay almost of all by VISA Card, few with cash AUD40. When I arrived at Airlie Beach, I would decide cosidering by the rate. |
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| To Airlie Beach | Bus arrived at Port of Airy (Cruise Whitsundays) at 7:30 pm, 30 minutes
late. It was already dark, and there were only a few people. When I asked the person who was nearby if there was an ATM around there, she told me on the map of the smartphone. Then I was heading with luggage. Since on money exchanger on the way to the ATM, I withdrawed AUD100 from ATM. (When I come back home and see the details, the fee is about JPY200) Pay by card in generally, Bus charges and others of small sum by cash. Three cars have waited at a taxi stand nearby Front car was too big that can get 10 persons, but driver told me fare is same as small one. |
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| White Heaven Beach |
There were many day trips to Whitehaven Beach, but I booked a tour of the
Yacht (Camilla) Slightly more expensive than others, but besides lunch, hors d'oeuvres, fruits and desserts were abundant(probably) with all we can drink beer and wine. The yacht has a capacity of 85 person and 70 people on board, most were local Australian and New Zealanders Ther were not only Japanese but also Chinese. Departed 8 o'clock Port of Airy, snorkeling around 10 o'clock Arrived in the bay on the other side of Whitehaven Beach about 11 o'clock. Then landed by shuttle using a small boat. Went to Hill Inlet on foot, then free time in White Heaven Beach until 12:45 and returned to the yacht. Lunch time on the yacht and went back. At last sailing around the port, returned at 5:45 pm. |
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| Airlie Beach | Next day I decided to go around Airy Beach, I could see a cruise ship off
the coast when I was walking. Passengers landed when I arrived at Abelpoint Marina. Then walked the promenade along the beach to the center of Airlie Beach. Returned by bus via Whitsandy Shopping Center. I wondered if I would go on Whitehaven Beach tour again or stay at Airlie Beach in next day. I chosed to go around Airy Beach one more day. |
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| Hamilton Island Via Sydney |
Airlie Beach has two nearest airports. There is an inland Proserpine Airport and a Hamilton Airport that we can to Hamilton Island by boat. I alredy selected Hamilton airport when I booked air ticket, The fare was high for AUD 55 wiht one-hour boarding. Good because it is cheaper than going to the marina. I booked a boat arriving in Hamilton Airport at 11:15 on the day before, so the flight was 12:45. I decided to go by a bus, a bus will depart at 9:19 and arrive port of airy at 9:34. I always have a little more time just in case, The number of buses were a few and a previous bus was too early for 7:13 two hours before. On the day I would wait for a bus, but it didn't come. There was no cruising taxi, I arrived 3 minutes past 10 o'cloc after 30 minutes late. I rushed in, but already left, I changed to 11 o'clock of the next boat. Arrival time was at 12:10 and it only took 35 minutes to departure. I praied for being in time. The staff kindly contacted the airport When the boat arrived, I rushed to the airport. Luckily, check-in and security check were vacant, so I reached at the boarding gate in about 10 minute. |
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| To Sydney | Arrival at the airport in the evening, purchase opal(Transportation IC card that can be used in NSW) Took the train to King's Cross Station and walked to the hotel. |
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| First day of Sydney |
I arrived in Sydney and asked for a map from the hotel on the first day. Rocks via Circular Quay through the Botanic Gardens from Woolloomooloo Bay. Then at the middle of Harbor Bridge, turn back to the ferry terminal. I did not decide the destination, but the first ship came like the Sumida River water bus, so I could not see the scenery outside. I passed and I got a yellow big ship that came next. The destination was Watson Bay via Rose Bay. As a few passengers got off at Rose Bay, I would go to Watson Bay. I got off at Watson Bay and find like a park nearby and crossed there. There was a cliff on the Pacific side which is described as The Gap according to the map. The place like Uluwatu that I have seen in Bali befor, maybe it has not been introduced so much. I returned to Circular Quay, then heading to south and went to the hotel via St. Mary's Cathedral. |
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| Second day in Sydney |
The next day from city area to botanical garden. An event called PLANTS
with BITE was held. Then went to the ferry terminal and took a ferry to another direction from yesterday and got off at Barangaroo. I could no Japanese people and didn't hear Japanese Language, until I have been in Sydney. There were many Japanese people in Sydney. Japanese school excursion group on the boat. Some Japanese school excursino groups in Darling Harbour. Returned to the hotel by train from Central Station via Chinatown. |
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| Returning | The next day flight departs at half past 9, I got up early and take the
train to the airport. Self check-in at most airlnies at the airport, it seemed to put out the tag of the luggage by themself. |
| After the travell |
I have been able to hear the song of birds somewhere in this travell. In Sydney there were many birds in the city (probably Ibis) There are many seagulls at seaside tourist spots. Birds didn't run away while people were approaching. Although not as ferocious as Venice. It was very inpressive that there were purple flower trees here and there.( Jacaranda checked afer) I saw many Christmas decorations, including under production, because it is Christmas for about one month later. Prices are high in Australia, Same level as Japan or slightly higher, Travel costs were about twice in Southeast Asia. |
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