The Great Barrier Reef with Sailaway - Low Isles.
Luxurious, relaxing, personalized. These are the words that come to mind with Sailaway Low Isles. Departing Port Douglas daily, this lush sailing vessel is a cut above the rest. For a day of pure enjoyment and relaxation, there is nothing better than Sailaway.
The day started with a 7:20am pick up from our accommodation in a twenty seater air conditioned coach. Heading north out of Cairns towards Port Douglas, we were able to take in the beautiful sights of the Coral Sea. After arriving at Marina Mirage in Port Douglas around 8:30am we were welcomed aboard the incredibly luxurious Sailaway IV. Freshly brewed coffee, tea, and biscuits are served prior to departure so we grabbed a cup and settled down on the front of the boat, looking straight out over the ocean.
On the short one hour cruise out to Low Isles, we had our safety briefing and the crew gave us a rundown of how the day was going to go. It all sounded a little like “relax, relax and when you think you’ve relaxed enough – relax some more!” We were very lucky as there were only 12 people or the normally 30 person cruise so it felt like our very own private charter boat!
We arrived at Low Isles around 10:00am and the sailboat moored approximately 150 metres off the shoreline of Woody Island. After putting on our sun suits and grabbing all our snorkelling gear, everyone boarded the glass bottom boat for our ride over to the island. Once on land, everyone donned their masks and fins and Peggy, one of the amazing crew members, took us all on a guided snorkelling adventure! The tour took approximately 30 minutes but we saw so much marine life! There were turtles, and parrot fish, and heaps of giant Trevalli - all of which were enjoying lazy swims through the stunning orange, purple, and yellow corals. The corals at Low Isles were like nothing I had ever seen before. The colours were incredibly vibrant!
Since the purpose of our day seemed to be to relax as much as possible, after the guided snorkel tour we took full advantage of the beach and spent the next hour unwinding on the sand and cooling off with a dip in the ocean.
Around noon, everyone re-boarded the glass bottom boat and we departed the island for a tour of the reef we had just spent the morning exploring. Brent, our knowledgeable skipper, explained different types of coral, the different impacts of the tides, and the species of marine life that lived in this particular are of the Great Barrier Reef.
By the time the tour ended we were definitely ready for lunch! A lovely tropical smorgasbord had been laid out for us in the main cabin. It included chilled prawns, fresh salads, cold meats and falafel, fresh bread, and tropical fruit. We enjoyed our delicious lunch out on the front deck of the boat.
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- The Luxury Sailing Catamaran
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- Low Isles
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- Andrea & Blythe on Low Isles
After eating we were eager to get back in the water and continue exploring the beautiful corals so we jumped off the back of the boat and snorkeled back towards Low Isles. Located on the island is a stunning historic lighthouse that was built in 1878 and was in operation until 1993, when it became automated. We took a short walk around the island, before snorkelling our way back over to the boat.
It was time to head back to Port Douglas, and sadly, our beautiful day was coming to a close. Coffee and tea, as well as some really delicious cakes were served before departure. One of the highlights of the day was on the cruise back to Port Douglas, our skipper Brent shut off the engines and we sailed part of the way home. With the sun falling low in the sky, and the Daintree Rainforest on one horizon and the endless blue ocean on the other, it was a truly memorable moment.
Sailaway Low Isles is a beautiful day from beginning to end. The crew, the corals, and the relaxed atmosphere of the cruise make Sailaway one of the best full day Great Barrier Reef trips on offer. So go on – Sailaway!
By: Andrea Teed, TTS Tour Consultant
For more information about this tour, please visit The Tour Specialists