12 Comments
May 22Liked by Laura | Sunhats and Chardonnay

I love how you were able to revisit Arlie after all that time. It must have been a wonderful reconnection with fun memories. Thanks for the detailed itinerary ideas!

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Thanks, I'm glad you liked it.

Yes, lovely place. In fact, I am currently planning another visit in 2025. This time, my friends from Cairns will be driving down with me so it will a great time for sure!

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May 20Liked by Laura | Sunhats and Chardonnay

Off to enjoy reading this, as I always do!

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May 19Liked by Laura | Sunhats and Chardonnay

What a beautiful place, Laura! No wonder you keep going back.

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Yes, it is.

I'm staring to plan my trip for next year and it looks like my friends in Cairns are interested in driving down with me to make a weekend of it.

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May 19Liked by Laura | Sunhats and Chardonnay

How does this rank among beaches you've been to around the world and around Australia? Sounds a bit of a shame with all the modernisation and influx for too many tourists. What's your take on this?

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As far as beaches go, I have not been to European beaches or American beaches other than Waikiki. The best beaches I have lay upon would have to be the Gold Coast beaches, Bondi, Whitehaven and Four Mile Beach in Eastern Australia. Airlie Beach is up there but since the waterfront changes it is in a different category. Cairns also has waterfront corrections and a lagoon. In other parts of the world, St. Thomas has great beaches and in Ontario, Canada, Sandbanks and Pinery beaches are top notch.

With the exception of Bondi, I have not really seen too many tourists.

I am more concerned about the number of boat/snorkeling trips that depart from places like Airlie Beach and Cairns. That's where overtourism will play a roll.

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May 20Liked by Laura | Sunhats and Chardonnay

Waikiki? How is that? I love a good beach!

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Honestly, I was less than impressed with Waikiki having just come from Gold Coast. The sand was quite granular with shell fragments whereas, the Gold Coast beaches were a very fine powdery sand.

I do have to keep in mind that sand is always moving and its consistency is dependent on the previous storms that have come and gone.

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May 20Liked by Laura | Sunhats and Chardonnay

Oh no, you do want consistency in sand. I’m love with beaches in Greece and Fuerteventura. Not been to Hawaii nor Australia. I once went to a lovely beach in Cuba and the storm had brought large, heavy shells to the beach. Nothing I’ve ever seen around beaches in Europe. Maybe the ocean has that kind of power.

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