Bowen Beaches Discovery-Top of the Whitsundays

Cedar Creek Falls daytrip This tour was awesome and my second tour with Cherene. After being picked-up from my hotel, we drove-out through some peaceful countryside outside of Airlie Beach and over to Cedar Creek Falls. Airlie Beach had had buckets of rain the night before and the falls were in full swing, flowing, and stunning. Stopped in there for a swim and a morning tea with Cherene laying-out cheese, fruits, and bickies. We arrived there before the multiple busloads of tourists arrived - one massive advantage of going with a smaller tour group operator - we had the falls and creek to swim in to ourselves before anyone else arrived. I was also thrilled that Cherene was offering the same tour as other companies at a cheaper rate and I jumped at the chance to see a bit more of the area for my last day of my holidays in Airlie Beach. After the falls we checked-out a 1950s 'hard rock' styled cafe, plastered with a bazillion old USA numberplates and rock'n'roll memorabilia collection and half a car for a few photos from that era. If you get to go there, also make sure you check-out the toilets at the park to see what the labourers spent their time on during Covid lockdown. Following that we stopped-off at the coffee plantation and checked-out a few farm animals. I cannot recommend Cherene enough. She is a genuine, friendly tour guide, full of local knowledge about the area, and it's no hassle for her to stop somewhere to take a pic or manage her time around what you want to do, such as if you want an extra half-hour at the falls swimming, she's pretty relaxed about it. And the fresh fruit she'd cut-up and set-out for morning tea at the falls was a welcome treat after a swim. Thanks Cherene!

I arrived around lunchtime in Airlie Beach and just missed the Whitehaven Beach afternoon cruise. Despite missing this, I was still keen to take a tour. Cherene was recommended by the hotel and runs land-based, driving tours around Airlie Beach. After picking me up at my hotel, she drove me all over Airlie Beach to show me some of the best views and learn a bit of history about the area. Cherene knows a tremendous amount of info and is genuinely curious and interested about what's going on in the area. The tour around Airlie was helpful to get a general overview, and hear a local's views on some of the best places to eat or drink, and it was also interesting to hear how a pub on the outskirts of town had palm trees from Johnny Depp's movie. Cherene showed me some of the various islands in the Whitsundays from one viewpoint on the mainland with a bit of history about the islands, through to showing me trees and ants nests. I realise ants aren't for everyone, and they're not for me either, but apparently these ants are a native delicacy and if you lick the butt of one particular species it tastes like lemon. There is also some incredibly beautiful countryside, sprawling green spaces and acreage homesteads outside of Airlie Beach in a beautiful little peaceful valley. For the life of me I can't remember the name of the area but I know it starts with a W... Woodvil, I think. It was a lovely spot to drive through, peaceful. Cherene also drove me along to various beachfronts around Airlie Beach and had no problems stopping for photo opportunities for me. Transport, or getting taxis in Airlie Beach is a bit of a pain in the neck, and it would have been a hassle trying to see all of these places by myself. I enjoyed the tour so much that I signed-up for another tour with Cherene out to Cedar Creek Falls which was also super lovely and a different tour again.

Absolutely brilliant tour could honestly say we have seen Airlie Beach. Took us to places you would not normally see and was just spectacular. Local knowledge and was above and beyond and the views were beautiful.