Spring Break with M & D- Hamilton Island

From Sydney, we flew to Hamilton Island, about half way between Brisbane and Cairns, just hours north on the Eastern coast. We flew onto a tiny trap and into a tiny airport that was basically outside. We checked into our resort and noticed that our room had an amazing view. There were only shuttles and golf carts that were for transportation in the island, so we took a shuttle around the island to check out where things were. The island was so small that the shuttle around the whole island was only about 30 mins. It rained the majority of the time that we were in the island. But we still managed to keep busy. We would shop at the local stores, and walk around.
On one of the days we took a ferry boat out to FantaSea to snorkel and scuba dive. Jake and I dove while M & D snorkeled. We snorkeled with M & D 2 more times after our dive. We had a lto of fun, and the boat provided lunch and all the gear for the water. This was one of our days that did NOT rain.
Another day we decided to do a, what we thought to be a short and sweet hike to the point. It ended up being a 4ish hour hike both up and back down. It was quite intense because it was so hot and a lot of uphill slopes. M & D did great for not being in great hiking shape.
One of the nights before we left, we took a shuttle up to the best place to watch the sunset. We talked with locals that had taken many trips to the States, finding it interesting how much they would see in such short periods of time.
The day that we left we went to the breakfast center where you could hold koalas and snakes. Mom was SOOO excited to hold a koala and didn't want to let him go. Dad worked up the courage to beat his great fear and hold a snake. the picture attached is one of the ones of him smiling. I think he was a bit proud of himself for holding it.

This island was beautiful. The same person owned almost all the stores and restuarants. we talked to one of the oce cream employee's and she was a Kiwi (New Zealander), she had completed university and was just making good money before her real job. The minimum wage on the island was $23 per hour!! Crazy salary! Even the minimum wage in Australia is about $14. I definitely wouldn't mind either of those salaries as a beginner.
even though it rained, we had fun just relaxing and handing out with one another.