So just a bus, a ferry and another (greyhound) bus away from Magnetic Island is Airlie Beach - a seaside town known for being the best place in Australia to get to the famous Whitsunday Islands.
I loved Airlie Beach as a town - there was a lot more happening and to do than Mission Beach/ Magnetic Island, and I had managed to stick with a couple of other travelers whom I met earlier at Mission, so it was extra fun! Really nice to have people to do things with - and cook with at the hostels!
I stayed in the YHA, which was probably the worst hostel I've been in so far, but it wasn't too bad, my room was quiet at least.
I spent three days at Airlie - first day just exploring and enjoying the lagoon, which is a public salt water pool right by the beach (you can't really swim in the real sea because of stingers!). See below - but not the best pic!
On the second day I went on a day boat trip tour (with one of my new friends, luckily) to the Whitsunday islands (the pictures at the top and bottom), which have some of the clearest water and whitest sand in the world. It was beautiful! On the trip, we snorkeled in two locations and I saw lots of amazing coral and tropical fish, some as big as long as my arm! Luckily no sharks or stingers, but I kept my eyes peeled.
The giant lizard above was one of a few hanging around on the beach while we had our lunch -- they were a bit creepy looking (like dinosaurs), but apparently harmless. Didn't stop me from jumping onto the table in fear when they were near my legs though!
From Airlie, I took an overnight bus (9 hours, ouch!), down to Agnes Water - arriving yesterday (4th), at 6am. Nothing to see in Agnes - especially when it stormed as it did yesterday - so spent the day reading and relaxing.
I'm now another 4 hours south at Hervey Bay, so will update again at the weekend...
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