12 November, 2015 by Cruisers

11 -12 Nov: Hamilton Island

We’ve found that we happily last a week out and about, but after that we’re hanging out for a long, hot shower and a bit of luxury. Today we’re back at Hamilton Island.

At Hamilton .. bakery, pub, shower – where will we go first?

For something different this stay we’ve booked to have lunch and a tour of the Hamilton Island Golf Club. It’s situated on Dent Island and is an 18-hole, par 71 course with every hole having spectacular views. The lunch at the Clubhouse first was superb, too.

Stunning course. I wish I could play golf!

The washing has been done, the boat cleaned inside and out (but not underneath), water and fuel replenished, the sailors rejuvenated and tomorrow before we sail we’ll restock the larder.

Another good stay on Hamilton Island, though we really did miss Baby John – so many extended family groups holidaying here bringing back the memories.

To see the photos from these couple of days CLICK HERE.

16 October, 2015 by Cruisers

1 – 16th Oct: Hamilton Island

Yes, it’s true – we spent 16 days in the marina at Hamilton Island! The winds just blew and blew and blew! The first week was actually lots of fun. I mean it’s hard to get sympathy when you’re stuck on a tropical island as good as Hamilton!

We admired the island

Lovely to eventually see a beautiful resort giving lots of people lots of happiness.

We enjoyed the free entertainment.

A very good muso – entertaining us on the marina lawn.

We blew our diet.

There goes 10 days of healthy eating! From the Pub on the marina side.

We climbed to Passage Peak. No mean feat as those who have done it will attest.

Catseye Beach. Taken during our walk to Passage Peak.

We relaxed by the pool.

Listening to live music beside the swim-up Cocktail Bar. Yep, that’s relaxing!

We didn’t have to go snorkelling to see coral and tiny fish.

There’s also quite an advanced staghorn growing on the pontoon right beside us.

we joined in some activities – yoga, tai chi and ‘learn to husk a coconut’.

A coconut husking lesson.

We ran in the inaugural Hamilton Island 5km Parkrun.

Steve, competing in the inaugural Hamilton Island ParkRun

For more photos from the last 12 days on Hamilton, CLICK HERE.

And then the most exciting part happened! Nick, Kim and Babyjohn arrived for a 4-day stay.

Swimming with Opa.

Timeout, on Catseye Beach.

Kim, bringing them in.

We had great times together on Hamilton.

Very special, happy little family.

To see more photos of our time with Nick, Kim and John on Hamilton Island, CLICK HERE.

23 October, 2013 by Cruisers

Day 21: Hamilton Island to Flaggy Rock

Not goodbye, but aurevoir!

Mixed emotions today. We left Hamilton this morning. Enjoyed our last breakfast by the pool watching the ocean. Said our goodbyes to Ric and Gill and Laura and Stuart (they flew back to Brisbane) and caught the boat back to Shute Harbour. I must say the weather today was the best yet. The ocean was calm and the islands sitting in it were stunning. Very sad that this part of our trip was over.
Back on the mainland we picked up Mitzy and went to Cannonvale to restock the food. We were surprised how quiet it was in both Shute and Airlie. The van parks were just about empty. When the season finishes, it finishes! Got away about 1pm. The drive from Airlie to the highway is really unattractive – maybe with the excitement of going there you don’t notice it so much, but leaving you do.
Tonight we’re staying at the Flaggy Rock Community Centre which is a couple of K off the highway and just south of Camilla. It was once the primary school, but is now used by community groups. The grounds are very spacious as you can imagine and beautifully maintained by the caretaker – green grass! And only $5 per vehicle per night. Only downside is the railway line runs past it. Let’s hope there’s not too many trains tonight.
I mentioned mixed emotions at the beginning of this entry. It was sadly and reluctantly that we left our tropical island, and hassling with shopping and highway driving didn’t make it any easier. However, once set up here after dinner sitting outside looking at the myriad of stars and watching for satellites and falling stars the joy of our trip soon came back. Great to be on the road again.

22 October, 2013 by Cruisers

Day 20: Hamilton Island

Another beautiful day – we’ve been blessed with gorgeous weather this whole trip, but especially here. After another leisurely, delicious breakfast beside the pool Steve and I relaxed outside our unit with books and iPads. Laura and Ric both had computer work to do and Stu stayed with Laura, so Gill came over to us. We got our chauffeured car to take us to the marina-side where we had coffee looking at the fish swimming by and the boats.

on Whitehaven

In the afternoon we went to Whitehaven Beach with Laura and Stu. Steve and I have been there many times and know it is THE most beautiful beach in the whole world and wanted to share it with L & S. And it didn’t disappoint. Thank heaven for National Parks.

No, stay with Steve – don’t come to the photographer!

Back on Hamilton again our hotel put on a cocktail hour with free drinks and nibbles, and a ‘celebrity’ guest who turned out to be a coastal carpet python.
Dinner was booked at Bommies restaurant for us all. This is the Island’s signature restaurant at the yacht club. Well I can attest to the food being divine. Superb! We had a fun evening with drinks at our place before we went over – and a little bit of dancing … well Gill and I danced anyway. A very enjoyable evening with excellent food and excellent company.

To see our remaining Hamilton Island photos, click here.

