Let’s learn some more about the Aussie tongue shall we:

• Pav – Short for pavlova , which is a popular meringue-based dessert created by an Australian chef in honour of the Russian ballerina Anna Pavlova
• Beer Gut – disproportionately large stomach on a male from drinking beer
• Make a proper galah of – make a complete fool of oneself

Location: Airlie Beach after a diving festival out on the reef for three days!

Weather: Sunny through the remaining dust haze but still hot at 28c

Oh how I wish my girlfriend Bre had made it back for this little trip away to Long Island! She’s been away in Canada at a family wedding and when my itinerary produced a stay at the romantic destination of Peppers Palm Bay going by myself just didn’t seem right!

After a short ride across the mirror-like water of the Whitsunday Passage from Shute Harbour on the private launch we passed Long Island Resort, one of the other tourist destinations on the island. As we rounded the headland the resort of Peppers Palm Bay came into view and it didn’t disappoint!

The sandy bay is lined with swaying palms and nestled between them are 24 intimate little chalets all peeking out onto the water. Once we’d pulled up onto the beach David the Manager was there to meet me and lead me to my room…as he does with every new arrival.

What awesome little places these are too, small wooden buildings with a little veranda and even a double hammock hanging from the posts from which you can watch the miniscule waves tickling the sand just in front. Just as I’m checking in the sound of an approaching seaplane brings me out to watch it land and taxi right up to the shoreline…there’s more than one way to arrive here you know.

Long Island is a ten kilometre long ribbon of rock situated to the east of the mainland and slightly to the west of Dent Island, it’s shrouded in rainforest and heavy brush but there’s a few walking trails offering a chance to explore some of the more remote areas like Sandy Bay (which is in fact mangrove mud beds) and Humpy Point.

Peppers Palm Bay is part of the big Peppers group which has 25 other properties in Australia and New Zealand with this one aimed at couples, honeymooners and those wanting to get away from it all. There are no children under 14 allowed (it really does make a huge difference when you can’t hear them at all), no phones in the rooms and lastly no tv’s either. If you want to forget about the outside world then there can’t be many places around here that compete especially when you consider it’s only a 20 minute boat ride from the every popular Shute Harbour.

The focal point of the hospitality area is the swimming pool with its alluring blue waters, relaxed sun loungers and table service…if I was to take full advantage of this type of holiday I’d end up falling asleep here everyday, the sound of the water splashing down the waterfall and a serving of good food inevitably leading to a premature afternoon siesta. I am here to absorb and relax you know.

A quick tour of the complex reveals more than first meets the eye with a full-size tennis court, tv room and beach sports to keep the energetic (that’s me obviously) happy. I met another Australian journalist who’s here for two days shadowing me and reporting on all three differing types of accommodation which are available on the island and as we’re not the usual ‘cuddly couple’ decide to take a pair of kayaks and have a paddle around the bay.

The sheltered bays of the Long Island offer a retreat not just for the romantics in the world but also to lots of turtles, their heads popping up every so often as our paddles pierce the water alerting them to our close proximity. As the sun goes down it’s time to return to the resort, freshen up, get our glad rags on and taste the delights of the Pepper’s chefs.

David the manager of the resort and his wife Anne have invited us to dinner and our table by the pool is the perfect setting for an evening of conversation and over-eating once more. How’s this – the chef changes every item on the menu every night…talk about hard work!

It’s a rare thing these days for me to have steak (yes of course I’d love to but the waistline doesn’t need any extra squeezing) but as I see one drifting by on the way to it’s lucky recipient I crumble and order one – half an hour later I know I’ve made the right choice.

Waddling like a fat duck I make my way home through the palms and across the sand to my room, pull back the covers and flop onto my bed….a well earned sleep follows.

Peppers Palm Bay gives you peace and quiet, a total relaxation destination where the weight of the world, the pressures of everyday life and the need to think, worry or stress simply drain out of the system.

After a particularly busy week I can’t imagine anywhere I’d rather have spent a couple of days to give me some Ben-time, catch up on writing my blogs and reduce my heart rate down to a more manageable level. If I’d have been here with Bre it would have been even better instead I’ll come back here for sure sometime very soon as it’s not somewhere to be missed out on.

End of day location: Long Island

Distance covered: 10kms