Hamilton Island (or the water baby)

I am now backtracking to the holiday at Hamilton Island. To recap, it was not tropical, but cool and rainy and squally - however cool is relative. It was a lot warmer than wintery Sydney or Melbourne. Paul had to work most days - finally having a break on the last full day and the day we flew out. It was a great break away, without all the housework and routine. It was also great to see Grant & Andrea and the kids and Gael & Jay.

I attach a few photos from Hamilton Island. The one bedroom unit where we stayed was great and pretty baby friendly. Not much for a baby to get into, cane furniture which didn't have any sharp edges and great mirrored wardrobe doors, which David really liked (see photo). Not sure if he is in love with himself, or that other great looking baby. They supplied a portacot, which was fine once we softened the mattress somewhat and a great high chair (see photo of David enjoying pumpkin & sweet corn). Transportation is by way of golf buggy. As we were staying in a unit away from the resort and settlement and up a goat like hill, we were supplied with a buggy. We carried David in the Baby Bjorn - mostly me - with someone else driving. Great fun bombing around at extremely low speed in the buggy.

There was a balcony, which had a balustrade which was David friendly, and a brushtailed possum who paid nightly visits to the balcony to see if we had left any food out (we hadn't). One evening we went up to One Tree Hill, the highest point on the Island to have a cocktail as the sun was setting. In between showers, the sun shone (see photo of David and me in the rotunda). Spectacular watching the rain approach from the ajoining island and move over and out to the next island - there are 74 islands in the Whitsundays group.

David had a very runny nose for the early part of the stay - but didn't develop a cold, so it may have been hayfever or an allergy. It started to warm up as we were about to leave. So on Tuesday I took him for a swim in the main pool at the resort. He loved it, despite the water being a bit cool. He only cried when we took him out. So on the last day, Wednesday, we took him for a swim again. Same thing- loved it and only cried (a lot) when we took him out. So Daddy jumped in and gave him a second swim (see photo). We then got cleaned up and went and caught the plane back to Sydney.

A week was definitely enough, as there is not really a lot to do, other than swim and laze around, and not a lot when it is raining. Gael did some bush walks, but not possible with a pram or Baby Bjorn. There is no shopping to speak of, and the food gets a bit repetitive. Due to the very big tidal range, the beach and watersports are only really operative at high tide, for about 3 hours a day. The watersports in the afternoon were cancelled on the weekend, due to the squally weather, so that didn't give us much options. After Sunday, the tides meant watersports were from 9.30 to 11.00 am. Genuinely friendly staff all over the island meant it was all very pleasant.