Australia's Hamilton Island and the Great Barrier Reef

March 22-28 Hamilton Island, Australia (we were many days without internet, so there is a lot here, sorry)


G'day from Hamilton Island in the Whitsundays (the beginning of the Great Barrier Reef)

Due to the cyclone we were not sure if flights would be coming to the islands (Whitsundays). We had been keeping an eye on the news to find out if things would be okay. The storm hit this island (Hamilton Island) about midnight and luckily, it went from a level 5 to a high level 2 before it hit. The winds were still well over 200 km/hour. The Island faired pretty good with little structural damage. However, the trees and shrubs took a hit. On the mainland, aboout 40 minutes on a high speed ferry, didn't fair as well. They didn't loose any lives but several homes were destroyed and many were damaged. They also lost many boats (as we saw on the news). The power was out for many hours/days and flooding in places.

The flight from Brisbane on Jet Star was short (90 minutes or so). Due to the storm there were still many weird clouds and showers in the area and that was pretty much the same almost all the way. As the plane got about 10 minutes from the airport the clouds lifted a bit so we could see the beauty of this Great Barrier Reef island. Hamilton Island is the biggest populated island in the Whitsundays Island chain. We checked into our resort kiosk at the airport and picked up our golf cart. See pretty much everyone on this island drives an electric golf cart. It is a great way to get around and it makes everything quieter and cleaner. They give us a map and we are on our way.

This may be the biggest island but it really isn't that big. So before you know it we are at our AMAZING two storey vacation home over looking the water. The pictures will due it better justice than my words. After our excited tour around our quarters where we will stay for 6 days we were off back downtown to sightsee and have something to eat. We ate next to the marina and got to see some of the local wildlife. Several Cockatoos and Rainbow Lorikeets had to check out what we were eating. The signs tell us not to feed the birds but they are so cute... we might have slipped them a crumb or two from our breads. The rest of the day we checked out the shops and some restaurants. Later in the evening, in the pouring rain, we jumped into the golf cart and headed downtown for supper. We had such a great laugh, since we were all getting soaking wet and Angela, who was driving, had to put her head out the side since the windshield doesn't have wipers and looking around the side was easier to see. Lucky the rain stopped pretty much for our return trip.

Some of the damage from the cyclone

Birds on our deck

The Aussie girls

March 23

The morning brought more cloud and sun and some showers, still about 28 C or so. We had some toast and then went down to our infininty pool which over looks the ocean for a swim. The gardens/trees still look pretty amazing even after the storm. The workers here are working many many long hours cutting limbs, chipping, raking and sweeping things up. It must have looked amazing before the storm, since it still looks pretty good. After the swim we cleaned up and went into town to explore more of this island. We found the beach, Cat's Eye Beach, and had a walk around. There were still some tractors moving sand around and cleaning up trees and leaves. Most of the morning we just did some sightseeing.

After we returned to the condo we had a voicemail from the grocery store who was going to deliver our week's food from the mainland. Due to the storm, they were not going to be able to deliver the food today and maybe not tomorrow. We would have to order the food again. Angela was a bit turned off by this since she spent a long time online creating the menu for our stay but understood because of the storm. Anyway things on this island is very very expensive and if you eat out, even more so. We have to eat, so we went to the local general store and purchased some food. The food is costly but much cheaper than eating out.

As the day progressed the weather got clearer and we drove pretty much around this little island. Then we headed for happy hour (or at least tried to find a place that served cocktails). We ended up after several stops finding a drink at the pizza place at which we ate at last night. We finished up (with a buzz from one drink, well at least Francis did) and headed back to cook supper. We had supper overlooking the ocean. About 8:00 p.m., we decided to try out the upper pool and cool off before the end of the day. The clouds had pretty much cleared out and the stars were looking so clear. We are pretty far from a major city and out in the middle of the ocean helps with the clear sky. The pool area is lit but the lights inside the pool for some reason were not working and just before we are about to go in... Monique says "I hope there are no snakes in there". See here in Australia one has to always be on the lookout for these kinds of things. We think, oh great! Well there is enough light to look around and make sure there are no snakes. The swim was great and the pool water was even a bit cool. If the sky remains the same, then tomorrow will be a nice sunny day and the blue greenish water should look great!

Now that is a chip bowl

Our pool

March 24

The sun was up and warm very early and like most days we were at the wonderful infininty pool for our morning swim. We then came up and headed to the other side of the island where the beach is (only about 7 minutes on the golf cart). The tide was going out and the area looked so tropical with all the palms and nice sand. As I said before, this whole island is one big resort so you can pretty much use everything everywhere. The beach was on one side and then palms (where we spent time in the shade) and then these wonderful pools.

