Showing posts with label Shute Harbour. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Shute Harbour. Show all posts

Thursday, November 3, 2011

Hamilton Island Getaways Whitsundays Queensland Australia

Hamilton Island Swimming Pool, WhitsundaysImage by kevgibbo via FlickrWelcome to my video blog post Hamilton Island Getaways Whitsundays Queensland Australia
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If you have been following my blog then you just may be planning your very next vacation to the Whitsundays and the Great Barrier Reef!

The Whitsundays is probably one of the safest tropical Island vacations sites in the world as it resides in the country of Australia.
Unlike other tropical locations it is free from disease and parasites such as Malaria!
The best time to visit here would definitely have to be in the Australian winter.  Just remember to pack your sun cream and not to forget your swimmers!
qualia - Hamilton Island 2011


CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE FULL ACCOMMODATION LIST ON HAMILTON ISLAND

Hamilton Island, Australia - Visit for a Great Vacation

So you have taken my advice and decided to vacation on Hamilton Island in the Great Barrier Reef, but first a little more information would be of great help.
First is getting there, with flights from all the major airports in Australia, it is easy to get to Hamilton Island, which has the only airport of the Whitsunday Islands.

For those who prefer, not to fly, they can take the Ferry from Shute Harbour, it only takes 30 minutes. Once on the island, getting around is easy as there is a free shuttle service, or hire a golf buggy.

On the island there is a variety of accommodations to suit everyone's pocket book, even a range of self- catering properties.
Guests can choose from a range of rooms and suites at the 4-star Reef View Hotel, among its amenities is a 35-metre swimming pool, restaurant and Lounge bar.
Then there is the Beach Club, a beachfront resort exclusively for adults, where all rooms have a private courtyard or balcony looking onto palm-fringed Catseye Beach and the Coral Sea.
Guests staying at either of these properties receive complimentary use of the island's gym, spa, sauna, tennis and squash courts, catamarans and other non-motorized equipment.

Palm Bungalows are designed for couples and families, with a limited budget, surrounded by lush tropical gardens they are near the island's main swimming pool and the shops and restaurants in the Marina Village.
Guests staying here have access to the "kids eat and stay free program". There are also holiday homes, for rent, scattered across the island, all with access to swimming pools and a complimentary 4-seater golf buggy.

 Photo right: A rainbow lorikeet in a Coral tree on the island!Rainbow Lorikeet in a Coral Tree, Hamilton IslandImage by GlobalCitizen01 via Flickr

For those seeking a more luxurious holiday there is "Qualia", on the island's secluded northern tip, offering 59 one bedroom windward and leeward secluded pavilions with private sundecks and infinity-edge plunge pools over looking the Coral Sea.
The 60th Pavilion is a 2-bedroom Beach House, with it's own guest quarters, private swimming pool, and a 10-person dining room. Guests staying at "Qualia" have exclusive use of Pebble Beach, complimentary kayaks, 2 Catamarans, 24-hour chauffeur service and daily ala-carte breakfast.

The gorgeous weather, azure waters, white sandy beaches and the Great Barrier Reef opens up incredible opportunities for a world of activities, both on the ocean and on land.
Snorkle and dive the translucent waters of the Coral Sea with clear visibility and dramatic coral canyons, just a short paddle from Catseye Beach.
Enjoy fishing trips in the abundant waters of the Great Barrier Reef; go jetboating, sail on a high-speed catamaran or get a thrill jet skiing or wakeboarding, behind a high powdered speed boat.

On land there is even more to do, go Off-road on a quad bike or go-kart, discover the island's pristine bushland with a walk on one of its many trails, all the time seeing the flora and fauna and wildlife native to this part of the world - white breasted sea eagles, wallabies, Peregrine Falcons, crested cockatoos and peacocks to mention just a few.

One of these many trails goes by Mangrove Flat, a perfect example of a healthy mangrove ecosystem, where a wide variety of birds and other marine life can be seen. The trails also allows for beautiful views and the opportunity to climb to the highest point, at Passage Peak, for spectacular views of the Whitsundays. The Trails are open from 6:30am to 5:30pm and no one should venture forth without a Trail Map, comfortable shoes and insect repellant.
 Catseye Beach Panorama, Hamilton Island, Great...Image by weberwithoneb via Flickr
 Photo right: Catseye Beach panorama, doesn't get much bluer than this, right?

For the less adventurous and those who prefer to meet the wildlife, but not in the wilds, there is the Animal Wildlife Park which houses, not only the creepy crawlies but the local koalas, kangaroos, birds and even a crocodile. The Park is open 7:30am to 5:30pm and has the unique distinction of being one of the few places you can "cuddle a Koala"

After all that exertion it is good to know there is a large choice of pools in which one can cool down and unwind, or if you are like me, you haven't moved from one of the clean white sandy beaches that can be found anywhere on the island.
View original article here!

If you want to see reviews, photo's and check a full range of accommodation on the Island then !click here now

I hope you enjoyed my video blog post Hamilton Island Getaways Whitsundays Queensland Australia and enjoyed the videos, photo’s and article.
If you are planning a vacation here and looking for a variety of accommodation options please click the link below to view today!
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Thursday, October 20, 2011

Fantasea Reef Sleep Tour Great Barrier Reef

A variety of corals form an outcrop on Flynn R...Image via WikipediaHi, and welcome to my video blog post "Fantasea Reef Sleep Tour Great Barrier Reef!"
I was doing my usual Great Barrier Reef search on the web for cool content and I found this amazing wonderful overnight tour!
The first part is a video shows the boat and explains all about there cool adventure day trips out to their floating platform
The second part is the article which I found and wanted to share with you!  This article talks about the amazing trip this lady had and how you can go too!
The phone number to book is at the bottom of the article!


