Hamilton Island – what to do on a day off!

Now that we’ve been on Hamilton island for a few months we’ve had a chance to do loads and loads of the incredibly good fun things on offer. You have to have a sense of fun, adventure and love adrenaline to take full advantage of everything and here are just a few of our favourites:

Target Sports - Wanna feel like Dirty Harry? Fancy shooting Magnum PI’s gun? Well this is the place to come and do it! Bre and I headed to the far south side of Hamilton Island to enjoy one of the louder and more exhilarating activities. First thing ear defenders – there’s no way with two rifles and eight pistols going off I’m going to have my eardrums blown out and these things are damn loud!

Mark sets up the first target and it whizzes out to the far side of the shooting range ready to take some bullets, we load up the Ruger rifle and take aim…bang, bang, bang x 10 until the magazine is spent and, hopefully, the target looks like a colander. Once the target has been brought back it’s Bre’s turn – how will she fair against me…the pressure is on!

There are a range of weapons to fire here; Ruger pistols and rifles, a Glock, the Magnum  357 and the Big Boy…the Magnum 44!

A cracking morning doing something I never thought I’d do and actually ended up enjoying…oh and I beat Bre!

Quad Bike rally – When my friend Josh arrived on the island a few weeks ago we had to try and find something really exciting and interesting for him to do, I only met him a year ago for a few days at the Comrades Ultra Marathon in South Africa but from the moment we met we hit it off. He’s got a get up and go attitude that I like and so we thought we’d all head out and tear up the dusty back roads of the island….or should I say carefully investigate the other side of Hamo.

Jet boat ride – Every so often when I’m sat out on the balcony working away the sound of a roaring engine comes round the corner followed by a series of WAHOO’s and screams. Hamilton Island Watersports have one of the most awesome boats in the marina…a bright red jet boat! It leaves the calm waters of the harbour and races out into the Whitsunday Passage in the skilled hands of Mark, as he raises his right hands it’s time for the spins to start and the fun to begin. It’s bumpy, it’s exhilarating and it’s brilliant!

Koala Gallery – I’ve been down to this little zoo a few times now and never get bored of it at all, this morning I headed down to meet Barbie Defoe and her family (my Island Caretaker helper who’s been out in Australia for a few weeks now enjoying the delights of Queensland). ‘Breakfast with the Koalas’ is literally just that, whilst we sat and chatted about our adventures the happy Koalas (including my old friend Waldo) munched away on their favourite eucalyptus leaves preparing for the photo session they were about to be subjected to. The kids love them and to be honest so do I – Koalas are such an iconic part of Australian culture!

Go Karts - If you think that the Quads aren’t good enough and you need some closer wheel to wheel racing then drop into the Go-kart track for some superb tarmac action. Bre and I love a bit of competition and what better place to test each others’s mettle than with these single-engined little rocket-powered rollerskates. We’d spent the day filming with Beyond TV and ended it off with a quick head to head around the track…except that I’d been set up well and truly with the slowest accelerating car in the garage. Bre took the title.

Of course time back on the island, in between the trips up and down the reef, is also time to catch up on the blog and do the usual household chores….like doing the washing:

Back to backpacking…

Lets find some different Aussisms for you then:

• Muddie – A Queensland mud crab, also known as a mangrove crab and considered a culinary delicacy
• Earbash – To talk endlessly or boringly
• Have death adders in the pocket – A reason why someone is miserly with their money: it may be offered as an explanation or excuse

Location: Abel Point Marina, Airlie Beach, Queensland.

Weather: Blustery winds but sunshine as ever, 29c

“Don’t expect much” people had been telling me for ages about South Molle Island, or Koala Adventure Island as it has now been re-branded, “It’ll be an experience” they said…hmmm I want to go and see this one for myself I thought, could be interesting!

