Whitehaven Beach and Chalkies

Water Sports boat holds 22 passengers

We joined Hamilton Island Water Sports for a boat ride tour of the Whitsunday Islands.   It was a calm day, with mostly sunny skies - only about 20% clouds.  Reef Ryder is a fast boat, and Neo was ducking under a towel to avoid the wind.  I was in the front row with Zoe and Neo.  Dave, Clara and Tristan were in the 2nd row of seats.

Kids ready to snorkel @ Chalkies Beach

We traveled around Hamilton Island from the Marina through the Whitsundays Channel.  First we passed Dent Island, which is where the Hamilton Island Golf Club is located.  The Captain informed us it's a world class golf course and no expense was spared to create it.

We have witnessed tidal rips from top of One Tree Hill.  Today, we rode through the rip between Whitsunday Island and Fritzlan Island.

Fish on Chalkies.  Visibility wasn't very good.

Whitsundays Island (L) Fitzalan Island (C) Hamilton Island (R) .

Rockface on Whitsunday Island.

Our first stop was Chalkies Beach on Haselwood Island.  Chalkies Beach is just across from Whitehaven Beach.  The fringing reef of the Great Barrier Reef is in the Whitsunday Islands.  White sand of Chalkies Beach is the same as on Whitehaven Beach.  Everyone went in for a snorkel, including Dave.  The visibility wasn't very good.  The Captain explained there had been recent storms that had stirred up the sediment. We had 45 minutes to snorkel, and the time was gone quickly. There were reports of a sea turtle.

Beautiful turquoise water of the Whitsunday Islands.

We were finally able to see Whitsunday Island upclose, after looking at it from Hamilton Island for this week.  Whitehaven Beach is on Whitsunday Island.

Fish in feeding frenzy at Neo's feet on Whitehaven Beach.

Mom and Zoe on Whitehaven Beach

Hamilton Island Vacation

Resort Lookout is the 2nd tallest point on Hamilton Island. Clara took Neo to mini golf, while Zoe, Tristan, Dave and I trekked.  It's a steep climb to the top, but well worth it.  The views are spectacular.  While we were standing at the top, we witnessed a plane coming in to land at the airport. The tallest point is Passage Peak, with many stairs straight up to the top.  Clara climbed to Passage Peak later in the day.

We had opted to take the free shuttle from our holiday accommodation to the start of the trail.

Hamilton Island, Resort Lookout view

Dave and Zoe on Resort Lookout.

Past an 800m Steep Climb there's this sign.

Catherine enjoying a drink in the resort pool.

A cruise ship, with passengers from the US, Canada, and Australia, was visiting Hamilton Island for the day and riding the free shuttles.  Which made our return trip home tricky.  When the shuttle arrived, it was full, until 2 passengers got off then Dave and Tristan could get on and go home.  Zoe and I explored on foot.  We discovered the Resort Pools near Catseye Beach.  We shopped at the General Store.  We looked at other storefronts.  

Sunset over Dent Island, as viewed from One Tree Hill.

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Holiday to the Whitsunday Islands

The taxi collected us at 6:15am then train to Sydney Airport.  Morning breakfast after our security clearance and our flight was boarding.  Scheduled 9:50 departure time bacame 10:20 as we waited for connecting flight with 14 additional passengers.

As the plane came in to land, we could see the Whitsunday Island and the blue, blue ocean.  Dylan greeted us at the airport with our golf buggy.  Our luggage was stowed into a trailer attached to the golf buggy he drove.

Dylan @ our golf buggy

We're staying at Cooinda Gardens 1, a 4 bedroom townhouse on the North end of Hamilton Island. Our food order from Coles Online was waiting for us.  By 1pm we were unpacked and in the pool.   After lunch, I drove Tristan, Zoe and Neo in the buggy for a quick tour of the island.  Meanwhile, Clara explored using the free island shuttles.

Early the next morning, Dave and I climbed One Tree Hill to view the sunrise.  We saw a kangaroo dash away.  We heard amazing bird songs we're unfamiliar with.

Sunrise.  Dave @ One Tree Hill

Back at the house by 7am, the younger kids were up.  Zoe, Tristan, Neo and I enjoyed a buffet breakfast with the koalas @ Wildlife.  Tristan's breakfast sausage was snatched from his plate by a kookaburra in midflight!   This little Koala was so adorable.  He was one of 3 having his breakfast with us - and he was active.

Breakfast with this Adorable Koala 

Brisbane Encore

Zoe and Tristan in front of a fountain in the Southbank Parklands (Brisbane river in background)

On Friday, June 26, we drove from our home in Macmasters Beach to New Castle airport. We left at 5am to catch a 7:50am flight. I had driven the route provided by "Where Is" a week ago and almost gave up finding the airport on several occasions. I drove back from the airport following the signs set up for new arrivals and found that much easier. We made it to the airport without incident!



Brisbane CBD, as seen across the Brisbane river

We arrived in Brisbane at 9am, collected our luggage, dropped it off at the hotel, and took the train to Southbank Parklands. What a different place in winter! It's lovely! Not steaming like we had experienced when we visited in November. We walked along the Brisbane riverwalk then got some lunch. We had intended to find a ferry that would take us to the Lone Pines Koala sanctuary, but found that it can't be done. We caught a cab.


This koala is in Kindy

The Lone Pines Koala sanctuary is fairly small, but nice. There were many internationals visiting.

Clara holding a chick

There was a small farm with sheep, goats, guinea pigs, and small horses. It was really raining when we were in the barn. There were demonstrations by sheep dogs in the paddock. We each cuddled a koala. Each of the older children had the opportunity to hold the koala and have their picture taken with it.

Zoe and Tristan at the Lone Pines sign.

We bought food for the kangaroos and wallabies. One kangaroo was forward enough to rip Tristan's food bag open.

The red kangaroos had recently been included in the enclosure and were still wary.


The emu was happy to eat out of my hand.


Here's a joey in his mother's pouch. Funny, with his hind leg sticking out too!

We really enjoyed the rainbow lorikeet feeding. The Lorikeets began gathering at 2pm for the 3pm feeding time. These lorikeets are WILD! But they come right up and are happy to sit on your arms, shoulder, or head!

Neo with with Wild Rainbow Lorikeet perched on his head!

The food was in a milk - and the Lorikeets used their tongues to lap it up!

We took the bus back to the Queen Street mall, this was a new experience. We grabbed a couple of sushi rolls, then went out onto Queen Street to make our way to Central Train station. We arrived back at our hotel a little before 6pm. We had a full apartment - two bedrooms upstairs, a living room and kitchenette. For the price of a standard hotel room. It was really wonderful.


Jo Laws, Oliver, Zoe, Clara, Tristan, Zoe, Neo and Me.

Jo Laws (from British Expats - they were also April applicants) and her family (Jon, Zoe, and Oliver) arrived a little while later with pizza. We chatted while the kids played. Zoe and Clara became friends in that short time. Amazing the wonderful people we have met on this journey.