The entire whirlwind journey – from the moment I stepped foot on Australian soil, which happened to be my birthday, to seeing the awaiting global media as we arrived on Hamilton Island, being the first to step off of that plane and wave to the entire world, the dinners, the friendships, the nervousness, the suspense, the extreme exhaustion, the jolts of adrenaline, the moments of sheer ecstasy, the moment of devastating disappointment, the realization of the end being near – experiencing all of that in about a week-long period felt like I was thrown in a washing machine that was filled with copious amounts of goodness and some sprinkle of “reality bites” detergent and set on the spin cycle.

Long story short, I lost. You probably already know because you are reading this on the “winner’s” blog.

Oh and that part about “devastating disappointment”, I lied. I put it in for dramatic effect, and as I said a countless number of times, it really felt like I was competing against my siblings and I felt genuinely happy for Ben. I’ve had a chance to catch up with Ben for a Korean media tour back in February and the more I get to know the guy, the more I know that TQ picked the right candidate out of all of us there. It is the “Best” job, but it’s an incredibly taxing job and you have to be “ON” all the freaking time. I’m sure every one of us would have brought a different flavor to the position of “island caretaker” but I firmly believe that Ben Southall is the one guy out of the 16 that really had the package that was a perfect match for TQ. That’s why Ben has turned his 6-month stint, into an 18-month job and probably a lifelong career. Good on you mate!

Now, enough ass kissing and let’s get a little more narcissistic. How did “TBJITW” change my life in the past year? Oh where to start? During my 1-year relationship with TQ so far, I had such a wide spectrum of experiences.

I experienced Australia free falling from 14,000 feet in the sky and scrounging around on the ocean floor.

I waited for sunrises floating in a hot air balloon and said goodbye to sunsets while sipping wine on some of the world’s finest sandy beaches.

I climbed on top of suspension bridges and crawled up 150m sand dunes.

I’ve hugged koalas, pet kangaroos and held crocodiles. I’m sure Ben has put up plenty of pics of these so I won’t bore you.

I gave it a go on the surfboard and I WAS the sand board, multiple times.

I traveled in everything from choppers and seaplanes to quads, white water rafts and luxury yachts.

I’ve had a chance to meet everyone from Ambassadors to celebrity chefs.

I’ve had a chance to serve many different roles during my past year as TQ’s Tourism Ambassador, but the one that has left the biggest footprint is my role as “babysitter extraordinaire” (second word in the title is self proclaimed) during the The Best Global Leader Campaign that Tourism Queensland sponsored along with DAKS Kids. I’ve always loved kids, but after being in charge of an 8 year old and a 6 year old boy for a week, I have MUCH LOVE and RESPECT for all the parents out there!

As you can see, there are many things that I’ve gained from my relationship with Tourism Queensland over the past year, but I value my new found friends from all over the globe the most. I still remember the awkward “hellos” and attempts at putting the online identities to the real life faces and handshakes when the 16 final candidates first met at the hotel in Brisbane. The 16 “smurfs”, all dressed in our bright blue shirts, shared a certain bond during that week in May 2009 and now, seeing an email from one of my fellow candidates in my inbox never fails to bring a smile to my face. I’m happy to report that all of us still keep in contact with each other with these great, long and entertaining emails that provide a snippet of our current lives to our fellow “best jobbers”, as we like to call ourselves. It’s always exciting to hear updates with stories about new additions to candidates’ families, the new “Best Job Couple”, or the latest trip to Queensland… but we have become close enough where we confide in each other during our tough times and tragedies as well. When I see this kind of camaraderie among the group, I realize that I was really part of something special and all of my efforts for TBJITW wasn’t for naught and it actually produced something tangible, something real, something worthwhile, even though I technically “lost.”

I mentioned earlier my position of Tourism Queensland’s Tourism Ambassador here in Korea. What exactly is a Tourism Ambassador? Well, my job: selling the wonderful tourist destinations that Queensland has to offer to Koreans and the rest of the world. Sounds simple enough. I always thought that sales people who believe in the product that they are selling are always the best ones. And through my wonderful trips to Queensland during TBJITW and in subsequent trips as a part of my Tourism Ambassadorship, I definitely believe in the product that I’m selling. I’m also very glad that I can work alongside TQ’s Global Tourism Ambassador, and my friend, Ben Southall. Thanks for this opportunity to have my say Ben!

