The Great Barrier Reef is the largest tropical coral reef system in the world. At around 2,300 kilometers long it is almost 10 times the size of the Belize Barrier Reef. At 348,000 square kilometers, the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park is the largest World Heritage Area and the biggest tropical marine reserve. Lets put that in perspective, it is about the size of 70 million football fields or roughly the same size as Japan or approximately half the size of Texas. Within the Marine Park there are 1500 of the world’s 13000 species of marine fish (that’s more than 10%), 360 species of hard corals, 600 species of echinoderms (starfish, sea urchins & sea cucumbers), 500 species of seaweed, 6 of the world’s 7 species of marine turtles, 200 species of birds, 14,000 dugongs (also known as the endangered species Manatee).
I am John Boyce and together with my wife Lynne (you can see our photograph when you click on “view this supplier profile” at the top of this page), we would love to welcome you aboard our "floating home" and personally introduce you to the wonders of the Whitsunday’s (The Most Magical Location in the Whole Great Barrier Reef Marine Park because so many of the previously described features of the Marine Park are so easy to experience simply by jumping off the dive platform at the back of our yacht). We have over 22 years experience in guiding our guests on the uninhabited islands, in the intertidal zone and under the water in this Water Wonderland.
The Islands used to be part of Mainland Australia but became separated when the sea level rose after the last ice age, so they have much of the native flora and fauna seen on the mainland. When Lynne and I guide our guests on bush walking excursions on these Islands to visit places of remarkable natural beauty, we can appreciate much of the Australian wilderness experience including Aboriginal caves complete with ancient paintings dating from before the discovery of the area by Captain Cook in 1770.
On reef walking expeditions in the intertidal zone, when the drying reefs are exposed at low tide, Lynne's 30 years experience as a conchologist is invaluable because she is able to locate the cleverly disguised reef dwellers. Her knowledge is so extensive that she can identify them by their Latin name and inform our guests of their life cycle and interaction in their environment. Her experience in this aspect of our excursions is remarkable, she has even found a shell that has never been seen before and will be named after her! Our guests find the few hours spent on these drying reefs absolutely fascinating, and without an experienced guide, the novice explorer, would miss 98% of what there is to see and experience, because the reef dwellers use disguise as their natural protection.
Wonderful waterways are what the Whitsunday's is all about, and this is where our experience really counts. We can guide our guests to locations, where entering the magical world of colorful coral gardens is as close as just jumping off the back of our boat. Here you will be accompanied by so many colorful, friendly fish that it is like swimming in your own aquarium. We will take you to places where these fish will eat right out of your hand and will swim up to your mask to look you right in the eye as if to say "Welcome to my world"! We offer free tuition to those who have not snorkeled before and (being scuba divers) we can "buddy" up with any qualified diver who does not have a buddy and guide them to the best locations underwater.
World famous film Producer/Director and Oscar nominee, Greg MacGillivray, wrote: “In producing our documentaries, we have visited some of the most remote and remarkable locations on earth, (highest mountain for “Everest” and deep in the ocean for “The Living Sea”), where we have been able to experience truly pristine environments. While enjoying our cruise with you as our guides, taking us to more (by comparison) accessible locations, we were surprised by the high quality of marine life encountered. The colorful coral gardens and the multitude of friendly fish that you introduced us to, really impresses us, as did your ability to produce mouth watering meals in such magical locations. We will certainly be “singing your praises” back home, as we look forward to another opportunity to share this unique experience with you”.
Weather Warning: There will be, no doubt, a great many who want to escape from the cold Northern Hemisphere winter to visit Australia in our Summer, BUT this is our "Cyclone Season" which extends from November to May. Since 1860 Tropical Cyclones ("TC") have caused more than 750 deaths and have sunk or wrecked more than 250 boats! In 1974 TC "Tracy” hit Darwin causing so much damage that the entire city was evacuated! In 1996, TC "Celeste" was responsible for considerable damage in the Whitsunday's. Many people were evacuated from boats (at their own expense) and accommodated on land (also at their own expense). In March 1997, TC Justin (an usually large & persistent cyclone threatened hundreds of kilometers of coastline from Cairns (north of the Whitsunday’s) to Mackay (south of Whitsunday’s). Seas in excess of 5 meters (15 feet) were recorded in the Whitsunday area. These extreme Weather phenomenon occur during November to May and this season is characterised by so many wet days that the locals simply refer to it as “The Wet”! The local Tourism Bureau refers to this as the "Green Season" in an attempt to disguise “The Wet”, and encourage tourists to the area all year. Astute travelers will realise that for things to be "Green", requires water (lots and lots of it)! We know of some who chose this season and had heavy rain for 7 days (they regarded their holiday as a “total wash-out").
