Stay, Play Explore Blog

Tune in to our regular blog bringing you the hidden gems of the Whitsundays. From restaurants to shopping, from the best beaches to stunning bush walks, we bring you all the inside local knowledge in our regular blog.

If you like our content, share to your social pages, comment on the blog or contact us to let us know what you want to see more of.

Make sure you tag your social posts, when exploring our region with #lovewhitsundays #abellpointmarina #stayplayexplore

Outdoor Health & Fitness Classes at Abell Point Marina

February 19, 2019

With the new year we took on a resolution to be more health and wellness conscious at Abell Point Marina by offering outdoor fitness classes to be enjoyed by not only our marina guests, but also the local community of the Whitsundays. Providing outdoor classes in the beautiful marina facilities has, over the last month, become popular with locals and travellers a like. Here is what is currently on offer;

Sunset Yoga

Enjoy an evening of relaxing, outdoor yoga with the teachers from Vartamana Yoga & Spa as you watch the sunset over the marina. BYO mat, towel and water bottle, all levels are welcome and each session is $5 for an hour class.
Join the Facebook event to contact the facilitators.

Pilates

Held on the Lure balcony, overlooking the marina, Pilates by Lynda is a mat-based class aimed at conditioning the deeper, supporting muscles of your body to improve posture, balance and coordination. Enjoy the community atmosphere of these 45 minute classes running at 7am and 8am every Sunday. BYO mat and $5 to attend and make the most of the location by enjoying a healthy smoothie or breakfast after your Sunday workout at the popular Bohemian Raw Cafe located underneath Lure.
Join the Facebook event to contact the facilitators.

Boxing Classes

Facilitated by A FIT LIFE by Tonya, group boxing for fitness classes are offered every Tuesday at 5.45pm on the grassed area overlooking the southern end of the marina. With all boxing equipment supplied you only need to bring a towel, a water bottle and a positive attitude to join this fun, outdoor fitness class. No bookings are required, and the classes are $7 casual or a $10 pass for $60.
Join the Facebook event to contact the facilitators.

For any changes to these classes check in with the relevant Facebook event page and contact the facilitators directly.

Whitsunday Waterfalls

February 11, 2019

The Whitsundays are known for their 74 islands, fringing coral reefs and the swirling sands of Hill Inlet and Whitehaven beach. But during the wet season which is between December and March, the islands offer a new attraction and these are the freshwater falls that spring to life after a deluge of rain.

After a downpour you will see water cascading over rocks all over the islands. In some of the more popular anchorages you can find some pretty impressive rock pools and waterfalls, creating a whole new experience to your Whitsunday island adventure.

Nara Inlet Waterfall

Located in one of the most sheltered anchorages in the Whitsundays, Nara Inlet on Hook Island boasts a pretty impressive waterfall in the wet season. Travel to the end of the inlet, past the Ngaro Walking Trail to indigenous cave paintings, and you will find a waterfall cascading into the inlet. Just a short climb up you will find a few small rock pools, that are perfect to take a dip in.

Check out this Facebook video of the Nara Inlet Waterfall from Vincet Legault

Stonehaven Waterfall

Another popular anchorage on Hook Island is Stonehaven Bay. Just inside the southern tip of anchor point you will find one of the larger waterfalls in the Whitsundays. Often heard before it is seen the fresh water falls down the rocks in the crevice of the island creating a plethora of waterfalls and rock pools as you climb up. Please note there is no dedicated path and to tread carefully if climbing up the falls.

Check out this video of the Stonehaven waterfall by The Sailing Yogi

Luncheon Bay Waterfall

While not as impressive as the Nara or Stonehaven waterfalls, you can find a little waterfall in luncheon bay on Hook Island. This small fall (which could more adequately be described as an impressive natural freshwater shower) drops into a small, spa-like, rock pool that can comfortable fit two seated adults.

