1/ Islands of The Great Barrier Reef
Islands of the Great Barrier Reef are ideally suited for worldwide tourists. Regrouping more than 100 islands, from unique and exotic ones to the Whitsundays and the remarkable Northern Islands of the Great Barrier Reef, Queensland will redefine your idea of paradise.
2/ Footy
Footy, also named the Australian rules football is a football variant opposing two teams (18 players) on a large oval-shaped grass field. The primary aim of the game is to score goals by kicking the ball between the middle two posts of the opposing side. Today, footy counts more than 700,000 registered players and more than 2,650 clubs.
3/ Beers & Wines
The preferred beer brand is XXXX (four-X) (which you can drink in a pot or a schooner or a tinny (can) ). It is brewed in Brisbane.
Australians drinking habits have changed and the country is a major exporter of wines. Wine is now available and appreciated in many places.
White Wines : Cabernet-Sauvignon, Chardonnay and Viognier
Red Wines : Shiraz (The Syrah of our Côtes-du-Rhône)
Queensland produces some of these varieties on the plateau of the Granite Belt and South Burnett areas.
4/ Platypus
Platypus is a semi-aquatic mammal, the only mammal that lay eggs. Males have spurs on their hind feet that deliver a poisonous venom.
The platypus closes its eyes and ears underwater. To find food, it uses its amazing touch-sensitive beak! It is even featured on the reverse of the Australian 20-cent coin.
5/ Coral & Reproduction
Corals are created by Polyps, small animals with a central mouth surrounded by tentacles.
They transform calcium carbonates from sea water into hard limestone shells, which can pile-up into walls of hundreds of meters.
They live in symbiosis with an algae (Dinoflagella) and reproduce once a year a night or two after a full moon, creating a spectacular “snow rise” of tiny eggs swirling in the currents.
My uncle Guy who was chief mechanic on-board the Calypso oceanographic ship talked to me a lot about his voyages with Jacques Cousteau.
Cousteau devoted his life to the discovery of the sea world and to communicate about it. One of his last trips in 1990 was on the Great Barrier Reef with his son Jean-Michel.
He spoke english well, with an unmistakable french accent.
And there it is! Australia is getting closer and closer! I have my flight schedule.
I’ll leave on April 28, and will arrive to Brisbane on April 30 (local time). It will be an exhausting 30H trip to get to Brisbane due to the different steps :
Lyon-London
London-Singapore
Singapore-Brisbane
I’ll be back in France on May 12, after 12 exciting days in Australia I hope I’ll be back with some good news!!
Today, I want to share with you the activities planned during my journey to Australia!
Activities scheduled:
Sunday May 3, Day 1 Interview Event
Press conference at Brisbane Airport with Australian media
Fly into Hamilton Island in Queensland’s Whitsundays.
Official welcome and briefings
Monday May 4, Day 2 Interview Event
Snorkelling experience the Great Barrier Reef
Seaplane flight to Hayman Island
Tuesday May 5, Day 3 Interview Event
Feed the fish on Daydeam Island
Sailing Experience
Fantasea Adventure Cruising
Meet the national park rangers
Wednesday May 6, Day 4 Interview Event
Formal interviews scheduled
IGBR Caretaker revealed
Finale dinner and street party
Australia has set up world’s first ECO Certification. This certification proves that the accomodations, attractions and tours are using the best practice standards in ecological sustainability, natural area management and customer satisfaction.
Ecotourism and Nature Tourism are quite similar, but ecotourism underlines the understanding, appreciation and conservation of natural areas.
You can easily identify an eco-certified operator with one of these logos.
I hope I’ll be back with some good news!!
