Lady Elliot island is an island off the Queensland coast between Hervey Bay and Bundaberg.
We flew from Newcastle to Brisbane and picked up a hire car - drove to hervey bay, it took about 3 hours. Boy has the motor way made a difference and it avoids all the towns now even good old Nambour.
We arrived at Hervey Bay late afternoon and checked in to the Mantra Marine Resort, obviously overlooking the Marina. Had dinner at the restaurant on the marina - ok but not worth raving about. See photo below....
Up and about early and had brekkie at a lovely little place - real 'ma and pa' place - it was lovely. Walked and looked around, didn't need to be at the airport till 2pm so froze up the coast road and found a lovely suburb called Point Vernon.
There was no tinsel and hat shops there but beach acess on two sides. We discovered a restaurant right down on the waterfront near the boat ramp.
After a drive around River Heads looking at the lovely big houses over looking the narrow waterway to Fraser Island we worked our way back to the airport.
So, onto better things.
Our 40 minute flight was on a 12 seated plane, Bert got to Co-pilot and really enjoyed that. Upon arrival we were taken to our room - you won't believe it but we got the same room as we had 10+ years ago when were here last, but all renovated.
The holiday consisted of;
Walking around the coral cay 1, 2 or more times a day - a full lap would take 50+ minutes but with photo breaks up to 90 mins.
Breakfast, lunch and smorgasbord dinner
Sundowners on the balcony over looking the lagoon.
Whale watching - breaches, tail smacks and more
Reef walking
Reading
Meeting new friends (some special ones were found this time)
Photos of folk we met below - Hope they don't mind and I have not tagged them - not everyone wants their names on blog pages.
This wonderful family (Bert, dad and 2 eldest sons) came all the way from Seattle, Washington USA. The boys qualified to dive in their springtime water and air temp around 3C with no viz at all, so Lady Elliot must have been warm, clear and remarkable. Young teenagers - all with Open Water Certs!
Bert and I needed refresher dives to get back in the ocean, he did his pool session first and passed with flying colours - of course. Can't fail a refresher with 450+ dives logged, but 3 years no diving can put a new aspect to things.
While he was off diving in the ocean, I did my refresher in the pool - it was freezing. But I too passed, so into the blue stuff i went. More pics.....
We did this for 7 days and sadly had to leave and say goodbye to all our new found friends, some from the Uni of Newcastle, a lovely Swiss family who live in Sydney and his mum who still lives in Switzerland and of course the intrepid travelers from Seattle with the politest teenagers ever.
The return trip was much the reverse of coming up, hire car to Brisbane, overnight there and then flight back to Newcastle. Jail break the girls from the cattery and quick grocery shop and back to work next day.
