From Airlie Beach I took a 3 night/3 day sailing trip around the Whitsunday islands.  The ship was a tall ship built in 1902.  There were 32 of us and I really thought the boat would be a lot bigger than it was! We were in four share cabins with tiny bunk beds and a tiny strip of floor space.  The toilets were also the showers and you were only allowed one 2 minute shower in the evening to conserve water.  All this considered I absolutely loved it.  We went to Whitehaven Beach, the third best beach in the world! Spent a day snorkelling at different sites and an afternoon sailing with the sails out and the motor off.

There was a real mix of people on the boat including a french family with their 2 kids (who were very well-behaved, thank god), some older couples and younger backpackers.  So there was always someone to chat to, drink with or a corner of the ship to relax in.  I even discovered that there is one part of my body that tans without freckles, unfortunately it is my feet which looks rather odd next to my milk bottle white legs!

By the end of the three days I could have stayed on the boat forever! You can volunteer on them which means that you do all the snorkelling and trips and in return you wash up (there is a lot though) and clean the toilets. If I had more time I think I might have been tempted.  But alas time is short.

After getting off the ship we all had a night out at a local bar. Stupidly I had booked the 6.15am bus the next morning so I only had a couple of drinks. But still didn't make it to bed until 1am.  I then had to get up at 4.30am to finish packing my bags, check out and make it to the bus stop.  I felt so ill and then the bus didn't turn up until 8am, I was not a happy bunny!