4 hours on the coach and I arrive in Agnes Water, the town next to 1770. I stayed in Cool Bananas, they have great facilities and a friendly but crazy owner called Greg.

The main reason I stopped here was the Lady Musgrave Island, 1 & ½ hours by boat from the main land and part of the southern Great Barrier Reef. I was lucky the trip ran as there had been high winds.


The boat left at 8.30am and everyone was given travel sickness tablets. Everyone was kept on the inside level of the boat and within 5minutes the light boat trashed around in the very choppy sea. It was like a fairground ride and 60% of the people were sea sick, with the crew constantly giving out fresh sick bags. I managed not be be sick, but had to constantly watch the horizon line. When we reached the reef my head was all over the place.


As we pull into the reef the water settled and we were surrounded by beautiful turquoise water. This was my first sight of the Great Barrier reef. The Lady Musgrave Island is a uninhabited coral
island, formed by broken pieces of coral slowly building up over time. It is only 800meters long and is surrounded in a circle by 1km of beautiful coral reef.


We had a walk around the island and learnt about the 60,000 birds that nest here from the Northern Hemisphere.  


After this we were taken back to the main boat for snorkelling. I was a little anxious as this was my first time but within a few minutes of seeing the reef underwater I was loving it. The coral was bright and there were more varieties of colourful fish than I'd ever seen. 
 


After lunch I went snorkelling further out, to a spot recommended for turtles. There were 5 green turtles on the top of a flatten piece of coral. This is known as a cleaning station where turtles come to be cleaned by the small fish. I watched one being cleaned and when one turtle left it let me slowly swim next to it. It was incredible! 

 
The Great Barrier Reef and Lady Musgrave Island was truly beautiful, can't believe most backpackers miss this out.