Finally leaving Bundaberg!!

[micoverde]

After more than a month of refitting in Bundaberg we're finally heading North. We're thinking about doing Great Keppel island first than on to Pearl Bay. We've been doing some much interior and exterior painting lately that I think I'm getting RSI ...

We're on a pretty insane schedule in trying to make Darwin by mid June - who knows what will happen in the end - we'll keep you posted.

Any recommendations for places to not miss in the Whitsundays (Cumberland group)??

cheers, --Warren
SY Mico Verde
Mico Verde Yacht Sailing Blog Journals

[Boracay]

Don't miss Whitehaven Beach. One of the world's great beaches.

The anchorings sus though. Good for a day visit.

And don't let the locals bore you with the story of the Japanese silica thief.

[mudnut]

Pearl bay,"Is that at the back of Hayman Is?"If so just remember,ya carn't set foot on the Is itself.Nice place to anchor thou.

There is a reef due north about 40 miles so be carefull.At low tide ya can see it,cause it sticks up about 10ft,at the high ya carn't.Really big oysters on it.Mudnut.

[cat man do]

Don't miss Pancake Creek,Yellowpatch at Cape Capricorn,Waterpark Creek,Freshwater at Cape Manifold ,Island Head Creek, the beaches around the North of Island Head creek that you can land an airliner on, Hunter Island, Cape Townsend,Plumtree, Hexham Island, Curlew Island, Percy Island x2, St Bee's and Keswick,Victor Creek area, Scawfell, the back of Shaw Is in a northerly is spectacular................. Are we at the Shitsunday's yet.?

And I haven't mentioned my favourites yet.

As you would gather, I think that there are plenty of better spot's before that particular overrated and in a lot of way's spoilt group of Island's.

But don't tell everyone, I want 'em to myself.

PS make shore you check that the U.S military are'nt bombing the bejesus out of the Freshwater to Hexham Is selection before you go.

Island Head Is can be an essentual stopover on the way, and may be closed while the military has their fun with it. Bundy CG should be able to find out Via Radio Relay or Phone for you.

Dave.

[smm]

Originally Posted by cat man do

As you would gather, I think that there are plenty of better spot's before that particular overrated and in a lot of way's spoilt group of Island's.

Had 3 metre snake come on the boat in Island Head Creek. Admiral loved that.

Definitely look at some of the islands south of the Whitsundays (Goldsmith, etc.). Off limits to most of the charter fleet. Bays and islands west of Airlie are very nice too.

If you need a marina experience, I'd vote for Hamilton over Airlie.

-Scott

[Boracay]

Would that be Proserpine Island about 10 mile west of Airlie?

[cat man do]

Originally Posted by Chris31415

Would that be Proserpine Island about 10 mile west of Airlie?

Good one.

Dave

[bill good]

Should stop at Port Clinton on the way to Pearl Bay if yo can.

Regards Bill Goodward.

[micoverde]

Thanks for all the great advice! We're just waiting for these damn NE'ers to stop blowing before heading to Keppel island.

Mudnut - what's that about not being able to set foot on land in blue pearl bay??

cheers, --Warren
SY Mico Verde

[cat man do]

Originally Posted by micoverde

Thanks for all the great advice! We're just waiting for these damn NE'ers to stop blowing before heading to Keppel island.

And I thought those Monohull's were such fine windward machines

Dave

[micoverde]

HA! It's the crew that's the problem ...

[micoverde]

Just pulled into Townsville at dawn yesterday. We loved the Whitsundays - here's a few pics from the trip from Bundaberg:

Mico Verde Yacht Sailing Blog Journals

[Bill of Whitsunday]

This is a cut and paste from what I posted at Latts and Atts - but I wasn't sure where you'd see it first.

By the Way - Boracay - Laughted my arse off about "Proserpine Island" west of Airlie, being an unfortunate graduate of Proserpine High, but an Airlie Beach boy through and through. I dont know why but those Prossy guys never took to us wearing flourescent board shorts to the Rodeo and the Harvest Ball.


Welcome to Paradise

If you choose to go up Hinchinbrook Channel, stop and catch a few mud crabs in any pot or dilly, you can whip one up easily enough, they taste great, also the area is teaming with Barra, they will take any bright lure cast at the mangrove edge. If you go up the outside stop at Zoe Bay - walk to the magical waterfall.

The Palm Group - some great snorkelling, say hello the poorly funded marine biologists at the research station on Orpheus Island. A great day trip, reach out reach back, Orpheaus to Little Trunk Reef - a great mid continental shelf reef with easy clear approach from the north west, anchor on white sand surrounded by amazing coral, great drop off in the SE aspect of the reef, easy to get off and back to Orpheus if it blows up.

Dunk Isalnd is great but a little rolly.

Trip up the Daintree River is worthwhile - guarenteed to see crocks.

Cooktown - little frontier town, check out the little museum and read about Mrs Watson and her tragic vouyage in a sea slug boiler - last chnace to victual before Torres strait - you are now well into crock country - be carefull where you swim

Rocky Island - south of Lizard, small but good "lagoon" to the North West, sea bird colony, you can walk around it in 40 min, I lived on it for 120 days in my biology days - went so stir crazy I built an anti aircraft gun emplacement out of bamboo and coconuts; we made helmets out of carbord from cereal boxes and when the coast watch plane flew over we would run out and man the guns and pretend to shoot them down. You will see more of the coast watch planes further north, be prepared to be interrogated on VHF. If they dive bomb you smile for the camera.

Lizard Is - a must, good holding in Mrs Watsons cove, despite the bullets. Say hello to the well funded marine biologists at the research station.

Princess Charlotte Bay - amazing remote wilderness, watch for crocks on the beach when launchin the dingy.

Torres Strait - good hoding off Horn Island, dingy to Thursday Island - The locals are big, proud, friendly; but quick to remind you they were never cannibals, they were just head hunters, taking trophy skulls from the the smaller Aboriginies on the mainland and Papuans accross the Strait. Last chance for a reasonable but pricey supermarket, some chandlery through Savage Marine. Check out the gun emplacement on top of TI and the greavyard around the back with the Japanese Pearl diver Graves. Buy some crayfish, ore snorkle for your own if you fancy your crock wrestling skills.

Then head off accress the Gulf, no real need to go down into it unless mangrove fishing or encounters with nomadic Aboriginies is your thing.

I know you guys are in a rush - but, this is some of the best parts.

Goodonya for being in my home waters.

Have a good one.

Bill

[cat man do]

Originally Posted by Bill of Whitsunday

Trip up the Daintree River is worthwhile - guarenteed to see crocks.


Bill

There they be.

Doesnt look that big, but the mangrove trees there are huge, 40 ft ish.

The croc was about 14 ft, looked massive in a 8 ft dinghy with 6 inch freeboard.

Dave.

[Boracay]

Isn't it nice to know that the tourist operators have trained the salties to jump out of the water to grab food.

Some of them seem able to jump 4-6 ft.

You'd recon he'd have a go if he thought he could get away with it.

Just to make you feel safe in a dinghy.