Whitsundays - The Sandy Haven
One of the most incredible stops along the OZ Experience was the Whitsunday Islands. Although Australia is known for its scenic areas and islands, nothing comes close the best island the east coast has to offer. Located with some amazing scenery of the Great Barrier Reef and arguably one of the most beautiful islands in the world, I got the chance to visit this beautiful sandy heaven on earth, aboard the British Defender (the fastest boat the adventure had to offer).
Starting off at Abel Point Marina at Airlie Beach, we departed at 8 AM and immediately went sailing down the channel.
Sailing the Whitsunday Passage, we reached Tongue Bay, where we had a bush walk at the Hill Inlet.
Along the way however, we sunbathed and got to know one another. With a whopping 27 passengers, it was never a dull moment aboard the Defender. Complete with games such as “Never Have I Ever..” and a bit of rugby, we became a family on the boat.
After the walk, we arrived at Whitehaven Beach, and the views were breathtaking. It was surreal, as the location itself looked like a High Definition picture. We even saw some dolphins, manatees, and sting rays along the way.
We finally arrived at Stonehaven for an overnight anchorage, and we spent the night star gazing. We even saw Venus and Jupiter that night. Truly breathtaking, it felt like I was in a planetarium.
The next morning at 8:00 am, we went snorkeling at Blue Pearl Bay, and it was something I had never experienced. The coral. The fish. The ocean. Being submerged, wading around and watching the plethora of fish swim through their homes was a breathtaking activity. We spent a good 2 hours just watching and soaking in what this place had to offer.
This OZ Experience was caked with large group activities, and an amazing crew. Every minute was spent basking in the sun with some new friends made along the way. I would totally do it again in a heartbeat, as it was one of the highlights of my stay here, and highly recommend you try it as well!
Have your own adventure at the Whitsundays! Head to Australia with BUNAC's work abroad program!
