When we arrived at airlie at 7am, we both immediately knew we would have a great few days there. Lee immediately spotted a bakery, subway and a dominoes and was thrilled to be spending his birthday here! It was also sunny which we were relieved about.

We walked to our hostel, but couldn't check in until the afternoon. We went straight to the camper van area to meet our friends, which we were dying to see, joe James and Sarah who we met in vietnam. We spent the day catching up with them which was great and the evening drinking to see lees birthday in in style. Which of course ended with a maccies!

The next day, was lees birthday, I think I was more excited then he was. I bought him a few little treats, his favourite sweets, some kopperbergs (this was a real treat, as we have been drinking goon the cheapest drink) and a new t shirt to wear out that night. The weather was shining and all five of us headed down to the lagoon, which was beautiful and we had such a laugh. Lee got treated to a lovely lunch and we went out again that evening, which was another great night with our friends! Lee had an amazing day, and was so happy we could celebrate with our friends in australia!

Little did lee know his birthday wasn't over, as I had planned a surprise for the next day, luckily his hangover wasn't too bad! He was so excited to find out what it was and I was so impressed with myself at keeping it a secret. Lee was absolutely thrilled when the jet ski van pulled up, and he realised we were going on an extreme tour around the whitsunday islands, stopping at daydream island resort for lunch and a reef experience. He has been dying to get on a jet ski ever since we left England, and I am so pleased the tour did no disappoint and it was worth the wait!

The word extreme featured in the name of the tour, I didn't realise how extreme it would be, and of course lee was delighted. We had a safety briefing and before we knew it we were on the jet skis. Me on the back of lee, and when the man said who is going to be going the fastest, lee shouted out and we were put at the front of the line! I couldn't believe it and the image of me fallen off with a grazed chin in Mexico came to haunt me!

So we were off, and they didn't ease us in gently, we were flying along hitting 50/60 kms already. Lee was in his element with a constant smile of his face, and of course he had no trouble in keeping the speed up! The views were beautiful although I must admit I kept shutting my eyes and was holding on so tight my fingers hurt! The waves were massive, we were flying in the air so high and bumping around all over the place. It was so exhilarating, but our muscles killed the next day. Lee said he had never rode a jet ski like this before, they were so powerful and he was having the time of his life. After a good hour and a half we arrived at day dream island, which again was beautiful for some lunch and a living reef tour.

The reef tour was a nice brake from the jet ski, well for me at least! We got to hold baby sharks, feed massive fish, hold starfish and stroke stingrays. Before I knew it I was back on the jetski, I didn't drive back as I knew how much lee was loving every second and it was his present, also I knew I would not keep the pace!! Off we were again for another hour, bumping and going so fast. The tour was great, and most importantly lee said it is the best thing he has done the whole time we have been travelling, and I am so happy he loved it that much. I also had an amazing time, and was thrilled we didn't fall off this time, although we had several near misses,and I never told him to slow down once (only because it was is birthday haha). We were sad the tour had to end and both would have gone out again if we could!

That evening it was time to say bye to Sarah, James and joe, we were so happy we managed to see them again and will defiantly catch up again in England. Later that night me and lee popped for a drink with our friends chris and joe from Fraser Island, which was really nice.

We were up early the next day ready for our two day whitsunday trip, and our legs were killing from the jet ski tour. We were both so excited as everyone told us how amazing it was and we were so happy we were finally going. We were staying on an island for two nights and then going out sailing, we did not to do the overnight boat just in case lee got sea sick!

We arrived at the ferry port around 1, and had an introduction and got aboard the boat to go to the island we would be living on. The resort we were staying on was quite big, but only had our group staying there (30 people), it felt like we were on a deserted island. It had a lovely pool and me and lee even had a game of tennis. The next morning we were up at 7 ready to sail around the whitsundays, and we couldn't wait!

We spent the whole morning snorkelling a part of the Great Barrier Reef. Me and lee both love snorkelling and we saw some massive fish. I really wanted to sea a turtle and a few people we spoke to saw one doing their boat trip, unfortunately we didn't but I am crossing my fingers I will finally get to see one in cairns when we snorkel again!

The whitsundays is made up of 74 islands, the most famous being the whitsunday island itself which was our next destination. The views whilst sailing past these islands were beautiful. After a bumpy lunch we arrived at whitsunday island, home the one of the worlds top beaches, Whitehaven. We were dropped at tounge bay and we had a short trek through the forest to a famous view point called hill inlet. When we reached the look out even I was lost for words (and that is saying something). We were greeted by an amazing view of Whitehaven beach, which was stunning, with the way the sand banks show through the water. We were both amazed and could understand why it is one of the best beaches in the world. We spent the next hour on the beach, it is the only place in the world where the sand is 98 percent pure silica! Before we knew it our day was over and we were back on the boat heading back to our island. It was everything we hoped and we will never forget it!

The next morning we were up nice and early again for a bush walk on the island we were staying. The walk is a number one walk in the whitsundays so we were fortunate to be right on it's doorstep. The walk was quite challenging and we were so sweaty by the end but it was definitely worth it. At the top was 360 degree view of the island, which was simply amazing. On the way up we saw a golden orb spider, it was massive and a green snake.

We learnt more about aboriginal culture, we saw more stones that they would use to make spears and other tools. We also saw green ants, which they used as vitamins, they licked their backs. Some people in the group tried this out, but me and lee opted out! We also saw two leaves, one which you broke up and when crushed in your hands it turns to soap we couldn't believe it and another one which was used for nail files. It was so interesting how people used these for day to day essentials!

After our trek down, we were back in our stinger suits for some fish feeding. We all jumped in the ocean and the workers threw bread at us as we snorkelled. Obviously it attracted many fish, we even got to see a bat fish right next to our faces. Definitely the biggest fish we have seen that close! After we went for a swim in the pool before getting ready to get back on the boat and sail back to airlie.

We got to airlie around two in the afternoon and spent the rest of the day chilling around the lagoon, reminiscing on all the lovely things we had done and we couldn't stop looking at the pictures of us at Whitehaven! The next day we were catching the bus to Townsville, where we would catch a ferry to magnetic island for a couple of days. We had such an amazing action packed time in airlie, we loved every second and were sad but at the same time excited to be moving on.

Update soon :) we are getting use to island life!

Xxxx