Uluru Sunset Pictures

Last Days in Paradise

Well final day in PD and as expected after yesterdays full on snorky & scuba session we have all layed in and have no intention of doing anything except sunbathing and packing for the trip to Melbourne.

Although the meal we had at Salsa Bar & Grill restaurant yesterday evening was fantastic but it was one of the most expensive meals we had have but by god it was fantastic with all of us pacing forks full of food to each other to taste our unbelievable food. Plus the few cocktails and beers we had also helped with this morning’s lie in.

So Steph’s still in bed at 11am, Chris is upstairs on the roof sunbathing, Ste is watching a film as it’s too hot and I’m deciding what to keep from the shopping and what to dump and then off I go to get hire car for the trip to the airport.

Later in the day me and Chris go for a final wander to look at the expensive shops, Steph has moved her sleeping activity to upstairs on the sun deck and Ste is still watching films.

Well we all converge on Spa for last bubbles in our million dollar penthouse ($1.3m if you want to buy one) and a final photo, yes it was expensive but then again it was fantastic. Would I come again? Most definitely possibly with moiré friends to party hard on the rooftop in the spa and plunge pool.

Snorkelling and Scuba Diving

Sorry for the delay in blogging but we are having such a good time I forget to allocate some time to log on and blog but hopefully I will catch up over the next few days and by the time we reach Adelaide we will be spot on.

Anyway the blog today is about our trip out to the Great Barrier Reef. After a bit of discussion we decided to go our separate ways as the boys wanted to do Scuba diving and Steph and I wanted to go snorkelling and have a helicopter ride over the Barrier reef.

Unfortunately this meant another early pick up for the boys at 8am but they didn’t mind and as for ourselves a leisurely 920am collection. The buses collected us and dropped us off at the PD Marine where the SilverSonic boat was waiting to whisk the boys away to their dive spot and that’s as far as I’ll go with that and I’ll get Ste or Chris to tell you more later in another blog.

As for us we arrived and got on our massive tri-hulled cruiser which whisked us off to Agincourt Reef right at the edge were the reef meets the ocean, it took an hour and a half but that soon zoomed by with the onboard briefings about safety and additional trips you could do whilst out on the reef...Kching ...$$$$$$$... However we expected this because if we have only learned one thing is whilst they have a captive audience they will try and screw as much out of you as they can!!!

Anyway what do we care Steph’s minted!!! So we booked our helicopter flight, 15mins of sheer unadulterated brilliance and hopefully if blogger lets us a short video clip to follow???? The view from the copter was fantastic and I’m so happy we did it although Steph wasn’t sure at first but the smile on her face was the biggest I’d seen in years.

Anyway I skipped a bit, we had tea/coffee on the trip out and a talk from a marine biologist about the reef and the inevitable Do’s & Don’ts and then we were there moored up to their floating pontoon on the reef a massive floating area with all the gear for the day.

We started off with a semisubmersible boat trip where you sit under water and watch the fish and various coral as it chugs around which was great. The colour of the Reef and Fish was amazing only to be surpassed by our up close and personal snorkelling. After this we were straight on the helicopter and then it was lunch with a large Smorgardboard affair.

After this we got suited up in our lycra snorky suit to protect from not only the sun but if really unlucky the Jelly fish who can kill you in less than 10 mins if stung and not treated. We entered the water, a little disappointing at first as everything was so far away but then we ventured further from the platform and found the reef 3 feet below us absolutely breath taking. We had about 4 sessions with breaks to take it all in and me to bilge out the water I’d sucked in through my snorkel (apparently my head was at the wrong angle!)


I did take some pictures but these were off the platform as i didn’t have a strap for my camera and as you know if anybody would drop/lose something it would be Mick Scotney.

After this to use a technical term we were B****xed and decided to shower and partake of a beer for the last 45 mins before they whisked us off back to PD for the end of a fantastic day.

She is having FUN honest!!!!

It may look like coke but it's not trust me!!!