Cedar Creek Waterfall

This popular local destination located in the Conway Ranges on the Whitsunday mainland is accessible by car. From Conway Road follow the signs and turn onto Saltwater Creek Road. Note that the entrance to the falls can sometimes flood due to a low lying creek. The biggest waterfall in the Whitsundays with largest swimming hole set amongst a beautiful sub-tropical rainforest full of birds, lizards, turtles and small fish. To the right of the falls is a little un-official track that you can follow to the top to enjoy the rock pools above. Please note that jumping off the falls is strictly prohibited.

We would love to see any of your Whitsunday waterfall adventures. You can do this by tagging @abellpointmarina in any social media images and using the #stayplayexplore hashtag. We also recommend taking insect repellent on all your waterfall adventures as with the rain the mosquitos like to come out and play too.

WetSunday Week

February 6, 2019

With record rainfall levels across the state in the last 7 days, the Whitsundays community launched its own campaign to counteract the sensationalist media reporting supporting the rain event. Local businesses and community groups got together throughout the week to show how wonderful the region can be in the wet season.

From a community ‘walk in the rain’ (note: no rain jackets or umbrellas allowed) to it raining Pina Coladas on Friday, the Whitsunday community gave visitors and locals alike some great events to get involved with.

The natural beauty of the region has also taken centre stage across Instagram in the last week with images of lush rainforest, cascading waterfalls and locals and visitors frolicking in the rain!

WetSunday Week Instagram — Image credits on photos. Source – Instagram

For those who are currently staying with us at the marina, here’s our 5 top tips for keeping busy during the wet:

Become a book worm. Head to Ocean Club and pick up a good book from the book swap. Make a fresh pot of coffee and settle down for an afternoon of reading indulgence.
Walk in the rain. Get the wet weather gear on and head to the Airlie Creek walk at the back of Airlie Beach. It will take approximately 1.5 hours from the marina to the summit and back. The creek itself is raging and the rainforest lush and green. Enjoy a warm shower in our private amenities on your return!
Enjoy a long lunch. Sorrentos Bar & Restaurant in the north village has a huge undercover balcony and serves lunch 7 days a week. Pull up a stool, order a delicious lunch and sit back and enjoy the rain show!
Go to the movies. A drive to Bowen on a rainy day isn’t too bad and the Summergardens Cinema at Queen’s Beach shows great new releases in quaint classics movies theatres. Give it a try!
They say spring is the time for cleaning, but rainy days can be perfect to. Empty those cupboards, clean the bilges, or rearrange lockers whilst the weather is wet, you will be grateful you did when it dries again!

It is important to remember that summer in the tropics is the wet season and our ecosystems rely on this rain to regenerate and survive during the cooler dry months of the winter. Enjoy the rain while we have it!

Do you love to paddle?

December 31, 2018

A study by the Boating Industry Association showed that in 2018 there were more than 900,000 paddle craft currently being used in Australia, which shows paddling is fast becoming and very popular pass time.

Both stand-up paddle boarding and kayaking are great ways to keep fit, as well as offering a unique way to explore the waterways of the Whitsundays. Spotting turtles and manta rays, enjoying the cool sea breeze and getting out on the water make a SUP or Kayak the perfect way to experience a mini Whitsunday adventure.

Long Term Hire

If you are heading out on your boat and are looking to hire a SUP or kayak to take with you, Whitsunday SUP offer a long term hire option of $50 per day dropped off and collected from your boat at Abell Point Marina.

Short Term Hire

The Shingley Beach precinct adjacent to the marina is very popular with paddlers. Any given afternoon the view from the deck of Ocean Club (our customer lounge) is energetic tourist embarking on an afternoon paddle mission! For those on holidays, Whitsunday SUP operate from Shingley Beach daily and have a range of craft available for hire for an hour or two. The same service is offered from the small beach adjacent to the Airlie Beach Lagoon precinct.

SUP Yoga

For all the yogis among you, SUP Yoga is held regularly at Shingley Beach. Very popular with locals, all are welcome and the details of the SUP Yoga classes are regularly updated on the Whitsunday Stand Up Paddle Facebook page.