21 October, 2013 by Cruisers

Day 19: Hamilton Island

Bliss!

Not a big entry for today. Just how much can you read about us eating, drinking, relaxing by Ric/Gill”s apartment, the pool, the beach, the pub …? It was windy today – too windy unfortunately for them to let us use the surf cats. Don’t get me wrong – it was still gorgeous weather!
This evening Ric and Gill cooked for us. They’d brought the yummiest, tenderest piece of marinaded meat and chicken over with them. Ric cooked it on the BBQ. Delicious meal shared with Ric, Gill, Laura and Stuart, sitting on the patio overlooking the ocean, Whitsunday Is and the moon rise. Good food, good friends, good conversation, good weather, good views – can’t ask for much more.

20 October, 2013 by Cruisers

Day 18: THE Birthday

Our wonderful birthday boy.

Today’s the big day. Our birthday boy turns 60! Congratulations Steve. I’ve known this wonderful man for most of those 60 years and can tell you he’s a very special person and my soul mate – love you darling!

We’ve had a really fabulous day today. Started with breakfast by the pool – long and leisurely. Then Steve had a massage and afterwards reported it to be the best he’s ever had, and I had a facial which was also very good – though people are still recognising me, so maybe it wasn’t!

That’s her boat!

Fathers and daughters – a special relationship.

Finished those just in time to go over to the deck of the yacht club to watch Laura arrive by boat. Went with her up to her accommodation then we all went down to the pool that has the swim-up bar and had a cocktail. After a little something to eat we headed to the airport to pick up Ric and Gill, and Stuart who came up as a surprise for Laura and Steve (I was already in on the surprise!). Both were suitably surprised and delighted.

Sat around their apartment and chatted and drank for a bit before changing the location, if not the activity, to the yacht club. Back to our place (The Beach Club) and off to the beach until it was time to get dressed for dinner.
Dinner was divine. We each raved about the meals we had. And for dessert they brought out a mud cake birthday cake, which I had prearranged with the bakery.

Is that all that’s left?

Altogether a fabulous day in a wonderful place, and very grateful that we had friends and family to share Steve’s 60th birthday. Thank you Ric, Gill, Laura and Stuart.

Check out some more photos of Steve’s birthday day by clicking here.

19 October, 2013 by Cruisers

Day 17: Hamilton Island

Magic, magic day! Weather is perfect and life is good!

No stress!

Wandered in for our breakfast after a great nights sleep. Pondered what we’d do for a while – quite a while actually, before finally deciding on ocean activities. Took out a catamaran for a while. Pleased that Steve hasn’t lost any of his sailing prowess, then a double kayak which we’re both now pretty good at, then went for a swim in the ocean before settling on the beach under a brush umbrella for a bit of reading and iPad-ing.
The water is clear and the perfect temperature. Saw a turtle with a shell about two foot across while we were sailing. Swimming was heavenly!

Back to our unit for a shower and to contemplate lunch. Decided to go to the yacht club. This building is quite new and really stunning. It has a bowsprit and a mast which was off one of the yachts that took line honours in a Sydney to Hobart. Reckon we’ll sit here tomorrow morning and watch Laura arrive. Lunch was tapas with a cheeky West Australian bubbly. More reading, more contemplation as we sat on the deck. Watched the yachts sailing by, the ferry from Shute arrive and three jets come in.
OK enough of that and back to the unit where Steve had a sleep and I finished my latest book. Took a walk on the beach at low tide and wandered around the resort and its many pools and bars and thought about dinner. We’re going to Coca Chu, a modern Asian restaurant.
Click here for a few more photos from our day today.

Outstanding views – from The Deck.

18 October, 2013 by Cruisers

Day 16: Hamilton Island

Well, last night wasn’t one of our best – hot and midgies! But the thought of our Hamilton Island sojourn made sure our spirits stayed high.

Shute Harbour. We’ll be on a boat like those big ones soon.

Early start – had to have car to Secure Parking by 7am and boat departure at 8am. We packed up quickly and headed for the lookout at Shute Harbour where we had breakfast. The day was perfect: 28C max, light winds, sunny. The ocean looked like it was covered in diamonds as it twinkled in the sunlight. Steve commented on how different the colour of the ocean is here, and it is too – a turquoise blue. Happy thoughts all round.

View from our bed.

We’re staying at The Beach Club, which is pretty classy – our room is ground floor and we walk out of our room across lawn, onto the beach and into the ocean. We arrived in time for breakfast here, which we didn’t say no to. The tables are set around the infinity pool beside the ocean. Get the picture? This is a lovely place to stay.
There’s a free shuttle bus service around the island, so we hopped on that and went sightseeing. We identified the original sections we remembered from 1986 when Steve was the air traffic controller here and we were here frequently with his work, and also sailed here on our trailer-sailer Cooboo. I also had some flashback memories when I sat on Catseye Beach – yep, thanks for that Nick!
Very restful afternoon – reading, sleeping, swimming in pool. Dinner at Romanos at 9pm (couldn’t get an earlier booking!) and back for a long and comfortable night’s sleep. Didn’t miss having to climb down the ladder in the middle of the night!

Click here to view a few more photos of our first day on Hamilton Island.

Cruisin' Chronicles

. . . do what you can while you're able

Hamilton Island