They are not your basic looking pool. They seem to fit into the surroundings and have lots of shape and coves. However, the nice ocean was calling us, so we went snorkelling for a bit and then came back and got the salt off in the pool. Most of the day was spent doing this. Oh did I mention there was a nice breeze from the ocean so the air temperture was almost perfect. However when the sun was full out it was hot enough too! We left the beach about 2:00 and found another hotel with a nice restaurant that was just overlooking one of its pools. After lunch we just headed off to the hotel's other pool and enjoyed the rest of the afternoon there.

We decided to dress up a bit for supper and Greg and I wore our tailored shirts and shorts we had made for us in Thailand. Yes, quite sharp we were! We ventured into the newly built Yacht club where entrees started at $36 mains were $42 per meal. The buliding is shaped like a whale and dolphin gliding through the ocean. The door handles are made from timber and shaped like a fin. We headed down to the steakhouse and consummed large amounts of porterhouse aussie beef. We all waddled home like stuffed ducks and collapsed into bed. Like most evenings here (after a long day out in the sun) we were ready for bed around 10:00.

Cat's eye beach

Out on the town

Sunset at the highest point of the Island (One tree hill)

March 25

Another nice morning and we had breakfast on the balcony with the birds. They seem to know when we are eating. The cute little Rainbow Lorikeets were the first to arrive and we just can't say no to them when they look at us and peep for some food. So we gave them a bit of banana. It doesn't take long for the Cockatoos to arrive as well. We try not to show them food too much because they will make the sound and soon we have a whole balcony of them.

After our bird breakfast we spent a few hours down by the pool. Today was a pretty laid back day for relaxing. Since the tide was low we decided to try to get down to our beach that is just below the pool. We made it down to the gate but find out that there isn't much of a path down to the beach and well, here in Australia, one just doesn't tramp through the grass/bush to get anywhere. One doesn't know what might kill you in the grass :) Since we couldn't get to the beach, we just headed out down a different way to the village below. Walked around the marina for a bit and checked out some of the amazing BIG yachts. The rest of the evening was dinner (leftovers) and then our energy is pretty well shot and bed time comes early.

March 26

Today we left the Island. We hopped on the FantaSea catamaran for a 90 minutes high speed sail out to the Hardy Reef, which is part of the Great Barrier Reef. The first 30 minutes isn't so bad since we are surrounded by the islands of the Whitsundays but after we left the protection of them the winds and waves get bigger and we begin to rock-and-roll. Poor Monique (and many others) saw the bottom of a barf bag for about 50 minutes, until we were back in the calmer waters of the reef. All and all she did pretty good after we arrived at the reef. Being an Aussie she's a tough "shelia" so she soldiered on and up ward towards the majestic blue yonder of the great barrier reef.

The company (FantaSea) have this big floating dock (like a floating park). The boat docks along side and then one can do all kinds of things. Most of us get a mask, snorkel, fins and our stinger suits (suits that kind of look like scuba suits only a much lighter weight but they help stop any stings from the jelly fish that could be deadly). Mind you this time of year it is hard to find them, since they are only around in Australian summer and it is early fall here).

We get down in the water and begin enjoying the reef. We now have an underwater camera and below are the first pictures from it... enjoy. As we get in the water and I help Greg get around I realize something is wrong with my snorkel! I can hardly get any air... we try for a bit but it isn't that easy. It is time for Greg to go back anyway. He is not a big swimmer, just learned in the last few years, but he did amazingly well. At times we were on the edge of the reef and below was the abyss. They don't allow anyone to stand on the coral because it kills it, so he really did a good job.

After I helped Greg back to the platform and get a better snorkel I head out. The fish sighting was pretty good but because of the cyclone the water is still pretty cloudy, which sucked. But still pretty good. Guess what? Yes, I saw another shark. This time it was a white tip reef shark. It might have been just over a metre. The biologist who was on the ship giving the talk talked about the shark but they are very rare since they are not very happy to be around all these human flipping about making all this noise. I was lucky since I was off pretty much on my own. I tried to get a picture but what your eye can see and what the camera can see under the water isn't the same.

