After looking at Whitsunday Island and the Great Barrier Reef from above this morning, we wanted to take a trip to the Whitsunday Islands and Whitehaven Beach.
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The Southern Lights Tour of Ocean Rafting
Immediately after our flight we were taken by the agency to the port in Airlie Beach. From here our “Southern Lights Tour” with the agency Ocean Rafting started at 10 o’clock.
Snorkeling at Border Island
First we drove about 1.5 hours to the Whitsundays – past green islands, white beaches and expensive resorts. In a lagoon (Border Island) we made a snorkeling stop. Unfortunately, the visibility was really bad, so you could hardly see anything. The corals had different shapes and colors, but unfortunately there were few fish.
Whitsunday Islands National Park
Whitsunday Island National Park is located about 25 kilometres off the coast of Queensland at Airlie Beach and is certainly one of the most beautiful national parks in Australia. The Whitsunday Islands are protected from the fierce sea surf by the length of the islands between the Great Barrier Reef and the Queensland coast. The result is crystal clear blue lagoons, quiet coves and beaches of enchanting beauty. The seafarer and explorer James Cook discovered these islands in the 18th century on an Easter Sunday – called “Whitsunday” in English. The name stuck, not only for the large main island, but for the entire national park. There are 74 islands in whitsunday island National Park,but only a few of them are inhabited. The best known are Hamilton Island, Hook Island and Lindeman Island. These have numerous accommodation options, small ports and a well-developed infrastructure. On the main island of Whitsunday Island is the six kilometre long and beautiful Whitehaven Beach.
The Tongue Bay of Whitsunday Island
After snorkelling we went to Tongue Bay from Whitsunday Island, which is the largest of the 74 “Pentecost Sunday Islands”. From the beach a small bushwalk starts to the Hill Inlet Lookout. From the lookout point, especially at low tide, one has a great view of the bay with the turquoise water and the sand-water formations, which we had already seen from the plane this morning.
Relax at Whitehaven Beach
From here, the journey continued to the 6 km long Whitehaven Beach, which with a quartz content of 99 is considered one of the whitest beaches in the world. At one point we anchored the boat and had lunch on the beach. Interesting are the sounds that occur when you walk across the fine sand (YouTube Video). In addition to some seagulls and butterflies, there were other beach dwellers who go for a leisurely walk on the snow-white beach.
For sunbathing, swimming and relaxing we had a good 1.5 hours before we went back to Airlie Beach by boat. Around 4.30 p.m. we were back at the harbour after an eventful day and were taken back to our Airlie Beach Hotel 🙂
Unsere Reiseberichte von Australien (2015)
Mit der Einreise nach Australien hat für uns die 2. Hälfte unserer 6-monatigen Weltreise begonnen. Während unseres Aufenthaltes in „Down Under“ haben wir an der Ostküste, im Süden und im Inneren des Landes jede Menge erlebt: Wir haben die Großstädte Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, Brisbane und Cairns besucht, eines der bekanntesten Wahrzeichen des Landes – den Ayers Rock – erkundet, einen zuckersüßen Koala in den Armen gehalten, Kängurus in freier Wildbahn erlebt, sind die Great Ocean Road entlang gefahren, haben eine Tauchkreuzfahrt am Great Barrier Reef unternommen und einen atemberaubenden Rundflug über Whitsunday Island und den Whitehaven Beach erlebt. Unsere Reise durch Australien hat uns sehr gut gefallen und das Land hat uns von Beginn an verzaubert.» Northern Territory: Der Ayers Rock (Uluru) & die Kata Tjuta (Olgas)
» South Australia: Adelaide - Koalas halten im Gorge Wildlife Park
» South Australia: Adelaide - die Sehenswürdigkeiten der Innenstadt
» Victoria: Die Stadt Hahndorf & Kängurus am Cape Bridgewater
» Victoria: Die Great Ocean Road - 12 Apostel, Papageien & Koalas
» Victoria: Melbourne - Sehenswürdigkeiten & der Dendy Street Beach
» Queensland: Brisbane - Die Sehenswürdigkeiten in der Innenstadt
» Queensland: Airlie Beach - Das Küstenstädtchen am Great Barrier Reef
» Queensland: Airlie Beach - Ein Rundflug über das Great Barrier Reef
» Queensland: Airlie Beach - Whitsunday Island & Whitehaven Beach
» Queensland: Cairns - Ein Rundflug über das Great Barrier Reef
» Queensland: Cairns - Eine Tauchkreuzfahrt am Great Barrier Reef