Laurence and Henry's Big Adventure: Airlie Beach and Whitsunday Islands

I Can't believe it, I love Airlie Beach

Can you believe that I swam with turtles

Cayley's stuffed sock monkey

Maphew on Airlie Beach

So the family continued its road trip down the remote coastline of Australia, constantly looking for at least one living kangaroo. As road kill became an all too common site along the road, it was everyone’s goal to see the elusive living kangaroo. And in between we played long road trip games in the car, and tried to think like a 13 year old boy in our endless guessing games. We stopped along the way at several small Aussie towns, for refills and of course the all too often needed bathroom breaks.

Off to the Whitsunday Island

I'm too sexy for this boat

We're almost there!!!!

We spent one night at the town of Townsville, Queensland’s second largest city and a major port for beef and sugar cane. We toured the town one morning taking in the incredible shore line and views from the mountain in the centre of town. But without a doubt what will be remembered most about Townsville is Chad saying “TOWNSVILLE” over and over again very slow as he thought it was the greatest name for a city. Go figure, I guess you need to be a thirteen year old boy.

Sand Sculptures by Chad

We also made a pit stop at the coastal town of Bowen to play along the large boulders on the coastline along the wonderful sandy beaches and of course have a Tim Tam break.

But our goal was to make it to the town of Airlie Beach, the gateway to the magnificent Whitsunday Islands. The Whitsunday Islands are an archipelago of 74 islands protected by the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park. This collection of islands is without a doubt one of the most beautiful and amazing places in the entire earth and home to what I believe is the best beach in the world(and I have seen many) Whitehaven Beach.

This sand is amazing

Whitehaven Beach, most beautiful beach in the World

I love this place, I'm coming back!!!!!!

What do you think Sarah, its amazing!!!!

Whitehaven is the fourth most photographed spot in Australia

Chad you dig better then Koda!!!

Maphew Whitsunday

The town of Airlie Beach is wonderful tourist town on the coast, with great access to the islands but also great facilities and a large man made lagoon for swimming during the jellyfish season. So we spent the day playing along the beach and around the lagoon and even took in “Cracker Night” or as what we would call fireworks one evening.

Cracker Night, Airlie Beach Style

We took a day trip out to the islands and toured around the coastline on our way to the incredible Whitehaven Beach. Whitehaven Beach is almost 6 miles long of pure white sand along a turquoise sea in a national park with no development, a very special place. Here we took in this wonderful place, walking in the squeaky sand, building sand animals and playing in the crystal clear water, this place really is special. We then hiked up an adjoining island to look down on the stunning estuary at the end of Whitehaven Beach, which changes with every new tide and is the fourth most photographed spot in Australia after the Opera House, the Bridge and The Rock. And the day ended with several hours of snorkelling along a reef and taking in the wonderful sites of the undersea world. It was here Chad and I had the great thrill of swimming with a sea turtle for several minutes, wow what a great memory. And to top off the perfect day we even spotted Humpback Whales on the way back to Airlie Beach.