1 00:00:07,133 --> 00:00:10,453 Speaker 1: You're listening to the Saturday Morning with Jack team podcast 2 00:00:10,573 --> 00:00:11,773 Speaker 1: from News Talks. 3 00:00:11,453 --> 00:00:14,973 Speaker 2: At be Mike Yardley is our travel correspondent. He's here 4 00:00:14,973 --> 00:00:15,493 Speaker 2: with us today. 5 00:00:15,613 --> 00:00:17,733 Speaker 3: Hey Mike, good morning Jack. 6 00:00:17,773 --> 00:00:21,493 Speaker 4: I think I've discovered the definition of when spring starts. 7 00:00:21,893 --> 00:00:24,373 Speaker 2: Ah and daffidels in Hagley Park. 8 00:00:25,493 --> 00:00:26,213 Speaker 3: That's a good one. 9 00:00:26,653 --> 00:00:30,333 Speaker 4: Even worse than that, and ever present in Christis at 10 00:00:30,333 --> 00:00:35,653 Speaker 4: the moment the pollen bomb. The bomb strikes the city. 11 00:00:35,813 --> 00:00:38,573 Speaker 4: So there are so many cars around at the moment 12 00:00:38,573 --> 00:00:42,173 Speaker 4: with like this film of yellow dusty all over the windscreen. 13 00:00:42,333 --> 00:00:44,453 Speaker 4: So I think that's the sign of spring. 14 00:00:44,533 --> 00:00:47,053 Speaker 2: Yeah, I think it's also in our house. It's just 15 00:00:47,093 --> 00:00:49,853 Speaker 2: when my when my wife like can't sleep because her 16 00:00:49,853 --> 00:00:53,333 Speaker 2: hay fever is so overwhelming, Like it's about this time 17 00:00:53,373 --> 00:00:55,293 Speaker 2: of year it really starts to kick in as well, 18 00:00:55,333 --> 00:00:57,053 Speaker 2: and she's on all of the you know, all of 19 00:00:57,093 --> 00:01:02,413 Speaker 2: the hay fever. Yeah, but yeah, I know that. And 20 00:01:02,453 --> 00:01:05,093 Speaker 2: the thing with the pollen bomb is like it's quite stainy. Hey, 21 00:01:05,653 --> 00:01:08,133 Speaker 2: it's quite simple. It really is a year off your car, 22 00:01:08,213 --> 00:01:10,373 Speaker 2: off your clothes or anything else. Yeah, that's a very 23 00:01:10,453 --> 00:01:14,653 Speaker 2: nice Yeah, thank you. Hey, we're talking Hamilton Island in 24 00:01:14,693 --> 00:01:18,013 Speaker 2: the Sundays this morning. And Hamilton Island is unique in that, 25 00:01:18,173 --> 00:01:19,653 Speaker 2: isn't it family owned? 26 00:01:20,813 --> 00:01:20,973 Speaker 1: Yeah? 27 00:01:21,013 --> 00:01:21,333 Speaker 3: It is. 28 00:01:21,653 --> 00:01:24,013 Speaker 4: And if you've ever fancied having a bit of a 29 00:01:24,173 --> 00:01:27,573 Speaker 4: devil in the Wit Sundays, I'd highly recommend it. I 30 00:01:27,693 --> 00:01:30,173 Speaker 4: have just knocked it off my bucket list. It's been 31 00:01:30,213 --> 00:01:33,253 Speaker 4: bobbing on it for quite a while. And Hamilton Island 32 00:01:33,373 --> 00:01:36,693 Speaker 4: is quite unique because it's owned by the Oatly family. 33 00:01:37,133 --> 00:01:39,693 Speaker 4: They made their fortune and wine. They're still quite a 34 00:01:39,693 --> 00:01:43,533 Speaker 4: big player in the Aussie wine industry. But it's extraordinary. 35 00:01:43,853 --> 00:01:46,613 Speaker 4: They bought it twenty years ago for two hundred million dollars. 