Friday night (10/3), before we left for Airlie Beach, Dad, Mom, Leighton and I stopped at the Tavern for dinner. We had delicious meals!! And Mom and I even shared a drink together :)
After a 3.5 hour drive (on 10/4), with a stop at McDonalds for some brunch, we finally arrived in Airlie Beach. All of my friends who have studied abroad before, said that Airlie Beach was their absolute favourite, so I was so glad that I could go there with my parents. I could not get over how beautiful it was. Perfect weather, a perfect town, and I spent it with my favourite people.
We stayed at a hotel called Peppers, and boy was it stunning. It was just absolutely gorgeous. The only thing that stunk about this hotel, was that it was on a mountain, so the hills going up and down were absolutely crazy. Sometimes we were able to catch a ride on a golf cart, but we walked some of the hills and were just exhausted. It was such an incredible view though, the hills were just so steep.
The rooms were on a mountain. Each room had a spa bathroom, a king size bed, and a deck outback with an amazing view.
This was the view from our deck. We were so lucky to stay here.
At night, we went to a restaurant called Village Cafe for dinner. This place is where you order a meal, and you are given a 400 degree celsius hot stone. You are able to cook the meat yourself, just how you like it. For me, I ordered chicken fajitas, so I just cooked the chicken until it was completely cooked, but Mom ordered lamb and was able to cook it how she prefers it, and dad ordered a steak and could cook it just how he likes it. It was such a fun way to eat dinner.
We even were able to FaceTime Lauren for a bit. I really wished she was able to come to Australia to visit me and experience this amazing country down under, but she got a full time job, and was getting adjusted to the real world. I am so excited that she got the job she wanted!
The following morning (10/5), we woke up pretty early to head to the Port of Airlie to go on our trip. We were taking a Cruise Whitsundays boat out to the Great Barrier Reef. I was so excited for my parents to witness how gorgeous the reef was, since snorkelling it in Cairns was my favourite experience of Australia.
The water was crystal clear and so gorgeous.
I am so blessed that my parents were here sharing this opportunity with me.
Some of the many islands of the Whitsundays.
The Great Barrier Reef
Mom wasn't feeling too well, and wasn't too keen to scuba dive, but I really wanted too since I figured it may be my only chance to scuba the reef. She decided that it was a great opportunity too, and although she was stuffy with a lot of pressure built up in her head, she wanted to scuba with me and experience it. She had the chance to scuba before, but this was my first time. What better place to scuba than the Great Barrier Reef in Australia?!
While we were scuba diving, Daddy was snorkelling. He said that he was looking for Mom and I, and saw me holding the Go Pro and snorkelled right above where we were scuba diving! He saw us and followed us the whole time, but we never looked up, so we didn't see him :(
I am honestly so glad that I decided to scuba dive. It was such a fun experience, and I am now addicted to scuba diving. I am hoping to scuba dive in Fiji when I go.
After diving, I put my snorkel gear on and went to snorkel with Daddy!
After snorkelling for a bit, we enjoyed a delicious buffet style lunch on the boat and relaxed for a bit. Since I think I was a mermaid in my past life, I couldn't stay out of the water for too long, and had to jump right back in to snorkel. I love the water, and I love the Reef. It is just such an amazing opportunity, and I have to take full advantage of it. After snorkelling for a bit, it was almost time to go, but there was one more scuba session. I was joking around with one of the dive instructors, and asked if he had two more tanks because mom and I wanted to go again. We really were just joking, and didn't think they would let us, but they ended up having extra tanks and let us dive a second time! Oh my gosh! I was so excited and so happy to be scuba diving again. It was so fun!
The Great Barrier Reef is just such an amazing experience. I cannot say it enough how thankful I am that my parents were able to come to Australia both to visit me and travel.
10/6- My 20th Birthday!
Well, I messed up a bit while booking the trips.. I had trouble with the one website, and it ended up being that I booked both the Great Barrier Reef trip and Ocean Rafting on the same day (Sunday), and did not have anything planned for Monday, oops! Because it was the school holidays, and everyone was traveling and on vacation, I was unable to switch the trips to make both work. So I ended up having to cancel the Ocean Rafting trip which we were upset about, because it was a speed boat out to the reef. I felt so bad for messing that up. Luckily, once we got to the hotel, they were able to arrange us a different trip, a sailing boat to Whitehaven Beach.
During our trip to Whitehaven Beach, we stopped at a Reef to snorkel. I kept telling the crew that I wanted to see a turtle, and asked everyone to look out for a sea turtle for me. They were my absolute favourite things last time I was at the Reef. All I did all day when I swam in the Reef in Cairns was just follow the sea turtles to wherever they took me. I don't know why, but I just love turtles.
Unfortunately, I did not see any sea turtles this time, but I was able to snorkel and see the colourful coral. Mom and Dad were laughing because they kept saying that they were trying to get me, but I was just underwater the entire time. I love being underwater, checking out the Reef.
Finally we made it to Whitehaven Beach. I could not even begin to believe how stunning this beach was. What an amazing way to spend my birthday.
I am so glad that my parents were enjoying this just as much as I was.
Daddy and I swimming in the crystal clear waters of Whitehaven Beach.
The three of us just loving every second of it.
Mommy & I
My parents are so cute! I am so glad that they are enjoying this as much as I am.
Check out how stunning the beach is.
Such an amazing day spent with my parents.
I am so blessed to have such amazing and supportive parents.
On our way back to the Port of Airlie, the one crew member promised me that I would see a turtle, and I didn't so I was pretty upset. I went up to him and said that I never saw one, and he told me the day still wasn't over yet. When we were pulling up to where we dock, the crew members had the entire boat sing happy birthday to me, and then they gave me a little present. They gave me a coozy, chapstick, a cookie, and a stuffed animal turtle!!!!! I was so excited! I named the turtle Camira after the sailboat. I was so thankful for the crew members and my parents for helping me have an amazing 20th birthday!
Because it was my birthday, and opals are my birthstone and the Australian stone, I decided to treat myself to both a ring and a necklace. Although they were expensive, I knew that this was something that I would cherish and appreciate throughout my life. Not only are they my birthstone, but these are real opals from Australia.
Sadly, this amazing trip had to come to an end, even though myself and my parents didn't want it to. I wish I could have stayed in Airlie forever, because it was so beautiful. Unfortunately, it was time to part ways with my parents. I could not believe how quickly the time I spent with them flew by. On Tuesday morning (10/7), I caught a bus back to Townsville, and they took a ferry to one of the islands of the Whitsundays, then took a flight to Cairns to further their travels. I had such an amazing time with them while they were here. Again, I am so thankful that they were able to come visit me. I am so glad that I was able to meet them in Melbourne to explore with them, show them around Townsville and Magnetic Island, and end the week with the amazing Airlie Beach.
Thank you mom and dad for spending the time and money to come see me and share these memories with me.
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