hi

since last time we wrote we headed down to Airlie beach where we would go sailing around the collection of Whitsunday islands for 2 days.

Arlie beach was crowded and hot - we spent 2 nights there just organising our sailing trip and reading round the lagoon! On sat we got up early and walked to the harbour where the sailing boats dock. Our boat was called 'The Iceberg' and was owned by 2 brothers and was stunningly white! We only had 12 people on the boat and had our own star gazing cabin right at the front of the boat. The weather was not great for the morning but soon cleared up as we got the sails up and started heading through the islands to stop and have some lunch cooked by our Kiwi chef Ben. After eating out on the deck we geared up into our stinger suits and headed out to our first island bay to do some snorkling. All the places were great barrier reef and were amazing to see all the hundreds of different species of fish, jellyfish, coloured corals and giant turtles!! Did abit more sailing and snorkling beofre we threw down the anchor to watch the gorgeous sunset over the water. As ben was cooking us all tea the night sky was now so clear and we did some star gazing. As there was no light anywhere it was so easy to see all the millions of stars. We all just sat there on deck having some beers and eating some good grub before heading to bed with our star gazing hatch open to sleep under the stars.

The next day we were up at 6am to watch the giant turtles swimming and keep coming up for air. we then set off to beat all the other boats to whitehaven lookout point. A little ride accross to the shore in the dingy and we walked up the hillside to the lookout point. It was now so hot and humid the beach looked beautiful from the viewpoint and as the tides go accross the beach no two days ever produce the same beach view.

We then got back on the boat and headed to our own private spot on whitehaven beach to relax and snorkel. we saw one of the smallest jellyfish right next to us which are the ones that are the most dangerous this time of year which is why we have to wear our stinger suits in the water! Once back on the boat we had dinner and headed to another isalnd bay to do some more snorkling.

we were back on airlie beach at 5pm and we then had to get our stuff together and get on our overnight greyhound bus down to rainbow beach which took 16hrs.

Rainbow beach is a small little town and we are right on the beach front. not alot of tourists here so its so quiet. looks alot like summer bay from home and away - even has its own surf club. The beach is massive and almost always deserted of people so u have your own spot.

Last night it was one of the guys from our dorms birthday so we all went out for some drinks to the bar and then headed to the beach to watch the stars in pitch black and have a dip in the sea.

we are off 2mz on our fraser island safari trip for 3 days so we wont have any internet over there as it is just a massive sand island.

we will update you again soon! hope everyone not too cold there! hehe

kelly and tom - Rainbow Beach, Australia