Arriving at Airlie beach at 6am after an overnight greyhound we were all a little tired. Going straight onto our Whitsunday cruise that afternoon we had the morning to kill before we could get aboard the Atlantic Clipper.

This was soon passed getting some breakfast and a swim at the lagoon before stowing our pags at Peter Pan travel and heading off to the pier with our XXXX under the arm. The boat was large with plenty of space and we managed to secure a cabin with only the 4 of us which was a good result. Leaving Airlie Beach in the mid afternoon the sun was out with not a cloud in the sky, just another day in paradise.

The first night not too much happened just cruising up to a bay just off Hook Island to drop anchor for the night. We then ate a good dinner of grilled fish before the boat turned into a sort of floating night club. We had a few beers but tired from the bus journey the night before the olds headed for an early bed as some of the other passangers partied until dawn.

The next morning we went straight to Whithaven Beah, which was spectacular, and spend the entire morning relaxing. Due to the prescence of stinger jelly fish in the water you had to wear a stinger suit when swimming, very flattering. From Whithaven we then cruised round to Luncheon Bay for our first snorkel at the Great Barrier Reef. The snorkelling was good with some exotic looking fish but the water very cold so we were not in too long.

While cruising from Luncheon Bay to Langford Island we saw a pair of whales playing in the water. Both swishing the water with their huge tails. What a sight, absolutely superb. From here we made for another bay to drop anchor and settle down for the second night. This transpired very like the first and although we managed to stay up a little later the party again went right through until the morning. A few sore heads the next day on board.

The third day on the boat we again had a snorkel before cruising back to Airlie. The trip included a night at a hostel in town from which we had a great view of the ocean. A bbq dinner was had by the beach at another great communal facility before we turned in. Next stop Magnetic Island.