The following is a table of anchorages we visited and the distances we travelled (from our GPS).
Please note that we may have travelled further than necessary because of a number of factors such as tacking, sightseeing (whale watching), and change of destination along the way. All distances are in nautical miles (M). Where we did not record a distance for a stopover, the following stop will include that distance.
| Gosford to Cairns |
| Arrival Date |
Anchorage |
Distance M |
Accum Dist |
Comments |
| Wed 07-Jun-2006 |
St Huberts Is, Gosford |
|
|
Leave home |
| |
Booker Bay |
0.0 |
0 |
Depart 8/6/06 after refuelling, etc |
| Fri 09-Jun-2006 |
Laurieton, Camden Haven |
158.8 |
159 |
Tie up to RSL club jetty, Good facilities + food at club; Careful of rock ledge part way up channel to port |
| Sat 10-Jun-2006 |
Coffs Harbour Marina |
88.0 |
247 |
Marina old, nice shops/restaurants etc v.short walk |
| Thu 15-Jun-2006 |
Marine Stadium, Southport |
162.6 |
409 |
Good anchorage if tucked into bay, otherwise lots wash |
| Wed 21-Jun-2006 |
Sovereign Is |
10.6 |
420 |
Stay with friends, Depart 1/7/06 |
| Sun 02-Jul-2006 |
Garry's Anchorage, Fraser Is |
160.4 |
580 |
Nice anchorage in Sandy Straits, mozzies |
| Mon 03-Jul-2006 |
Kingfisher Resort, Fraser Is |
19.3 |
600 |
Nice anchorage, good resort, care - strong current; Do the 4WD bus day tour of Fraser |
| Wed 05-Jul-2006 |
Gt Sandy Strait Marina, Urangan |
13.3 |
613 |
3 marinas, good food at club, ferry to Kingfisher (Fraser Is) |
| Sat 15-Jul-2006 |
Gt Sandy Strait Marina, Urangan |
30.3 |
643 |
Side trip to Fraser Is |
| Tue 18-Jul-2006 |
Port Bundaberg Marina |
47.8 |
691 |
Nice marina, BBQ Friday lunch, courtesy but to town; Prawns from seafood shop, chandlery, visit Bundy factory |
| Tue 25-Jul-2006 |
Grahams Creek, Gladston |
102.3 |
793 |
Quiet, mozzies |
| Wed 26-Jul-2006 |
Great Keppel Island |
39.1 |
833 |
Anchored off resort - nice |
| Sat 29-Jul-2006 |
Pearl Bay |
50.1 |
883 |
Delightful bay protected from S/SE |
| Sun 30-Jul-2006 |
West Bay, Middle Percy |
57.5 |
940 |
Don't forget to leave something in the hut |
| Mon 31-Jul-2006 |
Prudhoe Island |
39.6 |
980 |
A bit exposed so can be rolly |
| Tue 01-Aug-2006 |
Mackay Marina |
29.5 |
1009 |
Modern marina, restaurants, hardstand, bus to town; Refuel here as much cheaper than in Abel Pt |
| Thu 03-Aug-2006 |
Brampton Island |
21.6 |
1031 |
Not welcome at resort, nice walks |
| Fri 04-Aug-2006 |
Goldsmith Island |
16.3 |
1047 |
Nice bay, dinghy over to Farrier (bommies) |
| Sat 05-Aug-2006 |
Thomas Island |
10.2 |
1057 |
Nice protected, stopped for lunch, nice swimming |
| |
Shaw Island |
|
1057 |
Protected - did not go ashore - whales in bay |
| Sun 06-Aug-2006 |
Gap Beach, Lindeman Island |
15.0 |
1072 |
Nice bay but awkward to land dinghy - nice walk over island |
| Mon 07-Aug-2006 |
Sawmill Beach #2, Cid Harbour |
18.7 |
1091 |
Over 70 boats hiding here from SE winds |
| Tue 08-Aug-2006 |
Stonehaven #1 |
12.1 |
1103 |
Moorings - Here in Strong SE & was ok |
| Wed 09-Aug-2006 |
Butterfly Bay #2 |
4.0 |
1107 |
Moorings - Delightful Bay, bit rolly. Nice riverbeds ashore |
| Thu 10-Aug-2006 |
Blue Pearl Bay, Hayman Is |
|
1107 |
Moorings - Good diving, saw whale close to shore |
| |
Bauer Bay, South Mole Is |
21.8 |
1129 |
Good anchorage, nice resort, delightful walk to top |
| Fri 11-Aug-2006 |
Airlie Beach |
8.9 |
1138 |
Anchor off sailing club and dinghy ashore for provisions |
| |
Bauer Bay, South Mole Is |
8.8 |
1147 |
Fri Polynesian night - nice dinner,ordinary show |
| Sun 13-Aug-2006 |
Macona Inlet #2, Hook Is |
8.8 |
1155 |
Nice anchorage, quieter than Nara Inlet |
| Tue 15-Aug-2006 |
Whitehaven opposite Hill Inlet |
13.6 |
1169 |
Spectacular beach, delightful Hill Inlet walk to top |
| |
Tongue Bay |
|
1169 |