Fantasea Cruises - Great Barrier Reef
Fantasea cruises journeys to the outer reef of Whitsundays Filmed by underwater cameraman Stuart Ireland


Bliss Beauty on the Barrier Reef Article


STRESSING over what to do for my 50th birthday, I finally decide to do something totally different and just think about myself.

I want an activity that is special and unique.

I settle on Fantasea Reefsleep on the Great Barrier Reef.

Reefsleep offers two days and one night on the Fantasea Adventure Platform at Hardy Reef.

The day trip allows just over three hours to enjoy this stunning environment but it's non-stop trying to fit everything in and you have to share it with other people.

Waving goodbye to the visitors and taking possession of Reefworld is when Reefsleep comes into its own.

With just a few staff and a Reefsleep host to look after you, the magic of having this marine wonderland to yourself for 20 hours cannot be underestimated.

The water clarity is more than 18 metres, so visibility is excellent.

I spend hours snorkelling in low tide late afternoon and again early the next morning. Massive schools of tiny, glowing blue fish swim by.

I say "hello" to pink-lipped damsel fish and enormous gropers and schools of trevally.

Colour, colour everywhere.

It's not that the whole reef is psychedelic but individual fish and coral are magnificent in their colour parade.

The more you look, the more you see.

The joy of snorkelling here reminds me of childhood feelings of delight and amazement.

I feel so young, mesmerised, entranced, and glad that I can still be so impressed.

Fantasea Adventure Cruising employs five marine biologists who are passionate about their work and about educating the tourists who arrive each day.

 Common Clownfish (Amphiprion ocellaris) in the...Image via Wikipedia

In a half-hour guided snorkel safari with Bunitj, I learn about aggressive, territorial damsel fish and how they harvest algae, the parrot fish with his pointy beak for scraping coral and the copious amounts of sand he poops, how important grazing herbivores are, and how the ocean is a carbon sink absorbing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.

Later in the day, we spend time with the Reefworld manager, Paul, talking about the fish and watching the night activity in the underwater viewing chamber.

Our Reefsleep hostess Ebony has served a cheese platter and champagne at sunset and dinner is an al-fresco meal under the stars.

The salty air and the occasional loud splash are reminders that we are happily marooned in the middle of one of the greatest natural wonders in the world.

In warmer months, I am sure you would feel like sleeping under the stars on the top deck. But on a breezy September night, we choose to head off to our cabin to be lulled to sleep by the sea.

Next morning, I am awakened by the rising sun peaking through the porthole. We feast on a colourful fruit platter and full breakfast as all this activity has definitely given us an appetite.

We soak up the morning beauty and enjoy the last few hours we have Reefworld to ourselves, but I am looking forward to the new set of visitors, a scuba dive and an afternoon massage.

I have decided as part and parcel of this new decade I should also try something new. When the ferry arrives for the day, I join two other guests to take a PADI Introductory dive course.

I know nothing. I am the complete novice. I learn about air spaces in the body, about equalisation and ascending, hand signals and my BCD (buoyancy control device) and my DVR (demand valve regulator).

It all sounds logical but when I put the tank on my back and get in the training pool for a dress rehearsal, I freak out. Luckily, I have the absolutely gorgeous, confident Nessy who keeps giving me the "okay" sign and getting me to practise breathing, equalising and clearing water from my mask and I eventually get it together enough to take off.

Oh, I can do this. This is wonderful. I'm free. We hold on to the ropes to start with but then Nessy lets the three of us take off after her and we are swimming unassisted and breathing under water, totally surrounded by the wonders of this special place.

Perfect. The snorkelling was enjoyable but this is truly magical.

To top off this two-day fiesta of self-indulgence, I have the most relaxing massage in the Harmony Hut with Annie and I am truly in harmony with myself and the world.

As we are saying our farewells to the Reefworld staff I hear one little girl say to her mother: "Wouldn't you like to stay here forever?"

If I was a fish, I'd definitely want to live on the Great Barrier Reef.

For a human, this is a great way to spend a few days in another world.

The writer was a guest of Fantasea Adventure Cruising.

REEFSLEEP

Spend two days and one night on the Great Barrier Reef

Where: The Fantasea Adventure Platform at Reefworld on Hardy Reef, approx 40 nautical miles off the coast. Reefworld is the only permanent structure marine accommodation available in Australia. Depart from Shute Harbour or Hamilton Island in the Whitsundays.

What's included: ferry transfers, all Reefworld facilities, sunset snack, dinner and beverages, full breakfast, buffet lunches, morning and afternoon tea, a designated Reefsleep Host to look after you. Also included is a scuba dive or a guided snorkel safari with a Reef Interpreter. Heli scenics and massages are an optional, and enjoyable, extra. Bunk rooms start at $399/person (no dive) and king cabin is $570/person (no dive).

How do I book: Contact your favourite travel agent or book online at Fantasea or call (Australia free call 1800650851.)

View original article here!

I hope you enjoyed this article Fanatasea Reef Sleep Tour Great Barrier Reef and found it entertaining and hopefully useful?
Please bookmark this blog and keep an eye out for more content on the way about Hamilton Island, Whitsudays and the Great Barrier Reef.
Also if you would like more information about this are or looking to find more information about Great Barrier Reef Holidays then please follow the link provided today!
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