| On his desert island, Robinson Crusoe had made a | | | | Cairns, Palm Cove area. From Palm Cove, one can |
| Kayak (the English call it canoe) so big that he | | | | paddle around the resort Island of Double Island. One |
| couldn't pull it to the sea. Thankfully, today we have | | | | can also take a walk on the private beaches, |
| lighter versions made of fiberglass, polyethylene, | | | | provided the touring company has asked permission |
| Kevlar, carbon fibre, Royalex or hand-built systems | | | | for this. A holiday destination for the rich and the |
| like the 'skin-on-frame' varieties. Today, kayaking is an | | | | famous, Double Island has better attractions in the |
| immensely popular sporting and entertainment | | | | form of dolphins, turtles, manta rays, and other |
| activity, and is catching up fast around the world. | | | | marine life. Other parts of the island include beautiful |
| And Great Barrier Reef allows one of the most | | | | tropical gardens, where you can have a relish of |
| exotic and fantastic kayaking trips in the whole world. | | | | delightful tropical fruits, or have a nice cup of coffee |
| The world's largest coral reef, the Great Barrier Reef | | | | or tea. One can get stunning views of the coast, |
| stretches over 2000 kilometers, hugging the | | | | Cape Tribulation and Daintree from this location. |
| Queensland coast of Australia throughout. It is so big | | | | But perhaps the greatest charm of kayaking on the |
| that it is even visible from space! Called the largest | | | | Great Barrier Reef is the close proximity with the |
| living animal, the coral reef and the coral islands are | | | | corals. The millions shades of colors, the bewildering |
| actually the living bodies and dead shells and deposits | | | | shapes, the swaying tips of live corals and the |
| of billions of corals - in the whole Great Barrier | | | | surprising encounters with flighty fish shoals (with god |
| system, there are 900 islands and 3000 coral reefs. | | | | knows how many millions fishes in them!) are unique |
| While the Europeans first came to know of the Reef | | | | experiences. As you sink in a pleasant sunset from |
| as late as 1770 when Captain Cook ran aground it, | | | | the water, you might feel like never returning. Some |
| Indigenous Australians knew about it from the | | | | try a compromise - there are some liveaboards |
| beginning. | | | | where you can stay for a few days if you don't feel |
| The corals of the reefs provide a huge natural | | | | like leaving! |
| breakwater, making sure the water is rather calmer | | | | The Great Barrier Reef is a fragile environment, and |
| that it would have been before the birth of the reef. | | | | is heavily regulated. One must make sure that the |
| This has been a godsend for kayaking. While | | | | ecological balance and the sanctity of the reef is |
| whitewater kayaking is much more tumultuous, most | | | | maintained so that you and I may enjoy this |
| of the tourists trying their hands at sea kayaking at | | | | heavenly gift for all time to come. |
| the Reef are either new to it, or only modestly | | | | The reef is a huge stretch of wonder and can be |
| experienced. Therefore, the relatively placid water | | | | accessed from anywhere. But the best access point |
| makes for easier kayaking and fewer capsizing (and | | | | is probably from Cairns area, another charming place |
| less disturbing of corals). The waters allow the | | | | around 25 minutes from Palm Cove that can keep |
| kayaks to be relatively more flat bottomed, allowing | | | | you busy with sights, sounds and activities for a |
| for better floatation stability. But even if you tumble, | | | | fortnight. And visitors to Double Island can stay at |
| don't worry, don't worry even if you don't know the | | | | the Sanctuary Palm Cove which is situated just |
| 'eskimo roll'. The kayak would stay afloat. Besides the | | | | across a narrow channel of the Great Barrier Reef |
| guides and helpers from the kayak company would | | | | which provides luxurious accommodation facilities to |
| be nearby. | | | | add comfort to the trip. |
| The kayaking opportunities are many around the | | | | |