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We travelled to Airlie Beach, a nice little town by a beautiful harbour, ready to embark on our 3 day sailing trip around the Whitsunday Islands the following day.
We boarded the "Pacific star" at 7:30PM and sailed to the Outer Great Barrier Reef (close to) with our 4 crew and 17 shipmates! We spent the evening gazing open mouthed at the stars and swapping travelling stories!
Bright and early we went to the reef and did our first of two dives. The visibility was a bit crap so we were quite disappointed. I was actually more impressed by looking at the reef from the boat, having tiny spinner dolphins following us as we sailed and feeding huge fish a loaf of bread from the back of the boat.
In the afternoon we headed for Pearl Bay AKA the fish bowl! We sunned ourselves all afternoon (life is hard)!
Day two we spent diving and snorkelling around Pearl Bay. It was much better today. We saw loads more colourful fish and masses more coral. We also saw an aptly named 'giant clam', which was like something off a sci fi film. Spent some more time sunning ourselves and admiring the awesome surroundings.
This morning (day 3) We set sail at 5am for Whitehaven beach THE most beautiful beach in the world! (According to National Geographic Magazine!) We are not arguing with that!! We were lucky enough to be the first boat load to arrive at the beach thanks to our early start, which is quite impressive given that 5000 tourists visit the beach every week! So 19 of us smugly photographed ourselves and our surroundings until the hoardes arrived about 20 minutes later!
Then we sailed back this afternoon which took around 4-5 hours. Jim and I didn't suffer any sea sickness ourselves but a few on board did, especially on the first day. On poor guy puked for the first night and morning then got severely sun burned on the first afternoon. He spent the rest of the trip indoors lying down and not speaking to anyone with heat stroke and oozing shins yuk!
We had an amazing time and it will definately be an experience we will treasure.
Comments or Questions for the Author
HAULWEN + DAVID says:
Hi, Nat and Jim. Sounds fab.I to have a cuddly koala called David!Oz sounds great.Have a great time,thinking of you,LOVE YOU BOTH, Haulwen, David & crew xxx PS. david says if it works,bring some sand back for him!
Lynne (mummy) says:
Hi you two travellers, what a fantastic time you are having. You both look good on the photo's, we are so lucky to have the blog to keep us updated. Australia, well it looks a fab place to be. Everyone loves 'David', the pic of you Natalie isn't bad either. Enjoy, enjoy, what an experience. We are all missing you, hope you are not too homesick Natalie. Lots of love to you both, can't wait til your homecoming. Mum (Hill)




previous travel blog entry
Arnie says:
Blah blah blah blah blaaaaah. We all know you'd rather be here in Zooport. Don't go getting drunk on any pedalos.