I knew day 5 of our trip would be special not only because the itinerary was awesome but also because it started with an act of kindness.
You see the day was to be spent doing the boat tour on a catamaran called the “Camira,” that would take us to Whitehaven Beach and to another location of the Great Barrier Reef. It was basically another full day on a boat, which is easily my favorite way to spend a day. However, because alcohol was included in the ticket price, this meant we were not driving ourselves to the port.so we called a taxi and headed to the front office for the taxi to pick us up.
We called a taxi and headed to the front office for the taxi to pick us up. Well, the nice thing about staying somewhere small is the incredible willingness to help you out. The owner of Kipara Rainforest Retreat saw us waiting for the taxi and immediately offered us a ride, and told us a bit about the retreat’s history, which once served as an army barracks.
After checking in, we waited for our boat to be called from the “Cruise Whitsundays” terminal. Much like our experience with the Poseidon tour, there was quite a bit of waiting and then rushing to get the best seat. That was followed by coffee, tea, and biscuits/cookies to snack on and of course, a safety briefing for the snorkel portion of the tour. (Complete with a mic topped with a sea turtle plushie, which was fairly unforgettable.
At this point in the tour, it became really windy and rainy, which was unfortunate, as we were on a catamaran; a type of boat that is not known for its cover, and all 60 or so of us did our best to squeeze into the tiny cabin.
Eventually, the ship dropped its anchor off the coast of Whitsunday Island, the largest of the 74 islands in the Whitsunday group, and home to Whithaven Beach, a beach consistantly ranked in the top 10 of the world. But before we could enjoy the sand, Australia did a little something to remind me of New Zealand: it forced us to take a hike. (An easy one that I did in flip-flops, but it was still a hike.)
Now, Cruise Whitsundays advertises this portion of the tour as a “guided walk following the history and the path of the Whitsunday Traditional owners, the Ngaro people.” And while it is possible we walked an ancient path, there was very little “guiding” being done. It was basically just a group walk to the Hill Inlet Lookout: While the lady in charge of my group was extremely nice, she didn’t actually offer us any unique information or teach me anything about the Ngaro people. In fact, all she really did was give us directions to the top, something we could’ve figured out on our own from the signs.
That being said, the view from the lookout is just as amazing as it appears in Instagram pictures. The water is a bright blue and is interspersed with sandbars. Its a view that changes daily depending on the wind and current, which means every trip there is a little bit different. It’s breathtaking and gorgeous and definitely deserving of its standing as the third most photographed place in Australia. Something to note though if you go: it is extremely crowded. Because you can only get to the island by boat, there are always tour groups coming and going, and that means like any major attraction around the world, you will be waiting in line just a little bit to get that perfect photo or selfie.
After we finished taking pictures we rushed down to the beach, and the moment you step in the sand, you know why it is ranked as one of the best beaches in the world. Not only is the sand a pure white, it’s never hot, and feels just like walking through powdered sugar. This unique texture and color exists because the sand is 98% pure silica. (Most sand consists of silica and multiple other particles as well.) How the sand got there is a mystery: the rest of the beaches in the Whitsundays are full of coarser, more standard-texture sands. Additionally, the rocks surrounding Whitehaven beach don’t even contain silica. The most popular theory about this phenomenom is the sand drifted to Whitehaven from somewhere else thousands of years ago and got stuck in the narrow inlet.
I could’ve laid all day on the beach here, even though it was still a bit cloudy and cold to get in the water. But eventually, we had to head back onto the catamaran for lunch and to head to our next stop: snorkeling the Great Barrier Reef.
A tip for people sailing the Camira: make sure you jump on the first tether back to the boat after snorkeling, so you can be first in line for lunch! It’s tasty, and worth the wait if you must have one, but with that many mouths to feed the length of time can cause hanger.
I should mention that at this point, the boat opened up the bar for the rest of the day, so if you were looking to just get drunk on the water, you could certainly do that. However, if you have one before the snorkel stop, you aren’t allowed to get in the water. So my advice to you: just wait. You can always get alcohol, but you can’t always dive the Great Barrier Reef.
This reef stop was just as exciting to me as the one in Port Douglas; I honestly didn’t care that I had already seen parts of the reef. In fact, I was thrilled to jump in the water and get yet another glimpse at the coral and dazzling display of fish. And to be fair, this stop had more of the vibrancy and beautiful colors I was searching for in Port Douglas but didn’t find.
Unfortunately, the snorkeling wasn’t all fun and games, as one of the other passengers on the boat did something incredibly harmful to the reef: he stood on it. In fact, he stood on it despite being yelled at multiple times, much to the ire of our guides. This is because coral, which makes up most of the reef, is not only alive, but it is also delicate. This is why you are always told not to touch reefs and why it’s important to pay attention to your safety briefings.
I should also mention this man, who was part of a larger tour group who booked out much of the boat, stood on the reef to take a photo. (This was a common theme throughout this particular group.) Now, I don’t know what the photo was of but assuming it was the most amazing thing in the world, killing the coral was not worth it. Worse yet, when this man was told to go back to the boat for disobeying the rules multiple times, he didn’t really seem to understand he had done anything wrong.
I tell you this story because I want you to know how important it is to me to be an eco-conscious traveler. (Despite my time with the koalas earlier in the trip.) Nature is beautiful, but in order for us to ensure it is there for the next generation, we have to both respect it and take care of it. The Great Barrier Reef, in particular, is facing enough threats as it is from the environment and people, and doesn’t need tourists to help aid in its destruction.
There is afternoon tea on the way back, as well as those aforementioned alcoholic beverages.
Overall, my experience on the Camira was a good one, even despite the man who stood on the coral. This is because the crew is very friendly and the sights were everything I hoped them be and more. However, this cruise, in particular, is not very educational or informative in any way, especially compared to the Poseidon where I felt like I learned quite a bit. After all, this is a catamaran sailing, so like most catamaran sailings, its a party.
Because we were a bit buzzed from the fun in the sun, the next stop for us girls was to head into town and find a drink and maybe some food. While we didn’t find the food, we did find the drink at Magnum’s Backpackers, a fun outside spot populated by picnic and pool tables, low lighting and live music. Its a bit of a dive bar, but the wine was inexpensive and the vibes chill and beachy.
After that, it was home to prepare for our 13-hour drive to Gold Coast.
