Over 40 yachts were either badly damaged or completely written off after this very nasty episode. The yacht on the left was hard up on the rocks but the cat on the right was at least lucky to get a softer landing up high and dry on the beach. During this time of the year quite a number of the locals take their boats around to moor in Shute Harbour as it is well protected from the Northerlies.
Whitsunday Sailing Club Fun Race.
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A great day on the water was had by one and all in the Annual Fun Race at Airlie Beach. The weather was fantastic, the crews well oiled, and the race was completed without mishap. It is unknown whether the Eagle Boy was brought down to the deck from aloft at the end of the day or whether the Pizza Boy's Crew abandoned him. We will probably here all about it in the next Whitsunday Times Edition due out next Thursday.
Larger pictures can be found in our Photo Album Page. |
Shute Harbour. 
Apart from hiring an aircraft , the best view of the islands from the mainland is at Shute Harbour. Take the Shute Harbour Rd. and turn left at The Shell Garage. Follow the road past The Lions Lookout and continue til you come to Harbour Ave. At the end of the Ave. is a car turning point opposite Coral Point Lodge. Views from here are spectacular. Beyond the Beak ( Mainland Foreground) you will see North Molle, Mid Molle, South Molle, Daydream, Hook, Whitsunday, Gunn and Denman Islands.
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The Photo of Coral Point Lodge on the left was taken on a windy day as we departed Shute Harbour on our way to Abel Point Marina. Photo of part of Shute Harbour on the right taken looking down from the public Car Park Lookout.
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This small town has some fabulous beaches and bays, providing visitors with a real getaway from it all experience. Snorkelling spots are superb and windsurfing is popular in this area. Taking a guided tour of approx. 90 mins gives you the opportunity of seeing the 24 Historical Murals that are situated at various places around the town.
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Bowen. Driving just 45 mins north of Airlie Beach you arrive at Bowen, nestled on the shores of Edgecumbe Bay. 
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Mullers Lagoon, described as one of the most beautiful wetlands habitats and parklands anywhere to be found is situated in the centre of town. Visit the only 5 star restaurant in town at Flagstaff Hill and enjoy the fabulous 360 deg. views. All in all, a great day trip if you are holidaying in Airlie Beach, or a wonderful get away from it all holiday in the Northern Whitsundays.
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VISIT THE ISLANDS.
Peppers Palm Bay.
Nestled amongst swaying palms fringing the picturesque beach and turquoise waters of the Whitsundays,
Peppers Palm Bay is an exclusive Peppers Retreat offering a private, intimate and secluded hideaway.
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Whitsunday Island is the largest island in the Whitsundays and is 100%
National Park.Kept in pristine condition, there are no resort facilities here,
but there is a camping
site. Visitor numbers to the island are quite significant as several tour
operators run trips to the world famous Whitehaven Beach. This beach is
probably one of the most photographed beaches in the world.
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Lindeman is the southernmost island in the group and is about 1 hour from Shute
Harbour. Nature walks reveal lots of varieties of flora and fauna on the
island. Windsurfing and snorkelling are popular off the beach , and the island
also has a 9 hole golf course. In the cool of the evening you can take
advantage of the 5 floodlit tennis courts and follow by visiting the nightclub
on the island.
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Hamilton has a variety of accommodation types on the island, ranging from The
Palm Bungalows, through to Private Residences. At this point in time the north
side of the island is being developed to accommodate a 6 star resort. Visitors
will be transported by helicopter to their own private quarters. In the main
resort, guests will find that on any given day there are at least 40 different
types of activities that they can participate in. Buggies are the form of
transport on the island ,or you can take advantage of the free shuttle service
that operates throughout the day to all parts of the island. Fantasea runs reef
trips from the island every day , and also trips to Whitehaven Beach on
Whitsunday Island. On the south side of the island there is a Go Cart Track,
Rifle Range, and a Golf Driving Range. Plenty of things to keep you occupied
here.
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This island is blessed with 3 resorts.The original resort was Happy Bay, and
was completely transformed in the 80's, and is now Club Crocodile Resort. The
Resort has a wide range of facilities ,and several walking tracks. Situated 20
mins from Shute Harbour , the island has a steady flow of daytrippers from
nearby Shute Harbour.
South of the main resort are The Eco Resort and Peppers Palm Bay. Both Exclusive, and designed for the folks who want to get away from it all.These resorts have no televisions or telephones in the rooms. The Eco Resort is on the South side of the island and is only accessed by helicopter. Peppers can be accessed by boat but owners must be escorted in through the narrow channel into the lagoon.
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In the old days it was called West Molle. Back in 1930 a couple from Sydney set
of to voyage round the world in their yacht Daydream. On arriving at The
Whitsundays they fell in love with the area and susequently bought the island
from it's owner and stayed. The island has a Tropical Pool stocked with fish ,
and live coral also collected from this area. Plenty of day trippers visit this
island, and they have a separate area set aside from the main resort. On the
West side of the island there is a coral beach called Sunlovers. Just wade out
a few metres and you can see the various coloured tropical fish up close.Try
snorkelling and get a view of the coral that is close to the beach. This island
has a real tropical flavour.
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In the long distant past , this island was frequently visited by Queensland
Aborigines. Their
interest was in the basaltic rocks that are abundant on the island. These were
used for making primitive cutting implements and axes.Take a walk on the track
to Spion Kop, and you will see the evidence of a stone quarry . In the mornings
on South Molle , fish feeding is carried out by staff on the pier. The island's
guests are housed in units in the tropical gardens or on the beach front.
Several walking tracks can be encountered, plus a 9 hole golf course. Water
sports are plentiful, and reef trips are available from the island every day of
the week. Ferry services from this island are to Abel Point Marina, not Shute
Harbour.
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Hayman Island is located at the northern area of The Whitsundays. Originally
opened in the 50's it was totally refurbished in 1985. The resulting change
elevated the resort to exclusive membership of The Leading Hotels in the
World. The garden areas are magnificently maintained and are adorned with giant
Grecian Urns, Satues and Fountains. Plenty of watersports here, and several
restaurants for the culinary artistes. Guests are transported by the island's
luxury vessel from Hamilton Island Airport to their guest quarters with 5 star
service all the way. If you can afford it, do it.
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Coral viewing from this island is splendid. There is an underwater observatory
here and a small resort with camping facilities. the island has some of the
highest peaks in The Whitsundays, and is the second largest of the Whitsunday
Islands. There are many beaches around Hook, and private yachts tend to visit
regularly as the coral is probably the best in the area. Off the main tourist
track ,as Fantasea the main ferry operator does not have scheduled trips
there. A lot of locals tend to go to the beach areas of Hook Island to get away
from the maddening crowds.
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