36 00:01:46,773 --> 00:01:48,933 Speaker 4: Would you like an island today? Yes, here's two hundred 37 00:01:48,973 --> 00:01:52,973 Speaker 4: million dollars. They've spent as you do. They've spent half 38 00:01:52,973 --> 00:01:57,133 Speaker 4: a billion dollars on its developments, so it's got all 39 00:01:57,213 --> 00:02:01,693 Speaker 4: the tropical island resort feels and it's a very catering, 40 00:02:01,773 --> 00:02:05,653 Speaker 4: embracing sort of place. So there's accommodation there to suit 41 00:02:05,693 --> 00:02:06,333 Speaker 4: all budgets. 42 00:02:06,453 --> 00:02:06,653 Speaker 3: Yeah. 43 00:02:06,733 --> 00:02:09,173 Speaker 2: Nice. Is it the best island to stay at if 44 00:02:09,173 --> 00:02:10,133 Speaker 2: you're in the Wit Sundays? 45 00:02:11,293 --> 00:02:12,253 Speaker 3: I think so, Jack. 46 00:02:12,373 --> 00:02:16,253 Speaker 4: Yeah, there's only a few of the Whitsunday islands that 47 00:02:16,293 --> 00:02:19,973 Speaker 4: are inhabited so Hemo as the locals call it. I 48 00:02:19,973 --> 00:02:22,893 Speaker 4: think is a really good base because there are so 49 00:02:23,093 --> 00:02:27,893 Speaker 4: many excursion options from Hamilton Island and it's only a 50 00:02:28,013 --> 00:02:32,373 Speaker 4: nineteen minute direct flight onto the island from Brisbane, and 51 00:02:32,413 --> 00:02:36,413 Speaker 4: that in itself is such a stunning visual experience as Yeah, 52 00:02:36,413 --> 00:02:39,213 Speaker 4: you know, on final approach into the Wit Sundays and 53 00:02:39,253 --> 00:02:42,693 Speaker 4: you see all of those islands just fanning out into 54 00:02:42,733 --> 00:02:46,453 Speaker 4: the Coral Sea. That is just stunning. The other really 55 00:02:46,493 --> 00:02:49,293 Speaker 4: cool thing is it's amazing here you will be mixing with. 56 00:02:49,413 --> 00:02:52,733 Speaker 4: So there are a lists lebs on Hamilton Island, lots 57 00:02:52,773 --> 00:02:55,413 Speaker 4: of some loving families, lots of loved up couples as 58 00:02:55,453 --> 00:02:59,653 Speaker 4: you would well expect, and it's interesting a lot of 59 00:02:59,653 --> 00:03:02,013 Speaker 4: people go for different reasons. Some just go to look 60 00:03:02,013 --> 00:03:05,533 Speaker 4: at the candy floss sunsets, some go for the amazing 61 00:03:05,653 --> 00:03:08,693 Speaker 4: culinary scene on Hamilton Island. Then you've got the day 62 00:03:08,733 --> 00:03:12,573 Speaker 4: spars for the likes of Jack tame Um, and of 63 00:03:12,613 --> 00:03:14,693 Speaker 4: course you've got the Barrier Reef and all of its 64 00:03:14,773 --> 00:03:16,613 Speaker 4: wondrous underwater encounters. 65 00:03:16,693 --> 00:03:19,213 Speaker 2: So where did you do the snorkeling on the reef? 66 00:03:20,253 --> 00:03:24,173 Speaker 4: Yeah, I went to Hardy Reef, which is part of 67 00:03:24,213 --> 00:03:27,093 Speaker 4: the Great barriers Outer Reef, So it was about forty 68 00:03:27,253 --> 00:03:31,093 Speaker 4: nautical miles east of Hamilton Island and you really do 69 00:03:31,133 --> 00:03:33,813 Speaker 4: feel like you're venturing out for a big day trip. 