Our Snorkelling Days Are Over

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First stop after Cairns was Dullsville otherwise known as Townsville, the gateway to Magnetic Island. We arrived late in Townsville so decided to stay a night and head off to the island in the morning. Our room was in a hostel where we got free dinner and breakfast however we also got free mouse poop in our room.

We made a quick exit the following morning to Magnetic Island. The ferry was very quick, it only took 20 minutes aross the water and luckily it was a good contrast to Townsville. We stayed at the far end of the island so it was fairly quiet. The weather seemed to be getting hotter and hotter which was making venturing out a real task. Between lots of breaks and sitting in the shade we did manage to climb the highest coastal look out point on the island. The views were lovely however the near vertical 10 minute climb took its toll on our sweat glands and no sooner were we at the top we had to get back down as we were out of water again.

Next it was onto Airlie Beach where the weather was hot and the accommodation fully booked and expensive. We did think about staying on one of the Whitsunday islands but our weak British pound couldn't stretch that far so we settled on staying on the main land and doing a day tour of the islands.

Our decision to go on another snorkelling tour was perhaps not a good one. We were hoping for some more good snorkelling however in reality the Whitsundays are not the greatest place for doing this unless you head out to the outer reef.

The day started with us all being bundled onto a tiny old boat with poor facilities and a distinct lack of courtesy cakes. First up was the snorkelling, they positioned the boat near a really strong current in deep dark murky water. As we swam through a bunch of stingers I suddenly thought my stinger suit was less than adequate as I had many exposed areas of skin on offer for the jellies to have a go at. We didn't have a very good time really, my snorkel mask just wouldn't stick to my face and kept leaking water and No's flippers were too small. I had to keep swimming back through the current to the boat to get another mask, by the third mask I was exhausted and decided to call it quits. To be honest we have seen more corel and fish in the Grand Union canal than we did on this occasion.

We are all on the boat after the diving and snorkelling looking decidely unimpressed when the boat about turned and headed to Hill Inlet, the fourth most photographed place in Australia. We were boated over to the island and given a guided walk up to the look out point. From the look out we could seen sting rays basking in the shallow waters, the view was truely amazing.

Onto Whitehaven for lunch and a two hour relax on the squeaky white sandy beach. It reminded us a bit of the South Pacific minus all the people. The mood at the end of the day was much better than the beginning, it turned out to be quite a good tour of the Whitsundays.

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Photos

Snakes A Plenty
We Didn't Stick Around Long On Magnetic Island

Hill Inlet
Fourth Most Photographed Spot In Oz

Whithaven Beach
The Perfect Sand Beach

More Of Hill Inlet
Can We Keep Moving Around In A Clockwise Direction

Townsville
"Ville", Never Washed With Me After Superman

Comments

[Morag Willsher]

Wow what a sight for sore, cold eyes in the UK!
Love the thought of stingrays basking in a big ocean instead of a bath tub at the aquariums! Luv Ma W XX