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Published: November 15th 2009
Whitsundays
Whitehaven BeachCurrently there is a large pick-up truck parked about 20m from our hotel room full of girls dancing in the back. For some people that might seem like a dream come true now that I’m an old married man it’s actually quite annoying. So I decided if I can’t beat them or can’t join them, write a blog...
Today we arrived on Magnetic Island which is about 275km north of the Whitsundays where we were aboard ‘Mandrake’ yacht sailing round some of the 74 islands that make up the Whitsundays. Our first day sailing we spent pretty much clinging on to the deck due to bad weather (it was either that or go below deck and get sea-sick). Fortunately the sun god woke up early on day two and the rain finally stopped which made the rest of the trip much more enjoyable and the views at Whitehaven beach were worth the rough ride. We snorkelled along the barrier reef, saw a couple of baby sharks as well as hundreds of stingrays during the trip.
Speaking of stingrays, hence Steve Irwin, we visited his old zoo earlier in the week and saw the famous crocodile stadium (which really is
Whitsundays
The Mandrake 'crew' a stadium). Sadly there was no Steve Irwin replacement mad-man but it was still good to see the crocs up close. The zoo is very different to a traditional zoo and has an extremely strong conservation message rather than hundreds of different species. The Bengal tigers were particularly impressive and the guy feeding them by hand was particularly brave (or stupid).
Our first destination in Australia was with Ben’s parents (my sister Katie’s boyfriend) just outside Brisbane. Geoff and Faye really looked after us for a week or so with the British food that we had been craving whilst in Asia; bangers and mash, roast beef, steak... We also got to stay in a proper house with water you can drink and a bathroom that doesn’t have a shower above the toilet. As Katie had the week off we all explored Brisbane, the Gold Coast and Noosa. It made a welcome change not having to sight see and instead kick back and have fun in a theme park and water park, although Beccy got more than she bargained for the “moderate” rate rapid ride... Ben did an excellent job in Noosa as chauffeur, tour guide and chef (I recommend
his barbecue tiger prawns).
We had a couple of nights out in Brisbane including celebrating Melbourne Cup Day - the Grand National equivalent in Australia for which the whole nation literally stops to watch the race and then parties all night. It would have been rude not to join in. We also caught up with my friends from Uni, Amy & Dan who now live in Brisbane, and went to a bar that had just had $55m spent on it (it was seriously pimped up - see photo) including a bar that was made out of 17,000 glass balls. I’ve also discovered a low carb beer which actually tastes good. I can drink double what I did before and put on less weight compared to normal beer. The perfect man diet.
Before arriving on Magnetic Island we picked up our Holden (Vauxhall) Astra up from Airlie Beach and headed up the coast. We have the car for a week or so (long enough to get us to Cairns and Cape Tribulation). Speaking of cars the party truck outside our room is now playing Black Eyed Peas song ‘I got a feeling', I think that’s my cue to try
Cloud Land Bar
Andy, Dan & Amy in the bar that had the $55m makeover and get to sleep, amazingly Beccy already has. Maybe I should go out for a beer after all...
Andy (& Bex)
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alan
non-member comment
enjoyed
Hi enjoyed the blog and becoming ever more envious! The videos were entertaining too. Pleased the stingrays didn't get you!