We’d just arrived at Abel Point marina on Descarada after a night away and on the way up the pontoon spotted the catamaran ‘Pride of Airlie’ from Adventure Island which would very soon be taking us across for some fun times with the backpackers – something I haven’t really done since arriving here in the Whitsundays and they make up a huge percentage of the market.

The crew welcomed us as we climbed onboard, ran through the safety briefing and most importantly made sure all of the alcohol was chilling in the Eskys at the back of the boat – this was going to be a drinking holiday I could tell! As we left the harbour I chatted to a few of my fellow passengers who were from far and wide across the planet; a couple of Brits, some Italian girls and a couple from Spain – this was going to be an international affair.

Our short sail across the Molle Channel brought us to the long jetty in the centre of bay onto which the resort looks. It’s a stunning location with a long sandy beach forming a half crescent lined by palm trees and the accommodation block peeks out from behind. The perfectly mowed grassy area hides on of the holes of the golf course – now that’s something I wasn’t expecting to find here.

We bump into some other people on the way to reception who stop and have a quick chat with us…I’d forgotten quite how friendly this scene is actually and arriving at reception the friendly Maria is there to issue our room keys, give us a quick run down of the resort and issue us with the standard Wednesday night uniform – coloured plastic bags, from which we have to make our clothes for tonight’s fun and games!

The room is all you need as a backpacker – no frills, just a simple room with bed, wardrobe, TV and bathroom. It won’t win any awards for ‘Luxury Accommodation’ but then again it’s not trying to – the room serves a purpose very well, to provide the backpacker travelling on a tight budget with somewhere to rest their head after they’ve had a chaotic night out with their friends.

Bre and I wander out to explore and find out about what’s on offer here and arrive at the most impressive freshwater pool I’ve been to for a long while…a full 25m swimming pool surrounded by sun loungers, tables and chairs, perfect for soaking up the suns rays.

Adventure Island has some of the best walking tracks in the Whitsundays and as part of my attempted recovery in time for the Hamilton Island triathlon, I decide to head out to discover why. Crossing the golf course and practice green the path climbs up through the canopy of the forest and out along the headland giving stunning views across the island and beyond towards Hamilton Island in the distance.

We pass a famous old quarry from which local Aborigines made spearheads many years ago, some of which have been found hundreds of kilometres away. There are a number of tracks that wind their way along the island all well kept and exhilarating to finish.

Back at the resort the preparations are underway for the evenings entertainment. Wednesday night means ‘Plastic Fantastic’ and Bre (in her usual superb manner) sets about creating our costumes which, we hope, will wow the other backpackers….so what do you think, pretty good huh?

We sit down for dinner with the owner of the island, Craig, a brilliant, interesting man who’s been here for a few years and has recently decided to rename and revamp the island to make it appeal directly to the backpacking markets – and it works very well; there’s an exciting way to get across from the mainland, a great atmosphere on arrival and cheap, comfortable accommodation. If I’d have found this last year whilst travelling around Africa then I’d still be there I think!

As the evening progresses more people arrive all dressed up in fancy dress and the night takes on a party atmosphere – there’s games going off on the dance floor, banging tunes and plenty of shot being drunk at the bar! Bre even manages to win one of the competitions to pick up a box with her teeth from the floor – three nights free accommodation, not bad at all!

I head back to the room leaving Bre to dance the night away as only she can, her boundless energy perfect to motivate the other party-goers there. The need to do work overpowers my desire to stay and attempt to dance…I skulk off before anyone notices.

The dawn of the new day signals another attempt at golf for me, Adventure island has a superb nine-hole golf course which is immaculately looked after and together with Craig and Ben head to the first for some fun…nearly 90 minutes later we’ve finished digging our way around the course and arrive back at the most important one here – the tenth, or the watering hole as it’s more favourably known.

As the morning plods on I decide to sit by the pool and catch up on some work, the blog needs some serious attention and there’s a breakfast menu to try our too. Nothing too sophisticated just good old fashioned hearty grub – a bacon and egg muffin.

