22/03/09: We arrived at Airlie Beach about 8 and got picked up by the hostel we are staying in- they took us to the hostel just out of town. We checked in- the staff were really chatty. they put us in a double room for the price of a dorm cos the dorms are having problems with there electricity- result!!! We are in a hut and sharing a kitchen and bathroom with one other couple. We asked about booking a Whitsundays trip and they gave us some brochures. We went to the hut- its well cool- they are all surrounded by palms and have hammocks out the front. The beds are proper beds and were nicely, properly made- it was like being at home!! Lil alex had his daily pot noodle and I had a shower. Before we knew it it was time for bed.

23/03/09: We had to get up for breakfast at 7.30- had fresh fruit and toast, lil alex had cereal and a cup of tea. We phoned home which was nice. Then went and booked our Whitsundays trip- we leave on Wednesday morning to sail around the Whitsunday islands for two days and one night!! We got it for about 135pounds which was good. Then we got a lift down to the main town- it is still hot today but it is cloudier so it is a more bearable heat! They have a nice lagoon swimming area here and then loads of shops and cafes, etc. I was still on a bikini hunt! I finally managed to find one!! It is RipCurl and is black with all little metallic coloured hearts over it! It was about 30 pounds. We got a baguette for lunch and chilled by the lagoon/sea. We went to finalise the details for our Whitsundays boat cruise and then got a lift back to the hostel. I cooked a tuna and vegetable pasta for tea. Then me and lil alex walked to the marina bay over the road to watch the sunset. We saw omething stick its head up and panicked cos we thought it was a crocodile then we realised it was a turtle and there was about 10 of them in the little bay. They were soooo beautiful swimming around and every now and again sticking there heads and fins and shells up and a little baby one was swimming on the rocks by us. The sun was setting and turned the sky a gorgeous pinky, purpley colour. And also about 100 of the big white parrots gathered on the trees. It was totally unreal and really romantic! We went back to the hostel and chilled all evening- sorting our washing and lil alex packed a box to send home.

24/03/09: We got up for breakfast about 8. Fresh fruit and toast. We put in our 3rd load of washing- we r getting good at it! Then we mooched to a shopping complex just up the road and lil alex posted his box- $37 and it could take 3 months- we wont be sending a lot else home- haha! We went supermarket and got a few bits then went back to hostel and got ready and walked to the main town along the marina and waterfront. It was sunny again today. We got stuffed jacket potatoes and a drink for lunch- lovely!! Then we sat by the lagoon for a while and chilled. We leave for our boat trip early tomorrow for two days- so there wont be any updates til the end of the week! Take care!! Hey- we are back!! So lets continue....... Wespent the night getting packed and then went to bed fairly early.

25/03/09: We got up and put our main bags in storage at the hostel before getting a lift to the marina. We boarded the boat at about 8.30- two girls from the kiwi experience bus were on our trip which was a coincedence. The boat was a sailing boat called Siska that had won world championships and been sailed by Prince Charles before it was turned into a tourist boat. There was 22 passengers and 3 crew- who were all really friendly. We were allocated the best bed- a double right at the front. We first went snorkelling off one of the 74 Whitsunday islands in wetsuits, etc. There wasnt quite as much to see as when we went snorkelling on the main bit of the reef before but it was still cool. Then we had lunch- the food on the whole trip was delicious- there was loads of fresh fruits and salads and nachos for a snack and nice dinners of pasta and fish, etc. After dinner we sailed to a sand spit where we got off and chilled for a while. When the boat sails it tips up at 45degree angles and you really have to hold on so you dont fall off. Also they got people helping to put up and take down the sails- lil alex had a couple of goes. We then sailed and moored off the shore of one of the islands for the night- we watched the sun go down on the deck and chilled all evening.

26/03/09: We were woken up at 7 because they had to pull up the anchor by opening a window at the end of our bed. We had breakfast and got ready and then sailed to one of the biggest Whitsunday islands. We done a bush walk up to a lookout point which looked out over all white sandy beaches and clear water. We then went to one of the white, really fine sandy beaches and chilled there for a while. But then the weather changed and it began to spit with rain so we got the speed boat back to the main boat and had lunch before sailing back to the marina. We didnt suffer from seasickness as bad as before but we have agreed neither of us are going to be sailors. We got to the marina about 4 and walked back to the hostel and checked back into a room- we still have our own room. We walked up to the supermarket and then chilled in the lounge area in the evening. Two possums appeared and the owners of the hostel cut up fruit for us to feed them- awwww!

27/3/09: We got up and had the free breakfast and packed and checked out, then got a lift to the bus station. The bus picked us up at 11.20 and we spent the day driving. We stopped for 30minutes at a cafe for food but didnt arrive in Rockhampton until 7. The driver was American and quite a laugh- we watched 'Be Kind, Rewind' on the bus.