That Travel Bug: Whitsundays Winter Getaway, June 2009

My very good and beautiful friend and her partner now live and work in Airlie Beach. After moving from Brisbane in Queensland, I haven't being coping so well with the cold winter temperature in Victoria, and with an opportunity to visit family in Brisbane, I was able to take a little side trip to heaven and spent 4 days up in the warmth of this lovely part of the Sunshine State.

There are 74 islands in the Whitsunday group in North Queensland. The transport and mainland accommodation and eating and meeting hub is Airlie Beach and it's commonly known as the Gateway to the Whitsundays. Airlie Beach is on the mainland in the centre of the 2,000km precinct of the Great Barrier Reef. Holidaymakers and backpackers from all over the world love it here because of the great climate, sailing, the proximity to the reef and the islands, nightlife and all you can eat or drink pubs in the town of Airlie. There's a market on Saturday mornings at Airlie Point which is good fun to wander around and shop, then you can head off to get a cool or cleansing ale at one of the local pubs or stop in and have lunch. There are heaps of tour operators running day trips or adventure tours out of shops on the main street, Shute Harbour Road and you can find cheap or upmarket accommodation here .. whatever your fancy or price range. You can charter yachts to sail around the islands and then choose to moor at many of the beautiful spots available or you can catch the high speed catamarans or ferries that visit the islands and the reef. There is so much to do, you really should get a plan so you don't miss out on anything.

This is winter in the Whitsundays and probably as bad as it gets!

The local Council has built this artificial lagoon right in town at Airlie Beach for use by the public and have a lifeguard on duty. During the hot and humid summers here, which of course also include the stinger season (October through to April), this lagoon is chock a block (full) with locals and tourists taking advantage of its cool and safe swimming. It also has a view out over the water at the sailboats and some of the surrounding offshore islands.

There are many safety signs along beachfronts, on the islands and near waterways to warn the public of the dangers of swimming without precautions in the stinger season.

We drove up to the top of Whitsunday Hill and looked out to the Coral Sea over the construction of the new Port of Airlie which is going to take a few more years to finish yet. There will be apartments, waterfront homes, retail areas and marina berths.

I wandered along the Bicentennial Walkway from town, around past beaches and the panoramic sea vistas. The pathways and boardwalks go for 3km connecting to each other, starting in town at Airlie Beach, past the lagoon, Abel Point Marina, Shingley Beach and linking up to Cannonvale.

Abel Point Marina stretches from the Point to Shingley Beach.

The Waterline on Shingley has beautiful views out over the marina and the Coral Sea and is fully air-conditioned. The food is absolutely fantastic and so fresh. You should try the seafood curry or the scallops or the crocodile tail entree or the amazing looking house specialty seafood platter, or, or, or!!!!! The wine selection is decently priced too.

Here's the website if you get a chance to get there - http://www.waterlineonshingley.com.au/

The atmosphere here is so relaxing, you feel like you are on an island, not the mainland.

Next was a day trip to Daydream Island. We caught the cat from Shute Harbour and within 10 minutes we were stepping onto the marina at Daydream.

Hello Paradise!! Hotel and suite accommodation, swimming pools, restaurants, cafes, shopping, tours, watersports, gyms, bars and spas and an open air cinema PLUS ... there is wedding chapel, mini golf and giant chess. Not bad for 10 minutes from the mainland.

The atrium

My favourite feature on this island is the Living Coral Reef Lagoons that meander through the island. The living reef is the largest manmade living coral reef lagoon in the world and was designed with conservation of the Barrier Reef's marine animals and corals in mind. The live coral and marine specimens have been collected under license and there are said to be more than 80 species of fish and 50 varieties of coral as well as starfish and anemones. I saw parrot fish, clown fish (known as Nemo's because of the animated movie), wrasse, barramundi, angel fish, red emperor, sharks and stingrays. You can hand feed the fish here including the sharks and stingrays which is pretty special. The water is pumped from the ocean and replenished all the time and when there is a lagoon staff member around, they are always helpful at answering your questions about the marine life in the lagoon.

The rays come right up to the water's edge to be fed.

Soft corals are growing and damsel fish love hanging around.

A juvenile Red Emperor showing his colours. Their stripes start out light and then darken and then go pink, then red. A bit like a mood ring!

Yes, that would be a shark with its ever present remora friend.

Starfish, seashells, soft and hard corals

The human's lagoon - sparkling clean - no chompies in here.

The pristine clear waters of Lovers Cove at Daydream Island.

Once you're all loved up you can get hitched at the Island's Chapel.

More stinger warnings on the island and some treated vinegar in case of stings.

The ladies of Mermaid Point.

These funny little birds with long legs and huge eyes are bush stone curlews, found all over Daydream Island. They co-habitate with the tourists, cockatoos and currawongs.