They swam and snorkelled in Australia’s largest supervised snorkelling area at Reefworld, had a champagne reef tour in the glass bottom semi submarine,  gazed at George the resident Giant Queensland Grouper and myriad marine life over dinner served in the underwater observatory, flew over Heart Reef via scenic helicopter and soaked up the Whitsundays sunshine from the sundeck.

They ventured out on an early morning guided snorkel with marine biologist Erin followed by a frolic on the water-slide to unleash the inner child.  The adventurous tried an introductory scuba dive and they all marvelled over the tranquillity that comes with being 51 nautical miles from the mainland on a floating adventure platform.

Two guests chose to embrace the freedom and slept under a blanket of stars in swags on the deck, while the others slept in comfort in the King and bunk rooms.

Hosted by a small crew of ‘Reef Rats’ and a dedicated Fantasea host to serve and prepare meals and generally ensure that all needs are met, the group were overwhelmed by the genuine friendliness and professionalism of the staff and the enormity of the totally unique experience.

The Reefsleep experience was highlighted by a night before and after at the gorgeous Peppers Coral Coast Resort at Airlie Beach. We’re still salivating over the amazing menu at Tides Restaurant not to mention the magnificent views overlooking the Port of Airlie marina.

The verbal feedback was glowing and we await the written reviews.

Group Photo – Left to right – Patrick McElligott, Martin Tiffany, Donna Parkin, Michael Jacobson, Yvette Peverell, Wendy Squires, Jason Edwards.

Sponsored by Fantasea Adventure Cruising and Riverside Marine, Amanda and her fellow crew members raised $30,000 for Redkite, a charity which provides financial, emotional and educational support for children, young people and their families affected by cancer.

Here is Amanda’s story!

Brisbane to Gladstone 2012:

I joined “Women Race 4” only about one month before departure and could only manage two meetings leading up to the race.  There were 21 women as the crew, which was broken up into three groups.  I was in the white team.

5th April 2012 – Thursday

Day 1:  We met on the good ship “South Passage” which was docked at Shorncliffe and had a dinner on board with our charity “Redkite”.  They invited a family who had received financial and emotional support from them during one of their children’s journey with Leukaemia.  Meeting them put this whole trip for me into perspective.  It was very hard to be away from my kids for four days, but so very proud to be apart of “Women Race 4” and raising money to help these family’s.

Slept on South Passage.  Not very well.

6th April 2012 – Friday

Day 2:  Early rise and raced to the shower, knowing full well that this was my last for a few days.  Cook had a beautiful hot breakfast for us as we watched the sun rise over Moreton Bay.  Many of the other boats were already leaving the harbour to begin the jostle for position.  Chanel 7 and 9 were there interviewing our leader. Captain worked hard to reserve our 100 foot Gaff out of Shorncliffe Harbour and we were off.  This was our busiest day. Rigging “South Passage” is a huge job and ours was lifting the Foresail.  Blue Team on the Jibs and Red team on Helm and Mainsail.  It was perfect conditions.  About 10-15 knots tacking straight across the Bay to Moreton Island to where the race began.  What a site.  I couldn’t believe I was actually apart of this race.  Being amongst these amazing speed machines, Wild Oats, Lahana, Envy and 45 others, was like a very strategic kerfuffle.  It was breath taking, until the starter gun fired and three Maxi’s nearly crashed to get over the line first.  As South Passage is the biggest vessel in the fleet, we stayed back and watched the beginning in amazement.  And in doing so, watched as all these boats sailed off with our wind.  Conditions changed so much on the first day and we struggled to stay with any of the boats.  Who cares.  I was so happy.

Each team was on 8 hour shifts.  White was first on watch so while the rest of the crew was sleeping, we watched the full moon rise over the Ocean and the sun set over Fraser Island.  An unforgettable moment.

7th April 2012 – Saturday

Day 3:  Unfortunately I woke to the sound of South Passage’s engines starting.  Because she is in the cruising division, we can turn our engines on however we do loose points.  But moving at 2 knots would have meant arriving at Gladstone a week later.  Another beautiful day and watched the sunrise.  Oh Man, it was awesome.  No wind but really big swell and many of the crew were sick.  As the engines were on for most of Saturday, there was not much to do on deck and conversations turned to how Captain Cook made his way though the Fraser Coast and to 1770.  South Passage is the training ship for the “Young Endeavour” so it was inspiring to be on a tall ship, trying to trace some of their voyage.  A dolphin and her baby showed their face and stayed with us for a while.  Had a bit of sleep through the day and then had the Helm into the night.  This was, by far, my best moment.  Steering South Passage with stars as your guide.   WOW.  I had such a connection with her and didn’t won’t to let her go.

