Day 55 - Whitsunday Islands

Day 55 – Thursday 6^th March 2014 – Whitsunday Islands

Arrived at the anchorage at 08.00 but this time had breakfast in the Lido on Deck 9.

Airlie Beach

  The 74 islands of the Whitsundays lay in the heart of the Great Barrier Reef.  In 1770 Captain James Cook in HMS Endeavour explored the coast of Queensland during his first scientific expedition.  The Whitsundays Islands were so-named, as it was on this particular day, 3^rd June 1770 that Cook passed through the islands.  It was to be another hundred years before the first small settlements sprang up on the nearby mainland.

Tender

The ship was anchored three miles from the town of Airlie Beach on the main land.  We had to use the local catamarans which usually take tourists out to the nearby islands and the Great Barrier Reef.

We went to the ballroom for our ticket to go ashore at 09.45 and we were ashore in Airlie Beach (population 4000) an hour later. 

Taking the shuttle bus to the yacht club, there was a market set up but we bypassed there and headed for the not too far away main street. Here I found a music shop with a selection of ukuleles, for a mere $35, I purchased a pleasant sounding soprano uke, this compares with the $500 one in Honolulu.

We found a bar with internet access and for free, if you purchased, not problem for us drinking the local Northern beer which washed down my calamaris, while Colin devoured a kick arse burger.

Lagoon

  

Lagoon

 Wandering back to the marina we passed this lagoon opened in 2001 for safe bathing and it is a picturesque spot.  Built as an incentive not to go in the sea, because sharks, crocodiles and box jelly fish will do you harm.

 There is a board walk, windings it’s away around the bay, which brings you into the marina and the tender had us back on board for 16.30.

Sunset

At 17.00 we left the anchorage and I watched from Deck 3, as the islands passed by, hoping see any marine life.  Unfortunately, none to be seen and I have not seen a dolphin since leaving Southampton.

This part of Australia is very beautiful and the islands are a jewel in the crown, it was wonderful to see, and in the future, a possible venue for a sailing holiday.