70 00:03:34,613 --> 00:03:37,053 Speaker 4: I went with a company called Cruise whit Sundays and 71 00:03:37,093 --> 00:03:43,373 Speaker 4: they have got this extraordinary pontoon at Hardy Reef. It's 72 00:03:43,373 --> 00:03:47,213 Speaker 4: sort of like a sundeck, a chopper pad and an 73 00:03:47,333 --> 00:03:54,133 Speaker 4: underwater observatory all in one structure. It's just incredible. And 74 00:03:54,213 --> 00:03:57,213 Speaker 4: of course the water there is like liquid cellophane. So 75 00:03:57,933 --> 00:04:00,093 Speaker 4: after you've had your snorkel and a bit of time 76 00:04:00,133 --> 00:04:04,253 Speaker 4: with the fish and the coral, another awesome option is 77 00:04:04,293 --> 00:04:07,773 Speaker 4: to take to the sky in a helicop from that reef, 78 00:04:07,933 --> 00:04:11,333 Speaker 4: Hardy Reef. And what a lot of people love to 79 00:04:11,373 --> 00:04:15,333 Speaker 4: go and do is see from above Heart Reef. And 80 00:04:15,373 --> 00:04:18,493 Speaker 4: I'm sure you've seen Heart Reef on Instagram. It's one 81 00:04:18,493 --> 00:04:22,053 Speaker 4: of those little winds to superstars because it is shaped 82 00:04:22,213 --> 00:04:24,453 Speaker 4: like a love heart. So you can do that just 83 00:04:24,493 --> 00:04:27,493 Speaker 4: on a ten minute chop a ride from Hardy Reef. 84 00:04:27,573 --> 00:04:30,333 Speaker 2: Oh nice. So what about white Haven Beach? 85 00:04:31,773 --> 00:04:36,373 Speaker 4: Yes, a very short jaunt from Hamilton Island is to 86 00:04:36,453 --> 00:04:39,373 Speaker 4: Whitsunday Island right across the water and that's home to 87 00:04:39,413 --> 00:04:45,173 Speaker 4: white Haven Beach. It is blindingly beautiful. So imagine you've 88 00:04:45,253 --> 00:04:48,053 Speaker 4: got a seven kilometer. 89 00:04:47,613 --> 00:04:55,453 Speaker 5: Long sweep of swirling, snowy, white, squeaky silica sand that 90 00:04:55,733 --> 00:04:59,933 Speaker 5: is white Haven Beach, and it's edged by turquoise lagoon 91 00:05:00,093 --> 00:05:02,933 Speaker 5: like water, backed by undulating rainforest. 92 00:05:03,253 --> 00:05:04,613 Speaker 3: It really is spectacular. 93 00:05:05,013 --> 00:05:08,653 Speaker 4: And this is where Johnny shot a sequence of his 94 00:05:08,733 --> 00:05:11,213 Speaker 4: last Pirates of the Caribbean movie. And of course that 95 00:05:11,693 --> 00:05:15,333 Speaker 4: it was not without incident, because this is the notorious 96 00:05:15,373 --> 00:05:18,573 Speaker 4: trip which featured the dogs Brystol and Boo. 97 00:05:19,693 --> 00:05:20,733 Speaker 2: And Barnaby Joyce. 98 00:05:21,013 --> 00:05:23,533 Speaker 3: Was it Barnaby and Barnaby Joyce. 99 00:05:23,693 --> 00:05:27,213 Speaker 4: Yes, I think I think Barnaby wanted those dogs shot. Actually, 100 00:05:29,533 --> 00:05:32,733 Speaker 4: every local I spoke to on Hamilton Island said Depp 101 00:05:32,893 --> 00:05:36,453 Speaker 4: remained in character as Captain Jack on an offset. Apparently 102 00:05:36,453 --> 00:05:39,093 Speaker 4: he was a total jerk around the clock, driving disorderly, 103 00:05:39,613 --> 00:05:44,693 Speaker 4: totally obnoxious, and he was there for six weeks Sundays. 