The last stop on our Australian Adventure 2015, was a delightful little placed named Hamilton Island.  This island is a jumping off point for many people go trip out to the Great Barrier Reef.  

This little island is just. so. fun.  It’s part of the Whitsunday Islands, which is maybe one of the most beautiful places in the world. Also worth noting, the island is a land ruled by golf carts or more endearingly referred to as “buggies.”  There are a couple of cars milling about (mostly service trucks or vans filled with tourist,) but for the average guest it’s a buggie or good old fashion walking.

We flew into Hamilton Island and immediately set out exploring the place:

I love at the end of this video when you hear Jamie tell the group, “They say the bakery is good.”  We have our priorities straight people!!

Hamilton Island is overrun by these adorable cockatoos. There are signs all over the place encouraging tourists not to feed them but it’s just so darn hard to resist.

You give one of these guys a French fry and they will hold it in their tiny, baby sized claw and chow it down like a champ.  The more time you spend on the island, the more it becomes abundantly obvious that these fellows are Grade-A stalkers.  I starts with one or two but before you know it you are surrounded by them.

Sometimes I would look at them and say in a serious tone, “You are a bird.  You are meant to eat seeds and nuts.  Not French fries and bits of meat pie.  Although you are REALLY cute, you need to back up off me. It’s for your own benefit.”  They typically didn’t listen.

Our first couple of days in Hamilton were spent enjoying all the beach had to offer.  Our house came with access to paddle boards, kayaks and Hobie cat sailboats.  Jamie is a licensed boat captain (up to cruise ship status–wow!) We went sailing on the beach and soaked in lots of rays.

 

I gave this water rescue lifeguard so much credit.  He zoomed around the beach herding the swimmers, kayakers, paddle boarders and boats into a designated area.  He checked up on people, chatted with them, and even took an occasional picture to ‘document’ a good stand up paddle board run.  What a fun (but stressful) job.

The great barrier reef was next on our itinerary.  We spent the day heading out to sea in very choppy conditions.  A storm a few days prior led to a less than ideal cruising situation.

It’s all fun and games until the boat becomes so rocky the crew can hardly get through the safety demonstration.

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Dear God, thank you for creating the scientist who invented Dramamine. 

After a tough start we made it.  Needless to say it was well worth the bumpy ride.