Lovers Cove

Last night after we'd pottered our selves out, we decided we weren't quite ready to leave Airlie yet. We both fancied another trip out to the islands on a sail boat, but it turned out that every sail boat was either being repaired, was booked out for a private charter, or in one case, the captain had been taken seriously ill overnight!

A quick rummage through the broachers turned up 'Extreme Jet ski'. Not quite the relaxing sail and snorkel we were planning, but it had to be worth a giggle!

The next morning we arrived at the jet ski office and were handed the days weather forecast. 25-30 knot winds with 3 meter waves... We were both up for an adventure, but Sophie hurt her back a few years ago, and we couldn't take the risk of a whole morning of bouncing off 3 meter waves wouldn't do some permanent damage.

So we reluctantly left the rest of the group to their safety briefing and wondered down the marina as far as the ferry terminal. Which is where an idea hit me. How about a catamaran ferry to Day Dream Island for a day of pottering in paradise....

A couple of hours later, we hopped onto the jetty to be greeted by smiling faces and (if we had been staying on the island) a sea shell necklace!

There was something about that island and a weight I didn't know I'd been carrying with me was lifted off my shoulders, and I slowed riiiight down. Looking at Sophie, I could tell she'd just experienced the same feeling.

We wondered along the islands rainforest paths and came round one particular corner to find a quiet swimming pool with a poolside cafe where we stopped for a quite spot of lunch.

Looking at one of the island maps, there was a small beach called Lover's Cove. It sounded cheesy, but what the hell, we're on holiday, so we set off in search of this secluded bay.

So secluded in fact, the only way to it was to blag your way into the swanky island hotel, go up in the lift to the second floor, into a staff only store room and out a fire exit.

Over a bridge, into the rainforest, along a path, into a clearing, past a kangaroos (the first time i've ever seen one!), down some steps and onto an amazing little coral beach.

We got kitted up and went swimming to see what we could see. Unfortunately, it turned out, that wasn't an awful lot. Until we turned around in the water and found a big school of brightly coloured fish right behind us. They scattered as soon as we swam towards them, and after a little while I stopped swimming, turned round and found the same school behind us again! Experimentally we got back to the shallows and sat chest deep in the water. The fish followed! Who needs snorkel gear - on Day Dream Island the fish come to look at you!

We stayed on the beach as the sun began to set, and an island worker appeared to light some torches. We were both so sorely tempted to stay the night, either on the island or back with snoopy, and come back the next day. That afternoon really had an effect on the both of us, but we decided that we didn't want to find out that you could have too much of a good thing and left.

On the way we saw a flock of bats in the trees above our heads. Bats the size of seagulls!

That night, back on the mainland, we went to Banjo's to pick on the new barman one last time.