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Date: April 2006
Location: Whitsundays, Queensland Australia
Somebody once said the Whitsunday Islands in North Queensland were "God's gift to Australia and Australia's gift to the world". And it's not hard to see some heavenly work at play in the creation of these green gems floating in an aqua-blue sea.
Born amid the violent explosions of volcanoes millions of years ago, these mountainous islands were drowned by rising sea levels 10,000 years ago to create an Eden on Earth.
Capped by an exotic mix of rainforest, tropical bush, sweeping pine forests and grassy hills, their ancient volcanic plugs and rocky outcrops sweep down to dramatic headlands, sheltering sandy bays fringed by turquoise water and coral reefs.
Even Lieutenant James Cook, who sailed through the area in 1770, seemed under divine influence. He coincidently sailed through the islands on the religious Whit Sunday celebration and named the Whitsunday Passage.
The pristine wilderness Cook sailed through is still much the same as it was 200 years ago. This is one of the greatest nature and aquatic playgrounds on Earth.
Seventy-four islands lie clustered between the Australian mainland and the marine miracle of the Great Barrier Reef. Hardly touched by man, there are just 10 resorts tucked away on eight islands.
Each resort is exquisitely beautiful, set among rainforest and palms overlooking sandy bays. But each resort is strikingly individual, honing its market so precisely that there will always be a resort tailored especially for you.
Forget Fiji, Hawaii or the Caribbean. You will not find a greater choice or value for the Australian dollar anywhere else in the world. From peaceful beachside bungalows to luxuriously appointed rooms overlooking coral-fringed bays, you are spoiled for choice.
Visiting the Whitsundays is always a new experience. You will be refreshed, invigorated and energised by the Whitsunday island resorts, no matter how many times you go back.
Cruising
Imagine sitting on deck of a beautifully appointed yacht or luxury cruiser such as the Reef Odyssey with Barefoot Cruises, glass of champagne in one hand, chilled oyster in the other. The sun dips towards the horizon, the sea shimmers gold while the hills glow red with the approaching dusk.
This is the magic of cruising the Whitsundays. On a crewed charter, you will find yourself being pampered by the experienced crew. Sip champagne on the yacht deck as a veritable feast of fresh seafood and tropical produce is prepared below.
Take on the days at your own whim. After an early morning dip in the warm sea, floating above a myriad of colourful corals, find yourself washed up on a deserted beach or watching exotic birds flit through the tree canopy whilst bushwalking through lush rainforest.
Again the experiences are diverse. Day trips to the islands and Great Barrier Reef leave from the island resorts and mainland. Maybe your idea of fun is madly "grinding the winch" aboard a former racing maxi as she roars across the waves, her sails taught before a stiff breeze.
Or if strapped for time, do all the islands at once. Aboard a fast cat, you can see the entire Whitsunday group in one day, visiting three island resorts in the process.
Your cruising options are endless.
Freedom
There's hardly anything more exhilarating than standing behind the helm of a yacht, watching the sails catch the breeze, and pointing the bow towards anywhere you want. This is the freedom of bareboating in the Whitsundays.
Bareboating means skippering yourself and basically involves hiring a yacht with a partner or friends and sailing or motoring yourself through the Whitsunday archipelago over a few days. The itinerary is yours to choose.
Each morning, there is the excitement of pulling out the chart, pointing at yet another coral-fringed island and saying "let's go there!".
Watch dolphins dip and dive or catch sight of flying fish skimming across the tops of the waves.
Drop anchor off the pure white dunes of Whitehaven and dive into water so clear you can see the ripples of sand on the sea-floor far below.
Throw in a line and try your luck catching that most succulent of North Queensland temptations, the coral trout, and then grill it on a deck barbecue, a thousand stars above you.
Whitsunday bareboat firms, such as Whitsunday Rent-a-Yacht, offer expert tuition or will send along a skipper if you wish.
You're free to choose.
Eclectic
It's hard to believe so much can fit into 500 metres, but this is the sheer compact fun of Shute Harbour Road in the Whitsunday Coast village of Airlie Beach. This beautiful resort town is backed by tall rainforest mountains and fronted by an iridescent Coral Sea.
Airlie is a delightful mix of contrasts. An eclectic mix of young international travellers, families and romance-seeking couples gives this village a friendly, cosmopolitan air. The attitude is friendly, the atmosphere casual.
Everything you need is contained within the 500 metre Shute Harbour Road. You could find yourself dining by candle light on the balcony of a fine restaurant overlooking a moonlit Airlie Bay, or moving to the beat of a live band in one of several clubs. During the day, browse through a local gallery where works from the Whitsundays thriving arts community are on display.
Or spend a lazy, carefree day by the village's wide blue swimming lagoon on the beachfront, soaking up the sun.
Your accommodation will be exquisite. Your hillside apartment, in beautiful properties such as Water's Edge, or absolute waterfront resort, such as Coral Sea Resort, will offer uninterrupted views across the islands and Whitsunday Passage.
It's so easy to do a day trip to the islands, reef or rainforest-clad hinterland. A courtesy bus can pick you up from your front door.
Dive in
Imagine a world where colour reigns supreme. Imagine a world where colours that would normally clash reside in perfect harmony with each other.
This is the splendour of the Whitsundays coral reefs. This is nature's artwork at its best.
Immerse yourself in clear, aqua-blue water and be dazzled by the teeming populations of the Great Barrier Reef or the island fringing reefs.
Get up close and personal to a maori wrasse larger than you, marvel at the brilliant colour of giant clams or be surprised at how tame the reef fish are. In some areas they swim in vast schools and will literally bump into you, such is their casual attitude to the presence of humans.
A fabulous way to experience this world is by scuba diving. If you are an experienced diver, you could find yourself spending a few days cruising among the islands and the Great Barrier Reef, being taken to the best dive sites.
If you are a novice, there are several firms who will teach you the ropes with expert instructors.
If you just want a taste, many day tours will offer you an introductory dive under the tuition of a qualified instructor.
There's more to the Whitsundays underwater world than you could ever expect.
Fly free
It's especially a magnet for lovers and honeymooners, but it's also a drawcard for the mere curious. This is "heart" reef on the Great Barrier Reef - a reef shaped as a well-defined heart.
This spectacle is best seen from the air and always manages to elicit a gasp or laugh of delight. Generally, flying above the Great Barrier Reef adds another whole dimension to experiencing one of the world's greatest marine wonders.
Diving the reef gets you up close and personal but flying over it gives you an idea of its sheer vastness. It's a ribbon-lace of red and ochre surrounded by aqua lagoons and the rich blue of the deeper channels. If you're lucky, you'll spot the lazy, flapping of mantarays as they cruise the shoals.
This is perhaps a lesser known aspect of the Whitsundays - the ability to fly where you like via light aircraft or helicopter.
Imagine hopping aboard a float plane with your partner and watching the sheer beauty of the islands, mountains, bays and fringing reefs sweeping below you.
Then land on a blue lagoon, wade to a deserted white beach and pick through a succulent hamper of cold meats, tropical fruits and divine seafood, glass of chilled champagne in hand.
Life doesn't get much better than this.
Easy Access
Access to the Whitsundays is easy. There are daily flights into Hamilton Island and Proserpine on the Whitsunday Coast. Both airports have coach, cab and ferry transfers to your destination of choice. There are regular north-bound and south-bound passenger trains and coaches that service the area.
There's no need to travel overseas to find an island paradise when you have the Whitsundays within such easy reach.
For more information:
Tourism Whitsundays
Tel +61 7 4946 6673
- By Shaun O'Dowd
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