Airlie Beach

In 2007 we once again decided to leave Melbourne's winter behind to explore Airlie Beach and Dunk Island.

We flew from Melbourne to Proserpine Airport, twenty-six kilometres from Airlie Beach situated on shore of the Coral Sea. At Airlie Beach we stayed at Coral Sea Resort looking on to the beach.

View of the hotel and swimming pool.

View of the beach from the hotel.

View at sunset.

In the nearby park a dugong looks out to sea.

Another view of the dugong.

Nearby there is another statue of a mother dugong and her calf.

The Whitsunday Market is held at Airlie Beach on a Saturday.

This was a pleasant location to have a relaxing holiday.

Airlie Beach - Bicentennial Walkway

The Bicentennial Walkway at Airlie Beach passes the Coral Sea Resort. It is an easy walk by the shore to Cannonvale Beach.

We passed many boats at the marina.

It was a beautiful day for a walk

Low tide.

Walking in the park.

Much of the walk was via a boardwalk.

Construction of a new resort.

Another beach view.

An enjoyable walk.

Airlie Beach - Voyager Three Island Cruise

The Whitsundays are a group of seventy-four islands in the Coral Sea. Captain Cook named Whitsunday Island in June 1790.

Google Map showing some of the islands

From Airlie Beach is is possible to go on full day or half day cruises to some of the islands.

One day we went on a Voyager Three Island Cruise visiting Whitehaven Beach on Whitsunday Island, Hook Island and Daydream Island.

Whitehaven Beach is renowned for its great expanse of clean, white sand.

It is a popular spot for tourists to visit.

Many small boats had brought visitors to the island to view the beach.

Some visitors arrived by seaplane.

Meanwhile the locals went about their daily lives.

Imagine that you are there too.

Our next island to view was Hook Island - another beautiful tropical island.

An area was marked out where those who wanted to could go snorkelling.

Robin enjoyed exploring the reef near the island.

I took the opportunity to explore the beach.

Our last stop was the resort of Daydream Island.

Once again there were beautiful views to be enjoyed.

There was also the opportunity to walk through part of the rainforest.

We thoroughly enjoyed our day exploring these islands.

Airlie Beach - South Molle Island

 We also spent some time at South Molle Island which is a thirty minute ferry ride from Airlie Beach.

This is another island with magnificent scenery. There are a number of slopes that can be climbed to provide fantastic views.

In some cases we navigated tracks through the grass.

 It was a little windy during the walk.

Each view seemed better than the last one.

On the beach the mangroves were exposed as the tide was out.

By contrast we viewed the green of the golf course.

South Molle Island was another great place to visit.

Airlie Beach - Exploring surrounding area (Part one)

When we hired a car we also explored parts of the area around Airlie Beach.

Proserpine

Proserpine is a rural town south of Airlie Beach. The Whitsunday Airport is located at Proserpine. Cattle grazing and growing sugar cane are the main agricultural industries.

We also visited the Proserpine Museum to learn more of history of the local area.

Cedar Creek Falls

Thirty kilometres south of Airlie Beach is Cedar Creek Falls.

Aerial view - Queensland.com website

A short walk from the carpark takes you to the waterfalls.

Reflections in the pool.

Conway Beach

Travelling a little further south we came to Conway Beach.

Beautiful tropical scenery.

No sand on the beach - lots of rocks and stones.

It is definitely Where the Forest meets the Sea.

A special secluded place.