On our first night on Airlie Beach we were staying at Beaches with people we had met on the Oz bus and at Base. There was more free booze on our first night so we played some drinking games until we were told off by the bouncers. Alcohol laws are strict compared to those in the UK! All the girls were dancing and doing the conga while Si finished off the remaining beer on the table.

The next day we had to check out early and store our bags before sailing around the Whitsunday Islands. We all pottered about in the morning and bought our first box of goon. Goon is the aboriginal word for pillow which is what the empty bag of wine looks like when it is blown up. Although there are loads of nice cheap wines from Australia and New Zealand on the shelves, we couldn't take the glass bottles on a boat. Strangely, on some boxes of goon it mentions fish products being used so we try to stay clear of those makes!! We boarded Boomerang (our boat) in the afternoon. We quickly hid beneath deck as it began to rain when we climbed aboard. We were assigned a small bed that had very little head room causing us both to repeatedly bang our heads. Sadly we weren't allowed shelter as 'sailing is a water sport'. We headed back on deck and had a quick safety briefing. Eight people at a time had to help raise the sail by winding some handles while all the other passengers sat on the high side. Soon enough the boat was sailing with wind power rather than the engine. The entire boat was leaning into the sea with the low side of the deck dipping in and out the waves. We sailed around some of the islands which were just about visible behind the rain. We anchored for the evening and had the opportunity to squeeze into a stinger suit for an evening swim. Before going in the sea we were given a warning about the jelly fish as it is currently stinger season. Around three times a year a helicopter arrives and takes the injured to hospital. Thankfully no one in our group had a helicopter ride!! That evening we played games, drank goon and spotted several shooting stars. The night sky looked amazing as there was little light pollution. We went to bed at a reasonable hour and I had some crazy pirate dreams!

Music woke us up early the following day. The lack of showers was a tad annoying but we managed a small wash in the claustrophobic cubicles. We jumped into Lockeys Leaky Limo's - the small boat - and were taken ashore to Tongue bay. We were lucky enough to spot a turtle coming up for air! We walked through the bush to the Hill Inlet Lookout giving everyone we passed high fives. (People walking past were complaining on hand pain as there were about 30 hands to slap!) From the lookout we could see Whitehaven bay - voted one of the top ten beaches in the world. The sand on the beach was 99% silica and squeaked beneath our feet. We made our way to the beach but were sadly racing against another rain cloud. We just made it to the sea when the rain came and drenched us.

We returned to the boat and sailed to Luncheon Bay on Hook Island. The sun had finally come out, which - alongside the low tide - meant perfect snorkeling conditions. We had to squeeze into some stinger suits which Si has mastered. I still didn't enjoy being so close to the fish. The coral was much more colorful due to the low tides. Simon managed to snorkel with a turtle which we had seen swimming around the boat.

We went sailing again in the afternoon and did some turns but I can't remember what they were all called. At one point several dolphins were jumping beside the boat, I managed to get a dolphin in the bottom corner of a photo but one guy on the boat took a video and has put it on youtube for us all to see (WEBSITE). As we anchored by the other boats in a bay forthe night, we saw a massive school of Pilot Whales swim by. On our last evening I was drinking everyone else's goon as mine had disappeared (overboard?).

The next morning we sailed back to shore and went back to Beaches our hostel. Again we were given free drinks J and had a bit of a party. The following day we recovered and munched on some kangaroo at the BBQ areas - they were a bit chewy!