Dwarf minke whale photographed off Port Douglas. Pic: Wendy Morris “It’s just marvellous to see the increase in whale numbers in the 45 years I’ve been exploring the Reef,” she said.

I am on a full-day excursion to the outer reef from Silky Oaks Lodge in the Daintree, near Port Douglas, and my second day of a new itinerary from Luxury Lodges of Australia. It includes a trio of ...