Charter Chatter

- A new northern route has been added to Sunsail Sailing School's Whitsunday rallies for previous guests to experience new and different islands and new guests to get a taste of the islands a little off the 'beaten track'. The five-day, six-night rallies depart from Sunsail’s base at Hamilton Island on the Northern Route on either 10 April or 26 June 2011, or the Southern Route on 23 October or 4 December 2011. Designed to improve sailing skills in a fun, sociable environment, the popular rallies combine expert supervision with enjoyable sailing around the 74 Whitsunday Islands.

- Brisbane's dugongs feed almost exclusively on the seagrass that grows on shallow sandbanks in Moreton Bay. They grow to three metres long, weigh over 400 kilograms and can live more than 70 years. Moreton Bay supports a resident population of around 400 animals but Brisbane floodwaters are forcing dugongs southward to unaffected areas like the Gold Coast Broadwater, which is connected to Moreton Bay by a network of tidal channels. Sea World Cruises vessel Spirit of Migloo has reported a series of close encounters with these elusive marine mammals during their day tours on the Gold Coast Broadwater.

- Captain Cook Cruises is running a special 'Queen's Breakfast' cruise on Tuesday 22 February, 2011 to see the arrival of Queen Mary 2 for her royal rendezvous with her new sister ship Queen Elizabeth on Sydney Harbour. The cruise departs No 1 King Street Wharf, Darling Harbour at 5.30am, and returns at approximately 8.30am.

- Le Boat’s prices are reduced for all vessels and destinations on its self-drive canalboat holidays in Europe, owing to the continuing strength of the Australian dollar. Le Boat's European destinations include: Canal du Midi, Aquitaine, Burgundy, River Lot, Brittany and Camargue (France), Germany, Italy, England, Scotland, Ireland, Belgium and Holland.

- Lady Musgrave Island is a true coral cay situated 32 nautical miles from the Town of 1770. The island is set on 3000 acres of living reef with a 1000 acre coral lagoon that is unique to the Great Barrier Reef. The lagoon is home to over 1300 varieties of tropical fish and 350 species of colourful hard and soft coral. The lagoon is a protected Green Zone and has never been fished, and therefore offers an abundance of large and rare marine life.

Spirit of 1770, a purpose built 22 meter high speed Catamaran operated by Lady Musgrave Cruises, takes passengers to a floating pontoon with facilities moored in the lagoon. Guests can snorkel, dive, coral view from a semi-submersible or glass bottom boats and access the island for island walks.

Reef Fisher, also operated by Lady Musgrave Cruises, is a high speed 38-foot purpose-built reef fishing vessel offering visitors an optional spot of reef fishing on the outer reef wall with all equipment provided. Full day reef fishing is also available for groups upon request.

- Aurora Expeditions will hold a free Kimberley Coast educational evening in Sydney on 9 February with guest speaker Dr Garry Darby, a renowned art historian and author.

- Hamilton Island is offering a bonus free night and Whitehaven Beach cruise with savings of up to $790 to tie in with the broadcasting of Oprah Winfrey's 'Ultimate Australian Adventure'. Bookings must be made before the end of February and conditions apply.

- 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 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.