Before we knew it, it was time for lunch, well it was 1:30. We had a quick bite and then we all headed into a boat with a glass bottom to take in more of the reef. It was nice but nothing like swimming on it. After the short cruise in this boat we are back in our suits and snorkelling equipment and head back in the water. We all get in and have a few pictures taken and then check out some more things. So much to see and so short of a time to see it. Both Angela & Monique look like sundried prunes as the beauty of a stinger suit is to show all the curves of the female species (and male bumps) plus highlighted by the tightness of goggles and mask that almost suck your brain out as you sink down and yonder into the depths of the deep Pacific Ocean. Angela exited the ocean with a permanent dent above her nose line and now requires botox shots as it's aged her terribly!

Before we know it the horn goes, which means we have to make it back to the boat. As we are waiting for everyone to get back we can enjoy their onboard waterslide. I was keen to get on it... but after I sat down on it I realized it was damn high but it was too late since the guy was pushing me down. After the first time was over, I couldn't wait to do it again. Monique wasn't sure about it because of the height and the fact that she wasn't feeling A +. However, she noticed another "vomiter"doing it and then she was down. Angela and Greg were happy being the camera and cheering crew.

The way back in seemed to go by faster. Greg and I were on the top sun deck and the girls were one below in the fresh air too, in hopes the fresh air would keep Monique from being sick on the way back too (it worked) . We talked to the folks up there (mostly Aussies), so that made it go by faster. Just about 30 minutes in, is where we pass the biggest waves/swells. For about 20 minutes we are tossed around and waves are splashing. It was kind of like a ride at a theme park. Pretty much everyone came through it without getting sick but there were a few. However, we all got wet for sure. It was fun!

We got back to our unit and all had a shower to get rid of the salt over our bodies. It was like a free spa treatment. We know it will be an early night, since we feel like we could sleep anytime. Plus tomorrow we leave on another sea adventure. This one takes us to one of the top 10 beaches in the world with 7 km of white white sand beaches. Whitehaven Beach is surrounded by pristine white sand that is extremely fine. It defines the ocean as a brilliant blue colour similar to turquoise. The ocean here is stunningly blue more blue than the Caribbean. The sun too is strong and easily burns the skin of Irish Aussies and pale NB characters like Greg! So we'll block up and cover ourselves in a thick slick of factor 30 plus.

Reefworld

Monique and  Francis playing with the fish outside the windows

Greg and Francis

Enjoying the waterslide

March 27

Another perfect morning out here in the Whitsundays! We had a bit of time in the morning since our trip to Whitehaven was only due to leave at about 11:30. After a nice lunch on the catamaran, we headed through the islands for about 70 minutes to Whitehaven.

As we were coming closer we could see the white silca sand reflecting the sun back at us. It looked amazing. The only bad thing was the cyclone still is effecting the water and what should normally look like a swimming pool, was very cloudy. Plus the tour boat didn't drop us on the white white sandy part. The sand felt like you were walking on silk it was so fine. We also had to wear stinger suits here too. Well some folks didn't but then again it is always better to be safe. One doesn't need a jellyfish sting to wipe out our holiday! We had some fun moments on this beach.

On yesterday's trip, we met a guy who was alone on the way back, since his wife, who was 5 months pregnant, was so sea sick she has to go back by helicopter. It just so happened that they had booked the same trip to Whitehaven as we had. So we asked him to join us for the day. He is from Melbourne and owns a deli/food shop (which we plan on visiting when we are in Melbourne in a few weeks).

Before we knew it, the afternoon was over and we were back in our home port. We made arrangements with Pasquale (guy from Melbourne) to see if his wife would like to join us for dinner that night, which they ended up doing. We had a wonderful evening back at the steakhouse.

Now how is this for super heroes

All of us out for dinner (the folks from Melbourne too)

These Possum seem to like the garbage cans

March 28

The morning was a bit more cloudy but it soon cleared off. We spent the morning packing up anyway. We had to checkout by 10:00 and give up our golf cart. After we checked out, we got a lift to a nearby resort and just spent a few hours by the beach and pool. We had a nice lunch overlooking the ocean with the palm trees swaying in the nice breeze. We can tell you... THIS IS THE LIFE! We would highly recommend this to anyone!

Our flight back to Brisbane with Virgin Blue left on time and it was so beautiful seeing the water and the green land of mainland Australia below. Last time we were here, a few years ago, they were in a very bad drought (for a few years) and everything was looking dead.

After arriving back at Angela and Monique's place we just relaxed and made arrangments with our other friends, Jeremy and Becca Judah, who lives in this area, for a visit with him and his family this week . Oh!!! Never guess what we had for supper tonight... a very Maritime treat... Peanut Butter and (almost molasses). How is that for a treat?

Some of the pools

Our last moments on the beach