183-185 Airlie Beach (27/9-30/9)

It's been a while I know. Like a long time... Some even questioned whether the blog itself was, dare I say it... dead?

Pfft....

To be honest the time has been spent almost entirely trying to come up with enough adjectives and superlatives to describe our time at Airlie Beach. And to be frank, I don't think I even came close to needing enough.

After Townsville, and to an extent Cairns, I was really keen to have the trip reignite the sense of adventure and excitement. I also wanted something really special for Nain and Tadcu to experience. We were hoping that this was it.

We were not disappointed.

Before getting there, we called in at Bowen. What's in Bowen? Well, not much really. But you might recognise parts of the town as the set of Australia. Well, that's what they say. As really, they built a whole town as a set, and then removed it... So not really that interesting!

It did have a Big Mango though...

Airlie Beach was much bigger than I thought it would be, very tourist feel, and everything I thought a North Queensland resort town would be like... Thankfully B managed to find a park on the far side of town out near the airport, which kept us out of the built up area. And when I say near, I mean right next to the runway!

Our site highlighted in yellow

To be honest though, Airlie Beach Airport is not Tullamarine, and we got a bit of a kick from seeing the little planes taking off to climb up and drop a bunch of nutter skydivers out of the door a few thousand metres above our head! And it shut down before dark as well so no night flights.

Upon arriving at Airlie Beach, my usual helper Sam took off somewhere. Thankfully I had a little apprentice who was ready to step up.

The main reason for detouring into Airlie Beach was to take a cruise out to the Whitsundays, and really give Nain and Tadcu a truly unique experience of Australia. It's not like this kind of climate and geography is near North Wales!

What I might do here is paraphrase a review I found online.... It's OK, no plaigerism here, it was mine...

Do you ever have those days in your life where you go "damn... that was pretty awesome"? You know, the days which will stay with you for not just a long time, but a lifetime? Well today, we had that on the SV Domino with Reg and Dan. If you read nothing else below, know that joining these guys for a day on the boat could quite possibly be the best day out you've ever had. 

If I may, let me take you through a couple of key points of interest:

1) We rang up the day before. Yep.. the day before. We were very lucky they could squeeze our group in. Our group consisted of 2 adults, 3 young children (5,8,9) and a set of grandparents. Given they only take 8 out, we essentially dragged them out of a day off to go sailing with us. At the last minute! Fantastic.

2) Julie was brilliant with her correspondence and organisation from HQ, and nothing was an issue, nor did any query go unanswered.

3) The boat is beautiful, capable and safe. Facilities were great and were open to use, which is important in our groups break down. Julie was brilliant explaining the rules and regs. The lifelines for the kids were great.

4) Reg is a great skipper, experienced and reassuring, found the balance beautifully of keeping us on course and on time without becoming overbearing or in your face. Let you have your space but made sure you were comfortable.

5) Dan the deckhand is a credit to the team and himself. A great young man had us, but the kids especially, hooked with knowledge of the area, quips and jokes and just all round "awesomeness". Also passed on a few tips of places a little less known to head as we continue down the road.

6) The lunch was amazing. Salads, chicken and seafood, juices and waters... I tell you, the food is almost worth the price of admission itself. Even learnt a cool tip to thrown mint and lemon in with watermelon. Huge hit with the kids. Tea and coffee when required, we simply couldn't have been catered for more comfortably!

7) The actual cruise itself was bliss. Granted we had a great day for it, with almost glass like conditions, we sailed out to the islands where those confident enough were allowed the chance to snorkel (with the gear provided!) and see some of the reefs the area is famous for. We were then picked up and taken a little way around to a secluded beach where we literally had the beach, a small pond and essentially the island to ourselves. No crowds. No crazy hordes trying to get selfies with a turtle. Our own beach...

Overall, it was "a day to remember".

All associated with the SV Domino should be incredibly proud of the service and product they provide. It is of the highest quality, delivered with the best amount of customer service and represents, in my opinion, fantastic value for money.