An even greater problem for the traveler, who wants to experience the best under-water, is the prevailing wind direction, which at this time is from the north and east. This means that most of the best locations for snorkelling and scuba diving are not accessible! However, by far the most important consideration on choosing when to visit the area is the occurrence of Irukandji and Box jellyfish, so I have copied an article with the headline: "It’s the size of a peanut, and its sting can kill", published in the Sydney Morning Herald on 20th April 2002 and it appears below:
“It's the size of a peanut, and it's sting can kill
For generations, the Irukandji people of scenic Palm Cove knew of an invisible danger lurking in their waters. A strange sickness sometimes overcame them when they ventured into the sea. They would double up in agony, their pain starting in the lower back and stomach and spreading down their legs. They would shiver uncontrollably, sweat profusely and vomit. Sometimes they were sick for weeks. The Aborigines suspected they had been bitten or stung by something in the water, but they could not find a culprit.
In 1966, Cairns doctor Jack Barnes was determined to solve the mystery. For six days, he lay on the seabed, weighed down with diving gear, watching the water for what he suspected was a tiny, transparent marine creature. His patience was rewarded. He found a tiny jellyfish, its bell measuring just 2.5 centimetres across, trailing four near-invisible tentacles. To test his theory, Dr Barnes brushed the tentacles against his skin. For good measure, he did the same with his son and a lifesaver on the beach. All three ended up in intensive care in Cairns Base Hospital. The doctor was right and the culprit was named in his honour, and in memory of the clan who suffered from it Carukua barnesi, the irukandji jellyfish.
The irukandji's larger and better known relative, the box jellyfish, has killed 67 people in Australia since 1883, the year of the first recorded fatality. Its sting leaves grisly welts on the skin, results in instant pain and can kill within minutes, although most victims survive if help is at hand. By contrast, the irukandji sting leaves a barely discernible rash. It has been likened to prickly heat and there is no immediate pain, the symptoms taking between 20 and 30 minutes to begin. It was thought to be little more than a painful irritant until Richard Jordon, a 58-year-old British tourist, was stung while swimming near Hamilton Island in January 2002. He died several days later without regaining consciousness, becoming the first known human fatality from the peanut-sized jellyfish.
Another snorkeller in the Whitsundays, French tourist Robert Gonzalez, 34, was rushed to hospital soon after. ``My legs were shaking and I was like butter," the recovering Mr Gonzalez said. Mr Jordon was known to have had a heart condition, leading experts to consider his death an unfortunate fluke. Then, last Monday, 44-year-old American tourist Robert King died after brushing against an irukandji. Mr King was stung over the Easter break on Opal Reef, off Port Douglas. Unlike Mr Jordon, he had no pre-existing medical condition and was healthy and fit. Both men suffered greatly elevated blood pressure, which led to brain hemorrhage.
Authorities have long considered the irukandji a possible killer, and suspect the two tourists are not the first fatalities. They say symptoms of irukandji syndrome resemble those of decompression, a stroke and other conditions that in the past may have been wrongly cited as causes of death. The deaths of two foreign tourists in quick succession has given north Queensland the kind of publicity it could do without. Peter Fenner, national medical officer with Surf Lifesaving Australia's, has been interviewed by, among others, The New York Times and the BBC. He operates a research project on the irukandji that depends on private funding. We have been warning authorities for years about the possible consequences for tourism, but it has fallen on deaf ears. We don't know where these animals go, what preys on them; we know almost nothing about them," he says.
