Backpacking around North Queensland!

 

 

Hmm so where can I go for 12 days? I was browsing internet months ago planning my upcoming Xmas & NY trip. My curiosity was leading towards Northern Queensland, Australia. The distance is actually not too far from NZ and the climate mostly quite hot there. Whitehaven beach? Why not! So I made up my mind to go to Australia’s number 1 beach, also been numerously nominated as one of the best beaches in the world! I don’t think I need more reason.

 

Arriving in Proserpine, Whitsunday Coast Airport to be exact on Christmas day, already I was greeted with scorching heat and it was only 8am. Took a shuttle bus that dropped me at my hostel’s doorsteps, YHA Airlie Beach it was. I always stay in Girls dorm if possible. I enjoy staying in the dorm coz it feels like a slumber party every night. Yes there’s lack of privacy, but it’s always fun and enjoyable to meet other travellers and sharing stories at any time of the day. The girls in my dorm at YHA Airlie Beach were full of life and characters. We had pizza night together, drinking wine from paper cup and, having one or two cocktails and feasting on seafood, tasting the goodness of what’s Airlie beach got to offer. Girls, it was such a great times that I felt like we’ve known each other before! Thanks for your company! #whenandwhere #room22

 
 

Airlie Beach is the gateway to Whitsunday group of islands, there are about 74 islands scattered around here. One of them is where Whitehaven beach located. I went there on a boat converted raft called Ocean Rafting. The weather was unfortunately pretty bad with wind blowing up to 40 knots. Everyone on the raft felt like we were flying on the ocean which I supposed made the ride more adventurous! We did short bush walk to get to the lookout inlet point where you can admire the view of Whitehaven. I could only see few of the sandy bars  from here due to the poor weather condition. Still, it was a memorable to be there and to step on sand that were so pure and white containing 90% silica!

 

We continued cruising around Whitsundays and made couple of stops to snorkel, chasing fish and sneaking on turtle! Lunch stop was next, we berthed at one of the quite bays of Whitehaven beach and there we saw tens of stingrays swarming so close to the shore! It was pretty intimidating! Though the captain told us that the rays would just go away if we went swimming. No pressure ha!

 

I went for my first ever Scuba Diving in the Great Barrier Reef as part of snorkelling trip I took the next day. I must say that conquering fear felt really good afterwards. Yes I felt nervous and sh*t scared to dive for the first time, but the instructor was very calm and so after leaving the dive base under the Pontoon to the open sea, it was just effortless and I felt like I was entering a whole new world that I was about to discover. Then there was Wally! He’s a massive blue Maori Wrasse fish, local resident of the reef, I must say that he’s quite a “celebrity”. So happy to see and pat this friendly guy as he swam so close to us, at some point he just came out of nowhere right on my face! Wally, you truly made this dive much more enjoyable and entertaining! I miss you already, your sleek move and beautiful marble eyes.

 

 

Then I went hiking with Abi, a girl from my dorm as my Kayak trip was cancelled due to strong wind and choppy sea. As recommended by our hostel Receptionist, we made our way to Honeyeater Track. It was about 4 hours return hike with pretty steep incline on the way up to the lookout. This track was branching out to other different tracks that can be done on multiple days. We were happy enough to do until the lookout. The view was rewarding from the top, we had lunch while looking down on fifty shades of blue and group of islands that surrounding Airlie Beach. On the way down, we were walking faster as how the gravity works and we didn’t realize there was a snake just inches from Abi’s feet that she almost stomp on it! its colour was blended with leaves and dirt, sort of brownish and greenish colour, made it hard to spot from a distance. All I heard was Abi screaming then I was screaming too! The snake wasn’t that wide but it’s pretty long. Its also stopped and wobbled its head instead of made a run to the bush. Looks like this snake also stunned to see us or was our screaming deafening him? Funny to reminisce the moment now but not when we were there! Aussie bush is pretty wild aye.

 
 

After about a week in Airlie Beach, I took Greyhound bus further north to Townsville then ferry across to Magnetic Island aka “Maggie”. I chose Maggie as I read online that this little gem known  to be the biggest population of Koala in Australia and in the world. They said about 800 koalas are living here. There are also other wildlife, huge variety of birds, kangaroo and rock wallaby. There are plenty of walking treks all over the island ranging from half hour to 3 hours. I stayed at Arcadia Beach House which didn’t feel like it was a hostel as it felt so homey and even the dorm room that I stayed had only single beds instead of the usual bunk beds. It felt good for a while not to have someone on top or below you moving around in the middle of the night and wake you up haha!

 
 

I rode a bus on the first day and by looking at the timetable, the bus only runs every 45 minutes to an hour as their schedule was made to meet the ferry arrivals/departure from Townsville. It felt like a long wait already because when you missed one, it took ages for another one to arrive. I waited at the bus stop after finishing my walk at The Forts, but after got annoyed by a huge fly that wouldn't go away, I decided to hitchhike. I put my hand up and not long after these 2 friendly ladies pulled over, they were kind enough to give me a lift. As we started chatting, I found out that they were originally from Spain, one of them actually living in Melbourne. Since my day was pretty flexible, they offered if I would like to join them for the rest of the day. Without thinking I said yes! So we ended up spending the rest of that day together. Swimming in Horseshoe Bay, lurking on sleeping Koalas, feeding Rock Wallabies around the old jetty in Alma Bay. Before I met them, when I did my walk at The Forts, I was hoping to spot a Koala or two but didn’t see any. I was determined to do the walk again to have a second look but then a luck stroked by meeting these 2 lovely ladies and I was able to see the Koalas on different place. Amazing how the Universe works it magic. Be careful what you wish for, because Universe works in a mysterious way and it conspires to help you!



The next couple of days I decided to rent scooter and with my bright yellow ride, I went zooming around Maggie from one bay to another, exploring every nook and cranny of the island and spending a good “Koality” time going back and forth and just sat in silence watching these animals behaving, from lounging on the tree trunks, napping, pooping, scratching, moving about 50cm then went back to sleep again, to watching me as I was watching them. Hmm who's the spectacle now? Overall, I was so happy to finally see Koalas in the wilderness!

  

My four days in Maggie went too fast but it’s always like that when you're having good times. I took bus back to Airlie Beach, stayed for one night then caught my flight back to Auckland via Brisbane.

   

“Don’t cry because it’s over, smile because it happened” – Dr. Seuss