As a treat we had booked onto a catamaran with 10 other people to sail out to the Great Barrier Reef and snorkel. 

However the sea was rough so we only went to the nearest reef and sadly the sea was cloudy due to the rough churn. Even so one could see the coral which was totally different to anything I had seen before.  We had a great barbeque on board the ship, another snorkel, then it was back to port.   It was a great day despite the weather.

Saturday 18th October

Another travel day back to Sydney. We got on the transfer bus as recommended by the hotel, however it arrived at the check in one minute before it closed.  Not my kind of travelling.  We arrived back in Sydney early evening and picked up all our luggage that we had left after the lectures. 

Then we went out to dinner with François McHardy, the MD of Simon and Schuster, and his wife Teresa for an amazing farewell meal. 

Sorted the luggage, then Mac and I did last minute shopping.  It was a gloriously warm day and after we finished the shopping we went for a wander around the botanical garden because, despite being there for lectures, we never got to look around.

The Lemon Myrtle, Backhousia citriodora, is something I wish we could grow over here, not only is it a great culinary delight it is also an important medicinal tree.

Looking back now, I know we met some great people, experienced some wonderful Australian and Tasmanian hospitality and saw a small amount of the country...

...so we will have to return one day.