The paradise of your dreams is real

February 15, 2018

The paradise of your dreams is real

My maps today are unreadable, so if you would like to know where we are, you will have to look up Hamilton Island, part of the Whitsunday Island group off the northeast coast of Australia. Hamilton is the largest inhabited of those islands with less than 2000 people. The island is privately owned and is home to a very popular resort on one side and a marina on the other. It is the only island in the Great Barrier Reef with its own commercial airport. The only vehicles allowed on the island are for tradespeople and public shuttles. Private transport is supported by a fleet of golf buggies available for rent.

Our tender boat brought us to the marina.

It quickly became evident that the shuttle buses were inadequate for the extra thousand of us that had descended on the island, so David found the buggy rental.

His years of driving a golf cart came in handy, though it took some effort to adjust to driving on the left side of the road.

We took off, appreciative of the natural air-conditioning in our buggy--it was unbearably hot and humid! It wasn't long before we got to the airport. The red flags are in honor of Chinese New Year today.

Adjacent to the airport is the ferry terminal--for passengers only.

Here is a shot of the air traffic control "tower" and the runway.

Considering how small the island, I was quite surprised at the size of the Qantas plane that took off. Another of equal size took off two hours later.

Ten minutes later, at golf buggy speed, we were on the other side of the island at the highest point lookout. From here, we had a three quarters view. Starting with this photo and the next three, it's the panorama seen from there.

This is the resort side, with Catseye Beach stretching out below.

Just below the mountaintop on the way down to the resort is this little All Saints church. It is one of 10 ceremony locations together hosting 500 weddings a year.