Day 271 (Monday 1st September 08)

A very early start to be ready for the minibus to the airport at 6am. We all had good bacon and egg sandwiches before getting on our flight to Hamilton Island. Collected our bags and got picked up by Sunsail and taken to check in for the boat. Had a couple of hours to wait once we had finished that as the briefing and boat briefing wasn't until noon. Left our bags by the sunsail office and went for a walk to see what was around. Got a few things from the shop and went back to sit and wait. The briefing was good but made most of us not sure about going in the sea after hearing all the bad things in it! Had the boat briefing and then got all of bags onto the boat. Quickly went to do the shopping we needed, had some lunch and got on our way to Cid Harbour for the night. Not long after we had left the marina Mum spotted a humpback whale which was an amazing sight. Soon we were anchored up in Cid Harbour and enjoying the scenery when Em spotted our first turtle. Quite close to the boat but we weren't quick enough to get a picture. Enjoyed a nice cold beer and wine and a BBQ before playing more backpacker.

Day 272 (Tuesday 2nd September 08)

Most of us got a good night sleep. Up and had some breakfast. Made our way round to Border Island and managed to pick up a buoy for a short lunch stop and Dad to have a swim. We then went on to Whitehaven beach spotting some dolphins along the way. Amazingly long with such white sand. Took the dinghy ashore and went for a walk along. Mark tried to light the BBQ and ended up only just catching it before it fell in the water as the plastic part holding it to the boat had given way. Managed to tie the BBQ back on with some rope and hope that it would hold until we could make it back to Hamilton Island tomorrow. Had to find some food that we could cook down below! Again played some backpacker and this time a bit of UNO as well.

Day 273 (Wednesday 3rd September 08)

A bit windy and rough in the night so we didn't get a very good night's sleep. Had a quick breakfast and then went ashore again to get a proper walk along the beach. Once back on board got ready and headed back to Hamilton Island. Had an amazing show from a humpback whale as we made our way back in the wind with it coming out of the water completely. Amazing to see. Once we had got back to the marina the sunsail guys came to collect us. Very speedy at mooring the boat up and then sorting out the problems we had! Went for a pizza for a late lunch and had a bit of a walk around. The weather not great.

Day 274 (Thursday 4th September 08)

Woke up to rain and the boat having leaked quite a bit all over Dad's suitcase. Dryed off things as best we could. Had to put out some buckets to catch the rain. Made the most of the facilities on land and had showers. Read our books and used the internet as the weather really not that good! In the evening went to the Steakhouse for a really good meal and good bottle of wine.

Day 275 (Friday 5th September 08)

This morning woke up to lovely sunshine and no wind! A very nice change from yesterday. Quickly to the showers and the ready to go. Went round to Whitehaven beach again and it was such a different trip to when we had come back from there a couple of days before. Saw lots of turtles which was really good. Had a quick lunch stop and then on to Nara Inlet on Hook Island which is meant to be where all the hammer head sharks live. Once we had sorted out the anchor had a little trip in the dinghy around the inlet then back for another BBQ and more backpacker.

Day 276 (Saturday 6th September 08)

Once we were all up and ready to go left Nara Inlet early so that we could try and get the buoy on Esk Island. After speaking to sunsail on our morning call decided to just go straight to Tongue Bay as it looked so nice there and walk up to the viewpoint. Once we were on a buoy spotted some turtles but again we weren't quite quick enough to get good photos. Took the dinghy ashore and walked up to the viewpoint over Hill Inlet and Whitehaven beach which was spectacular. We then made our way down to Betty beach seeing a Goanna on the way and could walk along near to Whitehaven beach and then down slightly into Hill Inlet. Saw a stingray in hill inlet and then made our way back up and across to the dinghy. Back on the boat we were on the lookout for turtles and were very lucky as they seemed to be popping up about every 5 minutes! Ended up watching the turtles and doing some fishing all afternoon which was really good. Managed to get some close up pictures when one of the turtles came really close to the boat. Later on found out that we couldn't get the gas bottle to release so had to have cold food and knew we would have to go back to Hamilton Island tomorrow to sort it out.

Day 277 (Sunday 7th September 08)

A bit of a noiser night in Tongue Bay. Once we were all up made our way back to Hamilton Island to sort out our gas problem. Quite a long trip that was very windy and rough. Dad spotted some more whales which was really good to see. Started to realise that it sounded like there was a problem with the engine as it sounded like it was going to cut out every so often. Luckily made it back to the marina without it dying completely and the sunsail guys were again straight on the boat to sort out the gas and the engine. Decided as it was so rough and windy that we would just stay in the marina for our last night. Went up for a drink while they sorted out the boat and took some lunch back to eat on the boat once they were finished. Caught the free shuttle bus around the island in the afternoon to see the rest of the island and then chilled out on the boat. They had a band just up on the grass playing so we had a good place on the boat. Had a nice meal and good wine!