Whitsunday.....the most beautiful place in the world!

March 24

Didn't sleep too well.... up at the crack of dawn, had breakfast and just read. It was a lazy morning. Finally headed out at 9:00 am for the Cedar Creek Falls. The lady at the Holiday Park told me that there wouldn't be any water coming down the falls but there were turtles that are real cute and they love bread. She also told me not to bother to go to Conway Beach because there could be crocodiles there (not going there for sure!) I was very disappointed with the falls, don't know what I had thought they would look like but it wasn't pretty. The turtles weren't cute, the water in the creek was mucky.

Next destination was Hideaway Bay and a beach called Montes. I get to Hideaway Bay and find out that Montes is about 10 minutes down the dirt road.... the Holiday Park lady told me once I get there I won't want to come back..... so I'm game. Boy, was she right. There is a restaurant and some cabins right on the water.... but the beach is beautiful. You'd think you were inTahiti... that pretty and no one on the beach. I walked and walked, then I sat and relaxed on the white sand. The water was so warm and so clear I could see the stingrays hovering around. I tried to take a picture with my underwater camera but they sure move fast. I really didn't want to leave.

Came back to Airlie Beach and headed out for a coastal walk along the waterfront to Cannonvale. It was a really hot day and it took 1.5 hours return. On the way back, I rewarded myself with a mango smoothie. Back at the site, I jumped into the pool to cool down. Quick dinner and a quiet night because the internet is down at the park. It's amazing how plugged in we are these days.... no internet? what are we going to do?

March 25
Today is my Dad's birthday. He would have been 91 today! Happy Birthday Pap! I miss you.
Got up very early as usual but couldn't go back to sleep. Got ready for my day to Whitsunday Island. The bus picked me up and took me to the terminal. It was a beautiful day. We boarded the boat and were given our lunch in a cooler bag. We were split into 2 groups, I was in group 1 and had met 2 Canadian couples (Saskatchewan and Port Coquitlam) At one point during the boat ride, we were given stinger suits. The stingers in the water is invisible and they are lethal. We stopped at two islands to pick up passengers. There are no cars on these islands, only golf carts. They are rented out at $49 per hour and a $500 deposit.

Daydream Island

Hamilton Island is privately owned. There is an area called Pebble Beach which houses the rich and famous. George Harrison used to own a house there, Brad Pitt and family and Oprah are regular visitors to this island. The neighbouring island is the golf course.

Pentecostal Island - if you turn your head to the right it looks like a gorilla

Indian rock - looks like a silhoute of chief with his head dresss

We all disembarked at Whitehaven beach. Group 1 (me and my new friends) were taken over by Zodiac to another beach to snorkel. With my stinger suit on I was all set to go.

The reefs were so cool, this is the first time I actually used the snorkel correctly!!!

Then we were whisked away back to Whitehaven Beach for 2 hours. We ate lunch, put our stinger suits back on and headed back into the water until it was time to go to the lookout.

We hiked to the lookout....breathtaking!!!!!

Then back to Whitehaven Beach for another hour of playing on the beach. On the way back, we caught a beautiful sunset.

I'm on the road to Townsville tomorrow.