New Beginnings

 

A whole new cast of characters can be spotted during summer on the Great Barrier Reef when light winds and excellent visibility offer optimum conditions for snorkelling and diving from Cairns. 

The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority has posted a picture of the first whale shark arriving and Cairns-based Master Reef Guide Michelle Barry, who works for the Entrada Travel Group, anticipates more sightings.
With water temperatures around 25C in Cairns & Great Barrier Reef, sunsuits replace cumbersome wetsuits and you can comfortably spend more time in the water exploring the most diverse ecosystem on earth. 

Visitors are spoilt for choice when it comes to experiencing the Great Barrier Reef. A variety of tours depart from Cairns, Port Douglas and Mission Beach, the closest mainland ports to the outer Great Barrier Reef. They offer snorkelling, and introductory and certified scuba diving day trips to pontoons, islands, sand cays and offshore reefs, as well as longer liveaboard trips.

For those who prefer to stay dry, semi-submersible and glass-bottom vessels provide popular views of the Great Barrier Reef, while helmet dives are a fun way to get to the bottom of the ocean without getting your hair wet. 

Large, comfortable catamarans travel to water activity platforms on the outer edge of the Great Barrier Reef and these pontoons are a great way to experience the reef for the first time. Quicksilver's pontoon is at Agincourt Reef, one of the stunning ribbon reefs on the outer edge of the Continental Shelf, accessed from Port Douglas.
 
From Cairns you can travel to a choice of three water activity platforms at Moore Reef via helicopter or fast catamaran. Try the Scuba Doo underwater scooter with Great Adventures, join a marine biologist snorkelling tour with Reef Magic Cruises or make a splash with the 30-metre spiral waterslide at Sunlover Reef Cruises' marine base.

