Qualia Resort Hamilton Island

We took the van for a run to Port Hughes on the weekend to see how it went towing. Sam and Kate agreed to come with us (as Father's Day was on the Sunday) so we all set off Saturday afternoon for a cruisy visit. Took some adjusting of the electric brakes (and a quick discussion with Pop) before we were comfortably driving ...

Day 5. Port Broughton, South Australia. 187km from Tanunda (Barossa Valley). We were disappointed to leave the Barossa - it's a definite must in the near future - just beautiful! After calling into town to grab breakky and cash (for our mate Albert's cheap wine) we set off for the Yorke Peninsula. The drive itself was pretty boring, marred with roadworks everywhere, a**hole truckies carrying wide loads and stepping on the gas while you're trying to ...

... it quite novel at Port Germein to see the long jetty and only 20 metres of water (beach) was underneath. As the tide goes out so long all you can see is sand for over 100 metres. Port Broughton is a popular tourist destination, with a lot of holidays commuting from Adelaide. The park was right on the waterfront. There were good facilities for families, such as us. It had a volley ball court on ...

... blames his wife. Other then that, Hamilton Is was grouse. Take a bottle of bubbles and an eski. Funniest bit: Everyone drives golf buggies around the place. Even tho the Island is about 500 meters accross, and nothing is ever more then 200 meters away. Take a bottle of bubbles and an eski. Observe. Worst bit: The head after emptying too many bottles of bubbles from the eski in celebration. I thought I was never ...

... 4, myself and my parents went to the Great Barrier Reef for snorkelling. After getting over my hangover, and the rough seas, the snorkelling was amazing. I have never seen anything like it. The fish and coral, all the colours you can imagine were there. It truelly is another world down there and I would recommend everyone to do it in their lifetime. Day 5 and everyone has left except me. 1 more day on the island before I fly back to Brisbane before Singapore ...

... about..but as much research as I did for this trip..I really didn't realise they speak an entirely different language in Australia! I should have brought a phrase book! We were basically really really lucky..although the title of the film Dumb and Dumber did spring to mind! We had great fun driving the golf buggy around they give you as there are only a small number of cars on the road. Then we had breakfast ...

... It's true there was a little stress trying to get to extract my belongings, organise a ride and get to the boat by 7am but I finally made it. Simon gave me some breakfast and then we set off for a fantastic sail past North Molle, Long and Whitsunday Islands before a delicate touch down to deposit me and my (everso big bag) on the pontoon at Hamilton Island Marina. Thanks Simon for a great opportunity and good luck with the new job in Moscow.

June 12th Tuesday Today we flew into Sydney from New Zealand, hung out in the airport and then flew into Hamilton island in the Whitsundays. The first night there Kyle Dad and I hiked up the largest hill on the island to watch the sunset on One Tree Hill and have cocktails, it was gorgeous. Kyle and I also discovered the game cabinet in the bar and had fun with it. June 13th Wednesday Today we went out to the outer Great Barrier Reef on a Fantasea cruise ...

... number of staff we had. It meant people were waiting far too long for their meals but all went well. Today we are feeling rather tired but the restaurant is closed tonight for our 'day of rest'. So we are having a relaxing day - just a few people booking into rooms - I'm testing my cappuccino making skills and have made a lovely rasberry and white choclate cake to eat with my cappuccino!!

The drive from Port Fairy to Adelaide is indeed a long one. We saw too many sheep, cows and falcons to count. Ford Falcons that is - apparently those are pretty popular cars, with new models still available in Australia. In fact, there's more Fords on the road than any other maker it seems, though Toyota, Honda and Holden are often spotted as well. Yes, if I'm making observations about the various ...