The Whitsundays: Part 1

I’m back from a week up in tropical paradise: the Whitsunday Islands. I got to spend time hiking, snorkelling, enjoying pristine beaches, and reading in the Airlie Beach Lagoon (why they decided to call it a lagoon is  a question I can’t answer – it’s actually quite lovely). Here’s how I spent the first half of week:

Day 1

I flew into Proserpine, checked into my hostel, had ice cream for lunch, relaxed while listening to the waves roll in as we went into high tide. Then I walked around Airlie Beach to get a feel for the town, and of course went to Woolies to get my groceries. Staying in a hostel for the first time was a different experience, but a good one! I was in a four-share room, and got a bottom bunk with a curtain for a marginal amount of privacy.

The communal kitchen was well-stocked with equipment and basics like spices, tea, etc. There were three fridges packed full of reusable shopping bags, as each guest was to keep their belongings in a labelled bag so they can clean out the fridge without tossing food that belongs to someone. I found the hardest part was packing my bag so it didn’t tip over! That afternoon, I met some Canadian women who were taking a hiatus from being nurses, and a woman from Sweden who was studying in Australia, and we all went out for Thai food for dinner, then walked along the beach before heading back home for the evening.

Day 2

Today was a day for the Triple R: read, rest, and relax! I started the morning at Airlie Beach Saturday Market and with a fruit bowl (and gelato) for breakfast as I enjoyed the tropical sea breeze. The rest of the day was spent at the beach and lagoon, reading and getting in some vitamin D, along with a minor sunburn.

Day 3

First tour today! I did a day trip through Ocean Rafting, where we went snorkelling, hiking, and swimming. The boat we were on was a hoot and had twin 350s propelling us. Doing doughnuts at 50 knots is one way to get my fill of adventure in! Snorkelling among the Great Barrier Reef was UNREAL. Because it’s jellyfish season, we wore stinger suits to protect against their tentacles. I felt like I was in a giant aquarium, watching the parrot fish, clownfish, and all the other species that I couldn’t name just going about their business.

We hiked up to Hill Inlet Lookout, to see the iconic and picturesque swirling sands. We enjoyed lunch on Champagne Beach, where the silica sands are aerated and release bubbles as you step on them. I was enthralled by them, and inhaled my lunch to 1) prevent the seagulls from thieving and 2) to have more time in the water.

Day 4

An early morning! I got up at 4:30 to hike up to Honeyeater Lookout. Queensland doesn’t do daylight savings time, so the sunrise is at 5:15. Even though I left early, I was dying of heat by the time I reached the lookout, 22° and 83% humidity with no wind will do that! This trail was more developed than the one at Jim Jim Falls, with about the same elevation gain. I was back at the hostel by 9, and did a little meal prep before the kitchen got too busy (and messy! Communal living has its drawbacks), making a simple vegetarian chili with lentils, tomato sauce, bell pepper, and onion.

I wanted to find something else to do with my day, so I did something I didn’t think I would in all my time in Australia: I rented a car and went for a drive! Having lived here for almost four months, the ‘driving on the left’ wasn’t that weird. However, I often turned on the wipers instead of my turning indicator! I went to Cedar Creek Falls (which were underwhelming –  I know it’s the dry season but I was hoping for more than a knee deep swimming area), Proserpine (to the grocery store, how on-brand!), then to Shute Harbour. It was really exciting to be behind the wheel again! Having done it now, I want to rent a car to road trip within Victoria.

Halfway through! Stay tuned for part two 🙂

See you soon!

– Kate