8th April 2012 – Sunday

Day 4:  Was woken with “Gladstone looks good before dawn” and scurried to get on deck.  Motors were off now and we had enough wind to sail into this huge, very busy harbour.  We arrived at 7.32am and was greeted with two cartons of xxxx gold as we sailed over the finish line.  Another dolphin raised her head for me as I glanced over into the murky water.  As we sailed into Gladstone Harbour my sponsors cruisers “Fantasea” was docked behind us.  I felt very humbled and realised that this experience would not have happened without there huge support. I will be greatful for the rest of my life.  We raised $30 000 for Redkite and non of it would have been possible without our sponsors support.  Thank you Fantasea.

Congratulations Amanda for your hard work.

Easily accessed by boat from Airlie Beach or Shute Harbour as well as from Hamilton Island, Whitehaven Beach on Whitsunday Island offers over 7 km of pure white sand. Whitehaven is named by many as one of the most beautiful beaches in the world. The sands are white due to a 98% silicia concentration, and the beach is also known as one of Australia’s cleanest. Whitehaven Beach offers a perfect spot to spend a day swimming, snorkelling, and enjoying the Queensland sun. At the northern end of the beach, is Hill Inlet, a picturesque turquoise blue cove. There is a stunning overlook of the Inlet at Tongue Point, an easy 20 minute walk from the beach.

A comfortable luxury high-speed catamaran ride from Shute Harbor and Hamilton Island brings you to the one and only Great Barrier Reef and Fantasea’s Reefworld where you can enjoy year round sheltered conditions perfect for a day of snorkelling and diving. Reefworld is the closest pontoon in the Whitsundays to the mainland and bus connections are possible from Airlie Beach and Hamilton Island accommodations. Fantasea’s professional crew will treat you to a day of reef fun with many activities possible to enjoy this truly unique environment. Reefworld contains the largest number of colourful fish in the Whitsunday reefs, as well as thousands of corals and other marine life including whales (July-September). There is also the option to overnight and ‘Reefsleep’ to enjoy a peaceful night on the reef.

Hamilton Island features two wildlife interactive experiences that are sure to delight visitors young and old. Koala Gallery Wildlife Experience (previously known as Fauna Park) offers the opportunity to meet koalas, kangaroos, wallabies, crocodiles, Tasmanian Devils, and frill-necked lizards. Especially fun is the buffet ‘Breakfast with Koalas’ offered daily at this wildlife sanctuary. The Whitsunday Crocodile Safari is a thrilling excursion into the world of the saltwater crocodile. Ride an open-air wagon-train pulled by a tractor through the Goorganga wetlands and spot a saltwater croc from a calm water Proserpine River adventure cruise.

For a different angle on this colorful landscape, experience a ‘bird’s eye’ view of the Great Barrier Reef from above on a helicopter flight over the Whitsunday Islands. 30 minute sightseeing tours depart from Airlie Beach and Hamilton Island throughout the day. Packages are available to visit some of the islands and beaches for a few hours in conjunction with your scenic helicopter ride. Don’t miss a chance for this unique experience to enjoy the ‘view from above’!

The quintessential Whitsundays experience is the bareboat rental.  Skipper your own craft and enjoy lazy days in turquoise waters where you are never more than two hours from an island port.  You might wish to stop by one of seven ports that welcome visitors arriving by yacht. You are protected in this region from ocean swells by the outer Great Barrier Reef. Should you wish a crew to be provided, operators can setup for a sail guide, provisions, and onboard cook.  Craft your own memorable and private experience on the water, and enjoy the freedom to drop anchor at beaches that catch your eye and snorkel with passing marine life.

Located a mere 100 miles north of the Tropic of Capricorn, the Whitsunday Islands enjoy a perfect sub-tropical climate with average daily high temperatures between 20 and 25 degrees Celsius in June and July and reaching 25-30 degrees Celsius in peak summer of December and January. The seasonal ‘wet’ occurs from January through March, making for some humidity with brief intermittent showers (and even some thunderstorms) during the summer season. The Whitsundays feature reliably sunny days and the constant pleasant temperatures make the islands comfortable for a variety of outdoor activities.

