We were in store for a long night, 9pm until 9am the following day, 12 hours ekkk! But it was actually okay. I did my diary for abit and then settled down for the night. We slept for most of it and it was a full bus due to it an overnight bus meaning no accommodation meaning more money!! All good :) This was me the previous night waiting for the bus!!
We got two seats each but it was funny because nobody was next to me and then I nodded off, then a girl was sat there! What?! Where did you come from??
The journey was very pleasant. That's one thing I'm really impressed with, how nice the drivers are (with us meeting a few), how smooth they drive and the cleanliness of the bus! Really good!
We arrived and grabbed our backpacks to get ready for Airlie Beach and the Whitsundays!! There was a lady there from our hostel and she escorted us all back to the hostel, which was in the main esplanade.
We tried to check in but check in wasn't until 12 and it was only 9.30. Our bags were put in luggage storage for free until we could check in. With this been the case we headed out to adventure the busy area. The hostel was literally next door to Woolworth's so we grabbed an Easter treat for ourselves! Family...we missed our Easter eggs! Haha.
We then walked up the beach and ended up slap bang in the middle of a market, turned out to be every Saturday?? From 9-1 so were lucky to catch it. I bought a lovely handmade turtle for $10 and some flags to put on my backpack for $12.
Also we saw an absolutely tiny baby kangaroo, we were told that if a kangaroo is ran over always check if there is a baby joey in her pouch as these could have survived.
Also our chocolate had become victim to our stupidness and the weather!! They were melting fast!!
We went for a walk towards the lagoon which was jam packed, with it being Easter weekend all the family were having bbq's and having a swim in the large pool that was there. There was also a play area where I got occupied!!
We then got back to the hostel where we were put in a dorm, when we'd booked a twin so we hastily corrected that (due to wanting to skype later) and so the room wouldn't be ready for about 3 hours!
We then did our diary back at the lagoon to pass the time and do something productive.
We then got in the room...finally! It was only basic but all you need is a bed to sleep and a roof over your head! Oh but it had a fridge!
Also they must have known that we were English!
We skyped our family which was lovely :) a good catch up! .....whilst finishing a pizza we'd gotten.
We also checked in, signed our life away and got ready for our 2 day Whitsundays tour tomorrow...so excited! :)
Day 1 of Whitsundays Tour (Prosail Hammer)
Today was the day we were off sailing in the Whitsundays! We were meeting at the pier at 8am so we checked out, put our bags into storage and started walking to the pier! It was only 10/15mins away and we met up with Georgie, one of the crew and did a register!!
We found out we were on the Hammer, which was the best one of course, and with that we headed over to our home for the next 2 days!!
We had a brief in the sleeping area and were told all the information we needed to know. The boat was lovely and surprising spacious. To say there was 24 people on there, it was strangely roomy.
We then made our way upstairs and the journey begun! The boat was so smooth, and such a lovely boat. From here we met our full crew, there was the skipper Mick, who had been sailing for 17 years! There was also the two other crew hands, Sarah and Georgie! Them two girls had such great energy for the ENTIRE trip, showing so much enthusiasm and obviously loving what they do! Not a bad job after all, I'm not jealous......haha!
Our major stop of the day was the worlds most beautiful view of Whitehaven Beach. Just wow. The anchor was dropped and we jumped he into a little boat where we were escorted over to the shore. He then went back to collect the rest of the passengers. Also we were notified about us needing to wear stinger suits, this is to protect from jellyfish however at the start we thought it was from the stingrays! Obviously a suit won't help you out much in that situation...
We went on a short walk up the hill and upon arriving at the top we were smacked in the face by this absolutely overwhelming feeling of amazement. We were at the legendary Whitehaven Beach lookout!
As we reluctantly went back down, we couldn't describe the feeling and what we'd just had our eyes on.
Oh and we also saw some grasshoppers getting friendly!
We arrived at the beach and got on our stingray suits, or our sexy suits!!, and headed in the water. Sarah, one of the crew stayed with our things and had a first aid kit just in case anybody needed it etc.
'Charlie's Angels!'
And then we went on the lookout for stingrays, by this point we'd realised we'd forgotten our go pro camera back at the boat so wasn't ideal for pictures/water shots. But as we waded through the stingray-water-side we were nervous in case we stood on one as it was tucked under the sand! We saw 4 in total, thanks to Laura, a friend Nat had starting chatting to on a greyhound journey. She noticed all of them!! Thanks Laura! :)
We then went for a swim in the waves side which was amazing, so clear! And just relaxed and took it all in as we floating with no worries in the world! The reason for no pics of this bit is we forgot our go-pro :(
We then sadly had to go back to the boat, not bad though going back to sail on a sailing boat! Throughout our journey, they had put the sails up a few times and it looked like hard work!! Pulling ropes, tightening knots, climbing up to get the sail down.
As we were flying across the water we noticed a couple of seagulls little hitching a ride. It was so funny and they literally stayed in the same spot for maybe 15/20 minutes. They also liked standing on top of the pole too!
