I have spoken of our love of the Whitsundays before and it seems to have become an annual thing, to make the trek back up the coast. Not that I have any problem with that!
Our latest holiday saw us spend a week at Airlie Beach on our first holiday park adventure but we had to take the opportunity to island hop with Cruise Whitsundays and visit the relaxing Daydream Island Resort and Spa to see our fishy pals.
The morning was strangely hazy but the water was super calm on our 30-minute ride with Airlie Beach to Daydream Island. Leni, the little dare-devil would have happily hung her head out the side like a Labrador. I had a firm grip on her.
I grabbed a picture of one of my most favourite views. This is what keeps us coming back. A piece of our heart lives on that, there hill. Metaphorically of course and I am not talking about the dive that we used to live in either, though we made it ours and it was tumbling distance to the main street. I digress…
Cruise Whitsundays got us comfortably to Daydream Island. 30 minutes just wasn’t long enough on the water. I would have loved to keep cruising and hopefully spot a whale, which is pretty common for this time of year.
As the sun properly decided to emerge from its blankets we took on one of Daydream Island’s pools before lunch at the Boathouse Bakery. It was a very relaxing morning as we prepared our excited selves for the main event of our Private Fish Feeding at Daydream Island’s Living Reef.
Private Fish Feeding just doesn’t seem to be the right name. It was so much more than that.
At 1pm we met one of the island’s Marine Biologists, Lou, who was taking us to meet some of the islands more aquatic guests. Lou was vibrant, extremely knowledgeable and very accommodating to the little kids in our group.
First up we fed the barramundi which caused a few squeals from the adults in the group. Ari was happy throwing a few prawn heads from a distance after seeing Dad feeding one. They move hard and fast!
But when it came to getting up close and personal with the Bamboo Sharks, Ari was first in line. Bamboo Sharks can spend up to 12 hours out of the water and they were as excited as puppies for a pat and were rushing up onto the rocks to meet us.
Next, it was time to find Nemo. All the Nemo! There are around 100 Clown Fish in Daydream Island’s Living Reef, not that you easily spot them in their anemone houses. Lou pointed out a very heavily pregnant mama about to lay her eggs.
In the same area, we got to meet a couple of the resident Rhino Sea Stars.
Don’t tell Leni but I think she was patting its butt. I am completely serious!
Last but not least on our private tour, we got up close and personal with the rays in the biggest area of the Living Reef. Ari didn’t hesitate to jump in for another pat and to give these guys some fish heads. He was just hoping Bruce the Lemon Shark would come over to the platform too but Lou said he was a bit of a scaredy cat and isn’t very interested in what we were up to.
I can see our little man to growing up to work with animals in some way. When I asked him after we had finished if he might want to be a marine biologist like Lou when he grows up he said, “no, I just want to be like Steve Irwin.”
I wonder if Steve Irwin needed a nap at the end of a big day too.
You can see more pics from our adventure on my Instagram profile.
We travelled as guests of Cruise Whitsundays and Daydream Island Resort and Spa.
Sounds like so much fun! The Whitsundays is on our must visit list for next year…we’ve never been!
It is so beautiful there and September is always a great time to visit.
Wow!! That looks absolutely amazing. I want to be there. Right now! #teamIBOT
I actually tried to stay longer. It was so hard to leave.
This sounds like a fascinating and fun place to visit!
The Whitsundays are always full of fun.
I’d never heard of bamboo sharks, how cool are they?! Looks like an awesome trip!
Can a shark be cute? Because I kind of think they were cute!
Oh I’m so envious! We haven’t been to the Whitsundays for so long. It’s such a beautiful part of the world. Thanks for sharing your pics.
And it has changed so much!
I loved following along on your Instagram – it looked like a fantastic holiday. The Whitsundays are on my travel bucket list and they look like such a kid friendly place too. As for sea stars, I had no idea they had butts. Learnt something new today!
And if I heard correctly they have more than one of them. 😉
What an ace day! If only all sharks were as pattable as those bamboo ones! And how cool is that Stingray. The Whitsundays is totally on my bucket list!
Was so fun. The Whitsundays should be. I could totally see you and David sailing around on a catamaran with a personal skipper. 😉
I love the whisundays – its a kids dream holiday I think. How big and beautiful was that starfish!
He was perfect that big fella!
We had our honeymoon on South Molle Island – I’m told it’s a backpacker resort now so don’t think we’ll be going back LOL. Daydream was closed for renovations back then. So if we’re ever back in the Whitsundays I think we’d have to go there instead (have already been to Hamilton & Brampton).
Unfortunately most of the island hotels have closed. Brampton is long gone and South Molle closed it’s doors a few years ago too but you are right in thinking it had a strong backpacker presence. 😉
It’s been a few years but I love the Whitsundays and I stayed on Daydream Island before it had its mega makeover. I think I want one of those sharks as a pet.
I feel the same way about those sharks. I think they are cute!