104 00:05:44,893 --> 00:05:46,213 Speaker 3: The most amazing thing Jack. 105 00:05:46,453 --> 00:05:51,333 Speaker 4: The on location production on white Haven Beach cost forty 106 00:05:51,813 --> 00:05:53,053 Speaker 4: million dollars. 107 00:05:53,853 --> 00:05:54,853 Speaker 3: And if you. 108 00:05:54,973 --> 00:05:58,493 Speaker 4: Watch that Pirates of the Caribbee movie, there's only thirty 109 00:05:58,533 --> 00:06:03,253 Speaker 4: seconds of footage from white Haven Beach, forty million bucks. 110 00:06:03,293 --> 00:06:04,013 Speaker 3: Thanks for coming. 111 00:06:04,253 --> 00:06:07,613 Speaker 2: That's insane, isn't it? So you should you watch Pirates 112 00:06:07,653 --> 00:06:10,093 Speaker 2: of the Caribbean before going just or just watched thirty 113 00:06:10,093 --> 00:06:12,573 Speaker 2: seconds as parts of the Caribbean. Maybe we can go 114 00:06:12,653 --> 00:06:14,653 Speaker 2: online and find out the exact minute that you see 115 00:06:14,653 --> 00:06:16,253 Speaker 2: white Haven Beach that you get a sense of it. 116 00:06:16,373 --> 00:06:16,733 Speaker 3: That's it. 117 00:06:17,293 --> 00:06:19,373 Speaker 4: The thing I can work out, Jack is like it 118 00:06:19,413 --> 00:06:21,373 Speaker 4: was obviously meant to look like the Caribbean. 119 00:06:21,693 --> 00:06:24,093 Speaker 3: So why would they why would they go to white 120 00:06:24,093 --> 00:06:26,453 Speaker 3: Haven Beach when they're wanting to channel the Caribbean. 121 00:06:26,493 --> 00:06:28,973 Speaker 2: That is weird, isn't it. There must be a reason. 122 00:06:29,053 --> 00:06:31,333 Speaker 2: There's going to be a tax. It's always again on 123 00:06:31,373 --> 00:06:34,533 Speaker 2: these big shows and big movies productions. You know. Yeah, 124 00:06:34,573 --> 00:06:39,053 Speaker 2: that's fascinating. So indigenous tourism is expanding its offerings in 125 00:06:39,093 --> 00:06:40,053 Speaker 2: the wit Sundays Ah. 126 00:06:41,013 --> 00:06:43,893 Speaker 4: Yes it is, and whit Sunday Island is fully protected. 127 00:06:43,973 --> 00:06:46,813 Speaker 4: It's part of the National Park home to the Narrow 128 00:06:46,853 --> 00:06:48,613 Speaker 4: people for ten thousand years. 129 00:06:48,773 --> 00:06:49,413 Speaker 3: It was interesting. 130 00:06:49,493 --> 00:06:51,933 Speaker 4: I had a fabulous scenari guide he was showing around 131 00:06:51,933 --> 00:06:54,813 Speaker 4: and he said that when James Cook cruised through the area, 132 00:06:55,413 --> 00:06:58,613 Speaker 4: some of the Nari were recruited by Cook as outriggers 133 00:06:58,613 --> 00:07:01,253 Speaker 4: to guide the Indeva through the barrier reef because you 134 00:07:01,293 --> 00:07:04,813 Speaker 4: know it's obviously so perilous for a ship, and opening 135 00:07:04,813 --> 00:07:09,613 Speaker 4: nearly next year, are offering a guided overnight camping trail 136 00:07:09,853 --> 00:07:13,333 Speaker 4: all around with Sunday Island, so it will open up 137 00:07:13,373 --> 00:07:15,173 Speaker 4: a whole lot of areas that