Airlie Beach

Airlie Beach – our base while on land ‘The Moorings B&B’ did not disappoint, a comfortable, colonial style, self-contained apartment, opening out onto beautiful tropical gardens overlooking Abel Point Marina. This tranquil oasis – once I got used to the fact I wasn’t going to get eaten alive – was complete with sparkling swimming pool, resident Sulphur Crested Cockatoos, Rainbow Lorikeets, dancing butterflies and lizards darting in and out from beneath the security of the lush undergrowth.

Breakfast was served on our private terrace – perfectly ripened fruit platter to start, fresh juice, tea, followed by cooked breakfast of choice to order.

We had arrived the afternoon before after our 90 minute flight into Proserpine from Brisbane to intense heat and humidity struggling as we walked down into Airlie beach to explore the area and then back up steps and steep roads to our base. Sweating man was back with a vengeance and sweating woman made an appearance for only second time both in Australia!

Hideaway Bay 50km north of Airlie Bay – Long-sufferings ‘fly by the seat of his pants’ idea to hire a car was a good one. The air-conditioned interior a real plus point as respite from the intense heat outside during the hour long journey on good roads – driving on the left an added bonus – lined by fields and fields of sugar cane crops on vast flat landscapes either side with hills and mountains in the distance.

Beautiful place to spend a day, long sandy beach – no swimming for us though, we had been warned off due to the presence of Box Jellyfish! Not that I had any intention of venturing in, especially as a beautiful predator free pool was available to cool off in.

We enjoyed a lazy day here – too hot to do anything else but lay horizontal on our beds in shade and take lunch on the terrace. My Prawn & Melon salad with a sweet chilli drizzle was to die for as was long-sufferings meat sliders – a trio of mini burgers and salad hitting the spot of his meat loving belly admirably.

We fully intended to eat out in the evening but after picking up supplies from the local supermarket on the way back we gave in to the intense heat and spent a companionable evening in, eating fruit salad, yogurt and peanut M&Ms whilst laying horizontal on the bed with minimal attire too hot to move even in the air-conditioned room!

Tomorrow we would follow long-sufferings itinerary with Whitsunday Getaways for a three night, four day catamaran cruise around the Whitsundays  and hopefully cooler climes with the wind in our hair!