Backpackers by the Bay Airlie Beach

Here I was, on my own for the first time in Oz. I decided to allow Megs some time to herself to finish off her thesis, so I flew up to the Whitsundays on my own Monday Nov 28. A few days before my flight, we had watched a TV program on airport safety in Aust and unfortunately the Proserpine airport into which I would be flying, was one exposed to have no air traffic control of any kind. Although this made me a bit more nervous flying in, it does give you an idea of the size of the airport...r...

Well I survived the overnight coach from 1770 to Airlie Beach (10hrs or something). Wanted to get to Great Keppel Island but it was virtually impossible by public transport, hence the big jump. I arrived in Airlie Beach (Monday) at 6am to pretty average weather and unfortunately it has been more or less raining ever since. AB itself certainly doesn't give away any hints of the paradise that lies in its waters beyond. Today (Wednesday) is the heaviest rain I have experienced (boy, when QLD doe...

I was picked up at 7.30am to start my Oz Bus trip down to Sydney. This is very different to the Premier bus as you stop and do activities and you an listen to music while the bus is going. Our first stop was at a crocodile farm when I got to hold a baby croc and feed some small wallaby's. I also saw some huge Crocodiles which you would not like to meet on any given day. My first night stop was in Townsville where I stayed at global trotters. There was hardly anything to do in the town plus ev...

Whitsunday Islands Als Fraser Island "Ter Land" is, dan zijn de Whitsunday Islands "Ter Zee." De Whitsunday Islands is een eilandengroep aan de Sunshine Coast ter hoogte van Airlie Beach en is een deel van de Great Barrier Reef. De geijkte manier van de Whitsunday Islands bereizen is een meerdaagse reis op een zeilboot boeken, in mijn geval de Whitbread klasse "British Defender." Er is een drie-koppige vaste bemanning aan boord: de schipper Bretto, de first-mate Heidi en de chef-kok Cas. De r...

The past week has been full speed ahead. Frasier Island was so sick. Drove around in a bright pink 4x4 vehicle with 3 Irish dudes, 3 English, 1 Canadian, and 1 Scottish guy. It was ridiculous. Right now I'm in Airlie Beach and chilling out finally after getting next to zero sleep this week. It's been wild. Yesterday I went scuba diving for the first time. The Great Barrier Reef is amazing...it stretches all the way to Papau New Guinea and you can see it from space!

We arrived in Airlie Beach a little hungover from our night out in Townsville to be pleasantly surprised by what greeted us in Airlie. Really nice beachside resort with great atmosphere and buzzy feeling around the place. Another place that could defo have stayed for a few nights and chilled out. Bars are busy every night and there is also a "Lagoon" in the centre to lie out at. Unfortunately, we only got to spend one night there before heading out on the PowerPlay Catameran that was to be ou...

G'Day All! Hows the lovely shores of Britain? Hope you're all keeping well. Anyway, here goes: Day Eight The flight was rather quick, but some cool turbulence made the journey rather more exciting. Except for the poor lady sitting next to me who was scared of flying on the way to Airlie beach. Telling her there were gremlins on the wing didn't go down to well (I didn't really, I'm not that evil). Anyway, we arrived at Proserpine airport just after lunch to beaming sunshine, and quickly locate...

Arrived in Airlie Beach on Saturday afternoon after a four and a half hour Coach trip down the East coast of Northern Queensland. I didnt realise quite how big Queensland is. I have now travelled about 10 or 11 hours on a coach down the east coast and I am still in North Queensland !! A good thing here is most of the Backpacker accommodation run courtesy transport to pick you up from the Coach drop offs to take you to the accommodation. This place I have picked out of the Lonely planet. I hav...

the last time i was here-- about 2 weeks ago-- i was desperately trying to find a job. by now, you all know that my search proved unsuccessful, but my change in plans was working out and i was happy to finally do some proper traveling around this amazing country.

after i had left Townsville i continued south back to Airlie Beach, this time to take a trip out among the pristine Whitsunday Islands, a 74 island archipelago protected by the Great Barrier Reef and offering countless seclud...