Best to all the readers in the world!

Juweon Kim
TQ’s Tourism Ambassador in Korea

My colleagues at Tourism Queensland confirmed today that power is being restored; ferry services and tours are returning to normal, roads have been re-opened and many resorts and regional airports are operational, so no need to cancel Easter holiday bookings folks!

I’m currently in the UK on ambassador duties and will ensure holidaymakers here have a clear perception of the situation and understand that it’s fine to continue holidaying in Queensland!

Wish I had a holiday there booked after arriving back in the UK yesterday. Winter remains here!

Here’s a few pics from Hamilton and it all looks great

No time to soak up the beaches, views or the restaurants though. This is all about work.

What was supposed to be a two day shoot has to be crammed into one instead as my house move and my imminent next trip away have really put the pressure on us to get things done as quickly as possible.

As I walk through the arrivals area at Hamilton Island airport there’s an incredible reception waiting for me. Some of my great friends here have organised boards and banners saying ‘Welcome Home’ and “Best Ben in the World’ and the girls on the island are furiously waving them as I turn the corner. I love them. Thank you so much Anna, Rosie, Grace, Amy and all the others!

But before I can get caught up in the moment I’m quickly reminded that I’m here to work. Richard Meyer from NatGeo introduces himself, grabs my bags and whisks me off to Catseye Beach to film the first setup for the day.

We’re filming a thirty second promotional piece that will go to air in the month leading up to the series opener in May.

The piece has me introducing myself sat in a grey suit, shirt and tie behind a desk (actually the desk of Glenn Bourke – Hamilton Island’s CEO!), getting up from my chair and asking “How’s your job going?”

Throughout the piece I slowly loose the office attire, stripping the jacket, tie, shirt and trousers whilst suggesting the types of jobs you may do. Plumber, shop assistant, banker etc etc.

The penultimate scene sees me down to my boardshorts and shirt entering the bushes saying “Let me show you where I work”…

We filmed everything on Hamilton Island with the exception of the closing scene which is awesome. The weather had been very seasonal throughout the shoot with hot sunshine broken up by torrential downpours – this is the tropics during the green season!

Our final scene was to be me exiting the bushes but appearing on Whitehaven Beach. One of the world’s top beaches with pure white sand along its 7km length. We took off from Hamilton Island Airport in a Bell Ranger helicopter and headed for Whitsunday Island.

However when we got there it was pretty wet and windy so Greg, our helicopter pilot from HeliReef, came up with a new location. Langford Spit off Hayman Island.

We grabbed a break in the clouds and managed to film several takes of me exiting the bushes, stripping off the final layer of office clothing and standing on the beach pronouncing “Welcome to my office, this is where I work. My name is Ben Southall and this is The Best Job in the World”.

As I say this the helicopter pulls away sharply with the camera panning out to leave me stood on a stunning sandy beach with crystal clear blue water all around.

You’ll just have to see it to believe it. As soon as I get a copy I’ll upload it onto islandreefjob.com for you!

Just one little reminder for you all then…

If you live in Australia don’t forget to set your video/digital recorders to National Geographic Adventure channel on Thursday 13^th May. Local time variations may apply so be sure to check your listings so you don’t miss it! It’ll be broadcast across the rest of the world soon after so I’ll let you know when, when I know!

Cameron and the guys from Getaway China joined us as we headed out for a days sailing. They were putting together a travel programme all about the Whitsundays. They’ve gone to air on China and have very kindly released the footage so I can show it to you here on islandreefjob.com

Enjoy

The Whitsundays – picture perfect location and a sailor’s dream for the weather. Add to the mix one of the most famous yachts in Australian maritime history and you’ve got the perfect ingredients for a superb day on the water.

It’s been a busy week, so far we’ve hosted media from three different countries and today is another one, not so bad when you think we’ll be out enjoying their company from the deck of an old time racing yacht.

We all make our way across the Whitsunday Passage onboard Fantasea’s fast boat. Arriving at Shute Harbour we disembark and make our way along the jetty to where Ragamuffin leaves from. As we arrive we spot her straight away, she’s an imposing figure in the marina and easily the largest of all the yachts moored here, measuring in at 24 metres long.