So let's go through some of the pics of such a magical day...

The Marina... It's hard to imagine that this place was decimated at the start of the year (actually at the start of our trip) by cyclone. Reg was telling us, the SV Domino (located near the centre of shot behind the yellow life raft) had only just got back on the water after insurance repairs.

The crew, waiting to board...

Sam on point, making sure we navigate our of marina safely...

James had no issues finding his "sea legs"

A SV Domino Deck Pano!

Nain and Tadcu clearly adapting well and looking forward to the cruise!

There was lots of smiles... all day. Well, from most... Evie, as you'll see, didn't really take to the water too well!

The boys rocking the safety gear and sunsmarts. Tadcu just rocking the smile... all day!

B's turn on point. I thought about sneaking up behind to have a Leo/Kate-Titanic moment, but thought better of it!

It really was a beautiful day out on the water. So still we actually had to motor out to our destination!

I think that's a smile James?

Sam really took to life on the boat well. We soon dropped the safety line as he was so surefooted, and proved during the snorkelling session, his swimming ability was better than most on board!

Evie... poor Evie. Unfortunately not as enamoured as the rest of us. And whilst the conditions were glass-like, it still wasn't enough for her to venture above deck too often.

The brilliant interior (albeit crappy photo) of the SV Domino. Surprisingly roomy easily comfortable enough to spend days out on the water in it.

James helped Evie get through with some banter and games.

Just more and more smiles...

The SV Domino was a brilliant boat. 

B really struggled at times. Life can get so hectic.

Every now and then, someone little crawled up next to her for a cuddle and a chat. They didn't last long... I knew better... :)

Every now and then someone else got a go at the helm. Surely that can't be comfortable...

And just like that, the day was over. Truly was an amazing day.

Dan the deck hand gave us some great tips of a few places to go, which hopefully would be a little less "touristy". And he was right..

Firstly he said go down the street, take a left, go here, go around the corner, up the street, past the way, and then you get to Hideaway Bay... and then go to the dirt road and then go a bit further...

See... dirt road...

Where we found this gem... Ironically there were a couple of people on the beach but compared to the main Airlie Beach, it was like comparing the Darley Market to Chadstone Shopping Centre.

A mix of sand and stone, sun and sky... A beautiful spot!

James and I snuck the rods into the truck and wandered up to the rocks to try luring some of the big fish off the reef. It didn't work... I suggested to James that they had obviously had their lunch already.

Meanwhile on Planet Evie, a whole community, including a zoo, school and shops had been built in the shade out of coral. Her imagination knows no bounds...

We trundled around to Dingo Beach, where strangely the Australian Naming Convention was wrong, and we found no dingos at all. Maybe we were looking in the wrong spot...

James thought that Sam snorkelling looked like fun...

...so for the first time James had a crack. And he was a natural...

The snorkelling was apparently rubbish but they loved it... Evie and I walked back into shore and tried to find ice creams... to no avail. 

The rest of our time in Airlie Beach was spent lolling around the lagoon in town...

...our devouring watermelon.

We did however pair our time there with the AFL Grand Final, deliberately, so that we could either watch it at the van or get to a pub to watch it. Was pleased to say that the reception was good and we could share a AFL Grand Final Day with Nain and Tadcu.

The boys front and centre...

We even managed to score enough space opposite our site for a game of "Half Time Heros". 

I really enjoyed the time in Airlie Beach. But then after our day out on the SV Domino, followed by a beach day and the GF Day, how could you not?!? We even threw in a visit with one of the staff from Bacchus Marsh Primary who was also holidaying up that way... what are the odds?!?

There was definitely a distinct shift in the mood of the trip however, and if we weren't feeling it before we certainly were now. "Adventure Mode" had been replaced with "Holiday Mode" as the population base of the East Coast made it difficult to feel "away from it all".

But never knowing what was around the corner makes it as exciting as ever.