Receiving trade winds off the Coral Sea from the southeast in the winter and northerly winds that bring in summer humidity, the Whitsundays are wettest and hottest between January and March, windiest from March until May, and driest August through October. Water temperatures are quite constant at a balmy 25 degrees Celsius year round, perfect for snorkeling, scuba, and other water activities.

We hope this makes deciding a little bit easier.  And, if you do experience poor weather on your holiday rest assured that you are able to cancel your tour to the reef or Whitehaven Beach at any time  and rebook when the weather fines up.

Fantasea has taken an innovative approach to providing this ground breaking new facility utilising the latest in composite technology to construct an efficient, safe and environmentally friendly structure.

Fantasea’s ‘pop-up’ terminal is also close to completion, which will feature an innovative use of recycled shipping containers for our customer service centre. Fantasea is committed to sustainable tourism in the region and hopes that completion of this project will highlight how innovation and technology can minimise environmental impact of tourism in the region.

Visit us again soon for the next Port of Airlie update.

What do you do to chill out?
I like to relax with my wife Jessica and our two beautiful little girls Indi and Tilly. When I lived in Sydney I used to go surfing if I wanted to chill out but there are no decent waves here.

Best place to eat out in the Whitsundays?
I have been to a lot of different places so far but if I had to choose one I’ll go with Mr Bones. They have really good, fresh pizzas.

What’s the last movie you saw at the cinemas?
Probably the Smurfs with my daughters, I think it was around a year ago.

BIG PLANS
New Fantasea General Manager Matt Lloyd is excited about the busy year he has ahead of him.

What do you do for work?
I am the general manager of Fantasea Cruises and my main focus is providing safe, pleasurable access to the Great Barrier Reef and all the wonderful islands of the Whitsundays.

Plans for the next 12 months?
I’ll be focusing on business creation, innovation and trying to deliver new products to
the Whitsundays. Fantasea is also opening a new terminal at the Port of Airlie where all
of our ferries will be leaving from so that will be a big project.

Any last words?
I’m here for a good time, not a long time.

The mask
The snorkel mask is your child’s window to the underwater world and it may be the only piece of snorkel gear they ever use. Teach the kids to clean, clear and defog the mask and you will do more than improve the view.

• To avoid fogging rub a defogger on the lens or do it the old fashioned way, have your child rub saliva on the inside of the dry lens and then rinse the mask.
• Be sure to loosen your child’s snorkel mask before they put it on. Have them position the mask over their eyes and nose, slide the strap over their head and pull the strap ends until the mask seals comfortably. Be sure the mask is not too tight.
• The easiest way to clear a flooded mask is to lift the lower skirt and drain the water. Older children can be taught to purge the mask by placing two hands on the top of the mask and exhaling though their nose.
• Practice clearing the mask on the landing so the kids can easily kneel or stand.
• Don’t forget to caution kids about breathing through their nose 

The snorkel
For some children, learning to breath thorough a snorkel not to mention purging it of unwanted water may be overwhelming. Follow their lead; your kids will be quick to decide what works best for them.

• Before you enter the water, detach the snorkel from the mask and ask your child to breath through it.
• Once they’ve mastered the breathing, move the exercise to the water and have them experiment with the snorkel face down.
• Don’t be in a hurry to fasten the snorkel to the mask. Holding the snorkel will help your child gain familiarity with the equipment. No matter how uncomfortable it may appear, it works just the same. 

The fins 
With fins, the biggest challenge is putting them on.

• The easiest way to put on fins is to sit or stand in shallow water with one leg crossed over the opposite knee.
• Teach your child to do the front and back flutter kick as well as the scissor kick. Show them how to kick from the hips and not from the knees.

Formed in 1985, the band, led by the infamous lead singer Axl Rose had the worldwide hit ‘Sweet Child O Mine’.

He’s pictured in between Clinton Ricketts and Vanessa Barry to his right and Michael Padulla and Tony Adamson on his left. The team were very excited to get their picture with Slash.

For your own celebrity experience at Reefworld, contact our team of experienced experts who can tailor a package for your group of stars.