Location: Blue Pearl, Hamilton Island
Weather: Scattered clouds, windy, getting cloudy in the afternoon. 25°c
Back on the road again today, or should I say ocean! Off for another week of adventure starting with a trip across the Coral Sea to Hayman.
Bit of a false alarm really, after staying up late to watch the fourth day of the Ashes test match I wedged my eyes open as the alarm clock went off far, far too early I stuffed down some breakfast and raced down to the Airport Marina to meet the boat, which would take us to Hayman for the next two days.
As Bre and I unloaded our bags from the buggy my phone rang – it was the booking office telling us there’d been a few problems with the boat and it wouldn’t be there until 9.20am now…..two hours later! Drat that could have easily been another hour in bed had we have known. Oh well, we’re up and about…..
As 9am arrived we made it back to the marina and this time the incredible Sea Goddess was there to meet us. If you know nothing about Hayman or the resort and this thing turns up to collect you, all of a sudden you can guess what you’re in for!
It was a perfect morning for sailing too; light wind, sunny spells and a blue ocean. After yesterday’s spotting of our first whale we were pretty optimistic we’d see another as we both headed up to the bridge to meet Bill our Captain for the journey. He’s been doing this for over 20 years and knows the ways of the sea and the islands like the back of his hand so the stories come thick and fast. We study a map of the islands and identify some of the peaks and passages we’re passing when all of a sudden…..”WHALE!!”
The familiar sight of one of our blubbery friend’s exhaling hard, sending a plume of spray high in to the air about a kilometre in front of us. As we approach Bill backs off the power reducing our speed and the sound our booming 2,500hp must be making through the water and we drift along just about maintaining forward momentum.
All of a sudden there’s not just one but three flukes breaking the water to our port side as the group make themselves evident to us…..awesome sight, with the best part of all being the synchronised tails of all three dropping below the surface for another deep dive. All of a sudden they were gone, back to their watery world far below….
Monique Grant, Public Relations and Sales Manager, is there to meet us at the jetty and takes us straight to our room – well directs me, Bre is still suffering from her bruised feet so I’m acting as a piggy-back driver whenever there’s any distance involved, call it good training for the thighs.
We’re staying in one of Hayman’s Lagoon Suites overlooking the landscaped ponds complete with white swan and through to the beach in the distance. The room’s massive…a separate lounge area, huge free-standing bath (big enough for the two of us – as we found out later!) and immaculate wood trimmings. There are a few suites sited in this block, all to the east of the resort and hidden from the coast by an exotic collection of trees, palms and bamboo which in turn attract a variety of wildlife from the surrounding hills.
Nature entwines with the hotel really well; there’s loads of water features, green walls and gardens that must take a huge amount of upkeep – I’ll find out tomorrow as I work as a Landscaper for part of the day – I can’t wait.
On our way back to the room we were walking along the ground floor and came across a dead Rainbow Lorikeet….how totally bizarre. It had appeared to fly straight into one of the buildings pillars and was out cold….well still warm when I picked it up but definitely expired. Totally reminded me of the Monty Python sketch…..”this is an ex-parrot”. (yes I know it’s not theoretically a parrot)
As Bre rested up in the room (the more time she has off her feet the better) Monique gave me a tour of the different accommodation types there are at the resort…and there’s quite a few. If you want the best then aim for the Beach Villa – literally sited with the waves lapping at the plunge pool steps, or the entry level Retreat Room still supplies all the goods you’d expect from a 5* resort.
The pool here at Hayman is breath-taking, there are a couple, but the big one is humongous! A conventional pool at home may hold 15,000 litres of water – this one has 2,000,000 which means a heck of a lot of pool cleaning and much more than I, a simple Island Caretaker, can offer. Up early tomorrow morning to test it out then….
The wind was picking up and our afternoon activity was due to be a speedboat ride across to Langford Island, with the exceptionally low tide today our planned trip to Blue Pearl Bay (our house is named after this!) had to be cancelled so we gathered together our fins, snorkel and mask and hitched a ride across to the long stretch of sand ready to take on the gusts and attempt to soak up some sunshine whilst exploring the underwater world.
