November 23, 2025

We have been planning this getaway for several months and so worth the wait! AMAZING PLACE! Best Resort I have been to so far, on this journey. Uepi is a private island in the Solomon's that is owned and operated by the Kelly Family. It is a first class dive and snorkel destination. The finest the Solomon's has to offer. Uepi contributes the largest tourist dollars, by far in all of the Solomon's and they have been doing it for over 30 years! Three generations of Kelly's live on the Island.

Getting to Uepi is a bit of a challenge - over 90% of their visitors are Australian, as they have the easiest routes. We left the Ship in Honiara, and flew to Seghe via and the Resort picked us up by boat, for a quick 20 minute ride to the Island. 

Our beach home for next 6 nights! Two of the houses are 2 bedroom and 2 Bath and others just for a couple. Bosco, Memo and I shared one of the 2BD units. Each house also has a canopy area with table chairs, 2 hammocks and 2 kayaks and oars and a separate laundry area with complimentary or self serve washer / dryer.

The owner's greeted us at pier and whisked us to the main house for a lovely warm lunch and lots of information. Meals are done family style with the option to have you lunch privately, at your cabin. Our luggage was taken to our rooms and after lunch we had a property tour, before being taken to each of our cabins. THE FOOD HERE WAS PHENOMENAL, ALL WEEK - all fresh organic made on site and locally grown. They created their own chicken farm on a neighboring island and grow most of their veggies hydroponically!

By Patricia Patrick February 21, 2026
Sailing into Sydney Harbor is one of those iconic moments that will stand out in my memories for this adventure! Sydney is one of a few natural harbors, worldwide, like San Francisco , known for its sparkling waters, landmark sights, spectacular events and hundreds of miles of shoreline.
By Patricia Patrick February 15, 2026
We got up at 6:45am to get to National Park Forts Walk trail in the hope of seeing koalas . Prior walkers mark trails with tree branches pointing in the direction of their sighting and we were luck enough to see 3 markers in our first hour of hiking. It is so stinking hot and humid the success we had made it bearable. The koala population on the island started with 20 brought over in 1930, to escape fur hunters. Today, the island boast 800 to 1000, and they are so cute and drowsy. They need 20 hours of sleep a day! The early morning is when they are the most active.
By Patricia Patrick February 14, 2026
Just off the coast of Townsville, Australia is a special little island (that used to be part of mainland, hundreds of thousands years ago). The island was formed by molten granite that was pushed to the earth's surface with volcanic force.Over time the volcanic overlay weathered away leaving an extraordinary landscape of rounded domes and boulders, many as big as a house and spectcularly perched. Over Seventy Percent of the center of the Island is a National Park. There is lots of wildlife here too - koalas, rock wallabies, snakes & birds.