George the captain is equally as imposing – with a huge Merv Hughes-style moustache his tough exterior soon melts away as he welcomes us onboard. The rest of the crew run through the basics we all need to know, the shorelines are thrown off and we motor out into Shute Harbour ready for a day’s adventure.

With 25 other people on deck there’s load of room to enjoy the sunshine and the usual crew tasks are handed out to us. First thing and most important in order to propel us to our first destination of the day, is hauling up the sails and Cameron (the host of China’s Getaway holiday program) and I have been picked out as the likely candidates for bumping the sail.

On more modern racing yachts this operation is done using grinding winches to take up the slack of the sheets (ropes to the rest of us!) but here on Ragamuffin it’s those good old tools known as your own hands. We take it in turns to haul in as much as we can until the sail is right at the top of the mast and ready to fill with air. Now that’s one heck of a feeling – shoulders burning, heart racing and the satisfaction of providing the power for today’s sail. Well almost.

The sail across the Whitsunday Passage is awesome, the wind is right up, the sun is out and we are flying! Spray breaks over the bow of the boat and we’re heeling over dangling our feet over the side to provide ballast – just like every professional sailor does.

The wind is still pumping so we head to one of the more sheltered bays on the leeward side of Hook Island, the second largest of the Whitsundays, and drop anchor to check out the conditions. They’re virtually perfect.

Ragamuffin offers the chance to SCUBA dive, which is unique for a day trip sailing adventure out of the Whitsundays. We stop in Mackerel Bay and get dressed up ready to head overboard and down into the depths below. I’ve dived here before with Islandive and it’s a good introduction into what the fringing reef of these islands has on offer.

We spend 45 minutes filming for the Getaway program which is great, the idea of bringing the media out here is to showcase the spectacle that is the Whitsundays gaining publicity for the area and hopefully making people think about it a a holiday destination.

The afternoon draws to a close far too soon and before we know it the sail is flapping in the wind and our course has been set for home. The sound of the water lapping on the hull is one of those things that’s so perfect about sailing, a noisy diesel engine just doesn’t do the same for me!

Once we’re tied up at the marina we bid our farewells to the crew and thank the for a very memorable day out on the water. Time to head back to Hamilton Island.

Weather: Puffy white clouds and blue skies with sunshine. Let’s skydive!! 32c

Skydiving over the Whitsundays

This was the BIG ONE – the one I’d been dreading for ages and had tried to put off for as long as possible. Bre however has been nagging like an old fishwife every since the offer was made back in August. I’d managed to deflect her requests to throw myself out of a plane with excuses of ‘too much wind’ or ‘the cloud cover means they won’t be running today’ but the day had arrived when nothing would stick.

Now it’s not that I really can’t do heights at all, I mean I climb mountains and I did do the worlds highest bungee jump last year. It’s just I seem to develop Frozen-Leg-Syndrome when I go close to the edge of cliffs, on suspended walkways etc and Bre knows this.

My contact over the last few weeks had been Sooz, the girl who seems to do everything and run the operation, and as we stomped up the ramp off the Fantasea ferry she was here to take us the short ten minute drive to the airport. The big sign welcoming us to the Whitsunday Airport loomed large with the words ‘SKYDIVE’ emblazoned across it…well here we go then.

My jumpmaster was called ‘Dawsey’ – abbreviated in the traditional Aussie way of course! (shorten it and add an ‘ie’, ‘y’ or ‘o’ on the end) First job of course was to sign my life away, if it all ended in disaster I would have no one to blame but myself.

Next to don the sexy looking jump trousers and harness, ball jerkingly tight but better that than to fall out I suppose, and run through the briefing on how to fall out of the plane’s door once we hit the ‘dropzone’. I’ve always loved that phrase – it just sounds so totally rad man, very Point Break!

So far I’m doing ok, no nerves, just a gun’ho attitude which Bre seems to adopt and does here ok. Maybe I’m learning from the Master here? If I can take this on and do it, it’s another personal challenge out of the way. I have completed a parachute jump before but I was 16 and that’s a seriously long time ago now and it was a static line jump.