Ben the General Manager explains to me that a few months prior to our visit Coca Cola actually used the bay and the resort as the location for their latest Summer Advert as its such a picturesque place…have a look at the clip below to see why:

The hours fly by as I go between work and the cooling waters of the pool and before I know it its time to pack my things up and head back to Hamilton Island minus one important thing – Bre. She had so much during the previous evening that she decides to stay one more night to dress up, dance a bit and have some fun!

As I head down the jetty to catch the boat I realise that I miss the world of backpacking – the care free lifestyle, never knowing what the day of the week is, socialising until the sun comes up and having the best of times…Koala Adventure Island encapsulates this state of mind, bottles it and lets other people from around the planet taste it. Well done to all involved for location which serves its purpose perfectly. Oh I wish I was there for the full moon party later in the month!

End of day location: South Molle Island

Distance travelled: 20kms

All directions point to Magnetic….Island

And for your next lesson in Australian tongue please read on:

• iffy - questionable, doubtful or risky
• solid - excessive or unfair: ‘That’s a bit solid!’
• whinge – To complain constantly and irritatingly. A whinge is the act of doing this, and a whinger is a person who does so too often i.e. a Englishman is often referred to as a Whinging Pom…incorrectly of course!

Famous Australians today too:

• Lionel Rose (1948- ) – became the first Aboriginal world champion boxer in 1968 when he defeated the ‘Unbeatable One’, Masahiko ‘Fighting’ Harada. He was the first Aborigine to be named Australian of the Year
• Matthew Flinders (1774-1814) – made the first charts of the country’s coast. An intrepid naval explorer, he suggested that the land be named Australia, a proposal later adopted by Lachlan Macquarie
• Ned Kelly (1855-1880) – remains Australia’s best known crook, renowned for his inventive armour and anti-establishment attitude. He was hanged at Old Melbourne Gaol on November 11th 1880

Location: Hinchinbrook Island
Weather: Another flippin great day, hot, blue skies and sunshine. 30°c

Time to go back to my roots…enough of this opulent five-star living Southall – the world of backpacking, socialising and hands on experiences is beckoning once more. Pretend you haven’t got that business-like pull along suitcase and instead throw a backpack on your shoulders again. It’s time to go and visit Magnetic Island and the world of backpacking!

Probably best to drop the film-star like arrival in a helicopter then…oh ok just one more! It’s an incredible way to move around somewhere as large as the reef and the view from the window is something I’ll never tire of.

Flying over the estuaries around North Queensland is one of the safest ways to do it as well….what with all of those salties (Saltwater crocodiles) down there! Hilton from Nautilus Aviation dropped me perfectly on the 18th hole of Magnetic Island golf course ready to start the next adventure on a new island….much to the amusement/bewilderment of the two ladies playing the hole at the time!

Bob and Del from Bungalow Bay YHA, my accommodation for the next few nights, met me from the chopper and handed me the keys to my new ride for the next couple of days, a Suzuki Jeep with 4WD…what more do I need and definitely a step up from my usual golf buggy. How good it is to have the freedom of driving back again?

My little 4x4

I made my way around the island and after 9kms pulled into the grounds of Bungalow Bay to be greeted by a very welcoming sight…tents and little wooden bungalows; a veritable village! There’s 100 beds available with loads of spots for campervans, trailers and tents with the unique thing about it is the Koala Village situated within the camp confines….and there’s plenty more than koalas there I can tell you! Tony the Ranger showed me around introducing me to all manner of Australia’s finest and more deadly inhabitants. Crocodiles whose mouths I had to tape shut, snakes which crawled through the arm on my tshirt and around my back and then a huge spider – all in front of a crowd of people as I had my first day training to be a ranger. I feel much better about these scary creatures now….well a little anyway!

