Great Barrier Reef Luxury Expedition Cruise cabin booking 7 days 6 night

Great Barrier Reef Luxury Expedition Cruise cabin booking 7 days 6 night

The Great Barrier Reef is the largest & most diverse eco system in the world. It is the world’s largest Marine Reserve, about half the size of Texas. The Reef is visible from outer space appearing as a thin white line along the Queensland coast. Within the Reserve are more than 10% of the world's species of marine fish, over four thousand species of hard & soft corals and six of the world’s seven species of turtles. Giant Humpback Whales migrate to its warm crystal clear waterways every year to give birth to their babies

John & Lynne Boyce are your key to discovering Australia’s most treasured water wonderland. Lynne has been invited by the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority to become a Master Reef Guide and she has published “Gourmet Sailing..Delicious Dining on the Great Barrier Reef”, a cook book detailing the meals they serve. The duo have been exploring the Reserve for more than 30 years & they look forward to sharing their knowledge and experience

Itinerary

Day 1: Sail to Cid Harbour

Stop At: Hamilton Island Marina, Front St, 4803 Australia
Depart Hamilton Island Marina & sail to Cid Harbour, a magnificent calm anchorage on the western side of Whitsunday Island. The crew will take you ashore for a bushwalk through dense rain forest from Sawmill Beach to Dugong Beach. This is a one way walk because the crew will pick you up at the second beach.
Duration: 4 hours

Meals included:
• Dinner: Grilled Atlantic Salmon on a warm salad of vegitables with tomato salsa & almand and basil pesto.
Accommodation included: Your choice of Master Stateroom or the smaller Forward Stateroom, both with ensuite bathroom. Description detailed later

Day 2: a leisurely cruise to Langford Reef for snorkelling and reef walking.

Stop At: Whitsunday Passage, Australia
At this location as the tide abates, a massive drying reef joining two islands and a sand spit is revealed. Those wanting to take advantage of Lynne’s expertise in nature will be guided around the reef before we all enjoy a superb lunch on the aft deck next to this coral cay. Turtles are often seen at this location both in the water and those that have been stranded on the reef at low tide.
Duration: 3 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast: Each morning Captain John will prepare an amazing "Breakfast Bar". The menu is detailed in subsequent discriptions
• Lunch: Spicy Asian Beef Salad. Lynne has published a cook book entitled "Gourmet Sailing...." which is available on line.
• Dinner: Barbequed King Prawns Peri Peri served with wild rice & salad. All meals served are detailed in Lynne's cook book
Accommodation included: The master Stateroom is 4 metres wide with a huge double bed (2 metres long & 1.8 metres wide), a settee and TV with DVD

Day 3: Blue Pearl Bay on Hayman Island

Stop At: Hayman Island QLD 4801, Australia
A gentle 20 knot south east wind blows today, so we head out into the Whitsunday passage for an exhilarating sail. Lunch is served while under sail and we arrive at Blue Pearl Bay on Hayman Island to snorkel over the wonderful coral reef.
Duration: 3 hours

Stop At: Hayman Island QLD 4801, Australia
For the first time we see the underwater world through the large glass bottom of the dive tender “Sundance Kid”. John steers us skilfully over the crystal clear water and colourful corals, whilst Lynne explains the names of the numerous fish and corals, before we excitedly leap overboard to take an even closer look!!
Duration: 2 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast: Cereal, muslie, yoghurt and freshfruit platter. Toast with variety of jams. Plunger coffee, variety of teas & juices
• Lunch: Corn Fed Chicken Breast with macadamia dressing and mango salsa served with avocado & sugar snap peas
• Dinner: Asian inspired Glazed Duck Breast served with green vegitables. View Lynne's cook book on line to discover the delights
Accommodation included: The Forward Stateroom is 2.6 metres wide with a double bed 1.9 metres long and 1.5 metres wide

Day 4: Butterfly Bay and Manta Ray Bay

Stop At: Whitsunday Islands, Southern tip of the Great Barrier Reef, Queensland Australia
On arrival, we dinghy ashore for a stroll amongst the dense tropical foliage and thick canopy of native trees behind a white coral beach to see thousands of butterflies which fascinate our guests…and yet another snorkel for those inclined over exceptionally colourful corals. Lunch is served on the aft deck in this stunningly beautiful bay.
Duration: 3 hours

Stop At: Whitsunday Islands, Southern tip of the Great Barrier Reef, Queensland Australia
we visit Manta Ray Bay where the corals are spectacular and hundreds of fish are so friendly that they gather around under our glass bottomed boat on arrival to welcome us. We watch with excitement when “Albert”, the friendly resident Maori Wrasse (over 1 metre long) stares up at us through the glass bottom, together with hundreds of Sergeant Majors, Fusiliers, Moon Wrasse and many other extremely colourful fish.
Duration: 2 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast: Guests must complete a questionnaire indicating food preferences & alergies. No shops are available after departure
• Lunch: Marinated Ocean Trout with kipfler potatoes and salmon caviar
• Dinner: Veal and Pork Lasagne served with a green salad
Accommodation included: Both Staterooms have adequate draws in which guests can store their belongings and a wardrobe to hang their cloths

Day 5: Bait Reef on the Outer Great Barrier Reef

Stop At: Heart Reef, Great Barrier Reef Marine Park, Airlie Beach, Queensland 4802 Australia
we will sail to Bait Reef, which lies on the Outer Reef, and is about three hours from Manta Ray Bay. Our guests relax under sail comfortably either lying on the air bed or on the inflatable armchairs, occasionally looking up to see if there are whales leaping out of the water or dolphins swimming at the bow.
Duration: 1 day

Stop At: Whitsunday Passage, Australia
we see humpback whales (mother & calf) & the mother is teaching her calf how to leap out of the water. It is an awesome experience to be so close and we feel privileged to watch nature at its’ best! Some guests love to learn navigation and are ably assisted in lessons from the Captain! On arrival at Bait Reef (in the middle of an open ocean) we proceed through an opening between the coral boulders into a perfectly protected lagoon. The water turns from deep blue to bright turquoise as we move to a mooring in shallower waters.
Duration: 1 day

Meals included:
• Breakfast: Everyone remarks that Captain John's "Breakfast Bar" is a great way to start the day.
• Lunch: Spiced Lamb Fillets with Quinoa salad
• Dinner: Squid Ink Linguine with Scalops & Prawns
Accommodation included: There is limited opportunity to store luggage in the forward stateroom

Day 6: Whitehaven Beach and Hill Inlet

Stop At: Whitehaven Beach, 4802 Australia
TripAdvisor has rated this beach to be amongthe ten best beaches in the world
Duration: 3 hours

Stop At: Hill Inlet Hill Inlet Whitsunday Island National Park Whitehaven Beach, 4802 Australia
One of the most photographed views in Australia, a must for all visitors.
Duration: 2 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch: Saffron Angel Hair Pasta with Smoked Ocean Trout, leeks and mascarpone wrapped with Smoked Ocean Trout

• Dinner: Seared marinated Asian inspired grass fed Beef Eye Fillet with roasted sweet potatoes and sugar snap peas

Accommodation included: Your last night aboard

Day 7: a sad farewell

Pass By: Whitsunday Passage, Australia
We will return to Hamilton Island around 10 am or earlier if any guests are on an early flight

Meals included:
• Breakfast: When viewing Lynne's cook book on line be sure to eat beforehand lest you become instantly ravenous
No accommodation included on this day.