We had had lunch before getting to Whitehaven Beach but now we enjoyed cake and biscuits. They were spoiling us all and this would carry on for the whole trip. Such delicious food coming out from such a small kitchen!
We then did a manoeuvre where the boat was put on 45 degree angle so this was an insight into what life was like on a sailing boat :)
Then...it was sunset time. Tonight might have been the most relaxed, stress free and calming night of my life. We watched sunset as we floated in our nightspot and then watched the stars in the sky all night.
Later on, Mick had said that we might see dolphins tonight's so that got us really excited :) this was due to the food chain system surrounding the boat. The small fish eat the medium fish, and the medium get eaten by the large fish etc. We couldn't believe it but we saw at least one dolphin, numerous squids, and a turtle all in one day.
We also had nachooooss, which were the best nachos I've ever had, literally!
This was a snack so dinner came soon afterwards where it was potato salad (asked for the recipe as it was so good!), chicken, vegetables and bread (softest bread ever!). That dinner was spectacular! For the rest of the night we sat under the stars, chatting with our new friends that's we'd made on this journey and just had a really good time :)
Day 2 - Whitsundays trip
We were woken at 7 for breakfast, and the smell just woke us up and dragged us over! Nat was underneath the food serving surface so she could just nip her hand around and grab a bit of toast. Haha no she jumped up after smelling the deliciousness!! Is that even a word?!
The breakfast was fruit salad, toast and cereal. The fruit salad had all sorts in, watermelon, apple etc. really tasty! I thought of a funky idea and used the toast together with the sun!
When I first got up from the sleeping area, I had to totally pinch myself!! It was the perfect day, exactly like yesterday and we were here...on a sailing boat, in the whitsundays, in Australia! Oh my word!!!
By 7.30am we were in the water, divers went diving and snorkellers went snorkelling! It has to be the best snorkelling I have ever experienced. The water so clear, the fish so abundant, the occasion perfect. Bless Mick, he leant me a extended arm for my go pro and also a flat shaped lens so it gave our a clearer image.
It made such a different, I mean it gave a brill picture before but this was just spectacular visibility all thanks to Mick! Thank you :)
Nemo family!
We also saw a really large fish with blue polka dots on but no idea what it was! In that area there is Elvis and Priscella! Elvis especially is a giant fish, with big lips and is blue I think. Sadly we didn't see him but I may have seen Priscella. I caught it on film so here's a screenshot of it and see what you think :) Can't really get the proportion of how big it was but it was very big!
We spent a good while here which was brill and I dived down a few times to get as close as I could, obviously not touching the coral but I did catch my toe on it once so gave me a little cut. Thing is it was on top of a mosquito bite so not ideal!
You could tell it was feeding time when they all collected up together and when that happens with a camera there, fish hit the camera. Here is the evidence!!
And personally this is my favourite picture of the whole snorkel! :)
We then got back into the boat and then went to Langford Bay for another snorkel and chance of sunbathing too on the beach. It was a lovely place and also the best chance we'd get of seeing a turtle. :)
We sadly didn't see any turtles here but we saw plenty of fish and Nat saw lots and lots of travelies. Mick had told is about these, they were fish but looked like sharks. So Nat nearly wet herself and then remembered they weren't actual sharks.
The snorkelling really was magical.
I also had a little sunbathe and then sadly we had to leave again :( it was sadly the last stretch of the trip.
We sailed for a while until it got to lunchtime and food was ready. Sarah and Georgie did such a good job with food! I will be copying these meals and recipes, especially for that potato salad!! It was quiche, potato salad, bean salad and tomato salad. Not just lettuce, actual flavours and lots of ingredients :)
Nat also lended a hand to the crew helping to put up a sail!
Nat also lended a hand to the crew helping to put up a sail!
Sorry there's no pictures of food, it's because food was so nice we ate it too fast to take a photo. Oops!
We then sorted our bags to leave, I got abit sad (loved this trip!) and got ready to go back to reality. To be honest, not a bad reality at the moment :)
Oh bugger!!
Oh bugger!!
On getting back to the Esplanade, and with it being Easter Monday we raced to the souvenir shop to grab a badge for my backpack. In luck, we got one! And we to Woolworth's due to it shutting 15 minutes later, we nipped in.
We grabbed a shower and got ready for the after party of the tour, a proper send off after such an amazing two days! It was a dinner offer at Beaches Bar and they had a table so all could sit together. It was really nice, the food was lovely and the atmosphere was great too. It was funny because it was like a competition as to whose pagers went off first! Chicken Parma 1 - Burger 0 !!
We left about 9.30pm due to needing to pack our bags for the 7am bus in the morning to Townsville. So we said our goodbyes, got the facebook page and headed off. Still feeling like I was still on a boat, I couldn't walk in a straight line for the life of me!!
It was a fantastic tour, lovely people, brilliant crew, absolutely loved it! If you get the chance, go with Prosail. And make you get on the Hammer, it's the best boat!! :)
HAMMER HEADS!! And yes it was totally ........ awesome!!
Rach xx
Rach xx
No comments:
Post a Comment