Today we arrived at the Whitsunday Islands at Airlie Beach mid-morning. This is a beautiful area with aqua blue water and much calmer with the protection of islands. There are no signs of damage here from cyclone Yasi. We relaxed a bit today and went down to the beach. The city has kept this area very nice for visitors with boardwalks and shaded parks.
It is "stinger season" along the Great Barrier Reef which means the Box Jellyfish is in the water and it can be very serious if you get stung. It is in the water here about 6 months out of the year. You cannot go in the water without a stinger suit. If stung the best treatment is vinegar and they have bottles along the beach. But it can actually be fatal if stung.
The weather has been quite warm, with temps in the upper 80's. Hope it can hold for us while at the islands.