Airlie Beach

A community of less than 1000 residents, which accommodates and extra 20,000 visitors / tourists. Only 45 people pay rates, as they own the bulk of the property!!!

A fantastic place for the water people, whether that are on the water in a boat or in the water swimming / diving. It was very hot and humid again, but these stunning blue skies and white clouds are a pleasure to experience.

We went ashore to be driven across the Whitsundays (the name of the area) on a trip to a coffee plantation and Proserpine Historical Museum. The museum had numerous artefacts from the late 1800’s through to the mid 1990’s which document work and life in the area. Not an easy life.

They had a display of patchwork quilts made by local ladies.

We passed acres of sugar cane fields again, they appear to be a common crop down the east coast of Australia.

We set sail soon for Brisbane and will exit the barrier reef again, but not get to the south end of it for another 24 hrs.