Year 11 Reef & Rainforest Trip

Reef and Rainforest was a wonderful and memorable trip for all 80 year 11’s and 8 teachers who went on the trip. It brought all of us close together, creating an unforgettable group of friends and memories. We had opportunities of a lifetime to explore the beauty and richness of Cairns as well as learning more about the world, cultures and life around us.

We visited James Cook University several times to interact with academics and scientists and learn about the reef systems, venomous creatures and more and developed skills across many things.

We then went to the Atherton Tablelands to be wowed with the spectacular Milla Milla Falls and got to ride in the Syrail for about 90 minutes while visiting nature-filled  biodiversity stops!

We also had the opportunity to interact with bugs and insects where many of us held stick insects, cockroaches, snails, millipedes and more.

Fitzroy island was a beautiful place where we got to snorkel and look at corals and the opportunity to see turtles! We also camped overnight and slept in tents with our friends and talked till late at night, including the birds, as well!

Cape Tribulation had the best accommodation considering it was right in the rainforest. Surrounded by rich flora and serene setting, we all enjoyed the atmosphere with our friends and had a great time. We also saw cassowaries, played board games, and also got right into hands-on science activities. We also experienced Aboriginal culture by practising hunting, throwing spears and trying foods like snails!

And the most loved activity on the trip was snorkelling in the Great Barrier Reef. Staying on a ship just like a hotel, and diving into the deep waters to see aquatic life was breath-taking! Bold and bright coloured groups of fishes, corals, sharks and turtles made us feel on top of the world. It was an experience to never forget.

We did a lot more than the ones listed above!

We made beautiful friendships, became crazy, laughed, smiled, cried and had lots of fun. If we were to do it again, we would all do it in a heartbeat!

If I wouldn’t have gone on this trip, I would have regretted a great opportunity and experience!

By Akanksha Bharadwaj