A little explanation:

Static line parachute jump – you jump yourself from the plane with your own parachute which is attached to a point inside the plane by a small cord. As you exit the door the cord pulls out your chute automatically deploying it. Usually from about 3,500ft.

Tandam freefall – you’re strapped to a jumpmaster who deploys the parachute for you both after freefalling through the heavens for about a minute. Takes place from 8000ft + and we jumped from 14,000ft. THE way to do it!

Bre and I clamber into the rear of the little plane with Dawsey and Matty, our jumpmasters, handing out the instructions. There was no going back now. Sat between their legs we taxied down the runway and the plane climbed above the Whitsundays giving a superb view through clear skies below.

We reached our jump altitude of 14,000ft ten minutes later and suddenly the time was upon us, no chickening out, just a mad adrenaline ride all the way to the ground.

Bre was first up, Matty and her slid there way into the door and five seconds later were gone!

Me next – well here goes nothing. Hanging out of the door, feet tucked under the plane, the overpowering sound of the wind racing past my face as we travelled at over 150km/h forwards…and then we were out, dropping at over 200km/h straight down!

The G-forces were biting at my face forcing a huge teeth-filled grin across my face as we dropped like a rock towards terra firma far below – in fact not that far! We fell and fell for what seems like no time at all, the ground racing to meet us as we dropped through light cloud – the light mist cooling our faces as we fell.

And with a snatch akin to a trouser jerking wedgie, suddenly we were hanging there underneath the now deployed canopy, floating 3000ft above the airfield below. The sound of the rushing wind gone, replaced by a serene congratulatory silence, broken occasionally by Dawsey talking to me.

That was nothing short of incredible!!! As we slowly dropped towards the landing zone I took hold of the controls and steered us down in big twisting turns assisted by Dawsey of course until he gave the command to lift my feet and legs up in preparation for landing.

A final approach towards the awaiting team and we’d done it – my first freefall jump over and I’d actually loved virtually every moment of it!

As I turned around on the runway Bre was about to make her landing and I could hear her almost before anything, WAHOOO’ing as only she can, arms flailing and legs out wide.

Once unhooked we made our way back to the office and traded stories about the experience, you know quite how amazing something is when you’re literally stumbling over each other to get your side of the story out!

I didn’t think I’d actually enjoy throwing myself out of a plane but it was flippin amazing and I’d go straight back tomorrow if the chance was there – thank you to all at Airlie Skydive especially Sooz for making it all happen.

End of day location: Right back where I started – terra firma

Distance travelled: 14,000ft straight down!

Weather: The sun has come back out after a few days of wet, humid grey stuff! 32c

Well the fun has been continuing in full effect. I know it’s supposed to have finished in theory this wonderful Best Job in the World gig but there have been a few offers which have been made since July which Bre and I have had to take up before leaving Hamilton Island!

Number One – Riding a Segway machine!!

I think I first saw one of these awesome machines back in the UK about ten years ago and have always wanted to jump on to see what they’re all about. When we visited Tangalooma resort on Moreton Island a few weeks back there were a few of these futuristic looking contraptions racing up and down the sandy beach and the temptation increased…

Segway Green info

When a guy called Eric from Tours Plus contacted me and suggested having a trial run on one of their Segways I jumped at the chance. So yesterday morning Bre and I made our way down to the Fantasea ferry to meet Eric and Louise who’d made it across from the mainland with a fleet of four Segway X2’s – the off-road version of their commuter model.

Tours Plus offer eco friendly tours throughout the Whitsundays and these machines can go so many places I wouldn’t have imagined; over long grass, through pretty deep sand and up fairly steep slopes too. It was time for us to learn a new skill…

We run through the basics; how to stand on them, leaning into turns, tilting forwards and backwards and then we’re off – on a small patch of concrete just to make sure we can handle them (in ‘turtle’ mode – the slowest pace to start off with). It’s such an awesome feeling once you’ve got the hang of it and one which really does feel really natural.

Ok these things are superb but you can’t legally drive them on the roads in Queensland, in fact in any of Australia. They’re legal in all but four states of the USA and by all accounts as a means of transport they work – environmentally friendly, no need to jump in a huge car as one person in a city, simple to operate, great for a sunny climate and above all FUN!!

