May 12, 2015, Tuesday, Whitsunday Is., Australia

Whitsunday Islands area  collection of continental islands off the central coast of Queensland. Capt. Cook named the island in the belief that the passage was discovered on Whitsunaday, however he did not account for the International Dateline.  They are a very popular tourist destination because of the proximity to Great Barrier Reef.  The island was purchased in 2003 by Bob Oatley and has made it a high class (it has a 6 star hotel).  The Great Barrier reef is World Heritage site and one of the seven natural wonders of the world.

This sand squeaks!  It is pure silica.

We chose the tour to the Whitehaven Beach.  Our catamaran, capable of holding about 150 passengers, picked us up directly from the ship.  Passengers normally had to tender to Hamilton Island.  We had lunch on board before they got us to the beach in small rafts.  

The sand is incredible.  It is bright white, composed of pure silica.  It never gets hot.  There was no real shade, however, to place your towel, so we just lay out on the sand.  You had to wear a sting suit if you wanted to swim, which they offered.  None of our group went in, but others from other tour companies did.  The aqua, clear water with white sand looked very inviting.  We had enough snorkling in Cairns.

One of the crew offered a short hike to the top of a hill where you had a view of the more of the waters and islands.  He pointed out "grass trees", and a blue tiger butterfly.  

Whitehaven beach

Grass trees.  the flower leaves a tall spike that makes the plant look from afar like tribal warriors with camoflage hats and long spears, when all it is is a tree.

Tree fern, unusual bark on the right tree, of a palm.

World heritage islands

butterfly

Returning to our tourist catamaran

We had tea onboard before we left for the ship.  The Captain took us close to Hamilton to see the hotel and golf club.  We had the sunset on the way.  What a relaxing beautiful day.  We love Australia so far.  

Sunset

Our ship

Before we left I went to the ship's doctor to see about my swollen left knee.  He gave me a cream, and celebrex and said not to do stairs.  I knew the stairs were what made it hurt the most.  He found that I had a sore tendon in the back of my knee and also fluid in the front and back.