Ocean Rafting took me on the ride of my life to see the top snorkel spots on the southern Great Barrier Reef off Hook Island, Hill Inlet lookout, Hill Inlet Beaches, and Whitehaven Beach. My Northern Exposure day trip to the Whitsundays was well worth waiting out the storm in Airlie Beach to see these turquoise wonders. The Whitsunday Islands is one of my favorite places in Australia thus far. Hill Inlet Beach and Whitehaven beach might be two of the best beaches I have ever seen, and that says a lot because I’ve been to a lot of beaches. Whitehaven beach is said to be one of the world’s best beaches and in the top 10. I would have to agree.

In just one day, I had the opportunity to ride in one of the fastest boats that visits the Whitsundays, snorkel, do a bush walk, visit two beaches, swim, and enjoy a beautiful tropical buffet on the beach. With 25 knot winds after the storm the waves were over 4 meters high and we had an exhilarating and wild boat ride around the islands. The boat trip alone was like an amusement park ride. There were times when I was thrown a foot in the air after hitting a huge wave at our fast speeds. With my hair blowing in the wind and the salt spray refreshing my hot skin I couldn’t imagine being anywhere else. It is no wonder why the staff of Ocean Rafting love their job so much.

The Ocean Rafting team went above and beyond my expectations for a tour company. They were energetic, informative, and accommodating. They made sure we all had an amazing day. We were told when we left Airlie Beach that there would be no guarantee what the weather would be like, water conditions, visibility, or beaches as the storm just passed through Airlie Beach just 4 days prior, yet the weather was perfect. We were the first ones to go out to the Whitsunday Islands after 4 days of boat trips being cancelled. Although the snorkeling conditions could have been better, I still saw fish and coral varieties I had not seen before, including turquoise clams. Not to mention, I was able to get the best views of the beaches since it was a clear sunny day.

It was also my first time wearing a stinger suit in Australia due to the risk of encountering a deadly jellyfish. North of Rainbow Beach the waters start getting a bit more dangerous with the risk of deadly jellyfish known in the area like the box jellyfish for example. I didn’t mind wearing my spandex stinger suit, I almost felt like a  super hero wearing it while in the water. Some people chose to not wear a stinger suit and go in the water without one, but I wasn’t willing to take that risk. Just my luck I’d one of the few people to be stung by one of the deadly ones and die. Needless to say, I kept my stinger suit on.

I am still awe struck by the views I saw around the Whitsunday Islands. It truly is a pristine paradise and one of the most beautiful places in the world. If you run out of time like me, or don’t have enough time to do a sailing trip to the Whitsundays then be sure to do a day trip with Ocean Rafting. You will not be disappointed.