Hamilton Island Holiday - 1

Sunday 13 October 2013

Ellen, Rod and the boys and I met at the airport after Geoff dropped me off, ready for our flight to our Hamilton Island holiday. The flight was bearable and we landed smoothly on the island at about 1:30pm. We were met by a hostess waithing with our name on a placard. She organised delivery of our bags and showed us where to collect a golf buggy that we will have for the week (C81000). The boys were so excited to have our own buggy. We just have to plug it in to recharge whenever we get back to our unit.

We found our unit in the far end block (Frangipani) and settled in. Ellen, Alex and I then went grocery shopping to stock up on supplies. This meant a drive up and over to the marina side of the island. It is all quite hilly with lots of tracks up and down but we don't always have to walk everywhere as we have our buggy.

We all then walked along Catseye Beach to see what each pool had to offer. We also found cuttlefish, pumice, coral, mangrove seeds and some beautiful sandball patterns made by crabs.

Luke found treasures as soon as we hit the sand.

 Our first swim was in the big pool (with a 'bar' in the middle which the boys thought was cool). Then we swam in the waterfall pool.

Ellen and I had lots of time to relax with a wine.

 Back home to change and head for One Tree Hill in time for sunset. What a view can be had both towards the mainland and out to sea! The water is very still and there are signs about Irukanji jellyfish (stingers) at the beach.

Ellen and I taken by Luke.

 Off then to pizza dinner at marina Cafe. Home exhausted and off to bed.

Birds I've already seen include Scrub Thick Knee, Sea Eagle, Pied Oystercatcher, Purple Swamphens, Sulphur Crested Cockatoos, Currawongs and what looks like an eagle feather.

We loved riding around in our little buggy.

 Monday 14 October

Woke early (my third time change in three weeks). Read a bit of Danny Fox to the boys then Rod and Alex went out to find coffee.

When Luke and I sat to eat breakfast on the balcony we were visited by a Rainbow Lorrikeet that actually landed on Luke's arm to steel his cereal. Then came four cockies who cleaned up the leftovers of the spill. Luke found a Kookaburra in a nearby tree too.

I drove the family down to the marina for their day trip out to the reef then spent a little time looking at shops and investigating options for other activities for us. Unfortunately, althrough there are walks to various places on the bushy end of the island there is no guided option and I don't really want to go alone.

Ellen, Rod and the boys loved their trip out to the Great Barrier Reef.Lots of time was spent snorkelling and diving.

They went out to the reef on a huge catamaran.

 Home to the cool unit and some morning tea and a bit of time to sort out my stuff and recharge things that need it. I walked to the Beach Hut to find out about more activities then returned home to do a bit of computer work. No wifi so no email or blog updates.

The view from our unit when the tide was half way.

The view from our unit at low tide

Our unit.

 I drove down to collect the very tired but excited family. A bit of shopping, a swim and then a barbeque at home for tea. The Thick Knees really make a lot of noise at night.

Tuesday 15 October

After breakfast our first stop was the Wildlife Centre for Luke to have his photo taken with a koala. A long wait but worth it for the smile. We then walked around the centre together.

Luke was thrilled to hold a koala.

 Then it was time for Rod and Luke to have a sail (Alex did not want to go) on a small catamaran.

Rod and Luke went out sailing.

 While they were sailing Alex, Ellen and I went to the pool and Alex and I practiced using our snorkels ready for our guided snorkel on the reef just off the beach. 

After kitting ourselves up we waded out with our guide. Within a few minutes we waw a medium sized green turtle grazing on the algae. This was amazing! There were zebra fish and coral perch and a lion fish (very poisonous). After a fair time just looking the guide put out some fish food and attracted all sorts of fish. As the wind was picking up we came ashore, made a quick stop for 'tattoos' for the boys then to drop our wet gear off at the unit.

The Scrub Thick Knees were all over the island.

 By the time we got to the fish and chip shop for lunch it was after 2pm. We are packing so much into this holiday!

A bit more shopping, booking tomorrow's activity, returning for another Luke-koala photo because the first one failed then back home to collapse for a while. Easy dinner of french toast, bacon and left over barbeque before finishing our first jig saw puzzle. Bed for all around 8pm, some to read and others to collapse.

Wednesday 16 October

Today was our day trip to Daydream Island. At about 8:30am we drove down to the wharf and boarded our ferry. It took about 30 minutes. We landed and headed for the main foyer, crossing over the first part of the reef lagoon (a man-made shallow lagoon that wound its way around the main building).

Our first activity was to tag along on a staff training session about the animals in the lagoon. We then joined the feeding demonstration that included the rays and sharks.

We walked down to Mermaid Beach where we found some treasures in the sand. We then had to walk the length of the island to the other end to get our lunch at the bakery. We did this walk via the 'rainforest walk' which was very dry and sometimes quite steep.

Lunch at Daydream Is

 At our lunch spot we were joined by a few Scrub Thick Knees scrounging for food. They are amazing birds.

Back to the other end of the island again but this time via the bay walk which was quite level but very sunny. We joined up with our booked 'feed the lagoon fish' tour. Luke showed no fear but Alex, when eventually convinced it was OK, had his piece snatched out of his hand by the biggest Barramundi in the pool. We also got to hold a shark which he thought was quite cool.

Alex was so thrilled to be able to hold a shark.

 We also fed the stingrays and felt their skin then held a starfish as well.

It was then time for the promised swim in the pool at Mermaid Beach before oour ferry trip back to Hamilton Island.

Back home to dinner and a reef DVD before everyone fell asleep quite early.