We arrived in Airlie Beach at 3pm and checked into Beaches hostel. Wow it was so busy. This hostel had its own bar thats also used by locals and holiday makers as well as travellers. The place was booming and the bar was over loaded with people. When we checked in we found out why, 80 football players where there for a weekened trip as it was the end of their season or something along those lines. We were dreading our plans for an early night as the place was so loud we all had to be up for the whitsundays trip.

We had a walk around the town before going back to get everything packed for the trip, cooked ourselfs some tea and then went just in time for happy hour jugs in the bar.

Arlie beach was a glorified blackpool type of place, gorgeous beach and lagoon but very touristy. Still an a amazing place though.

We had to check in for our trip at 11am at Abel point marina, about a 15 minute walk from where we were staying. First stop was to collect our 14 litres of goon for the trip, I also bought some fruit to make me feel a bit healthier knowing how much we would be drinking.

The Whitsunday Islands

It took ages for the guys of the boat to come and collect so everyone was getting a bit fed up. By the time we had all walked down the jetti and saw our boat thought we all couldnt wait. The boat was called Avatar and was a trimaran so it had a big bit in the middle which was like the dorm bedroom and kitchen and toilets ect. To both the left and right was a huge trampoline that was where you sat/sunbathed and then there was our room in the pontoon at the end of the boat it was so funny as we clambered over the trampoline, as you look at the boat you think there is no way possible that anyone would fit in that part but we just about did. Each pontoon had 3 little window/lid looking things and we basically had to open the little window and jump in. Inside there was a matress big enough for a 4 year old and that was our room for the next too nights. Such a fun experience everyone was laughing at the ones in the 'private rooms' as they were just tiny whilst everyone else was just in one big room in the main section of the boat (after the first night we discovered we had the best deal as we could open our lid to get fresh air while they were all sweltering in the galley)

There were only 4 English on the boat, us 2, Lisa from leeds and Jo from Ireland, Kyle and Jody from Canada then the rest were all from various European countries. As soon as we set off we all were sat round together and all got on well from the start.

First stop was a snorkelling point, we geared up in to our very sexy lookng stinger suits and off we went. Not the bext snorkelling but the coral was really shallow and pretty good.

After snorkelling, each day we were allowed one 1 minute shower per day. This was deffinatly a test but I did it.

We were all sat around waiting for our tea as we were all starving so Ray the deck hand had us all doing a daft meet a great game which was actually really funny. Ray is from Sheffield so only me, James and the other English speaking people could understand his humour. We were in stitches but the foreigners didnt have a clue. Eric (our host) cooked up a very impressive spag bol, garlic bread and salad to say it was only his second trip. We all stuffed our faces.

Before long a few of us got on the goon and were sat all night on the trampoline playing drinking games, well untill half of them blew away. We then turned off the big bright light on the boat for a bit of star gazing. Me and James got shouted at the next day as the big bright light was not just a big bright light, but a big bright light that stops other boats from driving into us ooops.

The next day we were as rough as a badgers arse. Goon hangovers are just the worse. Breakfast was served and off we went to Whitehaven beach at 7 bloody 30 in the morning. No one looked that enthusiastic even though it is the 2nd best beach in the world. Also it is the only beach in the world that is not sand but pure silica.

We walkeds up to the view point first and wow, incredible even with a hangover. We were lucky to be the first on the island so got really good pictures as no one was on the beach.

We walked down to the beach and it was literally heaven. We spent a while walking down the 200 mtr wide beach taking pictures and going in the sea as there were hundreds of stingrays amd lemon sharks that just swam around your ankles.

I think overall we had a good 3 hours on the beach so me and Jody had a full on body exfoliation session (people even use the sand to brush their teeth as its so fine) whilst James and Kyle played ball in the sea.

Back on the boat we had tea coffe and biscuits and I had a little nap to try and cure my hangover whilst we sailed to the next snorkle point. They were really good on the boat we all had to get on deck and put up the sails so everyone always got involved.

Me and Jody skipped the next snorkeling session and laid sunbathing on the boat. Whilst we were sailing we slowed down not too far from the shore and I heard everyone whistling. Next thing we knew these 2 huge eagles came flying around the boat whilst Ray threw food to them. After that we got served up 2 huge platters of crackers,dips, humous, carrot and celery sticks it was such a treat.

Later that afternoon we pulled up into a chanel surrouned by an island which is where we were anchoring for the night. There was a crazy dive competion where James had everyone in hysterics. We took the speeboat over to the island for a trek up to see some random cave with aborigiony drawings on the wall. It really wasnt worth the walk so we were all gutted we had moved from our prime sunbathing spots.

A really fancy boat pulled up next to ours and it was hilarious they were all gay even the people that worked on it and where all dancing around in stupidly small briefs. Great laugh to watch though.

The guys on the boat made up a bucket of 'smasher' basically a mix of everything that people had brought to drink with them, few oranges and a bit of sugar, suprisingly tasted like a really good sangria. Eric changesd into his altar ego whilst cooking tea. He got named Fiona whilst he cooked wearing Jodys bikini and an apron, very funny sight, especially whilst mashing the potatos.

Eventually dinner was served and what a great night, it was sunday night and we were served a sunday dinner of roast beef, mash potatos, veg and gravy whilst sailing in the Whitsundays, all 22 of us sat eating around the 2 life rafts as tables. It really was an experince we will never forget.

Even after we had all had our seconds and thirds we were all cravng desert of some sort. I kept saying how I would add it on the fedback sheet that on sundays there should be a desert, next thing Dale the skipper came upstaits with a buttered scone, jam and biscuits just for me. I was so gratefull and really enjoyed it but was so full I couldnt finish so I got abused by Ray for going on about desert then not finishing it. Lisa was quite happy to help me out though.

Drinking games, drinking games, drinking games all night, oh and not to forget the snorkel bongs (basically wearing a snorkel mask whilst some one pours goon down the tube and you drink it). Histerical when your playing with so many nationalities as they have no idea whats going on and say the funniets things. As usual it was me, James, Kyle and Jody that were last standing, well ok last ones laid on the trampoline.

Next day the hangover was twice as bad so I didnt move from our little hole untill we were nearly back at the harbour.

Overall this was the best trip we have done. We made so many good friends and just laughed the whole trip and cant wait to be bumping in to everyone on the way down to sydney.

When we got back from our trip there were hugs and kisses to all the guys from the boat and arrangements for reunion all ready that night.

Me, James Jody and Kyle all headed back to beaches to get a room for that night and went off to book our fraser island trip and buses to Agnes Water and Hervey bay as we all decided to go together. Pretty gutted though as other people already had their trips booked in so couldnt all go together but sure we'll be seeing people down the coast.

After a well deserved shower we went down for our $6.50 meal and drink deal evern though we were all hungover we still got on the cider.

Next stop was nap time before the pub quiz at 5.

5 o clock more jugs at the ready and our team from the boat and whoop we won, neither me or James had ever won a quiz so everyone was cheering us. Not a bad prize, $50 bar tab, only bad thing was we had to spend it that night and were all shattered and majorly hungover. Didnt stop us though, we invited a few others from our dorm and trip down to help us with our jugs. At 8 we went up to Pheonix bar to claim our free half a large dominos and a drink and then headed back to beaches to use the rest of our bar tab. By this time though there were only the 4 of us left s had some quickfire drinking games to get it down so we could all eventuallyy get to bed.

Today were all packed, blogs done, pohotos uploaded ready for our 12 hour overnight bus to Agnes Water.