East Coast Australia

CAMP: Whitehaven Beach, Whitsundays, 2 Nights

Today is perfect sunny weather for our transfer to Whitsunday Island and the magical Whitehaven Beach. We have 2 nights camping on Whitehaven Beach so we have loaded up our hiking packs including the hiking tent and an Esky full of food plus our kayaks in tow.

You can camp on many of the Islands in the Whitsundays and booked via the Queensland National Parks website.

We depart Shute Harbour at 8.30am with a company called Scamper Island Transfers. We are the only ones going out and it takes an hour to our destination, passing Hamilton Island on the way. Once we hit unprotected ocean, we cascade up and down some serious waves and at one point, half the ocean came over the bow and soaked us.

We reach the point and turn into view of the brilliant white sand of Whitehaven, the seas become calm and the wind has dropped.

The boat we are on is like an amphibious army personnel carrier with a massive cargo drop bridge at the front. It’s like the opening shot of Saving Private Ryan. As we reach the beach, myself and Jen are charged with unlocking the cargo door and it lowers perfectly onto the crisp white sand for us to invade the Island.

As we unload our gear, campers are waiting for their return transfer to the mainland and we suddenly realise that tonight, we are the only ones left camping on the island, so it’s gonna be total isolation.

ISLAND CHALLENGE
So here’s a challenge for our most dedicated followers... You are sent to a deserted Island, water, coconuts, olive oil, salt & pepper are plentiful. You are allowed unlimited supply of 5 foods, i.e a cow would be food which would cover meat and dairy or flour would be food or tomatos. It’s up to you. What will you Bring?

Post your 5 things on our blog Under this footprint.

For now, the main beach is buzzing with day tourists, tour boats come and go, sailing vessels are anchored within paddling distance of the shore and a seaplane lands just off shore carrying bespoke passengers to paradise.

As we are the only campers, we have choice of camp site and select a perfect site within metres of the beach overlooking Whitehaven shoreline.

We assess the direction of the sun for afternoon shade and protection and set up the tent.

We are greeted by a goanna who’s checking us out for food and a seriously large and hairy Huntsman spider on a wooden post as we enter the site.

Once set up, I turn on the hiking stove and put the kettle on for a morning coffee and we unwind in the camping chairs with our his and hers beach towels, a gift from ‘R Kid”. This is the best view ever and look no further for paradise.

We had been to Whitehaven beach in September 2017 after Cyclone Debbie had flattened many of the trees that line the beach for miles. It’s great to see that the beach and landscape is recovering and the rangers have upgraded the camping and visitor facilities whilst maintaining the pristine look of the beach. Pirates Of the Caribbean 4 was filmed here at Whitehaven Beach to take in its outstanding natural beauty but only a few seconds of footage made the cut.. In fact Whitehaven has been voted one of the top two beaches in the world because of its super fine and vivid white silica sand.

Slowly, the tourist depart the beach and sail away back to civilisation. We watch from our vantage point until we are the only ones left, “WILSON”. Stranded and alone on Whitehaven Beach, from here on, ours are the only footprints left on the island.

Jen takes the kayak and paddles along the coastline. Suddenly she shouts out, there’s a baby shark... yeah well where’s it’s mother...?

The sun is soon setting and its my favourite part of the day as I love to watch the colours change as the shadows on the beach begin to lengthen.

It’s a perfect sunset and it lingers creating pink and blue fluffy clouds on the horizon above the distant but prominent Esk island out to sea.

I take advantage and set the drone on another mission to capture the sunset moment on Whitehaven Beach.

Soon a quarter moon has replaced the sun and thousands of stars appear as there is no light to obscure their intensity. All we can hear are the gentle waves lapping the shore as we tuck into a roast chicken and a glass of red wine, oh and the occasional rustle from the bushes which reminds us that we are not alone after all....

I am definitely having roast chicken on my deserted island (well real chickens at least).

The Huntsman spider has moved on but the pythons are active at night so Jen insists that we zip up the tent tonight... All good.

WILDLIFE:
Goannas, Giant Huntsmen Spiders, Baby Reef Shark, Pythons, Roast Chicken.Read more