ONE of the oldest tourists to ever visit the region came to Airlie Beach last week, bringing with him a swag of amazing stories.

It may be hard to picture a man, who will turn 102 in October, rolling up his pants, hopping off a boat, trenching through water to get to the world-famous Whitehaven Beach - but that's exactly what Mil Mears did last week.

Mr Mears, who lives in Melbourne, is 101-years-old and was born in India. He said he had lucked out of conscription for both world wars and was a self-professed "mad traveller".

He was the child of Australian missionaries and his first job was as a junior office boy for the Melbourne City Council in 1930.

By the end of his career, Mr Mears retired as a deputy town clerk for the Melbourne Council in 1976.

He recalls attending a computer class as his indication to retire.

"I looked at that computer once and then never again," he laughed.

During his lifetime, Mr Mills was considered both too young and too old to be conscripted for World War I and II.

However, he did voluntarily join the air force in 1942.

He married and had three children - two boys and one girl.

Mr Mears has outlived all of his immediate family except for his youngest son and has four grandchildren and six great-grandchildren to date.

He was visiting the region with O'Shannessy's Quality Tours, a company that takes seniors on trips around Australia.

The tour stopped at Colonial Palms Motor Inn in Airlie Beach.

Mr Mears has been travelling with the company for 30 years, sometimes three times a year. "I live in a retirement village and this is the only change I can get," he said. Full of energy, Mr Mears partook in every activity while he was here and was obviously adored and considered an inspiration by the O'Shannessy crew and customers.