Airlie Beach and the Whitsundays 1/4/16 – 4/4/16
We had a couple of days at Agnes Water, down time for some sunbathing. We didn’t do much other than chill out. Nice beach but again the sea is really too rough to do any kind of swimming.
After a 9 hour bus journey we finally arrived at Airlie Beach. Tina had been here before in 2008 but a drive through town revealed a very different town. The town centre has been through a total renovation, more bars, restaurants, shops etc, great improvement. This place was amazing with it magnificent waterfront, marinas and swimming lagoon, as it was stinger season it was unwise to swim in the ocean.
On our second night we were disturbed by a crackling noise, so outside we went to find the Whitsunday shopping centre was ablaze in fire, and it was right across the road from where we were staying. Apparently 9 fire engines were in use to put the fire out, and the following morning we heard that 8 local business had gone. What a shame as one shop was a gallery for local artists, but thankfully it was at night when the shops were closed.
One of the best bars we frequently visited was called Capers, right on the waters edge serving very inexpensive but fine food. I recommend the pork hog rolls on a Sunday accompanied by any of their many cocktails, including the “crunchie smoothie”. Yep they have now made a smoothie with one of Cadbury favourite choc bars……Soooo yummy. Another favourite food here was the “do it yourself” Asian rolls, which consisted of half an iceberg lettuce, a bowl of very finely chopped carrots, beansprouts, cress and other rabbit food, a bowl of pork and beef mince, a bowl of sliced chilli and some sweet chilli and lime sauce. The idea is you put a mixture of all inside a lettuce leaf, roll it up, dip in the sauce and munch to your hearts content. Again yum, especially as it has no carbs and weighs up the crunchie smoothies.
On the third afternoon we were at the bus stop to pick us up for our 3 day, 2 night stay on Molle island in the Whitsundays, another 18 – 30 backpackers tour. This was truely fantastic. On day 1 we sailed to Molle (about an hour), where we booked into the only resort on the island. The resort was badly damaged during a cycloneso only part of it is used, its quite tired but adequate. We soon found out that the group of 70+ of us were the only ones staying there. As usual being a backpackers retreat, it was party all the time. Again a very good bunch of 18-30 year Olds and obviously we were the only ones who extended this age group, but somehow we were engaged in all the festivities and welcomed by all. On day 2 of this trip, we set sail for Whitehaven beach at 8am on a very windy day. (T. great sail, the surf was so big it was like a roller coaster, apart from getting soaked i loved it) Never-the-less there were quite a few barfing over the back of the boat for the whole trip, the captain was yelling out ‘yay, another contender’!! no sympathy there. It took us 4 hours to reach this beach, but when we did, we all adorned our stinger suits, snorkels and masks, jumped overboard and swam to its shore. The water was very warm, translucent and amazing to swim in. We were informed we had about 90 minutes on the beach so a few of us took advantage of a great walk to a lookout point at the top of a hill. Once there we had a 360’ view of the southern part of the Whitsundays. To say it was beautiful would be an understatement, it was fantastic to see every shade of azure blue surrounding many islands with its silicone white sandy beaches. It was the very best beach I had every been on, let alone swam and snorkled in. A must do activity for everyone. We were informed by our guide that this was 1 of only 5 silicone beaches in the world.
Oh and yes as we were allowed to take as much alcohol on the boat, not surprisingly from the age group of our fellow shipmates, many were totally inebriated by the time we got there. Oh the youth, how we remember those days. On the voyage back we weighed anchor at a bay for some amazing snorkelling. Again dressed head to foot in the finest -skin tight- stinger suits, (Apparently I won the contest for the best “Michelin man impersonation), we jumped overboard to swim with the tropical fish and turtles whilst bobbing above the colourful coral. It was a terrific day.
That night was karaoke night, but after a big dinner, us two old folk couldn’t stand the pace so we’re tucked up in our bed well before 8pm.
On the third day, again after a good breakfast, we all went on a bush walk to a few look outs and the views were awesome. Then we set sail for Airlie beach, this time there was no wind, so the boat ride was glorious, full sun where everyone laid, (unconscious) on what ever part of the boat top we could find, until we docked back at Airlie Beach.
Roy and Tina Out of Office 