Charter Chatter

- If it's blowing 25 knots and raining in the Whitsundays -- great! The choppier the sea the more fun the adventure ride on Ocean Rafting gets. Always the last boat to cancel and often heading out in windy and wet conditions, operators of the Whitsundays’ adventure boat ride Ocean Rafting says 25 knots will give you an exhilarating wild ride (if you dare).

- A romantic overnight boat charter on Sydney Harbour is a popular Valentine's Day indulgence. Skipper a boat yourself or hire a skipper for a twilight cruise before being left alone at anchor overnight with a gourmet dinner. The skipper will return in the morning to take you back to the charter base. Other on water options for February 14 include dining while cruising the Harbour or Pittwater, chartering a boat to take you to a picnic spot or to a restaurant.

- Aurora Expeditions has created a special photographic expedition to Antarctica for just 27 passengers. Accompanied by two professional photographers, David Burren and Martin Bailey from LuminOdyssey, this voyage is for all levels of photographers.

- The flooding in Queensland is south of the Whitsundays, which is dry, sunny, and open for business. Celebrate Valentine's Day on 14 February with someone special on a scenic flight over the naturally formed Heart Reef, write a message of love into the white silica sands of Whitehaven Beach or picnic in a secluded bay on your own deserted island.

- Many areas within the Bundaberg region have been impacted by recent flooding but most local tourism icons, including the Mon Repos Turtle Experience, Lady Elliot and Lady Musgrave Islands, are open for business as usual. Importantly, the number of breeding turtles returning to lay their eggs at Mon Repos have not been affected and numbers are growing with some 239 of the ancient mariners having already returned to the largest loggerhead rookery on the east coast since the start of the current season.

- The prices for North Star’s Kimberley Cruises have been reduced and four options are now available. North Star's flagship adventure is a two-week soirée along the Kimberley coast. Other options are a seven-night cruise of the northern half of the Kimberly or a six-night cruise of the southern half. For those pressed for time, or perhaps considering the budget, the Kimberley Snapshot is the flagship adventure itinerary condensed into a single week.

- Celebrating the launch of The Whitsundays’ new tourism brand, The Whitsundays 74 Island Wonders, Tourism Queensland decided the timing was right to partner with Merit and put some Whitsundays wind into the Sydney to Hobart racer's sail. Merit, the Volvo 60 round-the-world racing yacht owned by Whitsundays locals Leo Rodriguez and Ian Bishop, sailed in this year's Rolex Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race with a sail that said they'd rather be in The Whitsundays. Merit was the 18th boat to finish in Hobart.

- Australia Day’s events on Sydney Harbour on 26 January include a Ferrython, Awesome Forces displays, best dressed vessels competition, tall ships race, Australia Day Regatta, Jazz on the Water Concert and fireworks. Charter boats are available for individual or group bookings. For details on events see www.australiaday.com.au