I’d love to see people commuting in a city on these things – imagine it people! The future is here. Bre did bring up a good point though…if people starting using these instead of walking/cycling to work then surely it’ll mean a lot less exercise and a therefore higher obesity rates!

After an hour of familiarising ourselves with the machines it’s time to turn the heat up a bit – ‘turtle’ mode is replaced by ‘rabbit’ mode and the fun really starts…these things move I tell you, all of a sudden were racing not riding. I could get to work so much quicker if I got one!

This is not a blatant sale for Segway – this is really a chance to say there’s a few places here in Queensland that offer the chance to trial out these machines by taking a tour with them. Their environmental footprint is close to nothing, they are virtually silent in operation and the mark they leave on sand is even less than my print from my foot.

If you’re here in Queensland then have a go at any of these places:

Tours Plus, The Whitsundays

Tangalooma Island Report, Moreton Island, Brisbane

Novotel Twin Waters Resort, Sunshine Coast

Couran Cove Resort, Gold Coast

Corporate Xperiences, Brisbane

The end result of this little experiment is that I now really want one, I also really want the people who can make the changes in positions of power to ride one of these to see quite how good they could be worldwide in reducing our reliance on the motor car, the direct use of fossil fuels, driving vehicles with one person in and even the long lines of traffic we see in cities far too often.

If, and it’s a big IF, rules and regulations change I’d love to ride one of these into the office in Brisbane!

End of day location: Hamilton Island after lapping Dent Island

Distance covered: 20kms on an electric Segway

• Between the Devil and the Deep – in wooden ships, the “devil” was the longest seam of the ship. It ran from the bow to the stern. When at sea and the “devil” had to be caulked, the sailor sat in a bo’sun’s chair to do so. He was suspended between the “devil” and the sea the “deep” a very precarious position, especially when the ship was underway.
• Starboard – The Vikings called the side of their ship its board, and they placed the steering oar, the “star” on the right side of the ship, thus that side became known as the “star board.” It’s been that way ever since.
• Three Sheets to the Wind – We use the term “three sheets to the wind” to describe someone who has too much to drink. As such, they are often bedraggled with perhaps shirttails out, clothes a mess. The reference is to a sailing ship in disarray, that is with sheets (lines not “ropes” that adjust the angle at which a sail is set in relation to the wind ) flapping loosely in the breeze.
• Took the wind out of his sails – Often we use “took the wind out of his sails” to describe getting the best of an opponent in an argument. Originally it described a battle maneuver of sailing ships. One ship would pass close to its adversary and on its windward side. The ship and sails would block the wind from the second vessel, causing it to lose headway. Losing motion meant losing maneuverability and the ability to carry on a fight.

Location: Hamilton Island

Weather: Very light winds, blue skies and a few puffy clouds – lets go sailing!!

Mum and Dad were visiting me for the last few days of the Best Job in the World experience and I’d been harping on about sailing around the Whitsundays and how damn amazing it was when I did it back in August during Race Week here on the island.

So there was no better way to demonstrate exactly what I’d been going on about than to actually get them out onto the water to try it for themselves. Mum is known for being a little bit prone to seasickness so I prayed hard the night before for a calm ocean and sunshine…

Result! Perfect conditions for sailing – a mirror like ocean greeted me from the balcony of the Blue Pearl with ‘Simpsons’ clouds punctuating the otherwise infinite blue skyscape. I’m going to miss this view you know – it’s the biggest and best TV screen I’ve ever had and so much more rewarding than sitting in front of an actual television!

We’d caught the first Fantasea ferry of the day across the Whitsunday Passage and Vanessa from Whitsunday Rent a Yacht was there to whisk us the incredibly short 750 metres around to their offices and pontoon where we’d depart from. I’ve cruised into Shute Harbour on countless occasions and dreamily gazed across to the fleet of modern looking yachts with their telltale blue and red ensigns wondering exactly what goes on there…we were about to find out.

Having just a smidgeon of experience on the water before really didn’t fill me with the overwhelming confidence I’d need to take out one of the yachts for an overnight cruise. So we’d been given the option of having a skipper come out with us so we’d have a more relaxing time – this was just what we needed. Think about it – me in charge of a $750,000 boat really wasn’t the sort of responsibility I needed just yet.