Daintree Rainforest and Cape Tribulation Australia Day

Well not sure the boys agree but for me this was great day, certainly value for money!!! We had an early start at 0800 but it was well worth it as Ross our driver and guide for the day pointed out at our first stop on the tour. Although I must mention we weren't the only people in the minibus, we did have Mark and his daughter Chloe from Sydney and Stella & Barbara from New York.

We started off at the Mossman River gorge which was absolutely beautiful and quiet due to the time of day. The walk through the woods up to the roaring river was fantastic, along the way we spotted a Dragon Lizard perched in the tree courtesy of Ross's keen eyes.

As you can see it was a fair size and very well camouflaged, we did see a few more but nowhere near the size of this one. After this we jumped back in the van and zoomed off to Daintree River for a cruise and to do some croc watching. Ross did mention that it wasn't really the right time to see crocs as the females would be nesting but we lived in hope!!! Anyway we boarded the boat after a comfort break and off we went on the search. The next pictures show we weren't dissapointed and we saw 3 crocs, 2 decent sized ones and a baby one.

So cruise over we were collected by Ross and made our way to Cape Tribulation with a picture stop and morning tea and coffee which proved very interesting. Check out the view:

As for coffee we stopped at a cracking beach and saw some more breath taking views and some interesting wildlife.

This is a picture of Steph, Me and Colin the Coconut.

And this is a Golden Orb Spider which was about 20cm from leg to leg, bloody huge but apparently they can get up to 40cm across that would be really scary.

The day just got better and better with the spotting of a Cassowary in the wild the Raptor relative! But the locals have a bit of a sense of humour and had been doing a bit of graffiti on some local road signs!

Suddenly it was lunchtime after which we went for a swim in a local stream which was amazing and so refreshing!!!

And finally a yomp through the jungle to see some bloody old tree's and more wildlife which could kill you!!! We were lucky we weren't attacked and survived the whole expedition. Although Steph did over do it a bit with the heat, food and walking and was a little sick, but once it was up she was fine and we moved on to the final stop of the day - ICE CREAM - made with some very strange fruits with even stranger flavours obviously none for Steph.

Well the day was done and we were dropped off at 6pm by the wonderful Ross and we collapsed into the apartment knackered!!!

Chillin & Rafting

Well we decided the first day would be for chilling and checking out what PD has to offer. Our apartment was at the end of the main street above a shopping complex. The beach was 2 mins away and looked like this:

Unfortunately you couldn't swim in the sea because of the jelly fish, although there was a special netted off area which was patrolled by the lifeguards which was jellyfish free Hmmmm!!! We only paddled and then only up to our ankles but as you can see it was like paradise, fortunately the jellyfish are seasonal but the crocodiles and Sharks aren't.

We wondered down the main street to check out the shops and like most resorts it had the obligatary bars, restaurants, ice cream palours, coffee shops and extremely expensive surf boutiques. After having a beer we decided to check out the tourist info and the boys decided they fancied a bit of White Water Rafting which we booked. Then it was off to the supermarket to stock our large american fridge and cupboards for the next few days.

The rest of the day was spent on the roof top in the Spa and Pool, watching the world go by and of course because of the large BBQ I had to give it a go!!!

Fail Water Rafting

Time for one of the younger Scotneys too add a bit to this blog. Me and my brother booked to go white water rafting on the day my parents were chilling. we had an early start getting up at 7:00 to be on a bus by 8:00. When the driver arrived he told us that we were changing rivers and he said it was not as strong, so we went along with it and got on the bus. We had hour and half drive to cairnes then 30 min drive to dropoff point.

As soon as we arrived we got our gear together and set off down the river. It was so calm though that we could literally just get out the boats and just drift down river. To be honest it was absolute shit and not a very fun time. Probably the best it got was when I decided to steer us into a tree. Anyway that's enough from me and ill see you again If my father makes me type.

Mick, Steve and the Scotney's

Travel to Port Douglas and Millionaires Apartment

Well it was back to little airport and onto the big plane after an eventful morning in the shed!!! As we were trying to have a brew the kettle decided to blow the sheds electrics or so we thought, however it turns out it blew the whole block we were in at the main circuit board. After a short trip in the blistering heat to reception the nice lady radioed ‘Digger’ to sort it out, 10 mins later and a new kettle we were right as they say here!