We’d been advised that it might not be the best of snorkeling as the tide would be too low/wind was too strong/visibility would be bad and so I wandered into the water expecting the worst and was so pleasantly surprised I couldn’t stop taking photos! Ok there weren’t a huge amount of fish about but the coral was spectacular.
All types, shapes, sizes and colours – I spent nearly an hour in the water diving down and getting closer and closer, snapping away all the time and thought I’d take the time to produce a little collage of all the things I had been lucky enough to see….
Ok the water’s a lovely 25°c but after an hour my usually-badly-circulated fingers were suffering again and started to wrinkle up and turn a decided shade of cream – time to get out me thinks.
Running up the beach I found Bre still ‘relaxing’ on her back in the shade of the umbrella, protected from the gusty wind and wanting to get back to the warmth of the room, as did I. My fingers were getting colder by the minute. I did the only thing a good boyfriend could and tried to warm them by holding them against her much warmer body much to her surprise and disgust!
Back on Hayman we returned to the room and jumped into the bath…just to check you could fit two people in obviously! Dinner was awesome, great company with some of the key figures here on the island and an Asian food selection finished off with chili chocolate ice cream. The food standard that was set by Glenn Bacon a few weeks ago continues….
End of day location: Hayman, Whitsundays
Distance covered: 25kms
36 Comments
Bre seems to be have a nice relaxing time, shading under a brolly! chance of that would be nice, as you know brollies in the UK tend only to be used for one thing, stopping us getting wet, and they have been out in full force lately.
25°c water, again sounds great, think ours is about 6°c at the moment, but can still get the boat out and go sailing, just wear a good wet suit. No coral below me though just the usual silt. I still have fun though, just not in luxury like you. Still jelous…
I’m still not sure what happened to Bre’s feet. Did I miss it somewhere in the blog? I hope they get to feeling better…………Kay, TX, USA
bre bruised both her feet doing cartwheels on hard sand. i was he nurse who treated her on hayman island that day
steve
RN
Okay…we all get the itinerary, show off all the Whitsundays has to offer. Got it. But what is there to do when you are not being catered to every minute of every day? What type of local places are there to go to that aren’t part of the itinerary? What else is on these islands? I am not staying holed up in a resort, nor am I going to have the luxury of being catered to every day, or having my destinations planned for me. Is there a script you are beholden to, or can you live outside the box? I can go to any one of the resort websites and get a beautifully photographed, visually stunning look at them, not to mention the descriptions are sensational. What are you telling us that we can not find out on our own? So far, nothing at all. Have you eaten at any of the local resaurants, just walked in, no pre planned meal, just a “hey we’re hungry and don’t want to cook, let’s check this place out” type of a meal? Have you been anywhere off the itinerary? Have you visited the bakery, hit the Marina Deli, hit a local tavern? I’d personally like to see “The Adventure Of A Lifetime” go off the beaten track, veer away from the itinerary. It’s so planned and so fake. Where are the real experiences? No one will get this type of treatment while there, nor do I expect people think they will, so why are you showing us that? It’s not real! Give me real, true life experiences. I am not some important, paid employee that everyone in the Whitsundays is going to care about and cater to….so what am I going to do there, what is my family going to do?
I know exactly what you mean Katy, but I don’t think it’s Queensland Tourism Offices intention to let Ben have a “normal” holiday. They’re promoting all things to do in Queensland in the hope a few of the readers here will go “Hey, I like this blog about this *add hotel/activity/island*, let’s go there”.
good point,i totally agree.
Ben looks like just a character Tourism Queensland made up.
sick of “THIS ISLANDS AWESOME”….
tell me your story, not their itinerary.
cheers
Populist malarkey. Give the guy a break….
Katydid, you are the definition of an opinion no one asked for! I suggest you eat that massive chip on your shoulder and if you think you can do a better job, come out here and do it! I’ll stay tuned for your ‘I didn’t get the best job’ blog and I might even leave some feedback.
