whitehaven beach:

Are you ready for an aqua-colour overload? 

Wanting to make the most of our time in the Whitsundays, Andy and I chartered a helicopter to Whitehaven, one of Australia's most famous stretches of beach. 
Located on Whitsunday Island, Whitehaven is famous for its postcard-perfect white silica sand and Hill Inlet (those swirling blues and aquas). You can't beat seeing Whitehaven and the surrounding islands in all their glory from the air (you may know I'm a big fan of a birds-eye view), and you know, it's not everyday you get to fly in a helicopter!

As for the experience, I'll let the photos do the talking... crazy amazing.

Our trip up to Hamilton Island was a gentle reminder of how beautiful Australia really is (I know I really take it for granted, looking at overseas destinations for holidays) and that there is so much to explore and discover right here. We're already planning our next trip up to the Whitsundays, which will hopefully involve some sailing! Can't wait.

Thank you Hamilton Island and qualia for the most amazing weekend!

hill inlet

 

approaching whitsunday island

 

looking north, whitehaven beach

i was loving these patterns created by some little crabs

looking south

our helicopter - i want one!

pas de deux in paradise:

Lana Jones

So continuing on with my posting from our time at qualia on Hamilton Island, I want to share some photos from one of the highlights - the Australian Ballet's pas de deux in paradise, performed by dancers Adam Bull, Amber Scott, Lana Jones and Rudy Hawkes. 
In it's fifth year, the stage was set on Pebble Beach, overlooking the Whitsunday islands, where at dusk we gathered for the much anticipated performance. 
Wow. It was the very first time both Andrew and I had witnessed a live ballet performance and we were left speechless. It's one of those things you really have to experience in the flesh, to really capture the power, emotion and sheer beauty of what you are witnessing. We both have a completely new appreciation for ballet! 
A pas de deux is a dance for two, and we were treated to four performances from pieces After the Rain, Giselle, Manon and Swan Lake. It was just so beautiful, from the exquisite dancing to the setting, and I really hope I have done some justice in trying to capture even just a tiny bit of what we experienced below.
Enjoy.

Next: our helicopter trip to Whitehaven Beach

the stage

my handsome man

us - a big thanks to MM for the pics!

Lana Jone and Rudy Hawkes

Amber Scott and Adam Bull

beautiful

qualia, hamilton island:

looking out over the coral sea from long pavilion

Over the weekend, Andrew and I had an amazing opportunity to fly up to Hamilton Island, in northern Queensland's Whitsunday Islands, and attend the Australian Ballet's performance of pas de deux in paradise at the recently awarded 'world's best resort' (as voted by Condé Nast travellers) - qualia.

Set among native Australian bush, and overlooking the Coral Sea, it really is paradise done the Australian way. Nowhere else on earth can you get palms trees, tropical islands and coral reefs with wallabies, kookaburras and native gum trees! 

From the very moment we both set foot inside the Long pavilion (with our glass of Veuve Clicquot) the whole experience was seamless and breathtaking as we took in our lush surroundings. From the well thought-out architecture, (my dream tropical style by the way) designed by Chris Beckingham, the view and details blew us away. That was just the start. We then arrived at our very own Windward pavilion, complete with our very own horizon pool (and more Veuve). Heaven. 

qualia is a very special destination, and I would highly recommend it for anyone who is after an out-of-this-world experience, where both attention to detail and the overall experience are morphed into one.

Stay tuned for more photos in the next few days including the Australian Ballet's pas de deux in paradise performance, staged at dusk on Pebble beach, with the Whitsundays as a backdrop; and our helicopter trip to famed Whitehaven beach. Amaaaazzzzing!

the pool, by pebble beach

our horizon pool

inside our windward pavilion

just chilling in our pool

the gardens were stunning

down by pebble beach

fossicking

morning

a friendly visitor