Walking down onto the marina, with rows of gleaming white, luxury watercraft, we could imagine that we are in for a jaunt on one of these extravagant craft, but no. As we near the end of the pier, we see a modest ship with tall masts and a crew with beaming smiles. 

It’s the Solway Lass and it’s our home for the next 6 days. We discover once aboard that the Solway Lass is actually 122 years old and has recently had a fortune spent on restoring the ship to improve its operational reliability and to preserve the critical, heritage elements of the ship.

Our crew are a delightful collection of humans from a wide variety of backgrounds. Alex is a long time sailor and general adventure addict. When he’s not on the ship, he can be seen paragliding or touring by motorbike. His love affair with the Solway Lass produced this documentary on Youtube. He has been closely involved through the restoration and refurbishment of the ship. 

American, Karl just loves sailing. He’s Skippered ships all over the world and has landed in his more relaxed years on this little piece of paradise and this charming vessel. The rest of the crew work hard, but seem to have a great time doing so, and they greet us with smiles and enthusiasm every single day of our journey. 

The Whitsundays really is an active travellers’ playground. Over the course of the next six days, we will take in some light hikes to some of the most stunning viewpoints. We will have time for Stand Up Paddle boarding and we will snorkel along the Great Barrier Reef, seeing a range of fish like I have never seen in my life! The coral is so amazing and I keep hearing from my fellow travellers that this is so much more incredible than previous visits to the reef in more northern parts of Cairns and Moore Reef.

There are so many beautiful things about this trip. We are aboard the ship for five nights, but no one day is the same. The cabins are not luxurious, but we love the convenience of not having to pack and unpack each day. We set out in the morning on our adventure and there is no mandated itinerary for the group. Those who might be feeling a tad weary, can spend time on the white-sand beach, reading a book and paddling in the crystal clear waters. Those who have the energy can join the hike, the stand-up-paddling or the snorkelling. 

We convene on the ship for meals, for afternoon tea and to lounge in the bow-net, one of the most iconic features of the ship. Imagine basking in the net in the company of truly adventurous souls, with a glass of bubbly in hand as they recount their amazing adventures around the world. 

Meals are generally a buffet style and our cook does a great job of maintaining a creative menu on a daily basis. Tacos, pasta, salads, BBQ’d chicken and even Nachos on the beach. The bar is well stocked and there is a surprising abundance of fresh fruit. 

When I read that tea and coffee are complimentary, I expected jars of Nescafe, but no. Ground coffee with plungers and decent quality tea in all-you-can-drink quantities is the reality! 

The cabins, well they are small. There is no avoiding that truth, but we plan the rooming so that we have just two to a cabin to provide an assurance of relative comfort for everyone. 

There are two cabins that have ensuite bathrooms which can be convenient for those who like to have one at close call during the night, but the common-use bathrooms that are used by the other cabins were functional and were kept clean, so that didn’t feel like any sort of inconvenience.

The Whitsundays features a sub-tropical climate, so it can get a little warm at times. There is air conditioning on board, but it can be challenging to get the balance right in terms of temperature in all the cabins as it is a central unit. Karl was so accommodating in trying to get this just right. He even got up twice during the night to turn it off when the temperature got low enough, then back on to ensure that we slept through til dawn. Overall, I can say that we slept pretty well under the circumstances and the adventures and the cruising experience made it all well worthwhile. 

Our last day aboard the Solway Lass is so special. It starts as we come up to the deck for breakfast and there before us is a pod of Humpback Whales. I had just been hearing on the radio a few days earlier that there were elevated numbers of migrating whales in this area at the moment and while I knew a sighting wasn’t assured, I was completely blown away and in awe of them. Seeing a mother and her calf breach the surface and seeing the way that they calmly circled us in a secluded cove just made us all feel so privileged to be able to see these incredible creatures at close range. 

Before we parted ways with the ship and her crew, our earnest and stoic Skipper Karl then gave a little speech. He reiterated that for he and the crew and especially the owner Jim who has ploughed far too much money into the restoration, refurbishment and upkeep of the Solway Lass, it means so much to have a group like ours come and spend a week on board. He acknowledges that the experience isn’t for everyone, but if there was a group of people for whom the Solway Lass experience is perfect, then it is undoubtedly, an Adventurous Women group. 

As we bid our farewells and headed for Proserpine Airport, I could already see the posts on everyone’s facebook feeds about the wonderful experience. It is our goal to bring two groups of adventurous women on the Solway Lass next year. Not only to do our bit to keep the dream of the Solway Lass alive, but to provide another 24 women, a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

Whitsunday Wanderings Tour - 16 May 2025

Whitsunday Wanderings Tour - 22 Aug. 2025