As I checked into my room the sound of birds filled the air – screaming, squarking birds! Feeding time had just commenced with nearly 200 Purple Crowned Lorikeets descending to feast on bread and water from right out of you hand. I do wish I hadn’t just changed my shirt though….bird poo isn’t the best look.

After a few days camping on the beach at Hinchinbrook this was relative luxury having my own double bed and air con too! Hunger pangs were starting to run through my body after a few days hard kayaking so dinner couldn’t come early enough and with a range of curries on the menu you can’t go wrong.

I try and stay away from this planet-damaging luxury as much as possible and it’s a bit like a Wonderbra anyway. You know the theory – it’s a bit of a false environment and all very well until you step out of the room and into the heat, much like removing a Wonderbra (I imagine!)

Now backpacker resorts try and keep their residents amused as much as they can and the game of coconut bowling is a particular speciality of Bungalow Bay. Yes an interesting sport and one which requires no skill…only a huge amount of luck. Can you imagine trying to bowl and fully husked coconut five metres down a track at a some pins? The thing goes in the opposite direction to where you aim it. Suffice to say I missed on both attempts.

Adrenalin Dive boat

This 14-day trip I’m in the middle of involves a good amount of diving and there’s a pretty famous reef called Wheeler around 2.5hrs due east of Maggie Island – I headed out with the team from Adrenaline Dive to investigate the underwater paradise that’s beautifully protected by the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park meaning a wealth of marine life and some of the most established, undamaged coral I’ve seen so far. This little clip should give you an idea of what’s under the surface:

Magnetic Island is a real gem and somewhere I could easily of stayed for another week exploring the many tracks, bushwalks and beaches on offer. The laid back holiday-island lifestyle is perfect for daytrippers and backpackers alike, if you drive around the island there’s young people everywhere either in the island’s main form of transport – the mini moke or waiting at the bus stop for the ever reliable bus service.

When I drive around the rest of Australia next year it’s one of the places I’ll definitely aim for again but then I’ll take my time to explore the rest of what’s on offer here.

End of day location: Magnetic Island

Distance travelled: 110kms

Best Job v best job

Location: Hamilton and Daydream Islands

Weather: Blustery 25 knot winds with warm sunshine

I’ve just spent the last couple of days with the crew from Channel Nine’s Getaway travel program. The presenter sent out for the toughest gig of her life, Natalie Gruzlewski, claims she has the best job in the world – or so she thought until she arrived on Hamilton Island’s shores hey!

The show’s been running since 1992 and attracts more than 2 million viewers a week with the lucky presenters being sent to the four corners of the globe covering ‘tough’ stories about exotic, locations, basking in warm temperatures and staying in luxury accommodation….HANG ON A MINUTE THAT’S MEANT TO BE MY JOB!

Format for the program – Best Job in the World v’s best job in the world

Enter a day of bitter rivalry played out in front of the cameras as I jostle for position with Nat showing her how to spend a ‘Day in the Life’ of the Island Caretaker with me relaxing whilst she and the crew have to work there butts off!

• I fall asleep having a massage at Rejuvenation Spa while Nat has to work and deliver her lines
• We race jet-skis around the island
• Have a go at feeding the fish at Daydream Island – get your hand in there girl!
• Head to head at the mini golf for some serious putting
• Introduce Nat to the locals – the Koalas of course!

I really had a laugh filming this, the crew of Gillie (cameraman) and Gary (sound engineer) love what they do too, with Rochelle being the most relaxed Producer (easy when you have hubby and your little man with you I suppose) and it shows with most shots being reeled off after one take – I like that!

Setting up for the shoot

Feeding the fish at Daydream Island

The day ended with Nat conceding that I do indeed have the Best Job in the World and her bombing me in the pool to show her distaste. Mind you on January 1st when my contract finishes I‘d like to be in her position – any chance of a guest presenter’s role Getaway bosses?!

The Getaway team

The show goes to air on Thursday 13th August at 19:30 on Channel 9, Australia.