QUEENSLAND33Sailing around the Whitsunday IslandsSAILINGADVENTURESImagine standing at the helm of an immaculateyacht, the salty tang of the sea breeze in yourface while overhead an expanse of brilliantwhite sail unfurls and fills with the wind, leaninginto the breeze as it gathers pace. Sailing is atits thrilling, sunblessed best around the stunningisland scenery of the Whitsundays and aspectrum of sailing adventures can be tailored tosuit your experience or sense of adventure.Skilled sailors can chart their own course on a'bareboat' yacht, while crewed charters let evenbeginners become part of the action on craftthat range from romantic tallships to sleekocean racers, so if you just want to island-hop,this might just be the way to go. Windjammer CruiseWith her crisp white sails bellowing and her deepcoloured hull splashed by breaking waves the 72ft'Windjammer' recreates the golden age of oceansailing vessels. Beautifully designed and built, itprovides a unique opportunity to experience thestyle of travel that first opened up the world toexplorers, traders and pirates, but adds littleluxuries such as air-conditioned ensuite cabins.Accommodating just nine guests and three crew, sheoffers a friendly personalised experience, with anemphasis on good food, fun, exploration andrelaxation. The three or six-day trips that set out todiscover the nooks and crannies of the WhitsundayIslands are above all else truly memorable. Great BarrierReef CruiseDiscover the Great Barrier Reef in style and at apace which allows you to be a lazy beachcomber oran inquisitive adventurer at numerous exclusive reefsites and islands. Accompanied by a professionalcrew including a marine biologist and dive instructoryou will be able to savour the hidden treasures ofthe less visited reefs.Day 1:Depart Townsville, cruising the Coral Seaand Palm Group of Islands.Day 2:Visit exclusive Pelorus Island and itsmagnificent fringing reef, beach andrainforest, the Hinchinbrook Channel andtropical Dunk Island.Day 3:Explore Thetford and Moore Reefs forspectacular diving and snorkelling.Day 4:Step onto dry land to enjoy Cairns citybefore returning to your vessel forchampagne on deck as the sun sets.Day 5:Visit one of the most remote islands inthe Great Barrier Reef, enjoy a swim or atrip in the glassbottom boat then cruiseon to historical Cooktown.Day 6:Climb the island peak at Lizard Island andsnorkel off the beach over coral caysbefore cruising on to Ribbon Reef.Day 7:Spend the day exploring the Ribbon andRachel Carson Reef.Day 8:Cruise to Cairns today for your morningdisembarkation.EXTENSIONSThis cruise itinerary can also be taken in reverse oralternatively three and four night cruises areavailable from either Cairns or Townsville.tailor-made travelAll our travel arrangements are on a private,individual basis to offer you complete freedom ofchoice. The itineraries and accommodation optionsthroughout the brochure are designed to give you aflavour of what is possible and can be tailor-made tosuit your preferences. Prices vary according toselected accommodation and season. Please callour Australia specialists on 01869 276 345 todiscuss your individual requirements.Bare Boatand Crewed ChartersWarm and inviting, the open waters of the Coral Seaare just made for sailing, through long sunny days orunder balmy star-filled skies. Literally take the helmof this exhilarating prospect with flotillas of yachts,catamarans and motor launches to suit all budgetsand levels of experience. Rest assured, daily radiocontact is maintained so you can feel secure nomatter what your capability may be. This inspiringalternative is perfect for those who harbour a secretdesire to head for the open seas or is just the thingfor a group of family or friends. For those whose ideaof a holiday is simply to relax on deck as othersmove the scenes, a crewed charter might be abetter idea, with different options for those whowant to experience sailing for the first time or honetheir nautical skills. So, select your boat, settle yourroute and set sail to explore these incredible waters.Windjammer

34YOUR REEF ENCOUNTER Most diving and snorkelling takes place fromeither islands, coral cays, secure pontoons orboats, making it accessible for people of all agesand abilities. A number of these sites can bereached from Cairns, Palm Cove, Port Douglas,Cape Tribulation and the Whitsunday Islands viaday trips. Alternatively, you can stay on an islandresort with the reef on your doorstep as thefringing reefs that edge the islands, which wereonce part of the mainland, offer safe shelteredsnorkelling and diving where the waters areclean, warm and free from strong currents. AUDLEY AND THE REEFWith a dive instructor and several qualifieddivers as members of our specialist Australiateam, we have a wealth of Great Barrier Reefexperience. Perhaps you are a beginner lookingfor a snorkelling day trip with just a single dive,maybe you want advice on a learn-to-divecourse or you could be a qualified diver lookingto discover remote dive sites or the thrill ofexploring a shipwreck: you may not even wantto get your feet wet and simply wish to see thereef from the air or a semi-submersible. Withshared expertise gained from clocking up divesacross different sites you can be assured that wewill provide knowledgeable and safe advice. Ouraim is to make sure you get the most out of thisunderwater paradise. GREAT BARRIER REEFAcclaimed as one of the seven wonders of thenatural world, Australia's Great Barrier Reefresembles a necklace along the northern coastof Queensland. Labyrinths of green and blue inirregular patterns are broken up by sand caysand lush forested islands that stretch over anexpanse of 1250 miles, making this 'barrier' themost complex and extensive reef system in theworld. The Great Barrier Reef is an immensearea of shallow water that brushes the coast atCape Tribulation and stretches some fifty milesfrom the mainland at the southern-most tip,though on average it is twenty to thirty milesoffshore. Hundreds of islands and a wealth ofcolourful corals, fans and sponges on displayjust below the surface provide shelter for anastonishing array of marine life such as angeland parrot fish. Larger species such as theNapoleon wrasse and eagle rays drift just off thesloping reef walls which slip gently down to ashallow sandy bottom. Intensely fragile andblindingly beautiful, the reef is perfectlyexplored with a simple facemask and snorkel.Gorgonian fan coralSnorkelling on Hardy ReefSCENIC FLIGHTSA wonderful way to view the grandeur andbeauty of the Great Barrier Reef is by air, flyingover spectacular coral formations set in a myriadof blues and greens that contrast with the whitebeaches and rainforest beyond. Take a seaplaneand experience the thrill of take-off from thewater or go by helicopter whereby you can landon a pontoon and spend the day swimming andsnorkelling before returning by boat.Seaplane landing