SUP/ Kayak Storage

Due to the increasing popularity of paddling, we are looking into the feasibility of developing an on-water storage facility for this type of craft. If you are a SUP/ Kayak owner who may be interested in such a storage facility, we would love to hear from you. Please click here to complete our no obligation survey.

If you have never tried either SUP or a kayak, we highly recommend it. Tick it off the bucket list and get out on the water!

Discover Proserpine in 2019

December 24, 2018

Heritage Heart of the Whitsundays, Proserpine is ready for a big 2019!

Kicking off the new year right is Whitsunday Gold – Australia’s largest coffee plantation is coming back bigger and better than ever! After extensive refurbishment and redevelopment Whitsunday Gold will be opening its doors and welcoming you back.
At Whitsunday Gold you’ll get to see the whole coffee process, from bean to roast to grind to cup. The site will house one of the biggest under indoor children’s play areas in the Whitsunday region. A much-welcomed child-friendly feature for those looking for amazing coffee and delicious food, a place to catch up with friends and family (while the kids safely run free).

Lake Proserpine, The Whitsundays Barramundi haven is set for a huge infrastructure development in 2019 through its redevelopment we’ll see a new recreation center with exciting water sports features, new accessible jetties, camping facilities right near the lake, and if you’re more for the ‘glamping’ new cabins are being created. Make sure to give our friends at Barra World a call, they’ll make sure you’re fishing all the good holes at Lake Proserpine.

Another welcomed feature during these gloriously hot summer days has been the new Water Park on Anzac Street. The Proserpine Water Park is free community initiative, a cooling off hub for the little ones to splash and enjoy.

A stroll down Proserpine Main Street is not only about sighting some of the most exceptional art deco buildings, but also a place to find some charming boutique shopping. Favourites of Abell Point Marina are Ginger & Blonde Co, Cherry Baby Boutique, Epicure Homewares and Colour Me Crazy – you will be sure to find a gem in one of this locally owned and operated stores.

Operating from Proserpine is The Crocodile Safari, an Advanced Eco Certified tour, nowhere else in Queensland can you experience so much in one location. The Whitsunday Crocodile Safari offers guests a glimpse of our most prehistoric a truly unique Australian animal.

The always informative Proserpine Historical Museum, a wealth of local knowledge dating back to when our indigenous ancestors owned the land, to when the white settlement started in our area.

Whatever your interests, take a day off the water and head to Proserpine and explore our Whitsunday coast hinterland.

New Jetski tours available in the Whitsundays

November 26, 2018

Whitsunday Jetski Tours operating from Abell Point Marina have introduced two new incredible tours to excite and delight visitors to the region. Guests can ride the latest model Sea-Doo jetski into the beautiful world heritage Whitsunday Island Marine Park.

The two new tours, which must be tried are:

Jetski to Paradise, a jetski adventure visiting exclusive Paradise Cove Resort

This fantastic new tour will satisfy your thirst for adventure jetsking away from the crowds to the very exclusive mainland resort of Paradise Cove. Enjoy a cool drink and a tropical brunch before spoiling yourself in the resort pool, go for a paddle board or just relax. Once invigorated, prepare to hang on as the adventure reignites on the return journey.

Time: 8.00am – 12.00pm
Tour Duration: Approximately 3 hours

Ultimate Island Trek, an epic jetski journey to the island oasis of Palm Bay Resort

Solo riders will love this epic adventure as you journey to the island oasis of Palm Bay Resort. Enjoy a beautiful poolside lunch including woodfired pizzas, salads and chips. Relax with a drink, take a dip in the pool or chill on the beach, before the thrills are amplified on the return journey, delivering more scenic splendour exploring numerous islands and resorts as you conquer the ultimate 70km trek.

Time: 11.30am – 4.30pm
Tour Duration: Approximately 4 hours

No licence require and no experience neccessary. For bookings, head to the Whitsunday Jetski Tour website. Gift cards also available, making the perfect Christmas gift for a loved one!