Arrived after a short bus from Maggie, and unfortunately the bus couldn't pick us up from the station, so we made the money saving decision to walk, carrying ~30kg each. Luckily it wasn't too far from the hostel in the end. As soon as we start walking through Airlie beach, we realise that it's 'Schoolies'- the holidays the high school kids go on once their finished school, and the place is full of them, all with their schoolies lanyards around their necks so we can recognise them. So when we arrive at our Base hostel, there are two worries; the travel agent booked the hostel and it could be crap (I forgot the check it out) and I really hope they haven't put schoolies in our room or we'll not get any sleep (yes, I am old). Thankfully the hostel was ok, (bathroom had spiders and mild, the beds squeaked everytime we moved, thank goodness for ear plugs) there were no schoolies in our room and the restaurant next door did a $10 steak and pint so couldn't complain. We spent the evening on the little man-made beach, listening the live music from one ear and the rave from schoolies from the other. We also had an attempt at tight rope walking that some hippies had set up on the beach. I was actually quite good at it, I will add it to my list of talents haha.

The next day, we checked in for our trip on the Whitsundays, then spent the morning by the lagoon with Lea, a german girl we had met on Magnetic island. At 1pm, we purchased the essential alcohol for the trip and walked to Abel Point Marina for our 2pm departure on the Maxi sailing yacht called Broomstick.
Our crew consisted of Rob, Joel, Sarah and Harry. Their were 25 passengers, mostly Germans with two other Brits and a Swedish couple. Upon leaving the marina, it was cloudy, keeping the temperature down a little which was great and we chatted with Dave on the way, all sitting on the high side, (as opposed to the 'suicide') with our legs hanging over the edge.

Our first stop for the day was Langford reef, which was the best place for us to see the turtles. They took us out in the dingy with an engine, and we flipped over backwards into the water, kitted out with our mask, snorkel and sexy stinger suits, a neck to ankle thin wetsuit, very flattering. There was some beautiful coral and fish, but unfortunately no turtles for me today. When Kenny went to get back in the boat, he kicked the coral and got lots of little bits stuck on the top of his foot; that was def itchy for him. We got afternoon tea of tea, coffee and biscuits, and sailed to our night-time destination spot on Hook passage. Dinner was chicken, veg and mashed potatoes, was nice. Then we played a bendy stretchy game where we had to lift a cereal box off the ground with our mouths. I got down to the last we4 so happy with that- the gymnastics from age 7 still does wonders haha. Had a few strongbow and chatted with the Welsh girls. The Stars were just amazing as there practically wasn't a moon and Kenny saw a few shooting ones. We got surprise visitors in the form of Dolphins. The light of the boat attracted the squid which in turn attracted the Dolphins to feed on the squid. They were there all evening giving us a wee show, was amazing!! I attempted to sleep outside but when the wind came and I kept sliding closer to the edge, I went inside.

We were awakened around 6/6.30 by the sound of the engine, and had a cereal breakfast. We then made our way towards Whitehaven beach for a few hours. Was pretty cool being the first ones on it and having it to ourselves for a while. It was absolutely beautiful. The sand was 99% silica. And looked just like it does in the pictures. Saw a few little fish and some stingrays. Did a little hike towards Tongue Bay where we got picked up in the little dingy. The next stop was Luncheon Bay, where we went for another snorkel. The snorkelling here was even better than the day before. The crew were feeding fish from the boat and they were massive, Bat fish. So in we went and Kenny brought bread with him; he was completely surrounded by these beautiful blue and yellow fish, and also the zebra ones, nibbling on him and his suit which he had more bread in. Saw a massive Trevelli, that at one point was swimming towards me, ahhh!! Saw rainbow fish and the most beautiful coral, absolutely loved it! At one point, I was surrounded by thousands of tiny fish, it felt like I was hallucinating, didn't feel real. Just before we got into the boat, I spotted a white tip shark!! Shouted Kenny and he just about saw it. Class!!
Back on the boat for some lunch and a little sail. Unfortunately I still hadn't seen a turtle so as the skipper if there was another chance to see one, and he took us back to Langford Island (which is a sandbank created by the pirate fish as the digest the coral, they excrete is as sand; so it's constantly growing). The boat pulls right over to the sand. So before Ive hardly even got wet again, I spot a turtle just sitting in the shallow water. So me being me, I shout 'Turtle!!' And in we all get to snorkel with it. All of us just swimming along beside it, was amazing. Such a brilliant experience and just made our Whitsundays trip even more perfect :) they brought some Nachos over for us to munch on the beach, and the Esky full of goon, and we chilled there for a while. One of the girls got stung by a jellyfish on the foot, practically the only place (apart from her face) that she wasn't covered by her stinger suit. We spent the second evening at Stonehaven bay. It wasn't quite as pretty an area as the previous evening, as there were other boats around. I had my one minute shower then a few drinks. Kenny got very drunk on goon and at one point I lost him (how can you lose someone on a boat?) so I'm looking in all the beds and walking around the deck, "Kenny? Are you there?" No answer. So I go get my phone light and find him wrapped up in the sail at the front of the boat. I decide to make him sleep inside as I don't want him falling overboard! Glad I did, it started raining in the middle of the night and everyone had to scramble inside anyways.

The next morning we started making our way back to Airlie beach. We stopped at False Nara for a snorkel after we had to rearrange our first snorkel due to a 3m salt water croc was seen in the water. (You don't stand a chance again a croc!). The snorkelling here was quite good as well, and we saw Nemo! So cute. Made our way back to land, the weather had been so perfect. Only rained on the last 10mins as we were pulling in to dock. Said goodbye to the lovely people we met and hopefully bump into them again along the tourist trail. We went to the lagoon for a wee swim and then spent the rest of the day at Backpacker World Travel, chatting to the n.irish guy Matt and using the wifi. Got ourselves a $4.95 dominos pizza each then
hopped on premier bus at 5.30pm for the overnight bus to rainbow beach.