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Long
Island
QLD
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Things to see
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Resorts
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Lodges & Chalets
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Long Island (see also South
Long Island)
Quiet and interesting island close
to the mainland in the Whitsunday group.
Geologically the
Whitsunday Islands are all drowned mountains. Prior to the last Ice
Age they were connected to the mainland and would have all been
prominent mountains in the area. The melting of the polar caps
drowned the valleys between the mountains creating a network of 74
islands of which only 7 have resort facilities. Beyond the resorts
the whole area is part of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park and the
uninhabited islands are all controlled by National Parks and
Wildlife.
The first European to explore the area
was Captain James
Cook who travelled through the area on his journey up the eastern
coast of Australia in 1770. He passed through Whitsunday passage, a
narrow channel which lies between the mainland coast, South Molle and
Daydream Islands to the west and Dent, Whitsunday, Hook and Hayman
Islands to the east, on Sunday 4 June which happened to be Whit
Sunday (the seventh Sunday after easter) - hence the name of the
area.
Long Island, with the exception of
Whitsunday Wilderness
Lodge, is regarded as a budget destination. It has a number of
resorts which promote themselves as 'getting away from it all'
locations. For example the Palm Bay Resort proudly announces 'you
won't find loud bands, large groups of people or discotheques.'
Located in a tropical wilderness it promotes its smallness and its
secluded location as its major attractions. Equally Whitsunday
Wilderness Lodge boasts that it is the most secluded resort in the
Whitsundays.
The Crocodile Club (previously known as
Whitsunday 100
and Contiki Resort) is a far cry from the old (and wild) 18-35 year
olds resorts which were famous for their all night dance parties.
The National Park areas of the island
have graded walking
trails to facilitate easy access to the more remote areas of the
island.
There is a nice myth (maybe it is fact)
about a sunken
Spanish galleon off the coast of Long Island. The sternpost and prow
of an old timber ship has reputedly been sighted off the coast of the
island and this has given rise to speculation. The legend has been
further fuelled by stories of an Aboriginal tale about the crew of a
ship being wrecked near the island and a local farmer claiming that
he had found coins washed up on a beach.
Things to
see:
Vital Information About the Island
1. The
Island Itself
Location
In the heart of the
Whitsundays approximately 20 minutes from both Shute Harbour and
Hamilton Island
Description of the island
A narrow island
which is 9km long and 2 km wide although at points (like Fish Bay and
Palm Bay) the distance between the western and eastern shores is
probably no more than 200-300 metres.
How do visitors access it?
Fly to Hamilton
Island - launch to Club Crocodile (20 min). There is also a water
taxi from Shute Harbour.
Activities on the island
Bush walking,
swimming, snorkelling. There is a brochure available from Club
Crocodile which details three walking trails from the jetty. There is
a 3.5 km circular trail known as the Whitsunday Circuit; the Palm Bay
walk which is 2.2 km (one way) and takes about 20 minutes each way;
and Sandy Bay Trail which is 5.9 km and lasts about 1.5 hours.
2. Resorts on the Island
Club Crocodile
How big is it?
160 rooms
Who does it appeal to?
Families and the budget
minded
How much does it cost?
Room and all meals:
(per person/twin share) 5 nights $635 per person per night
Free activities
All non motorised activities
Other activities
Jet skis, mini golf, scuba
diving, trips to the Outer Reef
Eating at the resort
All meals included in the
standard
Whitsunday Wilderness Lodge
How big is it?
Ten recently completed waterfront cabins located in Paradise Bay,
South
Long Island. Accommodation for 20.
Who does it appeal to?
People serious about
getting away from phones, TV, hair dryers etc
Palm Bay Hideaway
How big is it?
14
beachfront Bungalows with cooking facilities (6 Bures 8 Cabins)
Who does it appeal to?
People who want a real
beachcomber experience quiet and secluded
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Resorts
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Whitsunday Wilderness Lodge
Long Island QLD 4802
Telephone: (07) 4946 9777
Facsimile: (07) 4946 9777
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Lodges & Chalets
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Whitsunday Wilderness Lodge
Long Island QLD 4000
Telephone: (07) 4946 9777
Facsimile: (07) 4946 9777
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