Daniel's Big Australian Holiday!

 Day 97 - Monday - 24/8/2026 Today we woke up a six and drove to where we would catch our boat to Normanby Island.  Normanby Island After we were given wetsuits, snorkels and fins we got on the bout and sailed for about 45 minuets to the island. At the island Me, Dad, and Grandpa got ready to go on a snorkel safari where we went out on a boat and snorkelled back to the island.  Me diving  As we were swimming through the amazing coral reef, we saw an astonishing and vast variety of fish, and we even saw a green sea turtle!  A Sea Turtle Some of the fish we saw where Parrot Fish, Butterfly Fish, Triggerfish and many more.  Slingjaw Wrasse Blue Triggerfish The various different pieces of coral surrounded us in all direction none of what looked quite the same. Coral Some marine life was quite friendly but other shy and every look in a small crevice you would see a different fish. Once we had swam all the way back to the island me and dad went snorkelling on the...

Day 95 - Saturday - 22/8/2026 Today we left Atherton and Drove to Henrietta Creek where all of us except for Seb and Grandma who were too sick to come went on around a 6km walk to Nandroya Falls. Near the start of the walk, we crossed Henrietta Creek and started walking alongside the mountain. Once we were about 15 minutes away from Nandroya falls we reached Silver Falls where we had a quick break.  Me at Sliver Falls Soon we got to Nandroya Falls which was a huge water fall tumbling over a sheer 50 metre drop.  Nandroya Falls After we had a quick rest, we continued on the walk where we saw another seven waterfalls, except these ones didn't have names.  One of the other seven falls Near the end of the walk, we saw a Victoria's Riflebird perched in a tree. Victoria's Riflebird Day 96 - Sunday - 23/8/2026 This morning we got in the car and drove to Tchupala Falls where we saw a spotted catbird and looked at the falls.  Tchupala Falls Then we drove to Crawford's Lookout...

 Day 93 - Thursday - 20/8/2026 Today we drove around to 4 different waterfalls (while it was raining) that were all pretty impressive. The first one was Milla Milla Falls which was probably the most picturesque waterfall of the four, if you were going to draw a waterfall it would probably look a lot like Milla Milla Falls.  Us Infront of Milla Milla Falls After Milla Milla we drove to Zillie Falls which was a taller waterfall then Milla Milla but a bit less impressive.  Zillie Falls Zillie Falls also took a lot more concentration to get to it because even though it was a pretty short walk on the dirt to the falls it was raining and water plus dirt means mud which means slipperiness which resulted in my shoe becoming covered in mud and Seb having a fall. Next, we drove to Ellinjaa Falls which was another waterfall looking pretty similar to the others.  Me and Seb at Ellinjaa Falls After that we drove to Malanda where we had lunch and it finally stopped raining, so we ...

Day 92 - Tuesday - 18/8/2026 This morning we drove to Lake Barrine where we went on a cruise while it was raining.  Lake Barrine is a crater lake formed by an extinct volcano thousands of years ago and has filled up with water. On the cruise we saw some grebes and other water birds and also a bunch of Eels that we got to feed.  The Great-crested Grebes The Longfin Eels At the end of the cruise, we got to have some scones to eat and then we walked in the rain to two gigantic Kauri Pines and then did a loop through the rainforest but it was very wet and muddy.  2 huge Kauri Pines Next, we drove to the Cathedral Fig Tree which used to be a big tree and was strangled by a strangler fig and it has rotted away leaving the massive fig.  The Cathedreal Fig Tree After the Cathedral Fig we drove to Lake Eacham which is another crater lake, at Lake Eacham we went on a short walk through the rainforest around small section of the lake.   Lake Eacham We also had lunch at Lak...

 Day 91 - Monday - 17/8/2026 Today we left Cairns and drove to Atherton where we drove into the Crystal Caves. At the check in we bought some tickets and were given a head torch each, then we went into the man-made cave where we looked at real crystals from all over the world.  Smoky Quartz A man called Rene from the Netherlands had a passion for minerals and crystals and when he was in Australia, he found a super big piece of Agate which gave him the idea of the crystal caves. He discovered a great place to find crystals was South America and there was even some crystals form Peru which is where my mum was born.  Some crystals After walking around in the caves for a while we found the main attraction of the caves, the huge 3 metre amethyst geode that was discovered in Urugay in 2007 and at the time was known as the biggest piece of Amythyst in the world.  Us standing next to the Amythest Geode Once we finished looking at all the different crystals Me and Seb got to ...

Day 90 - Sunday - 16/8/2026 This morning we drove to Freshwater Railway Station where we boarded the train to Kuranda.  The train Our scenic ride went through the mountains in the rain where we saw multiple waterfalls. The first one wasn't the tallest, but it definitely had the most water coming over it.  The first waterfall For the second waterfall we stopped and got off the train where had a view of Barron Gorge and the high waterfall all while it was drizzling with rain.  Barron Falls Soon we arrived at Kuranda where we went to the Kuranda Butterfly Sanctuary. At the butterfly sanctuary there where over 1000 butterflies and a lot of different species for example the Common Eggfly.  Blue-banded Eggfly Carins Birdwing Red Lacewing In the sanctuary there where a few different areas being the main aviary with most of the butterflies, the breeding lab where they kept all the caterpillars and the Fairy Garden where some butterflies were hatching out of their cocoons....