Airlie Beach and the Whitsundays

16-20 February 2010

Arrived in Airlie Beach to pouring rain. Not the best start with three days' sailing in the Whitsundays ahead of us. Spent the day getting organised and praying for sun. Fortunately, our prayers were answered and we hopped onto the Atlantic Clipper the next day in glorious sunshine. Spent the afternoon sailing out to Hook Island where we anchored for the night and sat down to a delicous meal of fish cooked in foil, mashed potato with herbs and fresh salad. Very welcome after days of surviving on peanut butter, bread and instant noodles (money not stretching quite as far in Australia as it did in China)! Then it was up to the top deck for drinks and dancing where we soon joined by some playful dolphins splashing around in the water next to the boat.

The next day we were woken up at 7am to the sound of the crew singing "Sex Bomb" and a severe case of sea sickness. Staggered off the boat at Whitsunday Island though and headed up to Lookout Point for immediate relief and a stunning view of the dense pine forest, golden coastline and turqoise ocean. I can see why this is the fourth most photographed view in Australia. Relaxed on the beautiful Whitehaven Beach for the rest of the morning, dozing on the softest, finest sand I have ever seen.

After lunch, we headed to Luncheon Bay where we did a spot of snorkelling and made the most of the boat's spa pool and waterslide. We even saw a giant turtle coming up for air beside the boat. Spent the evening on deck watching sharks circling the boat in the illuminated waters below.

The next morning there was time for more snorkelling, this time in Blue Pearl Bay. Saw more fish than I have seen anywhere so far - the crew threw food from the boat and hundreds of splashes of colour would come charging to the surface, splashing and wriggling about just a few centimetres from my mask. I even managed to touch a huge grouper fish, affectionately called Elvis by the crew. When I say huge, I mean huge. He was about the same size as me!

Headed back to Airlie Beach for a night out with everyone from the boat and accidentally stayed out dancing until there were only four hours between us and the early morning bus to our Australian outback experience at Kroombit Park. Oops!