Whitsunday Islands - Magnetic Islands
Whitehaven Beach was one of the stops on the cruise which had some of the whitest and fine sand in the world... apparently. Of course it would have been rude not to bury someone in the sand and Richard happily volunteered.
Upon his escape, he was so happy that he entertained us with his famous Freddie Mercury impression ( or that's what he claimed) on his way into the sea.
The cruise was another brilliant east coast experience and one that is a 'must-do'. The only drawback on our cruise was the captain of the boat who was a complete arse and evidently saw us as 'threats' to his sole ambition of showing off and sleeping with every girl he could club over the head and drag back to his lair. Just as well he didn't see Richard's impression of Freddie Mercury. Rich could have been next.
Townsville/Magnetic Island
After the excitement of Fraser Island and The Whitsunday cruise, we nearly didn't go to Magnetic Island for fear it would be a let down. Thankfully, we did...and had another great experience.
Townsville itself is not a particularly picturesque town and the hostel pretty unremarkable. We did meet up with Alan again though and realised we would be doing Magnetic Island together.
The next morning we walked to the port, caught the boat and arrived on the island. I think we caught a bus next but ended up at a hostel where we stayed in fixed tents that resembled smurfs. While sat in the hostel bar along came Giles, Henry and Bea from our Fraser experience. Along with another couple of girls we met (one of which was going to University of Leeds after travelling (like me), it was party time.
The only cars on the island were 'Mini Mokes' and they were available for hire. A great thing about travelling in our mid-twenties was that we were old enough to hire them so got a couple and we all had transport for a day or so.
The main destination was Horseshoe Bay at the north of the island and where jet skis could be hired. Having not done it before, Rich and I were straight out there.
Very kindly, Richard managed to throw me off the back when he was driving. When he finally picked me up and were picking up speed again I asked him how he'd thrown me off. I was expecting a verbal answer but instead he just did it again. What a bastard. That second time really hurt. Still it was nothing a beer couldn't heal.
Magnetic Island was another great place to visit and made all the better with many of our east coast friends enjoying it with us. The last leg of our east coast trip would take us to Mission Beach, Cairns, The Great Barrier Reef and a tearful farewell.
My Love of Travelling Part 7 - Queensland Part II
This follows
http://travelhappinesslife.blogspot.co.uk/2012/03/travelling-australias-east-coast.html
This follows
http://travelhappinesslife.blogspot.co.uk/2012/03/travelling-australias-east-coast.html
Following the exploits on Fraser Island we spent 24 hours washing clothes and sleeping bags and then got the overnight Greyhound Bus for the long journey to Airlie Beach for our Whitsunday Island cruise. Richard and I had already met a couple of girls that would be on our boat - they were on another Fraser Island 4x4 the same time as us and they had gone to Airlie Beach a day or so earlier and had also booked us into their dorm room. We also met up with Irishman Alan and his girlfriend at the Airlie Beach hostel and enjoyed a few cheeky beers with them.
Whitsunday Cruise
The Whitsunday cruise we had booked was a three day - two night affair sailing in beautiful azure waters of Australia's east coast. On the boat were the captain, a cook and ten of us including a couple, 6 girls and Rich and I.
The Whitsunday cruise we had booked was a three day - two night affair sailing in beautiful azure waters of Australia's east coast. On the boat were the captain, a cook and ten of us including a couple, 6 girls and Rich and I.
Whitehaven Beach was one of the stops on the cruise which had some of the whitest and fine sand in the world... apparently. Of course it would have been rude not to bury someone in the sand and Richard happily volunteered.
Upon his escape, he was so happy that he entertained us with his famous Freddie Mercury impression ( or that's what he claimed) on his way into the sea.
Although we slept on the boat, there were islands (and bars) to visit. On the first night I was approached by someone asking me if I'd ever worked at Carlton Television (which I had) as she recognised me from my exploits on stage at the Christmas parties (nothing rude - I was a singer in the band).
On the second night we moored up with another boat and were reunited with Nathan and Gov (from Fraser Island). That night I slept under the stars... and my snoring kept everyone awake ha ha.
The cruise was another brilliant east coast experience and one that is a 'must-do'. The only drawback on our cruise was the captain of the boat who was a complete arse and evidently saw us as 'threats' to his sole ambition of showing off and sleeping with every girl he could club over the head and drag back to his lair. Just as well he didn't see Richard's impression of Freddie Mercury. Rich could have been next.
Townsville/Magnetic Island
After the excitement of Fraser Island and The Whitsunday cruise, we nearly didn't go to Magnetic Island for fear it would be a let down. Thankfully, we did...and had another great experience.
Townsville itself is not a particularly picturesque town and the hostel pretty unremarkable. We did meet up with Alan again though and realised we would be doing Magnetic Island together.
The next morning we walked to the port, caught the boat and arrived on the island. I think we caught a bus next but ended up at a hostel where we stayed in fixed tents that resembled smurfs. While sat in the hostel bar along came Giles, Henry and Bea from our Fraser experience. Along with another couple of girls we met (one of which was going to University of Leeds after travelling (like me), it was party time.
The only cars on the island were 'Mini Mokes' and they were available for hire. A great thing about travelling in our mid-twenties was that we were old enough to hire them so got a couple and we all had transport for a day or so.
Very kindly, Richard managed to throw me off the back when he was driving. When he finally picked me up and were picking up speed again I asked him how he'd thrown me off. I was expecting a verbal answer but instead he just did it again. What a bastard. That second time really hurt. Still it was nothing a beer couldn't heal.
Magnetic Island was another great place to visit and made all the better with many of our east coast friends enjoying it with us. The last leg of our east coast trip would take us to Mission Beach, Cairns, The Great Barrier Reef and a tearful farewell.
