We had a long sail today, into the North wind on a close reach. We tacked maybe 10 times. We dropped the sails right here, at the Hook Passage between Whitsunday Island and hook Island. Yes, those are pine trees and evergreens. The pine trees tend to grow close to the water, and the gum trees and eucalyptus (which make up most of the trees in the forests), grow back in the woods. With their pines and gray rock faces, many of these islands remind us of the Adirondacks.

BTW - Palm trees aren't native here - they are flown into the resorts from Hawaii and Polynesia.