So bags packed and shed vacated we went off for brekky in the coffee shop as we had 3 hours to kill before the coach picked us up. A little retail therapy later we had reading literature for the plane very classical of course “NUTS & LOADED” boys choice, plus some nice typical Ozzy sunhats for Steph and me. Apparently you have to supply your own corks but we by this time had the “Ozzy Wave” off to a treat so no need.

So back to the terminal, a quick check in and another drink (keep them fluids flowing) and then on another plane to Cairns our gateway to paradise.

On arrival we had the popstar treatment as we were met by our driver with his little sign with our name on. We collected bags and off we went to find our car, Lo and Behold a Limo!!! Yes we had paid for it but I thought it would be normal taxi type but no it was luxury as we zoomed along the coast road to Port Douglas and our luxury apartment.

Not sure if the pictures do it justice but trust me it was fantastic, Rooftop plunge pool & separate Jacuzzi, gas BBQ, Huge Flat Screen TV with Bose sound system and massive kingsize bed.

LUXURY!!!!!!!!!

Kata Tjuta walk & Uluru Sunset

Here are some pictures from our Uluru Sunset and Kata Tjuta walk. We booked the trip at an extortionate price but out here they have you by the short and curlies but th.at aside it was very informative and Mick the bus driver and tour guide knew his stuff. Although we thought he'd been out in the sun too long when he wanted us to put our seatbelts on, on the coach due to stampeding Camels!!! Ozzy nutter we thought until coming back from Kata Tjuta lo and behold bloody hundreds of the things luckily grazing and not playing chicken on the solitary roads.

We went to Kata Tjuta (Olgas) first for a little stroll in the 44 degree heat at approx 1600hrs so you can understand that at midday we were all in the pool!!!! Sitting on the bottom for fear of submersing and turning into a piece of crispy bacon but I digress. The walk not long about one and a bit Km was cool walking over what can only be described as red rocks loads of them obviously smooth from the millions of tourists and few thousand Abo's. Steph did about 200m and then wisely said she would sit in the shade of the bus next to the water barrel whilst the boys and me toughed it out to the end of the trail where there was a viewing platform for obvious photo and bugger all else. After said photo we divided up our water and a sprint for home well not actually but the boys will tell you I didn't hang about, it was too bloody hot.

After this it was back on the bus to the Uluru viewing area which was perfect for the job, especially when we were greeted by a nice lady bearing Wine, lemonade, water and nibbles to enjoy as the sunset. With camera set up and wine in hand we sat and waited patiently for the sun to set and take the photographs at the 4-5 minute intervals as instructed by Mick the coach driver.

Was it worth yes I believe it was for the commentary and of course wine of which yes I didn't let the side down and managed to drink at least half the value of my ticket worth in wine. Would I go again, hmmmmmm, possibly but hire a car and do it myself with a guide book .

Anyway sunset pictures on next blog and the ones below are obviously camels (wild I may add which are caught and shipped to many middle eastern countries for racing and yes Janet they do have white camels so you would be able to have a bet on them). The others are the end of the walk, the walk itself and Kata Tjuta in all her glory.

Well I'm on fire now and am catching up as quick as I can more blogs later today.

Bye for Now

Mick

Ayers Rock Resort

Camp Site

Well I thought I would just post a quick blog about the resort and our shed as Chris calls it, he has already pointed out that it is smaller than the log cabin we have got in the garden and it doesn't have any toilet and shower. Although a plus point is that we did have an air conditioning unit which was possibly as old as Ayers Rock but it did work.

The pictures are of the kitchen/dining area which was supposed to sit 6 and also be able to cook food what a joke and the bedrooms one of either side was a double and 2 sets of bunks which like the cabin had seen better days but hey we have got luxury to come.

The rest of the resort looks very nice and if we ever came again we would be in one of the hotels and sod the expense!!!