Whitsundays

The Whitsundays consist of 74 islands, of which 8 are inhabited, lying midway along the Queensland coast, bordered by the Great Barrier Reef and cradled by the Coral Sea. All the year round, visitors come from all over the world, and from all Australian states and territories to enjoy the beaches, the reefs, the fishing and many other pastimes. Whether it be to relax on the beach or to enjoy the adrenalin rush of charter boats and sky-diving, the Whitsundays provide all this and more.

What happens, though, if you enjoy looking at that beautiful blue-green water, with islands, nearby and distant, across the Whitsunday Passage, but can’t bear the thought of stepping on board a boat, much less getting into one of those tiny planes, or even worse – a helicopter. Or maybe you’ve “Been there, done that”, taken a couple of day cruises, and your budget is blowing out.   What else is there to do? All you really want to do is lie in the sun on a nice sandy beach and relax.  Maybe you’ll drop in to a hotel for a counter lunch, or in the evening, and visit a couple of nice spots for dinner.  You may take a look around the shops, or try a few different beaches.

This was our situation when we arrived at Airlie Beach with our 5th wheel trailer, for a couple of weeks at a tourist park. There is a good selection of caravan parks with various levels of facilities. But free stays are harder to come by in the area. We also had our Westie, Snowy, so we needed a place that allowed pets. We found a good place, as we usually do.  We don’t like leaving Snowy behind for day trips, another reason not to visit the Islands this time around.

Paradise Bay

For a fantastic Great Barrier Reef vacation you will find Paradise Bay, at south Long Island  in the Whitsundays comes top of the list . Enjoy lazy days exploring the Whitsundays on the resort’s private sailing and expedition boats, feast on gourmet meals with superb wines to match, , relax, leave the service to our friendly team and enjoy the peace and quiet of this tranquil and stunningly beautiful location. . The Lodge has an all inclusive tariff except for wine and beers includes private helicopter tours, and private catamaran yacht cruises to explore the coral gardens, deserted beaches and the unique wild life in this part of the Whitsundays.

Paradise Bay has just ten superb waterfront bungalows overlooking a private beach and you will enjoy fine dining every night, with fresh local produce, and some of the best seafood you will get anywhere. The chef will basically cook whatever your dietary requirements and food fads are.