Whitsunday Islands / Whitehaven Beach

For today we booked a full day boat trip to the Whitsunday Islands. So we wait for being picked up at our campground. The kids are playing with the fish - they will get a much more thrilling experience later in the day.


In the port the boat is waiting for us and 40 others.


The Whitehaven Express is a rather fast boat, tours with this family business company can be booked on http://www.whitehavenxpress.com.au/.


Jeremia is looking out for whales...


And yes, there were small pilot whales and dolphins.


Jonah felt a bit sea sick.


Our first stop is at a coral reef on Hook island to do some snorkeling.


The corals were beautiful and the snorkeling was much fun. There also were some colourful fish and a large Baramundi. While Joshua and I snorkeled, Tatjana, Jeremia and Jonah had a tour with a small glass bottom boat.


After two hours we move on to our main target, the Whitehaven Beach.


Everyones looking forward to this.


So we arrive there and take the dingi to the beach, which is amongst the worlds best beaches.


Whitehaven beach is comprised of 98% pure white silica sand which surely makes it one of the top ten beaches, of it's kind, in the world.


The shallow waters of Whitehaven Beach are crystal clear, full of marine life and make for an ideal swimming location.


And some of the marine live came very close to us...





Lots of Stripey Sea Perch just at our foot.


Which made Jonah a bit scared.


Everybody is waiting for the BBQ being prepared...


Even these Goannas...


They were really just below the BBQ waiting for some meat.


The BBQ was delicious and after a some more time at the wonderful beach...


Before we leave the island, here are some facts (thanks Wikipedia):

Whitsunday Island is the largest island in the Whitsunday group of islands located off the coast of Central Queensland, Australia. Whitsunday Island is located at 20°15′S 148°58′E. The island contains many popular destinations for both day visitors and overnight sailors, including the magnificent pure-white sands of Whitehaven Beach and Hill Inlet, the secure anchorage of Cid Harbour, and the sheltered waterway of Gulnare Inlet. Whitehaven Beach was rated as the top Eco Friendly Beach in the world by CNN.com in July 2010.

The island is accessible by boat from the mainland tourist ports of Airlie Beach and Shute Harbour.

Captain James Cook named the island in early June 1770. This island should not be confused with Pinaki in the Tuamotu group which was named "Whitsunday Island" by Samuel Wallis in 1767.

Whitsunday Island covers 27,508 ha (275.08 km2) in area. The island has six campgrounds.

Around the northern bays of the island are seagrass beds which support a diverse range of marine life. Unadorned Rock-wallabies are found on the island.


We had to head back to the boat. Some of us took the dingi...





...and others, like Tatjana and Joshua swim...





Our last stop is a lookout in Tongue Bay...


...which allows a postcard view on Whitehaven Beach and the Hill Inlet.


The only bit missing for the postcard picture was the sun as it now became cloudy.


Jonah still suffering from a cold now had a nap on the boat while we were heading back.


In the evening we all played some mini golf before we all went to bed.
Tomorrow we will be heading north again to get as close to Cairns as possible. And I will have to cure my sunburn which I got despite the sunscreen - but at least the kids are fine.


—-- Artikel wurde erstellt auf meinem iPad

Position:Whitehaven Beach, Australia