As we were mostly ready the day before on Friday we were able to make a quick getaway after work but it didn't matter as we still got stuck, along with thousands of others that had the same idea, in the north bound traffic. It didn't really clear until we were north of the Mooloolaba turn off... The plan was Gin Gin tonight but after a few calls, and booked out places we looked at the time and revised it to Childers. A quick stop for some food near Gympie before continuing on to a nice motel just as we entered town.
Saturday began the bigger drive. On the move just after 630 and through to the other side of Gin Gin for a quick breakfast. We made Rocky for the next stop but on the lookout for a good, not busy, servo to pull into we ended up driving straight through! We did find an OK Independent fuel about 20min north, cheaper fuel than a few we spied in Rocky but their pie selection was pretty horrible... and I saw the Chef wipe his nose onto his jumper sleeve so didn't feel like getting something made. A rather disappointing pie for lunch...
After this refuel I actually took a break from driving... it's a little more work without small luxuries like cruise control! I lasted about 2 hours before getting back behind the wheel. Another 2 hours and we were pulling into Airlie Beach. Quick stop at the shops for tonight's dinner, then a drive through town. Another tourist in front of us, unsure of their journey plans, stopped mid way around a roundabout... welcome to tourist towns...
Whitsundays BnB retreat, in the hills just above Airlie, was a nice cosy place with a really nice garden. A pair of white cockatoos greeted us as we found our room and discovered the Spa was out of action... apparently they switched chlorine brands and read X amount of teaspoons as tablespoons... as we didn't feel like getting chemical burns at the start of the trip. Room was nice with plenty of space for 2, shared bathroom 5m down a courtyard path, but we didn't see other guests or clash when needing it. Pokey kitchen but more than enough for our needs.
Sunday was off to a good start with a fairly simple breakfast. Turkish bread, jam, butter, vegemite and pancakes supplied! Where our ferry launched was about 2km from the best long term parking (ferry has some, but 7 day max wasn't enough for us) so we went off a little early. There was meant to be a translink public transport bus with good timing, but apparently the Brisbane metro changes (1,200km away) have affected the timetables up here too... Bus was a no show.
Never mind, plenty of time to spare. Ken picked us up in his taxi and it was a short trip to the ferry terminal. Probably worked out easier with our gear anyway. Apparently too early to have a beer while waiting for the boat with service not starting until 10am, pfft we're on holidays! You can have a beer before catching a plane... 1.5 hour boat ride via Daydream (possibly enjoying a beer on board...) and we were finally on Hamilton.
Fairly smooth ride over with the quick stop at Daydream for a few people to transfer. We ended up at the Marina jetty (at the suggestion of staff this morning) but it turns out our specific accommodation check in was at the airport jetty... not to worry as they soon had a transfer shuttle on the way and picked us up. Apartment wasn't ready but we were able to set off with our golf buggy so we headed by the water and had some lunch.
Afternoon was checking in and getting orientated at the apartment before heading down to the island IGA. Everyone had the same idea it seems. It. Was. PACKED! Long line and busy but we eventually got some food and went back to the apartment for a quiet dinner.
Monday was time for activities, after a generous sleep in of course! First up was a trip to Catseye Beach. Nice spot. We arrived around 930 am to a moderately busy area, but still plenty of beach lounges to claim. After enjoying the sun we jumped in for a snorkel... not a whole lot to see. Quite a bit of dead coral, crushed under the feet of thousands of tourists.
A bit of kelp and small patches of coral still alive though, and after about 45min in the water we managed to find a turtle! Very chill, pretty accustomed to tourists I guess... we followed along slowly as he drifted about before feeling the cold and needing to get out.
Back on the beach and it was a lot more crowded, I guess everyone else had an even longer sleep in... There were ~20-30min wait lines for the hire gear (Stand Up Paddle Boards / Kayaks) every lounge was taken and plenty of people on their towels. Tourists in the little catamarans darting about, not knowing how to steer and some just ramming into the beach... I have no-idea how there wasn't any accidents... but the staff in the Zodiac buzzing around helping some and telling others off (so many people outside the marker buoys) was a very very busy lad. When witnessing all this the family next to us (not the "Instagram" couple on the other side taking 1,000 photos) were having a conversation and the husband turned to the wife and said "This is heaven." A crowded loud tourist beach, and people operating machines they were definitely unfit for? Closer to my idea of hell...
After warming back up in the sun it was back to the apartment for lunch and then off for a short hike. It turned out the short hike (2km return) was closed... that we didn't see until the turn off 600m into the Hike... so we settled on a 5k return hike to Middle Head instead. Following a few management trails up the hill to be rewarded with a great view.
Back down was a bit easier. Getting around the rest of the island is a lot easier with the golf buggy. Would make it quite a bit longer hike without it. It was getting a little late so we headed up to 'One Tree Hill' for sunset views, with half of the rest of the islands habitants.... spectacular views though. Another quiet dinner in the apartment and early to bed.
Tuesday was the day for the "big" walk around the vegetated half of the island. A loop of all the main hiking trails including the highest peak, giant chair, hammock, swing and resort lookouts. A few trail runners already out and about when we were starting, pretty keen... especially those finishing just as we started.
First up was Passage Peak, the highest point on the island, a few people about but not too crowded and some spectacular views. The last section just before the peak involves a lot of steps, so be warned.