Mike and Nancy would be our impeccable hosts for our ‘far-too-short’ trip – usually you’d need around a week to explore all of the hidden gems around the 74 islands of the Whitsundays but with Christmas just around the corner we only had an overnight trip. Well Mum and Dad were chuffed just to be onboard.

‘Chantilly’ – the pride of the fleet would be our home for the next day, she’s a pretty stunning looking catamaran from the outside and that’s before even climbing the stairs up her hull and into the luxurious cockpit living area.

Being a Beneteau she’s kitted out for a very comfortable lifestyle with an outside hospitality area right next to where the captain sits and behind the extensive glass windows is the smartest lounge area I’ve seen on a sailing boat. Why tip over on a mono-hull when you can cruise level on a catamaran?

Downstairs the smart theme continues and there’s space for my family and loads more, in fact ‘Chantilly’ has space for ten people to stay and each of the rooms even has an ensuite bathroom with shower and more than enough room to swing a cat too.

I’ve always wondered who would be cruel enough to actually swing a cat around just to size a room – bizarre words and phrases we use aren’t they!?

Back on deck its all about relaxing this time around, previously I’d been learning about sheets, grinding, knots etc but Mike has everything under control and can literally sail the yacht sat in his chair. The electric winches, jammers etc operated by the flick of a switch all within easy reach. Amazing.

From the moment we got on board I knew food wasn’t going to be a problem here; Nancy has been furiously working away in the kitchen with the vast array of gorgeously palatable food that Whitsunday Provisions have supplied for our mini-expedition and round after round of cheese, fruit, cakes and chocolate keeps appearing from nowhere. The time to diet is in the New Year – not now.

As we head across the Whitsunday Passage the wind starts to pick up just enough to fill the mainsail and after an hour or so of moving under motor the sound of the engine goes quiet and we’re finally cruising by perfectly natural means…that of the wind.

It totally transforms the experience and for the first time in a few weeks I grab my book and head to the foredeck to catch up on some vital reading. It’s times like these that have been few and far between over the last few months and with the backdrop of the Whitsundays on offer it really does feel like a holiday at last.

Mum and Dad are in their element too. Dad has taken the wheel for the past hour and under the watchful eye of Mike is carefully steering us into one of the many sheltered channels around Hook Island in time for lunch – another meal already.

We spend the afternoon cruising around the picturesque islands and decide, with the northerly winds, to head to Tongue Bay just short of Hill Inlet and Whitehaven Beach – ready for an early morning assault on the tourist destination. Our dinner under the stars is superb, the BBQ is fired up and we watch the glowing fiery orange ball drop behind the horizon as dinner is served. There is nowhere I’d rather be in the world right now…

Mum and dad haven’t had the pleasure of seeing the iconic sight of Whitehaven Beach from the viewing platform by Hill Inlet and so Mike drops us off in the rubber duck and we prepare to climb over the crest of the hill. Seeing the white silica sands from up high gives you an idea of why so many people walk this route every day – 350 on average.

With the morning disappearing fast we get back on board and start the final cruise around the southern tip of Whitsunday Island before turning north towards Hamilton Island and home. It also gives us a chance to see Blue Pearl just one more time from the water as we cruise by slowly, struggling to make headway against the strong tide which rips through Fitzalan Passage.

Mooring up in Hamilton Island marina we clamber onto the pontoon after a perfectly relaxing couple of days with Mike and Nancy; the perfect hosts onboard a perfect yacht….if I use any more ‘perfects’ I’ll turn into a cat. What I’m trying to say is I actually relaxed for once and loved it!

Next time around my sailing skills will be adequate enough to take one of these beauties out for myself – maybe not around the world but definitely around the Islands of the Whitsundays. Why not try it yourself?

End of day location: Hamilton Island
Distance covered: 107kms on the water

Santa has been already – in fact this year I helped him to deliver his presents but we left the reindeer at home as you can see from the photo below:

After what has been a truly amazing 2009 working in the Islands of the Great Barrier Reef as the Island Caretaker, next year looks to be equally as exciting and challenging as I promote this great state around the world and also try and get further under the skin of Queensland.

The ISLANDREEFJOB.COM website will continue to be updated to cover these travels so stay tuned in!

Merry Christmas and a prosperous New Year from Ben, Bre and my Mum & Dad

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: