|
|
|
|
SATURDAY Arrive at Hamilton Island and be met by Lynne and be transported by taxi to yacht at the Marina (5 minutes). Be welcomed on board with a complimentary Tropical cocktail or beer. Licensed divers requiring equipment hire are escorted to the dive shop (2 minutes walk) to select tanks and weights etc. Depart marina to begin an "Adventure in Paradise". Sail to Nara Inlet (a beautiful fiord) to anchor for the evening. Cocktails, snacks and the evening meal will be served in this ultra calm bay.  |
 |
|
SUNDAY Early in the morning, those wanting some exercise will be taken ashore by tender to follow a track leading to a lookout high above the inlet offering serene views of the yacht at anchor in a natural fiord harbour on this uninhabited Island. An added bonus while on this excursion is a visit to an ancient Aboriginal cave complete with paintings dating back to earlier than Captain James Cook's discovery of the area in 1770. Return to the yacht for breakfast and a swim in the turquoise water before a leisurely sail to Langford Reef for snorkelling or scuba diving. At this location as the tide abates, a massive drying reef joining two islands and a sand spit is revealed. Those wanting to take advantage of Lynne's expertise in nature will be guided around the reef before we all enjoy a superb lunch on the aft deck next to this coral cay.
A short afternoon sail to Stonehaven anchorage on the northern shore of Hook Island in time to catch a glorious sunset, with cocktail in hand preceding a delicious dinner, completes the first full day. |
|
|
MONDAY An early morning snorkel over beautiful corals and fish gives an appetite for breakfast. A 20 knot south east wind blows today so we head out into the Whitsunday passage for an exhilarating sail. Lunch is served while under way and we arrive at Blue Pearl Bay on Hayman Island around 2 pm for snorkelling over the wonderful coral reef. For the first time we see the underwater world through the large glass bottom of the dive tender "Sundance Kid". John steers us skilfully over the crystal clear water and colourful corals, whilst Lynne explains the names of the numerous fish and corals, before we excitedly leap overboard to take an even closer look!! Another scuba dive for those who are qualified, or those wanting a bush walk, take the tender ashore to follow the pipe track (about 2.5 hours) around the island for a "birds eye" view of the wonderful waterways and nearby Islands. Sunsets are superb from the western side of Hayman Island so we enjoy the crimson sky whilst sipping cocktails before dinner.
|
|
TUESDAY The corals are so beautiful at Blue Pearl Bay that most guests want to take another snorkel before we set sail for Butterfly Bay. On arrival, we dinghy ashore for a stroll amongst the dense tropical foliage and thick canopy native trees behind a white coral beach to see thousands of butterflies which fascinate our guests...and yet another snorkel for those inclined over exceptionally colourful corals.
After setting a course due east, we visit Manta Ray Bay where the corals are spectacular and hundreds of fish are so friendly that they gather around and under our glass bottomed boat on arrival to welcome us. We watch with excitement when "Albert", the resident Maori Wrasse (about 3 and 1\2 feet long) stares up at us through the glass bottom, together with hundreds of Sargent Majors, fusiliers, moon wrasse and many other extremely colourful fish. Without exception every guest said this is one of the top highlights of their visit! Those that are scuba divers can dive, but snorkellers can also have the unforgettable opportunity to hand feed these amazingly colourful fish in crystal clear blue water. The fish life here is prolific and includes the cheeky "Sergeant Majors", "Moon Wrasse", "Parrot Fish" and the magnificent "Maori Wrasses" (a family of them!).
|
|
Those that are scuba divers can dive, but even snorkellers have the unforgettable opportunity to hand feed these amazingly colourful fish in crystal clear blue water. The fish life here is prolific and includes the cheeky "Sergeant Majors", "Moon Fish", "Parrot Fish" and the magnificent "Maori Wrasse" (over a metre in length).
After a couple of hours we reluctantly sail away in a pleasant south east breeze tacking our way to Border Island to anchor for the evening in magnificent Cataran Bay with its steep cliffs joined by a saddle above a sandy beach at the head of the bay. |
|
WEDNESDAY An early morning walk to the top of the saddle affords fabulous views over the island before we visit the stunning corals of this little island. As there is no breeze for sailing, the conditions are favourable to visit Deloraine Island about 4 miles to the south east. This is a rare treat because the corals here are some of the best we have ever seen but visits are restricted to only perfectly calm conditions. Our guests are amazed at the visibility of the water and variety of corals and fish life.
After fossicking on the coral beach we find an easterly sea breeze will allow us to sail on to magnificent Whitehaven Beach as we lunch in style on the aft deck. |
|
|
On arrival at the north eastern tip of Whitehaven Beach, at Hill Inlet, some guests decide to enjoy a short stroll along to the look out high above the magnificent inlet and Whitehaven Beach for THE most unforgettable view, then take a walk on the silica white, soft sandy beach, while others try their luck trolling for fish, so we all plan to meet up at the southern end of Whitehaven Beach 5 kilometres away.
The excitement is electrifying as one guest lands a giant Broad Barred Mackerel, one of the best local fish. The flavour and texture of this delicious meal served straight from the barbecue on the aft deck within an hour of the catch, is magnificent. |
 |
|
THURSDAY We wake to cloudless skies (again), turquoise water and the whitest beach any one has ever seen. A swim ashore is irresistible and a stroll unforgettable. Four of our guests have decided to book a seaplane, which arrives just a few metres from our yacht. It will fly them to the outer Great Barrier Reef. They depart at 9 am and after a very exciting flight over the islands, and shortly after, the reef, they land in a calm lagoon on Hardy Reef. They spend the next fascinating hours snorkelling and reef walking and learning of this miracle of nature before flying back to the yacht about 1 pm, just in time for a fabulous lunch served under the only palm tree on a remote part of Whitehaven Beach where one of our guests from the United Kingdom was heard to whisper to himself..... "Amazing"....."Amazing"......"Simply Amazing". We then set sail through the Solway Pass to Hazelwood Island and the southern anchorage named Waite Bay. This is a special anchorage, which affords a comfortable evening now that the breeze has swung to the North East. |
|
FRIDAY Low tide is at 8 am, so we take the tender ashore at 6.30am to begin our fascinating reef walk on 5 square kilometres of drying reef. There is no one else in sight besides our group, and as well as the fascination of the reef it is hard to believe that we can be so far from the maddening crowd and yet so close to our super-civilised life on board the yacht! We enjoy this amazing area as Lynne guides guests to all the fascinating molluscs and creatures describing their life cycle and actions living on the reef. When the tide begins to rise again, Lynne guides several of us for a snorkel along the front edge of this magnificent reef and we see all kinds of fish life and wonderful corals, whilst those who do not swim join John for a tour over the edge of the reef in the glass bottom boat. The time has slipped away too quickly and we must return to the yacht. This bay is a turtle breeding sanctuary so we normally encounter many in our visit and the snorkelling is superb.
| ||
| After a late breakfast, we set sail
along the southern edge of Whitsunday
Island while the occasional dolphin is playing in the bow wave.
They love humans and seem to smile up at us as we watch in wonder from
the bow. About mid afternoon, we enter Cid Harbour on the western side
of Whitsunday Island. We all take the tender ashore and those who feel
energetic, hike to the top of Whitsunday Peak, the highest point in
the Islands, and those who just feel like a stroll follow the beaten
track to Dugong Inlet - not so strenuous.
 |
|
SATURDAY After a swim before breakfast, we sail for Hamilton Island concluding what has been for everyone aboard the most fascinating, exciting and relaxing holiday of their lifetime.
|
© Sydney Sundancer, Gladesville Bridge Marina 1/380 Victoria Place Drummoyne NSW 2047, AUSTRALIA.
Telephone: (02) 9719 1870, International: +612 9719 1870
Mobile: 0428 311 941 After Hours (02) 9719 1946
Fax:(02) 9719 8823, International: +612 9719 8823
Email: sailors@luxuryyacht.com.au