What is known is that irukandji can slip through stinger nets and do not appear to be restricted to coastal waters, like the box jellyfish. During the stinger season between October and May they can be found anywhere in the wide arc of northern Australian waters between Exmouth in Western Australia and Gladstone in Queensland. The term irukandji is also used to refer to a group of up to 10 related jellyfish species, of which two or three may be fatal. The jellyfish that stung Mr King is believed to be a species previously unknown to science.
This season has seen an unusually large number of irukandji stings in the country's top tourist destinations: 50 in the Whitsundays, 10 on Great Keppel Island and 10 on Magnetic Island. About 140 people have sought treatment for irukandji stings, more than three times the average.”
Author: Greg Roberts
Many people are not aware of the danger and adverse weather conditions that can occur in the tropics between November and May! You may also remember from your childhood geography lessons that there are only two seasons the tropics: the hot wet season and the warm dry season (instead of Spring, Summer, Autumn & Winter). During summer in the tropics (the hot wet season), there is also a very high "discomfort factor" associated with very high temperatures and very high humidity (especially for guests who have just arrived from mid winter)!
We have chosen our operating schedule carefully to avoid danger and to maximise our guest’s comfort and experience. By restricting our holidays to the warm dry season, we have had a total of 25 wet days (over the last 16 years) and we have been able to personally guide our guests to experience some of the best The Great Barrier Reef has to offer. We prefer to (safely) offer our "Adventures in Paradise" during the Warm, Dry months of June to October. Our season just happen to coincide with the period that the giant Humpback whales are in the area, so we have regular close encounters with the Giants of the sea. Also, by late in October, the prevailing winds have turned from the South to the North which means that the best bays for snorkeling and scuba diving are inaccessible (almost all the spectacular corals are on the northern side of the islands or reefs, where it is not possible anchor when the northerly wind is directing large waves to these locations).
We offer a "hands on" holiday, where our guests can take the wheel and experience true "big boat" sailing, without having the responsibility of navigating the "tricky" reefs or the drudgery of cooking. The American magazine "Bon Appetite", has written to Lynne requesting one of her recipes for publication in the USA, so you can be assured that the meals you will enjoy aboard will exceed your expectation and surpass much of what is served in well known Sydney restaurants! Our package is quite remarkable, you will enjoy fine, healthy, delicious meals, complimented by an extraordinary fine and varied wine list, set in an amazing environment where one minute you are swimming over magnificent corals or walking on drying reefs (where turtles are often stranded at low tide and at your feet) and the next dining on “Sydney Sundancer’s expansive aft deck in a magnificent bay surrounded by corals and incredible scenery. Award winning restaurateur and gold medal wine grower, Luigi Bazzani wrote: “A wonderful chef, A brilliant skipper. We were willingly enticed into a whole new world and adored every minute”.
We suggest that guests should consider our yacht as their own private floating luxury hotel, located in the middle of the world's largest marine park because it is fully equipped with "play toys" such as floating inflatable chairs, fishing gear, and snorkeling equipment. We Even Have a Glass Bottomed Dive Tender making us the first live aboard sailing vessel in the area to boast such a great facility! At time of writing, we are the only yacht to have a hydrophone (underwater microphone) aboard so you can listen to the magical songs of the Humpback Whales. Our yacht offers so much deck space for relaxing (we are licensed to carry 70 day passengers), that you can just imagine how enjoyable our cruises become when we limit our guests to a maximum of 10. We like to think of our yacht "Sydney Sundancer" as the little sister to the QE2, and indeed previous guests have advised that our level of service for those who want a "do nothing" holiday, is similar!
We conduct 7 day, scheduled departures from Hamilton Island, leaving each Saturday afternoon and do not see civilization for a whole week until our return on Saturday morning. Each night, we anchor our yacht in a different bay, so calm that long stemmed wine glasses are safe! We like to advise that our guests can go snorkeling over magnificent coral gardens accompanied by thousands of friendly fish before breakfast and their day just gets better from there. Our itinerary each day depends on the wind direction and the best place to visit on the day, and is decided upon by the guests and skipper. We know the islands so well, both below and above the water, that you can be sure to see the very best of everything the Great Barrier Reef has to offer.