you can't actually get 138 00:07:15,173 --> 00:07:19,973 Speaker 4: to at the moment, including the big treasure eight thousand 139 00:07:20,053 --> 00:07:23,453 Speaker 4: year old rock paintings that are preserved in the island cave. 140 00:07:23,653 --> 00:07:26,733 Speaker 3: So tell you what a nared god. 141 00:07:26,853 --> 00:07:31,893 Speaker 4: He introduced me to this amazing spider, the golden orb 142 00:07:32,333 --> 00:07:36,213 Speaker 4: weaver spider, which you can find on this island. My god, 143 00:07:36,253 --> 00:07:39,493 Speaker 4: these things are a site. The female's jack are as 144 00:07:39,533 --> 00:07:44,453 Speaker 4: big as a dinner plate. Wow, they are enormous and 145 00:07:44,853 --> 00:07:48,973 Speaker 4: amazingly the males are just a tenth of the size 146 00:07:48,973 --> 00:07:52,213 Speaker 4: of the female, which is quite a biological head scratcher. 147 00:07:52,493 --> 00:07:55,933 Speaker 2: Yeah, how incredible. So are you putting you on the 148 00:07:55,933 --> 00:07:58,933 Speaker 2: spot here? How did the now do people get to 149 00:07:58,973 --> 00:08:01,213 Speaker 2: the with Sundays? Because if it's a ninety minute flight 150 00:08:01,213 --> 00:08:03,213 Speaker 2: from the mainland, that's quite a distance, right. 151 00:08:04,173 --> 00:08:04,493 Speaker 3: Yeah. 152 00:08:04,693 --> 00:08:07,133 Speaker 4: If you look at a map of Northern Queensland, those 153 00:08:07,173 --> 00:08:10,253 Speaker 4: were Sundays that they sort of like fan out from 154 00:08:10,253 --> 00:08:15,293 Speaker 4: the mainland. Yeah, so obviously a bit like how Aboriginal 155 00:08:15,333 --> 00:08:18,213 Speaker 4: people supposedly came down from Papua New Guinea through the 156 00:08:18,253 --> 00:08:21,693 Speaker 4: TV Islands into Northern Australia. I would imagine a lot 157 00:08:21,733 --> 00:08:23,813 Speaker 4: of this has to do with ice age, you know, 158 00:08:23,933 --> 00:08:25,733 Speaker 4: movement of water lines. 159 00:08:26,333 --> 00:08:30,613 Speaker 2: Ah, yeah, the ocean going though. 160 00:08:30,573 --> 00:08:34,373 Speaker 3: Right, yeah, yeah, oh absolutely, can you can you see that? 161 00:08:34,573 --> 00:08:36,853 Speaker 2: Can you see the islands from the mainland. 162 00:08:37,253 --> 00:08:41,373 Speaker 4: Yes, okay, yeah, definitely, definitely. It's a ninety minute flight 163 00:08:41,413 --> 00:08:42,173 Speaker 4: from Brisbane. 164 00:08:42,413 --> 00:08:44,213 Speaker 3: I Hamilton Islands. 165 00:08:44,413 --> 00:08:48,213 Speaker 4: Yeah, those a lot of those barrier reef islands, like 166 00:08:48,293 --> 00:08:51,693 Speaker 4: pre ice Age, they were actually joined to the mainland, so. 167 00:08:51,813 --> 00:08:54,053 Speaker 2: Of course, of course, yeah, and then when the sea 168 00:08:54,093 --> 00:08:56,373 Speaker 2: level rose, it came up. Yeah right, but no, I 169 00:08:56,453 --> 00:08:58,093 Speaker 2: mean if you can see the islands from the mainland, 170 00:08:58,093 --> 00:09:00,493 Speaker 2: then that makes sense. Like I'm always amazed, you know, 171 00:09:00,653 --> 00:09:03,613 Speaker 2: like