ORPHEUS ISLAND TO ZOE BAY AND CAPE RICHARDS

With the conditions improving and the forecast for light winds we made the decision to head up the outside (eastern side) of Hinchinbrook Island to Zoe Bay which was reputed to be one of the nicest bays on the east cost.

Weather was good enough for a sail up in company

It certainly did not disappoint. At the southern end of the beach is a path that takes you through the bush to a series of rock pools fed by an all year round waterfall.

 

 

Whilst Zoe Bay is a lovely place it is certainly not suitable for an overnight anchorage with the bay completely open to the swell. We headed to Cape Richards at the northern end of Hinchinbrook Island.

 

Went ashore to explore the remnants of the Cape Richards resort which was damaged by cyclone and then mysteriously caught fire.

 

 

It certainly would have been a great location, this is the view from the resort's beach

 

And of course the post ends with ABS

 

 



FANTOME ISLAND TO ORPHEUS ISLAND

From Fantome Island our next destination was Orpheus Island. Original plan was to anchor at Yanks Jetty but the SE wind and sell made it pretty unpleasant to we headed to Pioneer Bay which is also home to the marine research station from JCU (James Cook University).

With a few days of the same weather spent some time just relaxing with some drinks on the beach, a walk into the middle of the island and a trip to the research station to be shown around.

 

They even have a live webcam on the reef where you can watch the fish swimming around the coral (it is used for schools to have education on the reef)
https://www.jcu.edu.au/orpheus-island/discover

The bay is also the home to more than 3000 giant clams which were originally put there more than 30 years ago as part of a research PHD. We know this because we actually met the guy who started this when we are at the Cane Toad Races at the Arcadia Pub on magnetic island. At low tide you can drift your dinghy over the clams and see all the different colours as they are just below the surface.

 

 

FANTOME ISLAND

We departed early to go to Fantome Island which is also part of the Palm Island group. There was a settlement established on the island for residents of Palm Island who needed to be separated from the rest of the population due to various diseases. It was later turned into a leprosarium as the Queensland Govt worked out they could house aboriginal lepers on the island far cheaper than keeping them in Brisbane. Unbelievably it was only closed down in 1973 and the foundations remain (they burnt all the buildings)

 

 

 

As the island has a fringing reef ( a reef that surrounds the island) you have to anchor quite a way off and go ashore at high tide. We arrived as the tide was going out so had to leave quite quickly before we were stranded on the island

 

 

After raising the anchor at Fantome Island sailed to Orpheus Island to anchor in Pioneer Bay.

 

 

 

MAGNETIC ISLAND TO PALM ISLAND

Left Magnetic Island to sail to Palm Island which is an aboriginal settlement (well that is not how it started as it was where the Queensland Govt sent the aborigines who were not considered suitable to live on the mainland.

 

We anchored in Challenger Bay for the evening and enjoyed a spectacular sunset. Palm Island is reportedly one of the best locations in Queensland for sunsets.

 

 

NELLY BAY TO HORSESHOE BAY

After a few days at Nelly Bay it was time to start our last leg north. First stop was back to Horseshoe Bay on the northern side of Magnetic Island.

We took the opportunity to anchor at one of the many bays for lunch - this one was Balding Bay which is only accessible by boat or walking track.

As we were getting ready to leave the marina the owner of the boat next to offered us some fish he had caught out on the reef - we ended up with a plate of Nannygai which he assured us was one of the best eating white fish. As he was a professional fisherman we trusted his judgement. But no reason to doubt him, you can see the results of our BBQ dinner. Sure beats having to catch and fillet it yourself.

And this was the view from Horseshoe Bay, ABS where we picked up the chips to go with our fish.

MAGNETIC ISLAND

Spent the day exploring Magnetic Island.

First stop was Picnic Bay which was the location of the original jetty that was used for the first ferry service from Townsville before the new marina and ferry jetty was built at Nelly Bay. Almost picture perfect

 

 

This was the view from the hill above Picnic Bay.

 

 

We were able to get around the island to explore because we hired a topless car. Great name for a car rental company - Topless Car Rentals. It was actually a converted Daihatsu Charade. Notice the odometer reading 289,280

 

 

 



 

 

 

 

Next stop was the "Fort Walk", which is a walk to the hill where they constructed the gun emplacements to protect Townsville during WWII. Spectacular views over Magnetic Island. Even more special is the area you walk through is home to wild Koalas including mothers with their babies.

 

 

 

 

 

Nelly Bay Marina is actually part of the Peppers Resort so your marina berth really is in the middle of everything. It was good to know that there was no cyclone danger. The passenger and vehicle ferries leave from the marina. Luckily our berth was not next to the ferry wharf, our friends now know the safety briefing off by heart as the ferry runs 14 times per day.

 





 

NELLY BAY MARINA

Re-fuelling day.

After a quite morning doing chores (Sonia cleaning boat, washing) whilst David went to a meeting in Townsville, it was time to re-fuel.

Magnetic Island Marina does not have a re-fuelling jetty. The only way to put some more diesel in your boat is to borrow the car from the marina. This is free of charge as long as you put some fuel in it. We soon discovered why. We nicknamed the car "The Beast", it was an old V8 Range Rover that had more than 200,000kms on the clock and a very leaky exhaust system. But it did the job.

The process was
a) take 20l jerry cans to the petrol station a kilometre down the road
b) fill up and pay a lot of money, you can see the price below

c) carry all the jerry cans down to the boats
d) fill up boat
e) repeat until all boats are done

Total 21 jerry cans.

Bill: 2 Jerrys

David T and David W: 6 Jerrys each

Jim 7 Jerrys

 

After spending the afternoon on this someone commented it would have been just as cost effective to motor across to Townsville and fill up (and cheaper), but not where near as much "fun"