Whitsunday Bliss & Back on Dry Land, Qld

Sunday the 16th of September, and yes...the toothfairy did find Seawindow overnight and we were woken early by an excited Nina, counting her coins....

A toothless Chook

After a wander around Hamilton Island & a cuppa we headed south, towards Whitehaven Beach.

Goodbye Hamilton Island

The views along the way continued to be as spectacular as the days before, with each Whitsundays Island rolling into the other and the waters as blue as on any postcard.

There was no mistaking our approach into Whitehaven Beach,  renowned for its virgin white beaches it looked so inviting...

Beautiful Whitehaven Beach

The kids and I, Whitehaven Beach

 We anchored offshore & took the dinghy onto the beach where the boys kicked the footy & Nina  made sandcastles.  A sea plane also came in for landing and take off while we were on the beach...

A seaplane lands on Whitehaven Beach

 We also came across several army boats in our travels who ended up rafting beside each other for lunch off Whitehaven Bay...

The tough day for the crew on these warships off Whitehaven Beach

After a lunch of steak sandwiches, we continued to the north eastern side of Withsunday Island where we anchored in Tongue Bay for the night and we were visited by a big turtle on arrival who hung around all night.

The captain cooks a barbie

We decided we would all go for a snorkel off a nearby reef and I wasn't comfortable with the conditions, visibility was terrible and the waters were too open for my liking.
Richard decided to go in ahead of us while we circled in the dingy and he was out quick smart when he saw a reef shark at his feet.

My little snorkelers, ready to go

We ended up going back to the boat and getting wet in the shower off the cat, it was safer...  

Richard and I have a shower

Chooky has a shower 

The boys later took the dingy back to the same area for a fish after Richard reported he'd also seen a big coral trout. No luck there but they did fish off the cat until late, pulling a few garfish.

Monday 17th of September, we were on our way early, the view looking back into Tongue Bay in the morning light was beautiful...

The view into Tongue Bay

We decided to do some more trawling along the Whitsunday passage where we had picked up the Marlin a couple of days earlier.
Around 9:30 there was excitement when we heard the reel take off. We pulled up the boat as Jack & Harry took turns bringing in the catch....

Harry pulls in his catch

Without too much of a fight, a few minutes later, they had bought in a Spanish Mackerel. I think the Macky knew two little boys were bringing her in, it was too easy after the marlin....

Tw happy boys with their Maky

This fish had been on Harry's bucket list, so there were smiles all round. He was about 83cm long and before too long, part of him sat nicely in the freezer and the other part in the fridge, for dinner.

We contined trawling until we arrived in Mackerel Bay (there's an irony) for a snorkel.

The captain and his crew, in uniform

It was much nicer than yesterday's snorkelling attempt. A turtle was friendly and the coral undersea cliffs were beautiful. An hour later we had seen most of the reef and headed back to the boat where we continued to trawl back south towards Cid Harbour, where we would stay the night. The Harbour is where Aussie warships would assemble in World War 11 and is a passage between Whitsunday Island and Cid Island.
We were close to shore on Whitsunday Island so the kids took the dinghy in and kicked the footy while Richard and I watched from the boat....

The kids head to shore on Whitsunday Island

Richard and I

When they arrived back, the Mackerel sashimi had been cut and was ready to eat, along with a bottle of champas, both were beautiful....

Sashimi and Champas, bliss!!

A Cid Harbour sunset

The sun sets on another day in paradise

Dinner was the cooked version of Mackerel and salad. The kids then did a dance concert before we all retired to bed for our last night out in the Whitsunday's.

Tuesday 18th of September, we slowly got organized and prepared to head back towards the mainland. We had been told the snorkelling off Daydream Island was good so we headed in that direction.
Along the way we took in the sights. I don't think I could ever get sick of the views....

The view back into Cid Harbour

Richard and the kids on the way out of Cid Harbour

We moored off Lovers Beach off Daydream and went for a snorkel but it was disappointing with not a lot to see, we had been very spoilt over the last few days. We got back on board Seawindow and while I organized lunch, Richard decided we should put up the sails and give it a go...

Sailor Richard at the helm

The sails up

Being power boaters it was slow going, but we all clapped and cheered when we reached a record speed of 5.8 knots ... whoohoo! We all sat out on the front of the yacht and watched as we moved closer to the mainland.
It was so relaxing to be moving along the water (albiet slowly) without the sound of a motor. I was proud of sailor Richard who put the sails up and down like a real pro, he even put his shorts on for the occassion, the most dressed up he has been in days.

I felt a tinge of sadness heading back to the mainland, our week ahoy had been magical and I can't speak for the whole family,  but for me, it has been a highlight of our Aussie Adventure so far.
We arrived back in the Marina around 3ish to begin packing up, ready for our return to the caravan in the morning.
Dinner was again at the Marina restaurant before our last night on Seawindow.

Inspired by Aunty Lucy, I decided to write my own ode in Seawindow's Guestbook. It sums up our week...                                                                                   

                                                  An Ode to This Abode
Seawindow, what an adventure, you are such a majestic cat, From the minute we got aboard, we had no doubt about that.

First, we must thank Rick for his guidance, on how to set sail and not sink, And the lesson on auto pilot, allowed us to enjoy an afternoon drink.

Our first port of call was an inlet, Nara was its name, And although the fish weren't biting, we loved it just the same.

We trawled for tuna for much of a day, fed giant fish in Manta Ray Bay, An irony some would say, but we had fun anyway.

An exciting highlight in our Whitsunday adventure, and I think we all agree, Was when the boys caught a Marlin, weighing about 50kg.

And then they pulled in a Spanish Maky, without too much of a fight, We spoke about the experience, as we ate him for dinner that night.

We snorkelled with big fish around us, the coral colourful and bright, And although there was nothing to fear,  they still gave mum a fright.

From inlets to beautiful bays, islands big and small, The virgin white beaches at Whitehaven, we have had such a ball.

We set sail on our last day and we cheered and clapped lots, But  it would have taken us a week to get home, at our record of 5 knots.

To Annie, Annie on the radio, radio, we thank you for your advice and natter, But I must confess, I think you have a terrible stutter.

I should mention our captain Richard, although his uniform needs some work done, I don't think undies would suffice, if he was a professional one.

In fact if Seawindow was for sale, I think that we would buy, And sail on her forever.... Well...at least 'til the esky ran dry.

For those who next sail on Seawindow, we wish fun and blessings to all, But take care of her cos we'll be back, when we next heed the Whitsunday's call.