So the last few days have been in Airlie beach and the Whitsunday islands. Having arrived early on the overnight bus into Airlie beach we spent Friday and Saturday relaxing and catching up with ourselves a little. We spent a lot of time down by the lagoon (pool by the sea, built to stop people swimming in the sea due to the jellyfish). We also made the most of one of the few nights where didn't have to get up early for a tour the following day so had a proper Aussie night out on Friday.

Saturday we wandered around the Market on the seafront and did some more sunbathing by the lagoon. We then started to get ourselves ready for our Whitsunday cruise, leaving Sunday morning. We were only allowed to take a small soft bag so Sunday first thing we dropped our backpacks at the storage office and armed with our small kit bags (was nice to leave the large one behind for a bit!) and some goon (cheap wine in a box as no glass was allowed either), we headed to the Marina.

Our boat was called Summertime and has room to sleep 16 guests plus three crew. It wasn't a 'party boat' as in it had beds not hammocks and we had to wait until five to start drinking, but it did have a hot tub!

So, day one, once we were all in the boat and had the usual safety briefing, the skipper, Brad set sail towards Whitsunday Island and Whitehaven beach. The weather has been pretty windy around here so we all had a bit of a crash course in finding our sea legs but lunch helped (fantastic food cooked by Ella) and by about 1.30 we were moored up ready to head to the island.

We headed over to Tongue bay to walk up to the lookout over Whitehaven beach and wow what a view. For anyone who hasn't been there, imagine the whitest sand of any postcard you have ever seen and the bluest water and that is what it looks like in reality. Totally beautiful. Once we had taken our pictures and admired the view we headed down onto the beach itself for a bit of sunbathing/swimming etc.

The sand is so white as all the of the impurities have been stripped out over hundreds of years leaving just the silica behind so the sand is also incredibly fine, destroying cameras as well. I therefore didn't use mine on the boat at all but have photos the crew took instead. I will load these up as soon as I can.

We went swimming in the ocean, with stingers suits just to be sure, and relaxed on the beach for a while. Also spotting stingrays in the bay before heading back to summertime for the next part of our journey. Due to the choppiness of the water we motored around to Stonehaven bay (off Hook island) for the night as it was much more protected from the winds. After mooring up we had dinner (BBQ chicken and salad) and then over dessert we watched a slideshow of the photos of the day plus a talk from Flo (3rd crew member and resident dive instructor) about the plans for day two including the dive and snorkelling options.

Everyone turned in for the night at a pretty reasonable hour, I think given the interesting journey out plus a little anxiety over sleeping on a boat (for some the first time), but perhaps more importantly because our day was due to start officially at 7, with the engines starting at 6.30! I thought this was meant to be a holiday! :-)

So up we got for breakfast at 7am after an ok nights sleep. Not so much sleeping on the boat, more restlessness I think and an exciting day ahead.

Nicci and I both had decided we wanted to try scuba diving. We got our stinger suits on and then a further short wetsuit for warmth (really not an attractive look...I defy anyone to look good in a wetsuit!!) and off we went.

Another girl Jess was also with us. We started with some basic exercises while only waist deep in the water, then once we were all comfortable Flo took us diving. We saw some really beautiful colours and types of coral, ranging the whole rainbow but sadly also the damaged coral too. We saw hundreds of fish which again were just amazing different bright colours swimming around below us while we have no idea, usually sat above them. It was a fantastic experience though the whole breathing underwater thing did freak me out once or twice!

After diving we also had the chance to do some snorkeling but after not long the coolness of the water had set in so there was only one thing for it.....hot tub!! What a great addition to the boat! Straight out of cold wet suits and into the hot tub to warm up, since showers were limited to 60 seconds per day this was a great luxury.

After everyone had warmed up and sorted themselves out we had lunch and then got on the move again. This time we moored up in Butterfly bay, named both for it's shape and inhabitants. We got the boat over to land and took a bush walk to see the hundreds of butterflies living in the canopy of the trees of the island.

Once back on board, Flo talked to us about the snorkelling and diving opportunties for the afternoon and Jess and I both decided to go again. We suited up and then headed to the water, including doing the proper backwards roll off the boat!

This dive, in a different area to the morning, meant that coral and fish were different. There were less fish in total but probably more types, including seeing butterfly fish (how apt!). We also saw a giant clam. It was good to have tried two dives so close tougher as they certainly felt quite different and will hopefully get to do another one in Thailand.

Once we finished diving we joined the others for some snorkelling and were lucky enough to see a turtle swimming below us. Another member of wildlife to tick off our list! Then back to the boat and the hot tub again!

A quick dry up and it was beer o'clock so out came the goon again for a few before dinner (steak). We also tried to figure out a rope game that Brad gave us, to no avail. A few more drinks and chat plus photos from the day and bed was calling.

After a great night's sleep, we were up at 7am to the smell of bacon and eggs, Ella did a fab job with the food. We had moved the night before back to Stonehaven bay for the protection from the wind but we hadn't had to move that morning which was good. So today was for kayaking. Summertime carries inflatable kayaks on board so we were paired up and headed out for a guided kayak around Stonehaven bay. We saw a few stingrays, a small shark and Nicci and I even managed to follow a
Turtle around for a few minutes. It was great to watch it swimming along so closely. On the way back we stopped at little beach to look out onto the bay and admire the views plus spot a few more wildlife including sea eagles and cockatoos.

Back to the boat and hot tub for the last time, this time trying to see how many people we could fit in it (only 6 but is meant for three!). We had some lunch and then started the two hour journey back to the mainland.

The winds had picked up to 25-30 knots which made for a pretty rough ride. A number of us huddled at the
back of the boat where the motion and spray were less but at times it felt like we were on a roller coaster! Huge waves making the boat roll from side to side, but we made it back into one piece.

We said our goodbyes and Nicci and I then collected our backpacks to wait for the greyhound bus up to Cairns. We arrived into Cairns at 6am this morning, craving a nights sleep in a bed that isn't also a mode of transport! Unfortunately we couldn't even check in this morning so have been relaxing by the Cairns lagoon and hostel pool until we can. Cairns is the last stop in Australia and although we still have a few days left, I can't believe this part is almost over, but we have fitted a lot in :-)