you know, you think, I mean, obviously Mardi arriving 172 00:09:03,653 --> 00:09:06,133 Speaker 2: in New Zealand, but you think about Mary on the 173 00:09:06,213 --> 00:09:09,213 Speaker 2: Chat Islands, for example. Well, that's there's a little dot 174 00:09:09,293 --> 00:09:12,173 Speaker 2: in a big ocean, you know, someone someone that's a 175 00:09:12,653 --> 00:09:14,653 Speaker 2: I really had to cast off with clear water for 176 00:09:15,253 --> 00:09:18,573 Speaker 2: that trip. Yeah, Okay, this sounds amazing. So any other 177 00:09:18,733 --> 00:09:21,253 Speaker 2: activities you would recommend in the sundays. 178 00:09:21,733 --> 00:09:25,853 Speaker 4: Yeah, definitely jump on a catamaran for a sunset cruise, because, yeah, 179 00:09:25,893 --> 00:09:28,773 Speaker 4: there was something so cool about those with Sunday islands, 180 00:09:28,773 --> 00:09:32,613 Speaker 4: how they sort of necklace their way out into the sea, 181 00:09:32,693 --> 00:09:36,853 Speaker 4: and when the sun sets, you get this tangerine glow 182 00:09:37,373 --> 00:09:40,693 Speaker 4: across the silhouette of all of those islands, and the 183 00:09:40,733 --> 00:09:45,373 Speaker 4: wet and jacket resembles the silhouette of a giant crocodile 184 00:09:45,853 --> 00:09:47,213 Speaker 4: reaching out into the sea. 185 00:09:47,253 --> 00:09:48,053 Speaker 3: I just loved that. 186 00:09:48,573 --> 00:09:51,253 Speaker 4: The other funny thing was the sunset cruise. It just 187 00:09:51,293 --> 00:09:55,773 Speaker 4: spontaneously morphed into a whale watching cruise. So we were 188 00:09:55,813 --> 00:09:59,133 Speaker 4: only like one hundred meters or so off the shoreline 189 00:09:59,413 --> 00:10:02,733 Speaker 4: of Hamilton Island and there was a pot of frisky humpbacks. 190 00:10:03,173 --> 00:10:07,693 Speaker 4: They just turned on this big, splashy show one hundred 191 00:10:07,853 --> 00:10:09,173 Speaker 4: meters off the shoreline. 192 00:10:09,293 --> 00:10:10,373 Speaker 2: That's ridiculous. 193 00:10:10,653 --> 00:10:11,373 Speaker 3: That's amazing. 194 00:10:11,653 --> 00:10:14,693 Speaker 2: Yeah, Oh that's incredible. Okay, well, I'm very envious. I 195 00:10:14,733 --> 00:10:17,253 Speaker 2: have I have done a little bit of the Barrier 196 00:10:17,253 --> 00:10:19,493 Speaker 2: reef further north up off the coast of cam Yeah, 197 00:10:19,653 --> 00:10:21,973 Speaker 2: but that does sound that sounds like a bit of 198 00:10:22,013 --> 00:10:24,693 Speaker 2: me a great little a great little spot for break 199 00:10:24,693 --> 00:10:27,133 Speaker 2: in the winter of the future. Perhaps thanks so much, Mike, 200 00:10:27,253 --> 00:10:30,933 Speaker 2: we will put all of Mike's tips for enjoying Hamilton 201 00:10:30,973 --> 00:10:34,733 Speaker 2: Island in the Sunday's Up on the News Talks EDB website. 202 00:10:34,493 --> 00:10:37,613 Speaker 1: For more from Saturday Morning with Jack Tame. Listen live 203 00:10:37,693 --> 00:10:40,493 Speaker 1: to News Talks ed B from nine am Saturday, or 204 00:10:40,573 --> 00:10:42,493 Speaker 1: follow the podcast on iHeartRadio.