After the turn off for some of the longer trails it felt a bit more isolated. First stop was a very Instagram worth comically large chair. Then off to a very uncomfortable kopper log hammock before finally reaching the swing, where I relented to peer pressure and got my own Instagram worth pose photo. Each bay was really beautiful and you could kill a day just relaxing on the beach.
We were having some snacks near the swing when we heard the rumble of an ATV tour group descending down the hill. Six ATVs arrived (1 guide and 5 following) which signalled our time to depart. Very steep exit from the beach straight up the hill. Often passing other tourists carefully descending, in sandals, trying not to slip on the gravel.
Eventually we reached the second highest point, the resort lookout, before heading back down via another small side trail to the Flat Top hill lookout. More steep trails down (a different way than we went up) and groups starting just after midday without any water in hand...
When we checked in we asked the staff about the walks and were told "for the full loop you definitely need the full day, at least 8-6, plan to be back late!" The minimum '10 hours' was done (with the additional lookout) in 5 hours and 3 minutes... and that included 30min for lunch at the swing and time enjoying the lookouts...
After we got back we had a rinse off and headed to the resort pool with the intention of being typical tourists ourselves and using the swim up bar. One toe in the pool water and I knew it was going to be a struggle, but I plunged in... and it almost took my breath away. After my partner put her foot in the water we decided maybe just staying on the sun lounges was enough. We still wanted a fancy cocktail... at 25 bucks a pop, but how often are you in a place like this...? (Once is probably enough for me.) I have to admit that they were pretty tasty though. Back to the apartment to enjoy the sunset from our balcony. Can't quite see the actual sun, but still get nice colours in the sky.
We decided to have a relaxing Wednesday, long sleep in before taking the golf buggy for a cruise around checking out some of the developed half of the island. In our travels we confirmed a few logistics for pick up day, stopping by the Marina office to work out which Finger Lazuli would berth at etc.
We also arranged a later return for the buggy, so we could have it to use for Marina chores if needed when Lazuli arrived. Back to the apartment for the afternoon we lounged on the balcony enjoying the view. About 4pm a pair of Whales came into view. Really far off at first but we could see some huge breaches. By the time they were a bit closer for a picture (still about 1km away) they had finished playing and were just sailing on by.
A little while later we headed out for dinner (other dinners we just made in the apartment) at 'The Palms'. Very busy but we managed to arrive just as a young family were leaving and got a table. We saw others come and wait for a long time before there was space.
Great Brisket from the smoker, though not sure it was the full 300g as advertised. My partner got the roasted eggplant, a full intact eggplant rather than the grilled sliced eggplant you normally find. Apparently it was very tasty. We also had 2 sides each which were fantastic. Chat potato's, tomato salad and really nice garlic bread. The only slightly disappointing one was the fries, which must have been sitting a while, still warm... but not hot.
I'm a little surprised by the stars out here, though the full moon doesn't help. Lots of light pollution from the resort too I guess. We've noticed a bit of noise pollution too this trip. With the buggies they have a constant reversing alarm, when in reverse gear. People take a lot of time reversing (it did take a sec to get use too) but they also put it in reverse waiting to pull out... even when there's a bunch of traffic... so they just sit there going "BUUUUUUUUUUUUUUZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ" for ages. Three active areas of construction probably don't help either.
Various areas of the resorts have music pumping, which we can still hear clearly on the balcony. I don't mind the noise for happy/excited kids splashing and jumping into the water, that's expected. Kids having fun is loud, but some adults, especially with their sunset/post sunset drinks with friends on the balcony, could afford to turn it down a notch.
Thursday morning we were up a little early to catch the low tide. Water temp was a bit cold and we didn't feel like another snorkel, but a reef walk seemed like a good idea. Nice flat reef shelf so I thought we would see a bit... we did not.
A lot of crushed coral, thousands of tourists a year wouldn't help, with only fairly shallow rock pools. Heaps of little Crabs dashing about but not too much else. We managed to find a few small Giant Clams but no Sea Hares, Nudi, Epelept Sharks or Octopus. Some Cucumbers about, but nothing compared to Musgrave. The walk was saved though as we stumbled across a cool decorator crab. Not seen one like this before, can you spot it?
The afternoon was spent mostly relaxing again before consolidation of gear to make packing and check out easier in the morning. It's quite amazing how much things cam spread out in just 5 days...
We headed out to the Marina lookout to catch the sunset. The view isn't as good as from One Tree Hill (and no bar here) but it was a lot less crowded. Dinner at the apartment again before heading to bed.
Friday morning was time to check out. Bags packed and ready for an 8am pickup... but we weren't in a rush so we hung around alirtle finally leaving the apartment at 945. Handed our room keys in, but requested an extension to the buggy time (which was kindly granted and is free!)
We cruised up to a good lookout of the Marina to await our ride (Kristie and Jeremy picking up on Lazuli, their 47.7' 2001 Beneteau First, yacht) we could follow them on the tracker and were ready to take pictures when they arrived.
Took Kristina and Emma for a spin on the golf buggy as Kristie did some shopping and Jeremy did some boat jobs. Just up to a lookout, then back via the bakery. Few pies and Saussage rolls, but the girls had already eaten lunch so they picked up some cupcakes as a treat.
Then we set off to return the buggy and collect our bags... they hadn't collected them from the rooms yet... so they sent someone off to collect them. I had a mild panic when we eventually got the bags, as I thought my wallet was in there... but I couldn't find it.
They were very helpful and sent another worker to have a look and thankfully found it, phew! With bags (and wallet) collected it was time to set off on Lazui for part 2 of our trip!
No comments:
Post a Comment