I think you should give him a chance to experience all those things as he has only been there five minutes and you must remember he is “working” as well. Be patient and all will be revealed. You don’t want to know all the information about a book before you read it do you?
I agree with Katydid’s comments. If i were to ever visit Australia again (after overcoming the hostile attitudes of the people), i would need to know how frequent the ferrys are….how much do they cost. The hotels you are staying at – what is the price range. How do i get from A to B and where do i book this transport from. How cheap or expensive is it. I would be totally oblivious to any local info so how would i put together two weeks or less or more.
I would also like you to question the people offering their services on how much people training they are given. Do they expect foreigners to actually go there or would they prefer it if they didn’t come.
Your pics are great and so are your experiences. Again i repeat that visitors will not be treated like you. So its vital to get a real feel for the place. Everyone knows its beauty appeal but thats not the ONLY reason for visiting. What is going to make these places more outstanding than other coral reef islands/tropical islands around the world. My ticket alone will cost between £700 (if im lucky) to £1000 without doing any excursions, hotels or spending on food. Think Ben……….what is going to make me come back to Australia, because at the moment i would rather not.
April, I don’t know what you are talking about when you say “overcoming the hostile attitudes of the people” – I have been to Australia many times and found the people to be the friendliest in the world. Everyone I know has said the same thing. Australia is a wonderful country to visit, and a very hard one to leave. Anne – London
Anne, i am in total agreement with April and Katy for that matter. Whilst you may have experienced a better side to the locals, that is most definitely not the case for everyone!!
I have had a similar experience to April’s in Australia and if you possess beautiful exotic coloured skin it is treated just as April says. [Also see her previous comments]
Katy and April i agree there is descriptive information but not alot of informative detail which would be much more useful if anyone would want to plan anything. And the tourists would not have guided tours everywhere. They would have to figure it out for themselves. More detail is needed.
I must agree with all the above. I want to hear more about what average folks can expect. Like I said before, it is interesting to hear about private dinners with world-renown chefs on private islands, but the average person will not get that.
Tell your higher-ups that they are going to start losing followers if they do not get that point…………Thanks Ben.
any guest on hayman can experience the “chefs table” with 1st class meals and wines in an awesome dining experience. meals are prepared by master chef glen bacon and the highly trained staff. trust me, once you’ve had the pleasure of trying a chefs table evening, other food just doesnt taste the same.
steve
ex hayman employee
Looks like ya havin a blast keep the stuff comin’ mate. Yeah it would be nice for you to post some of the intricates such as cost, travel arrangements, free things to do on teh island.
Keep doing what you’re doing! Don’t make us too jealous
I get what TQ is doing, I’m saying I don’t find it effective. Anyone can do their own research, find a great resort, and pick a place. Go to TQ’s home page, pick an island and they tell you all about the main attractions, where to stay, and the great fun that awaits you. I think people are more looking for the inside track. What can this guy, who has unlimited access, months to find out, and basically no expense worries tell me about these places that a quick web search can’t?
Thanks for the update Ben, I know TQ has you working ragged, I would have thought they would have given you a bit of help or support from some IT Web monkeys to help you with your posts.
Looks nice, but it’s not exactly your average holiday, is it. Who the hell can afford all these luxury boating, dinning and hotels… I’ve done my fair share of traveling and never once have I been greeted by the Public Relations & Sales Manager… Nice for some. Nice old way to waste a golden opportunity Tourism Queensland.
Hi Ben
Loving the Blog… Sounds like you are having an absolute blast!!! Really enjoying the addition of picutres along the way… And the personal snippets about fish you have seen, coral and other stuff… Hope Bre’s feet are getting better!!!
Love your work, Ben.
Bradz,
I have an opinion I will express it. As is my right. Yours too. Did I say I could do a better job? Nope, just offering what I think would help make a better blog. Seems to be a few others agree, so I am not alone in my opinion. I’m just saying it needs more. Anyone worth their salt can take constructive critiscsm, work with it and become better. Question is…why Bradz the angry retort from you?
