Our day kayaking along the North Queensland coast, within the incredible Great Barrier Reef Marine Park, was an amazing adventure. 

We began by getting our gear and preparing our kayak for the days adventures.  After setting the kayak into the water we climbed into our double kayak, Shelley in the front and me in the back, ready to paddle our way into a new adventure. We waited near the shore while the rest of our group got set up.  Afterwards we were on our way.

The day  was perfect, the water was calm, the sun warm but not harsh, and our small group, led by two friendly guides. We even had one of our guides who was a Canadian, studying Marine Biology. We set out toward the islands scattered across the Coral Sea.

As we paddled away from shore, the world felt instantly more peaceful. We slipped alongside mangroves that reached their roots down into clear turquoise water, creating miniature underwater forests. There were tiny fish that darted in and out of the tangled roots. It felt like we were getting a private viewing into the reef’s hidden nature. We were told by our guide that small sharks and fish stay in the mangroves for protection until they are big enough to survive in the open waters.

We continued along our trek and at one point, there was a school of fish that skimmed right across the surface of the water. We thought it was flying fish but apparently they are a fish that just skim across chasing bugs. They disappeared as quickly as it appeared, it was quite spectacular.

We continued our way past Daydream Island, taking in its lush green edges and the endless shades of blue around it. Hours passed without us even noticing.  Eventually, we rounded a corner of an island and arrived at a deserted beach area, which turned out to be our midday destination. The beach is called Cane Cutters Beach and it felt like we were all alone in the world. 

The beach was completely deserted, it stretched out in front of us with soft white sand and a backdrop of tropical greenery. We settled in for a peaceful picnic lunch, enjoying the stillness, the view, and the feeling of having stepped into a postcard.

After eating, we took a stroll along the beach. Ray wandered into the shallow waters, and a stingray glided slowly past him. It was just one of those moments. 

We spent an hour or so just soaking it all in. Eventually, it was time to slip back into the kayak and retrace our path across the water.

Heading back was just as enjoyable, taking our time and exploring more Mangroves along the way.

By the time we reached our starting point, our arms were tired, but our spirits were full. We helped take our gear and kayak out of the water and wash off the salt from the gear.  It’s amazing how a simple kayak, a stretch of coastline, friendly guides including a Canadian student chasing adventure and education can craft an experience that stays with you for a long time.  

North Queensland and the Great Barrier Reef delivered an unforgettable day, and kayaking beside Shelley made it all the more special.

“Take only memories, leave only footprints. ”