WHITSUNDAY’S The Whitsunday's and Airlie Beach are synonymous with the word ‘party’. This place rocks and rocks on all fronts. The word ‘party’ has been matched with spectacular growth. Amazing growth. In just two decades, high rise, shopping centres and marinas have been developed. Airlie Beach and Shute Harbour are the launching pads for the ‘islands’:- Sth Molle, Daydream, Hayman, Lindeman and Hamilton from a resort perspective and Whitsunday, Hooke and Long Islands from a camping adventure. Party, mixed with resorts and backpackers determines a lively mix of commercial adventure, but as at mid 2010 may be on the edge some commercial reality check. That said the Whitsundays are magic. But first; the name Whitsunday is a misnomer, based on Capt Cook naming of what is now known as the Whitsunday Passage (in Cook’s Journal, Whitsunday’s Passage) in the belief that the passage was discovered on Whitsunday, whereas because of an error in time-keeping, it was actually Whit-Monday. The Whitsunday islands are a popular tourist destination for travelers to Queensland and the Great Barrier Reef area. The island received about 700,000 visitors between March 2008 and March 2009. The Airlie Beach and Shute Harbour are pretty and commercially hectic places. Plenty of Taverns but few churches. No War Memorials and no Museums, but this is a new town with different social drivers. There is a real lot to offer in this area, but in truth is underpinned by Whitehaven Beach and Inlet. Therefore we recommend the day trip. We were on Reef Jet, and felt the level of effort by the people and owners got our nod. We let the photos do the talking. Not an icon discovery but an essential Bustout visit. Allow a minimum of four days to let this place get you. Diary notes