As to your other comment, nope…I don’t think I’m more qualified than Ben. Not even close by TQ standards truth be told, and I’m fine with that. Just because I applied, didn’t come close, and express my opinions, does not in fact make me a spiteful, jealous, sore loser. I am quite happy for Ben in his adventure. It’s an incrediable opportunity, I genuinely wish him all the best. That said, I do think some realness needs to be interjected into the blog. No one else is ever going to get the treatment he’s getting, it’s a one time deal. Period. If pointing that out makes me horrible, than so be it. I just think your average traveler would be more interested in the kinds of things he/she can expect on a trip to the Whitsundays. My every minute is not going to be planned out for me on an itinerary I’m given when I hop off the plane…so I’m simply asking the one person who has every advantage right now to find out, what will the average person visiting do? Not so much to ask really when his job is to advertise and show off the place, make it so inviting we all can’t wait to book a holiday. I’m just waiting for pertinent information.
Katydid,
You need to get out of the house more, getting pretty tired of this ‘constructive criticism’ on every post. You’ve said your bit and we get it, now give the guy a break because you honestly do sound like a sore loser. I’ve travelled to Australia on a back packers budget and experienced almost everything Ben talks about. Sure, I couldn’t afford to laze about in a day spa or trade my car in for a helicopter but the reality is that some people can. You need to remember this is his Job, and with this job comes certain perks. Don’t take it so literally! When I travelled to America I didn’t expect to be flown around in Air Force One or be treated like a movie star, but I flew over the Grand Canyon in a normal helicopter and went to Hollywood. Pick and choose your own adventure and be inspired by Ben’s experiences, they are not as ‘out of reach’ as people are suggesting.
For Christ’s sake April (and others) – the frequency and cost of a ferry????!!! I dont read this blog every day (litrally – Ben, I’m sick with jealousy!) to hear about mundane things like ferry crossings and shop opening times. Ben’s job is to sell us the dream, and he’s doing it prett damn well. If you want to see the average type of holiday to Australia, go and look at your mate’s facebook photos, we all know someone who’s been there on the average ‘travelling’ holiday.
Ben – keep it up. I love reading this blog – despite it making me incredibly envious, it brightens my day so see you and Bre having such a great time, and to see all your photos. I’m a keen scuba diver so love seeing the fish & coral. And with the lack of sleep you’re getting and busy schedule it looks like you’re earning your money too ;o)
Lucy
I get it is his Job…I’m asking for helpful details…are the things he’s doing included in a stay, or are these extras, if you can’t afford the extras what is there to do other than sit on the beach, these types of things I am wondering.
I guess I’ll pick up the phone and ask myself for all the grief I am getting! Enough said…
Ben, enjoy your stay…it does look like The Best Job In The World. I wish you all the best! Good Luck! I will cease and desist my tormenting of the other readers/posters, did not mean to offend by my curiosity, questions or general interest. Funny how without the inflection of one’s voice, simple words get misunderstood. Oh well…I don’t want to take away from your experience or your time spent on the blog with bothersome posts of bickering. Not my intentions. You’re supposed to be having the time of your life, enjoy away!!
Katydid, thank you for all of the advice and recommendations. There is a section of the blog through which you can follow a link to each of the providers websites and from here you can research all that sort of information to your hearts content, it’d be very difficult to cater for all levels/requirements and provide all the detailed information relating to it through the blog and an extremely boring read too. Enjoy the next installment.