You will find that our yacht is just perfect for family holidays (private charter only), as it is so spacious, very stable and very safe. We have a wide and sturdy ladder on the aft deck leading to a massive transom (dive platform), which in turn makes getting in and out of the water extremely easy for all ages. It is also very safe and easy to get into our large, stable (because it is a catamaran), glass bottomed dive tender. Not only is this type of holiday wonderful for all ages to enjoy equally but it is an educational holiday with nature too! Lynne is delighted to guide guests onto the drying reefs pointing to amazing creatures which the normal eye would miss. She is always in the water to guide our guests at all times, ensuring all the best corals and fish are observed at close quarters, and to inform guests the names of the fish and corals that they are viewing! John is always nearby in the tender whilst our guests are snorkeling, just in case anyone wants to vacate the water before the others! This also gives confidence to those who are more nervous or not confident about snorkeling.
The private charter rate is A$15,600 for 7 days / nights which includes the meals for 6 guests. Extra guests can be accommodated free of charge but there is a charge of A$55 per person per person per day (to cover the extra food consumed) when the group size is greater than 6 guests (up to 12 max). Similarly, if there is (say) only 5 in your charter group we would deduct A$55 per day for the food content of the guest not on board. If you would like to relieve Lynne and me of all the washing up duties (while still enjoying her fabulous food being expertly prepared), we offer a $50 per person/day discount, and some families use “child labor” for this purpose! It is really not a chore - we have had many guests who paid full price but by mid week wanted to help (but not take the discount). It is just like fully participating in shipboard life! Everything is included in these prices except drinks (a wide selection of fine Australian wines, beer and soft drinks is available at reasonable prices), reef taxes A$25 per person (for the 7 days) and scuba diving (for qualified divers only).
We also offer individual cabin bookings (you can see photographs of each cabin by clicking on “view this supplier profile”, at the top of this page and viewing the slide show), where adult guests can join other adult passengers on the yacht (ie no children will be aboard when we offer individual cabin bookings):
- The master stateroom is located between the engine room and crew quarters, for Lynne and me.
- The forward stateroom (called a stateroom because it too extends the whole width of the ship).
I would just like to mention one more important matter to consider: Hamilton Island was developed after Airlie Beach (the original gateway to the Islands) which has Proserpine as its nearest, but not so local, airport more than half an hour drive by taxi and a lot longer by the local bus. We have decided to establish our base on the island (which has daily flights from most major Australian cities direct to the airport and is less than 5 minutes from our marina berth), rather than the cheaper (for us) alternative on the mainland at Airlie Beach, For our Guests Convenience and Benefit, Not Ours! Once we depart our base at the marina on the island, we are immediately sailing the waterways that are world famous and can quickly enjoy all the activities mentioned above. This is vitally important for guests whose time is short, because the first day of any excursion beginning at Airlie Beach is wasted by sailing from the mainland, as is the last day sailing back to the mainland.
We hope you will allow us to personally introduce you to the "Wonder of the Whitsunday's", where we guarantee that your expectations for your holiday of a lifetime will be exceeded and your dreams come true.
Notes:
Airfare is not included in the tour price.
Prices:
- Master Stateroom: 3 days - $1850, 4 days - $2100, 5 days - $2600, 6 days - $3000, week - $3200
- Forward Stateroom: 3 days - $1500, 4 days - $1750, 5 days - $2100, 6 days - $2500, week - $2700
- Side Double: 3 days - $1200, 4 days - $1450, 5 days - $1700, 6 days - $2000, week - $2200
- Multi Share (not available to couples): 3 days - $800, 4 days - $1000, 5 days - $1200, 6 days - $1400, week - $1500
- Private charter: 3 days - $8,600, 4 days - $10,100, 5 days - $12,000, 6 days - $14,200, week - $15,600
Notes:
- Guests who are unable to join a cruise for the whole 7 nights will be responsible for the cost (can be quite expensive) of water taxi to / from the yachts location on day of arrival / departure.
- Private yacht charter is the discounted sum of the three private double cabins (i.e. excludes multi share cabin). Extra guests (up to 4) may be accommodated free of charge, however there is a charge of A$55 per person per day for meals for those guests.
Also see tour packages in:
Australia and Oceania
Australia
Outdoor: Water Drifter
Boating and Sailing
Snorkeling
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