Well after a few jars with my diving friends I slept in meaning I had to rush to catch my bus. It’s a good job I packed the night before! I made the bus and had a long journey ahead of me, 11 hours in total! Great! But it actually went rather quickly (God bless the person who invented the iPod).

My new accommodation seems really nice. It’s a few minutes bus ride out of town but they run a free mini-bus and there's free breakfast here too, so I’ll manage. I’m staying in a little cabin that sleeps 4 people. It’s actually really cool with it’s own kitchen, bathroom and seating area outside. There were already 3 people there when I moved in, 2 girls and a bloke. They were all really friendly and we had a good chat before I got an early night. A combination of the bus journey and the night before.

Took full advantage of the free breakfast next morning. Very nice, I even had company. Two very colourful little parrots that stole a slice of my toast and proceeded to demolish it on the table next to me. You don’t get that in Stockport! After breakfast I went into Airlie Beach town with the lad I was sharing with, Cormack. He was checking into new accommodation in town so I left him and had a wander round. This place is really nice and lushly green. But there isn’t that much here. Mainly people only come here to go to the Whitsunday Islands and not a lot else. I did manage to sort my sailing trip for the following day and it looks ace! The boat I was going on was a racing yacht and I was told that it would be “an experience” because we would be “learning the ropes” by helping to sail it.

The day of my trip the weather was gorgeous, despite the storm the night before. When we got into open waters the yacht was absolutely flying and for the majority of the time at a 45 degree angle which made things interesting. Occasionally I was told to go and pull a certain rope or crank a winch. I have no idea what I was actually doing but it was a good laugh anyway. At the first island we reached everyone on the boat, there were 22 of us, went snorkelling. That was really good (and always will be in these waters) but nothing compared to what I did in Cairns so I cut mine short to make sure I was back on the boat to be first in line for lunch.

We were soon sailing again and after a few hours we came to the sheltered bay where we were spend the night. We all sat on the deck, eating our dinner, under the most star filled sky I have ever seen. Not too shabby!

The next morning, after a surprisingly comfy nights sleep on the boat, I had breakfast sat on the deck watching two sea eagles catching fish for their chicks. That was defiantly more entertaining than GMTV will ever be in the morning! We were soon off again, sailing towards Whitehaven Beach. This is a picturesque white sandy beach with crystal clear blue waters. We spent an hour or so relaxing on the beach and taking in the views before getting back on the boat and heading back to the mainland. The whole thing was a real experience and being on a yacht, getting my hands dirty, made it all even better. But it did wipe me out so headed straight back to the hostel for another early night. I know, I know! This rock ‘n’ roll lifestyle will catch up with me eventually!

The following day was spent organising where else in Oz I was going to go as well as staying out of the sun as I had managed to get ever-so-slightly sunburned on the boat the previous day. I still can’t get my head around the fact that it’s nearly Christmas and its 37c here, but I’m sure I’ll struggle on.

My last night in Airlie Beach I went out for a few drinks with one of the girls I was sharing with, Jo. I had to experience Airlie Beach’s nightlife at least once while I was here (drinking seemed to be the only thing to do here other than sailing). Out the night before a bus journey, again. This time my bus wasn’t nearly as early so hopefully wont be a repeat of last time.

Airlie Beach is a really nice and friendly place but could do with a few more activities. Even so I had a good laugh here. Ok…to Rockhampton!