G’Day to all, unfortunately Tourism Qld is leading the itenary. Have to agree with majority of what people are asking. I worked on Hamilton Island for two years 1884 – 85, was Asst manager of what was then the Mariners Inn complex on the harbour side of Hamilton Isl. we catered for everyone on the Island from the day visitors to Island guests. We had then A-La-Cate dinnig and seafood smorgasboard, 2 bars, deli and bottle shop. On Sunday arvos we would have a jazz session on, that became so popular that people from the mainland would call over and we had to shut the front road off to cater for all the people. But have to say there is so much to do in the Whitsundays that no two days are the same, hire out a tinnie and do some exploring of your own do not have to go far to drop into the water to experience the wonders of the coral and sea life. Water Skiing, fishing, lazing about the pool or beach. Go for a walk on the island. Then explore all the othr silands on day trips, sth mole, daydream, long isl and the list goes on. Charter a bareboat for a week or longer and sail the whitsundays your way, stop where you want and explore what you want…no licence required but do listen to instructions given on operating such craft through there. Oh and unfortunately you will have to cough up some money for bareboat chatering, but if you have a group of people then it is not that expensive. Rememeber you will have your accomodation and transport all in one. The Whitsundays just has so much to offer, from the back packer to the family to the individual. Oh if you want to catch a wave, unfortunately you have to go to the other side of the barrier reef, is a long way to paddle hee hee. Airlie Beach is a nice place, they used to have Cane Toad Races at the pub, would reccomend you see that. Visit the Whitsundays, certainly reccomend it anytime.
Littlerocket- i don’t think you get it………i am not jealous at all!! You should read my comments…i have no desire to return to Australia. On my visit there i found the people (who were running said services) to be highly unhelpful!! I didn’t think i would have to point out everything but it looks like it is a must. There is a reason i asked for “mundane” and “boring” details such as ferry times and crossings and costs. Let me give you an example, i took a hot air balloon ride in Cairns…. the people running it, well they made me wish i had never booked the excursion in the first place. They were unhelpful in all information asked and very unfriendly. Why? I definitely know why! (Read previous comments). Another example i will put forward. The attendant at the train station in Brisbane had the exact same attitude. Its in two different places 100’s of miles apart. Now if i can’t get specific train information from the train station than who shall i ask………the seagull flying above or Nemo who is already busy?!!!
This information is not for me. But for the poor sod who books and comes to Australia and finds it a difficult experience. Ben’s job is to sell Australia. I am merely pointing out areas that need a little more attention, in turn it would make the travelling experience more easier, and hopefully fun. Ultimately, I am sure that is what Ben and TQ want.
Thanks Ben for pointing out there is further information available. Please look at all my comments as i feel they are vital in selling Australia to the world. Keep enjoying yourself!
Thanks for the info Ben!
Whoa…katydid you sure stirred up some open hostility for your thoughts. My regards.
Mostly I like the blog, a bit boring here and there with too much mundane talk of things. I like lots of pics with succinct captions to sum them up. But hey…I’m not the busy guy having to do it am I Ben?! Don’t know where you find the time…
Ben, looks like you are having the time of your life…my congratulations! Can’t wait to see what the months ahead hold for you and your Bre. Ahhh what memories you’ll have!
Greetings Ben and Bre! An excellent and insightful blog that I am really enjoying. Great pictures and documentary. I look forward to visiting you on the island in October and am going to check out several of the resorts and tours you’ve made me aware of. Keep up the stellar work, as I know most of us will never really comprehend how difficult your job really is. Cheers Mate!
Josh W. Calhoun
hi ben and bre
steve here, i was the nurse on Hayman Island and treated bre’s feet injuries. How are they holding up bree? Back home in melbourne now and am enjoying reading your blogs. enjoy sunny queensland guys
steve dashwood RN
I have been travelling around oz for 12 months, 6 of those were spent working on hayman island. I have to say it was the greatest experience of my life.
Alot of people seem to be questioning the cost of Bens adventures, and the budget. I was on a very small budget, and i took the helicopter ride over the islands, sea planes to airlie beach. My days off were either spent on the beach, or at blue pearl bay and langford, the cost not that huge.
one thing about hayman, every guest is treated the same, and met by a member of staff on arrival to escort you to your room, it maybe a steward, a member of the f and b team or a member of the management, infact they were usully at the front of the que for “meet and greets”.
Ben keep up te good work and live the dream
richard
Gee, having two kids I’d be happy to be sequestered for jury duty let alone get the dream job… If I could do what Ben’s doing, I’d be thrilled & take advantage of every bit of it. There’ll be plenty of time for mom & pop restaurants when his gig is done. Leave the kid alone.
Hola !
si hay 33 respuesta jo soy 34 .
porque muy estas islas.
boy rapido.
Thanks for the Information. Ok
i see
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