Moorings. We anchored closein, swell in some conditions |
| Thu 17-Aug-2006 |
Nara Inlet (Refuge Bay) Hook Is |
15.8 |
1185 |
Can get busy in bad weather, nice walk |
| Fri 18-Aug-2006 |
Hook Is Observatory |
0.0 |
1185 |
Nice. We picked up mooring, resort cheap backpackers |
| |
Nara Inlet (Refuge Bay) Hook Is |
0.0 |
1185 |
(No distances as went on another boat) |
| Sat 19-Aug-2006 |
Happy Bay, Long Is |
18.1 |
1203 |
Club Crocodile, nice seafood dinner, prefer to anchor |
| Sun 20-Aug-2006 |
Airlie Beach |
11.5 |
1214 |
As above. Sunday markets in park. |
| Mon 21-Aug-2006 |
Abel Point Marina |
1.3 |
1216 |
Need to book for fuel (8c cheaper on new jetty), book gas; Taxi to Centro for provisions (bus not much cheaper for 2); Butcher next to Woolies will cryovac - excellent; Warning - charge berthing fee for fuel if not in marina |
| Tue 22-Aug-2006 |
Airlie Beach |
1.3 |
1217 |
As above, nice meal in club |
| Wed 23-Aug-2006 |
Sawmill Bay #1, Cid Harbour |
15.6 |
1233 |
as above |
| Thu 24-Aug-2006 |
Turtle Bay, Whitsunday Is |
|
1233 |
Nice Bay, no turtles seen, but whales off Hemming Is |
| Fri 25-Aug-2006 |
Airlie Beach |
36.7 |
1269 |
as above |
| Sat 26-Aug-2006 |
Abel Point (Anchor off breakwall) |
|
1269 |
Crewed on Montage for Multihull regatta |
| Wed 06-Sep-2006 |
Abel Point Marina |
|
1269 |
Book bus to airport, pickup at marina |
| Sun 10-Sep-2006 |
Abel Point (Anchor off breakwall) |
1.5 |
1271 |
Careful of dragging anchor on SE side of entrance |
| Mon 11-Sep-2006 |
Woodwark Bay #2 |
|
1271 |
Nice protection from SE |
| Sat 16-Sep-2006 |
Abel Point (Anchor off breakwall) |
19.0 |
1290 |
Cheaper fuel closed weekends |
| Wed 20-Sep-2006 |
Double Bay |
10.8 |
1301 |
Small grey nurse sharks, trevally, damaged crab pot |
| Sat 23-Sep-2006 |
Gloucester Eco Resort |
18.3 |
1319 |
Moorings, friendly resort caters for yachts, $20/night $70pw; Nice pool, bar and restaurant |
| Thu 28-Sep-2006 |
Bowen Marina |
13.0 |
1332 |
Pile berths $9.25/night, nice town, see murals; IGA distance out of main town;Buy 5kg frozen green prawns (see cruising log) |
| Fri 06-Oct-2006 |
Cape Upstart |
41.6 |
1374 |
Nice anchorage, walk ashore near point |
| Sun 08-Oct-2006 |
Cape Bowling Green |
36.6 |
1410 |
Nice anchorage, not rowling like everyone says |
| Mon 09-Oct-2006 |
Horeshoe Bay, Magnetic Is |
34.2 |
1444 |
Nice anchorage, careful of dragging. Nice coffee shops, etc; Bus around island or Moke hire, ferry to Townsville expensive |
| Sat 14-Oct-2006 |
Angus Is at Hinchinbrook Is |
58.9 |
1503 |
Nice anchorage but nothing else - near Zoe Bay |
| Sun 15-Oct-2006 |
Mourilyan Harbour |
50.6 |
1554 |
Small harbour, anchor behind yellow buoys in shallows; Easily missed entrance between mountains |
| Mon 16-Oct-2006 |
Half Moon Bay Marina, Yorkeys Knob |
63.0 |
1617 |
Nice clubhouse, bus to Cairns; Do the Cape Tribulation tour through the Daintree |
| Cairns to Southport |
| Arrival Date |
Anchorage |
Distance M |
Accum Dist |
Comments |
| |
Half Moon Bay Marina, Yorkeys Knob |
0.0 |
0 |
Depart Yorkeys Knob, Cairns |
| Thu 02-Nov-2006 |
Fitzroy Is |
20.2 |
20 |
Nice anchorage, good swimming, little else |
| Fri 03-Nov-2006 |
Mourilyan Harbour |
44.3 |
65 |
as above |
| Sat 04-Nov-2006 |
Dunk Is |
24.7 |
89 |
Nice anchorage, swimming, bar at resort; Water taxi to Mission Beach, or ferry. Doesn’t run in winds |
| Sun 05-Nov-2006 |
North Is, Brook Islands |
16.9 |
106 |
Mooring - Batt fish will eat out of your hands, swimming; Protected area - no fishing !! Aerial surveillance; Absolute must |
| Mon 06-Nov-2006 |
Dunk Is |
21.5 |
128 |
as above |
| Tue 07-Nov-2006 |
North Is, Brook Islands |
15.7 |
143 |
as above |
| Wed 08-Nov-2006 |
Horeshoe Bay, Magnetic Is |
70.9 |
214 |
as above |
| Sat 11-Nov-2006 |
Cape Bowling Green |
47.9 |
262 |
