great barrier reef tours: low isles sailaway iv
Low Isles Sailaway IV offers a five-star reef and island cruise to Low Isles, a tropical coral cay island on the Great Barrier Reef. The new Low Isles Sailaway IV is a state-of-the-art catamaran, built in France, and is an ideal vessel to experience the thrill of sailing and snorkelling the Great Barrier Reef. With the maximum of up to 33 guests Low Isles Sailaway IV ensures enjoyment, excellent service and personal attention from the friendly crew; your wish is their command.
Once on board morning tea is served and a safety briefing is conducted, and at approximately 8.30am you set sail arriving at Low Isles at 9.30 giving you plenty of time to enjoy the day’s activities. You are also the first boat to arrive at Low Isles, giving you two hours to yourselves. Snorkelling equipment is given out and a snorkel safety briefing is conducted. After this a transfer to the beach by glass bottom boat where the day’s activities commence.
Snorkelling is the easiest way to experience the Great Barrier Reef and Low Isles Sailaway IV is dedicated to providing one-on-one assistance to ensure you get the most out of your day. The beach offers easy access and is perfect for the first time snorkeller, and for more experienced snorkellers, coral bommies on the fringing reefs surround the island.
The reef around Low Isles comprises 150 different hard corals including staghorn, boulder, and mushroom corals, to name a few, and is dominated by 15 species of soft corals such as spaghetti and sea whips. Living amongst the corals are a large variety of reef fish including parrot fish, giant trevally, sweetlips, fusiliers, coral trout, plenty of Nemos (clownfish), two resident groupers, which are massive, and the yellow mask angel fish, which are quite unique to the island.
There are also over 100 green turtles that reside in the lagoon and are sighted daily (we saw 4.)
A guided snorkel tour with a marine naturalist is offered and highly recommended along with a guided glass bottom boat tour with reef interpretation from the skipper.
At 12.30pm a gourmet tropical buffet lunch is served back on the boat consisting of prawns, cold meats, salads, fruit platter and home made cakes. You can purchase a selection of Australian wines and beers from the fully licensed bar.
Low Isles Sailaway IV moors in the shelter of the lagoon for more then 5 hours giving you plenty of time to do all the activities without feeling rushed. Laze on the deck or chill out under the umbrellas on the island.
Feeling adventurous? Then discover the history with a walk around the island dating back to 1878, where weather data has been collected since 1887, and was the base for a scientific survey, which studies the structure and ecology of the surrounding reef. This was the first detailed study of coral reef in the world.
A number of bird species reside on the island so you may encounter pelicans, Honeyeaters, White breasted wood swallows, Mangrove kingfishers, reef egrets with sea eagles and ospreys wheeling overhead. Look for the osprey nest atop the light house.
At 2.30pm you can enjoy afternoon tea with fresh home made cakes. At 3.00pm you set sail leaving this oasis in your wake, arriving in Port Douglas at 4.00pm.
Low Isles Sailaway IV is a luxurious boat and the perfect stage to enjoy a day of activities and relaxation with spacious comfortable areas for all to enjoy.
The Tour Specialists tip
LouiseThis is truly a remarkable experience, spoil yourself and swim with the turtles.