For more information go to cairnsgreatbarrierreef.com        

New Beginnings   View this email in your browser New beginnings www.oliveandlatteabs.com globeshop (Affordable Luxe): www.dashinglyverygoodlivingVGD.com Installment payment Hoolah (3months interest free) is available on: https://dashinglyverygoodlivingvgd.myshopify.com http://oliveandlatte.com Installment payment Hoolah (3months interest free) is available on: https://oliveandlatte.myshopify.com/ freelancer gig https://www.fiverr.com/trinawu youtube https://www.youtube.com/vusharon spotify playlist  link to click   New Websites  http://oliveandlattehomelounge.com http://engageformoments.com PLEASE TAKE NOTE of Travel Restrictions & Advisory News due to COVID-19 Novel Coronavirus. #WearaMask #SocialDistancing  Thailand Is the Number 1 Asian Destination for Travellers Planning Holidays in 2021 The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) is pleased to announce that Thailand was named the number one Asian destination, and the fourth destination worldwide, according to a recent survey by German-based online travel agent Tourlane. In a survey to identify travel trends that are emerging for 2021, it found that Thailand was the fourth most popular worldwide destination named by respondents, after the USA, South Africa, and Canada. Ms. Helen Scheepers, Head of Sales at Tourlane, said: “The survey shows that 2021 will be a year of the great outdoors, so it's no surprise to see that Thailand, with its incredible range of outdoor activities, is the fourth most popular worldwide destination for 2021. With so many participants rating travel as a top priority for 2021, we're excited about a potential boom in travel to countries like Thailand that's on the horizon.” Over 1,200 travellers aged between 18 and 65 were surveyed in the October 2020 online poll, which indicated that while most participants would not be travelling again in 2020, the majority did plan to travel in 2021 as one of their top priorities for the year. Key findings showed that more than two thirds (69%) of international travellers preferred a destination that offered plenty in the way of outdoor activities, and that over half (54%) of the travellers wanted to travel for two or three weeks during the spring or summer time. Clear safety guidelines and hygiene standards was also mentioned as a priority by 43% of the respondents along with good health facilities (37%). Thailand continues to be ranked as one of the top countries among 180 countries worldwide for its ongoing coronavirus (COVID-19) recovery efforts according to the Global COVID-19 Index (GCI). https://www.tourismthailand.org/home Experience a Total Antarctic Solar Eclipse onboard PONANT's new polar expedition ship Le Commandant-Charcot This is a true expedition for modern explorers. In addition to viewing the total eclipse of the sun from the pack ice, this 15-night expedition voyage, departing Ushuaia, Argentina on 30 November 2021, will explore the challenging eastern part of the Weddell Sea. Mostly frozen by a thick and compressed ice floe, the region remains rarely accessible, perfect for the Polar Class 2 rated Le Commandant-Charcot. Guests will also discover the imposing Larsen ice shelves with immense tabletop icebergs, among the largest ever seen.   In addition to regular outings and shore visits in Zodiac® inflatables with the expert polar Expedition Team and Naturalist Guides, there will be plenty of opportunity to take advantage of inclusive innovative activities including hovercraft, hot air ballooning and electric powered snowmobiles, when appropriate, to provide additional exploration and perspectives of the surroundings.   Voyage summary Total Eclipse in the Weddell Sea On board Le Commandant-Charcot  15 nights - Departs Ushuaia 30 November 2021.  Staterooms and Suites available starting at A$25,340 twin share in a Deck 7 Prestige Stateroom. Includes o/n in Santiago prior to embarkation day, return charter flight Santiago to Ushuaia, all meals and Open Bar, lectures, Zodiac outings and shore excursions.   For more details on PONANT's Total Eclipse in the Weddell Sea voyage: https://au.ponant.com/antarctica-total-eclipse-in-the-weddell-sea-o301121-10    Dive into Summer in the Tropics A whole new cast of characters can be spotted during summer on the Great Barrier Reef when light winds and excellent visibility offer optimum conditions for snorkelling and diving from Cairns.  The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority has posted a picture of the first whale shark arriving and Cairns-based Master Reef Guide Michelle Barry, who works for the Entrada Travel Group, anticipates more sightings. With water temperatures around 25C in Cairns & Great Barrier Reef, sunsuits replace cumbersome wetsuits and you can comfortably spend more time in the water exploring the most diverse ecosystem on earth.  Visitors are spoilt for choice when it comes to experiencing the Great Barrier Reef. A variety of tours depart from Cairns, Port Douglas and Mission Beach, the closest mainland ports to the outer Great Barrier Reef. They offer snorkelling, and introductory and certified scuba diving day trips to pontoons, islands, sand cays and offshore reefs, as well as longer liveaboard trips. For those who prefer to stay dry, semi-submersible and glass-bottom vessels provide popular views of the Great Barrier Reef, while helmet dives are a fun way to get to the bottom of the ocean without getting your hair wet.  Large, comfortable catamarans travel to water activity platforms on the outer edge of the Great Barrier Reef and these pontoons are a great way to experience the reef for the first time. Quicksilver's pontoon is at Agincourt Reef, one of the stunning ribbon reefs on the outer edge of the Continental Shelf, accessed from Port Douglas.   From Cairns you can travel to a choice of three water activity platforms at Moore Reef via helicopter or fast catamaran. Try the Scuba Doo underwater scooter with Great Adventures, join a marine biologist snorkelling tour with Reef Magic Cruises or make a splash with the 30-metre spiral waterslide at Sunlover Reef Cruises' marine base. For more information go to cairnsgreatbarrierreef.com         Taste Summer in the Tropics       You can't go past a cold beer and a bucket of prawns in summer, but have you tried a Cassowary Cocktail or a Tiger Prawn Schnitzel with pineapple and persimmon? Summer is unfolding in Cairns & Great Barrier Reef when warm rain refreshes the landscape overnight and brings seasonal experiences unique to summer in the tropics. This means that luscious mangoes, unique native ingredients and signature seafood dishes are taking centre stage on menus across the region. For a truly local drink, you can't go past the Cassowary Cocktail from Ochre Restaurant, located on the waterfront in Cairns. As colourful as its namesake, the Cassowary Cocktail's rich red comes from the cassowary's favourite food – local Davidson plum, which is blended with Hunter Distillery ginger liqueur, local finger lime and Smirnoff vodka.  Savour the taste of the native plum a little longer by choosing Ochre Restaurant's Twice Cooked Pork Belly served with Davidson plum jam, Queensland scallops and cauliflower puree. At Palm Cove, Nu Nu chef Nick Holloway is pairing tiger prawns fresh from the Gulf of Carpentaria with Mareeba pineapple and persimmons from Tolga. The Tiger Prawn Schnitzel is finished with a spicy Korean ssamjang that brings together the tropical fruit flavours for a bite of summer freshness.  After ordering, enjoy the absolute Palm Cove beachfront view with a Pineapple Express – Sailor Jerry spiced rum, Falernum, fresh pineapple and lime, shaken and served with coconut sorbet.  In the city at CC's Alfresco in Bailey, a Crystalbrook Collection Hotel, the signature beef steak has been paired with a light salad, ensuring the beef from Crystalbrook Station (west of Cairns) remains the hero of the dish while matching the casual, relaxed setting befitting a balmy Cairns evening.  For more information go to cairnsgreatbarrierreef.com Dashingly Very Good Living VGD   Dashingly Very Good Living VGD New Year and you would be looking at affordable luxe items, available at the website: https://dashinglyverygoodlivingvgd.myshopify.com/ 10% Discount with the code: 10Luxe 31 January 2021 www.oliveandlatteabs.com http://oliveandlatte.com http://oliveandlatte.myshopify.com (Interest free Instalment payment Hoolah is available on this site)   (Playlist) link to click     (Affordable Luxe) https://www.dashinglyverygoodliving.com/ https://dashinglyverygoodlivingvgd.myshopify.com (Interest free Instalment payment Hoolah is available on this site)  (Freelancer Gig) https://www.fiverr.com/trinawu New Websites  http://oliveandlattehomelounge.com http://engageformoments.com Photo by Valeriia Miller from Pexels   Photo at the Header is by Bruno Cervera from Pexels Thoughts of the day, feel free to drop us a line contact@oliveandlatte.com if you have any comments.   Thank you!    Copyright © *2017*  All rights reserved.