Australian Adventure: Week 24, January 1-7, 2023

This week was made up of lots of driving, and lots of sun! We are soaking up the Aussie summer! But ... before we get into this weeks adventures, we have some more photos to share from our engagement last week!

On Sunday, we spent the day at Bondi Beach laying in the sun, hanging out in the water, and walking along the busy boardwalk. It was a beautiful blue day. It seemed like everyone had the same plans as we did, the beach was packed for New Year’s Day!

On our last night in Sydney, we had Spice Alley once more! That night we were surprised with a HUGE spider ... Webster (very bravely) captured it in a container and we got it outside.

On Monday, we left Sydney and made our way North (towards the equator and the warmth). We covered just over 1000km in the day with stops for lots of coffee, frozen coke, and bathroom breaks.

On Tuesday, we continued our drive, a further 1200km North to Airlie Beach. Airlie is a coastal town in Northern Queensland known for turquoise water, snorkelling, and vibrant restaurants. We are here to explore the Whitsunday Islands just off the coast of mainland Australia. The 74 Whitsunday Islands lie between the northeast coast of Queensland, Australia, and the Great Barrier Reef. It is a massive stretch of coral teeming with marine life. Most of the islands are uninhabited. They're characterized by dense rainforest, hiking trails and white sand beaches. The Whitsunday Islands are popular among celebrities - in fact, Elton John spent his New Year’s in the Whitsundays on a private island!

On Wednesday, we spent the day exploring the town. We walked up and down Main Street, exploring the little shops and restaurants. We also spent time enjoying the beautiful pool at our AirBnB.

On Thursday, we went to Boathaven Beach, a man made beach with a stinger-free swim area. Jellyfish are poisonous here so the city built a white floating net that protects a certain part of the beach so people can swim without fear of being stung.

On Friday, we spent the day on a guided jet ski tour! (Yes, they made us wear the super cool glasses!) We left from Coral Sea Marina and took jet ski’s around the Whitsunday Islands. It was a bumpy, but fun way to explore the area. The water was beautiful, so warm, crystal clear, and a perfect turquoise blue.

On Saturday, we went to Airlie Beach Hotel for a live Fred Sheeran show (fake Ed Sheeran). He was very good and it was a fun afternoon! In the evening we returned back to the beach where Webster put up his hammock!

This week we are spending a bit more time exploring the Whitsunday’s before we head North, another 600km, to Port Douglas. Thanks for following along - see you next week :)