Luisa in Australia

Airlie Beach: Gate to Whit Sunday Islands

The sun starts setting slowly, our road lined with head-high sugar cane fields on both sides is dipped in a golden shine. It’s a pleasant drive to Airlie beach where we are welcome by a charming yet modern hotel room with ocean view and pretty cockatoos sitting on the huge balcony. In the morning Papa and I go for a run through a friendly little forest and I take funny pictures with an old tree and Papa as my models. 

All three together we explore the little town of Airlie Beach, go for a drink in a pretty beer garden and buy some souvenirs: I fall for a Whit Sundays print bikini (which only fits in size 12, the equivalent to size 40 in Germany!!!) And Mama finds a beautiful green beach dress with a happy wooden hippie necklace. For the next day we plan a Whit Sunday island trip. I would love to go with a sailing boat because I believe it is the most authentic and most touching way to experience the Whit Sundays. But Mama tends to become seriously sea sick and so a real sailing boat is a no-go. We decide against a Catamaran and for a speed boat… of which I am not sure whether it was the best choice. 

 

So, after another night in the beautiful hotel we board the boat and there we go. With high speed across the waves, the wind blowing through our hair, water spraying into our faces. It’s rough and wild and exciting! The boat stops and Papa and me dive into another world. Weightlessness. A silent, magic underwater world with corals swaying in the water, fishes passing, sun rays flashing…

Back in the world above the sea we have a picnic on White Haven beach and discover one of the islands. The views are stunning. Everything in shades of turquoise, light blue and the colour of sand. On the way home I am sitting on the outer side of the boat on the rubber parts with alomost nothing to hold on to, and after few minutes I realise: this is going be an adventurous ride! The wind is hitting me, the water is roughly splashing into my face and the skipper is driving wild turns, the sudden changes of direction almost causing me to lose balance. It’s seems quite dangerous to me and I have to focus hard to stay on board. It is super exhausting and very exciting! :D Feeling very alive again.  
Well, this is it, the last trip during our great time up north. Time to return to Brissy.