Week One: White Sand, Whales, and the Whitsundays

What do silica rich, white sand beaches, sea turtles, some of the world’s best diving, tall, wind-filled sails and me sipping Australian Shiraz on a boat deck have in common? These things and more can all be found in the paradise that is the Whitsundays. After arriving in rainy Sydney last week (it is after all Spring here) I bee-lined it up the coast to Airlie beach to take in what is rumored to be the most beautiful place in the world, and I think that thus far, I would have to agree.

Photo courtesy of WingsII staff

The whitsundays consist of 74 islands in the heart of the great barrier reef, off the central coast of Queensland. I made my home-base the small town of Airlie Beach, taking 2-4 day trips from this point, trying to see as much of the area and soak in as much sun as I could before having to head South into some unpredictable Spring weather. Airlie is, from a tourist perspective, the place you come while on your way somewhere, making it a great place to book tours, spend jet-lagged hours on the beach or celebrate into the wee hours while you shake off your sea legs after a three-day cruise. I stayed at the waterfront backpackers and was very pleased with this decision. Down the road is the more raucous magnum’s hostel with some affordable dinner options and a good bar scene. Through waterfront backpackers I was able to book my 3 day cruise onto Wings II, a sailboat headed into the whitsundays. For $340 AUS my trip included 3 days, 2 nights on the sail boat, delicious meal after delicious meal, a free night back on shore in the backpackers, snorkeling equipment, and a few other perks like internet use and coffee in the morning. All in all a pretty sweet deal, not to mention, that for someone backpacking alone, I was overjoyed by the group of fun, adventurous travellers aboard Wings II.

photo courtesy of WingsII

I should say first that I usually have some motion sickness when I am…on ANYTHING moving, so the decision to board a relatively small sailboat for three days was a risky one. The pharmacy in Airlie beach is well stocked with ginger tablets and, if need be, drugs strong enough to sedate a crocodile if things get really bad. Despite a few rough hours I felt top-notch the entire trip. That is until I decided to give scuba diving a try…

It really is a wonder I travel at all, considering I am asthmatic, terrified of heights, allergic to anything with fur, dairy or pollen, frequently nauseous, prone to panic attacks, blind as a bat, and downright clumsy. But you are only in the center of the great barrier reef with a private dive instructor on a beautiful sailboat once, right? So I did my first introductory dive, not so smoothly I have to admit but with the help of very patient instructors (I squeezed the dive master’s hand while swimming around the ocean until we were all the way back on the boat) I went diving! Over the next two days I saw a moray eel, neemo fish, a humphead wrasse named George, a turtle, a mother humpback with a brand new baby and the best sunsets I have seen since I left the Pacific Northwest over a year ago.

The whitsundays are an absolute must on any East coast Australian itinerary, and well worth extending a visa for an extra few weeks in ( I promise I will come home someday Mom!) I am off to Townsville and Magnetic island next to check out the Koala sanctuary and a rumored coconut bowling party that sounds sweet-as 🙂 (in the process of learning to speak Australian…and I thought Korean was tricky!)