Beautiful Lizard Island lived up to its reputation.
Keith climbed up to Captain Cook’s lookout where he tried to find a route through the reefs.
Amazing kapok trees grow wild on the island.
And the snorkelling was the best we’d enjoyed in a long while, in beautiful turquoise water.
We caught a fish, at last, with a golden bomber lure we’d bought in Cooktown.
After rounding Cape Melville, the weather deteriorated and we spent 3 days at anchor in gusts of up to 50knts!
We finally escaped the 15nm to Flinders Islands where these other boats had been holed up during the gales.
There isn’t much shelter as we head further north…
We finally escaped the 15nm to Flinders Islands where these other boats had been holed up during the gales.
… even the fishing fleet waited out the weather at Morris Island.
The Australian ‘Portland Roads’ – nothing like the UK place of the same name.
After rounding Cape Grenville, Margaret Bay was a lovely anchorage.
There were huge tides, though – this is at low water…
… and the same place at high water!
There was a great ‘blue’ walk across the cape to Indian Bay (follow the blue items for about 1km…)
… and the cruisers have left their calling cards using flotsam collected from the beach.
Indian Bay was a beautiful expanse of white sandy beach with delightful coconut palms to add to the attraction.
Cairncross Island – another tiny island offering marginal shelter for an overnight stay.
Albany Passage is a shortcut to Cape York…
… Keith enjoyed helming through the narrow passage.
Cape York at last – the northern-most tip of mainland Australia!
Possession Island, where Captain Cook took possession of the east coast of New South Wales from 38 degrees latitude to ‘this place’.
Seisia in the Gulf of Carpentaria is a small community serviced by weekly supply barges.
We hitch-hiked/walked into the town (about 5km) to buy some beer (limited to one case per vehicle!)
After a calm crossing of the Gulf, we anchored at Truant Island, part of the English Company Islands
Then it was on to Wigram Island, another of the English Company Islands.
The Hole in the Wall is a scary shortcut through the Wessel Island chain. We still can’t see the opening and have to take it on faith.
At last the opening appears, but still looks very narrow!
The opening gets wider, thankfully.
It is just as well we got the tide calculation right – our normal speed is about 6-7 knots!
Guruliya Bay on Raragala Island in the Wessel Islands.
The wet season is starting to build and this waterspout was a bit too close for comfort.
With so little wind we were running low on fuel and had to stop at Elcho Island, an aboriginal community.
Several trips later we had enough diesel to continue – at $2.50 per litre (about $1 dearer than Queensland).
The local kids enjoying a swim…
Haul Around Island at the mouth of the Liverpool River – not a very tall island, but a surprisingly good anchorage!
North Goulburn Island offered an isolated walk ashore…
North Goulburn Island offered an isolated walk ashore…
…but there were signs of previous habitation!
On our way we were surprised to see this entire structure being transported intact!
Port Essington is a large harbour with lots of bays to explore and spectacular storms and sunsets.
The information centre has a good display.
…evidence of a crocodile – very scary.
We were able to explore one of the streams by dinghy, keeping a careful watch for crocs…
Keith was hoping to catch a barramundi…
The beaches were strewn with shells and we collected some magnificent examples.
The beaches were strewn with shells and we collected some magnificent examples.
From 1838 to 1849 the British tried to settle the area and finally abandoned it due to disease and drought.
The ruins make an interesting excursion.
The hospital ruins had a magnificent outlook.
And there was even a brickworks set up.
This cane toad wasn’t going to move for anyone!
The afternoon thunderstorms were becoming rather too regular!
But the sunsets were amazing.
Keith has been planting coconuts along the way to try to beautify the arid shorelines!
There is a luxury resort in the area where we enjoyed a very civilized afternoon talking to the manager.
We finally arrive in Darwin after a boisterous final passage across the Van Diemen Gulf in pitch black – except for the lightning!