as above (flat but rough outside) |
| Sun 12-Nov-2006 |
Greys Bay (Queens Bay) |
|
262 |
stopover to buy more prawns !! |
| |
Gloucester Eco Resort |
82.0 |
344 |
as above - caught large blue trevally on mooring |
| Tue 14-Nov-2006 |
Gloucester Is (south in channel) |
|
344 |
Protected from NE, caught large golden bream (released) |
| Thu 16-Nov-2006 |
Abel Pt Marina |
25.5 |
370 |
as above |
| Fri 17-Nov-2006 |
Woodwark Bay |
9.3 |
379 |
as above, Protected from SE |
| Tue 21-Nov-2006 |
Abel Pt Marina |
9.5 |
388 |
as above |
| Tue 05-Dec-2006 |
Shaw Island |
37.0 |
425 |
as above |
| Wed 06-Dec-2006 |
Mackay Marina |
52.2 |
478 |
as above, friendly, lifted boat + antifouled waiting weather |
| Tue 12-Dec-2006 |
Hunter Is |
96.4 |
574 |
Protected from SE & NE, expected change overnight |
| Wed 13-Dec-2006 |
Pearl Bay |
58.5 |
633 |
as above, shovel nosed sharks and stingrays near beach |
| Thu 14-Dec-2006 |
Yellow Patch |
77.4 |
710 |
A must but high tide + small seas required for access; Huge sandblow is orange, cruisers marked entrance |
| Fri 15-Dec-2006 |
Port Bundaberg |
109.8 |
820 |
as above (anchored off marina overnight) |
| Sat 16-Dec-2006 |
Gt Sandy Strait Marina |
46.8 |
867 |
as above |
| Mon 18-Dec-2006 |
Pelican Pt (near Wide Bay Bar) |
39.3 |
906 |
Anchorage OK in fresh SE, wait overnight for bar crossing |
| Tue 19-Dec-2006 |
Tangalooma |
98.1 |
1004 |
Nice anchorage but told gets rough in strong winds; No time to venture ashore but looks great |
| Wed 20-Dec-2006 |
Brown Is (near Sovereign Is) |
48.6 |
1053 |
Gold Coast - back to the Riv wash!! |
| Hervey Bay (Urangan) to Mackay |
| Start |
Destination |
Approx Dist.M |
Comment on Destination |
| Hervey Bay (Urangan) |
Burnet River (Port of Bundaberg) |
45 |
Port of Bundaberg Marina is excellent. It is 1.5M upriver, 16km from town. Buses every hour. This is the most suitable of the 3 marina's. |
| Burnet River (Port of Bundaberg) |
Round Hill |
46 |
Town of Seventeen Seventy. Go in on high tide only (not visited) |
| Round Hill |
Pancake Creek Creek |
12 |
Shallower entrance than reported. Go in no sooner than mid tide and hug the port buoys. Uncharted port buoy on Clews Point. Pass close to it. Midges in the mangroves |
| Bustard Head-Pancake Creek |
Lady Musgrave |
35 |
Arrive when sun is overhead and at low-tide(not visitied) |
| Pancake Creek Creek |
Gladstone |
30 |
Poor anchoring in Gladstone Harbour. Entrance to the Narrows. Must go through on the right tides to clear drying banks. Cattle cross at low tide! (not visited) |
| Pancake Creek Creek |
Cape Capricorn |
45 |
Anchor off the Sand Blow. Sand, excellent holding in all weathers (not visited but looked good) |
| Cape Capricorn |
Hummocky Island |
7 |
not worth the uncomfortable night |
| Pancake Creek Creek |
Hummocky Island |
55 |
Incredible swell.Very,very rolly. Actually thrown around in galley when cooking. |
| Hummocky Island |
Rosslyn Bay Marina |
27 |
Excellent Marina with courtesy car available and a regular bus service. 6 klm's to Yeppon. |
| Rosslyn Bay Marina |
Great Keppel Island |
8 |
Fantastic spot. Has enough small bays to accommodate all wind directions |
| Rosslyn Bay Marina |
Port Clinton |
42 |
All weather haven |
| Rosslyn Bay Marina |
Pearl Bay |
45 |
Pretty bay. Can be uncomfortable in on shore winds |
| Rosslyn Bay Marina |
Island Head Creek |
50 |
All weather haven. Excellent cyclone hole. Midgees are there in abundance. Turles sighted. Tricky to get in. Follow the northern entrance off the sand bank, hugging the rock. |
| Island Head Creek |
Percy Islands |
45 |
Worth a visit. No safe anchorage in developed winds. Whites Bay good in a NE. Watch the midgees in the hut in West Bay |
| Middle Percy Is. |
MacKay Marina |
65 |
Excellent Marina. Long way into town. Buses service the marina |