Fitzroy Island

Before we go to Fitzroy, I have to include this photo of an Osprey whose eyes were larger than its belly when it caught this fish at Normanby Island.  Ian took this photo after wandering off by himself when he got sick of waiting around for me while I was taking photos in rock pools.

Ospreys have very powerful and sharp talons.  They have been known to drown after locking into a fish that is too large to carry.

On route to Fitzroy Is, we stopped at High Is, the northernmost of the Frankland Group.  Our anchorage bible 'Going Troppo', tells us that the diving is spectacular around here.  We were curious to look as we thought the other islands were hard to beat.

It is a case of the quick and the dead as far as moorings go, and we found that the only mooring was taken.  We found a good spot a reasonable depth and dropped our anchor.  As usual, we spend a few anxious minutes watching for clues that our anchor is dragging.  Clues such as a grinding noise as the anchor drags over the bottom, or the island whizzing past and disappearing into the distance.

We didn't have to wait too long before we noticed that the island was receding, so we upped that anchor and continued on to Fitzroy.

We had better luck at Fitzroy, not with a mooring, but at least our anchor held.  

As it is only 30km from Cairns, it is a popular day trip for both tourists who can access the island by ferry, and with local boat owners.

It is one of the larger islands in the area, covering 339 hectares.  Tourists are able to stay on the island which has a resort and a small camping ground.  

Also on the island is a turtle rehabilitation centre and a lighthouse, numerous walking tracks and coral reef surrounds.

Time to put on the snorkelling gear, we are getting addicted.  This turtle seemed quite unafraid of me taking his photo.  Maybe he is one of the rescued turtles.

This movie-let goes for 2.45 min and uses 8mb

As you can see from the movie, I had lots of fun with my camera.  I felt bad that Ian didn't have an underwater camera.  I needn't have felt bad though.  While I was down there, Ian popped up next to me. . . . .  with a camera? ? ?

He found it amongst the coral.  Someone must have lost it while boating or swimming.  It was a good find but we had to do the right thing and try to return it to its owner. We called the resort to let them know that we (Ian) had found a camera.  We had no response from the owner.  I doubt that anyone would report a lost camera if it was lost in the ocean.  

Ian has an underwater camera too now!







It was almost full moon that night, so we decided to follow the walking track to the old lighthouse.  
It was good exercise walking up the steep track, but we had to come back the following day to see it properly.  

Like most lighthouses, it has now been replaced by a solar powered beacon which is located on Little Fitzroy Is, a short distance from the main island.

I'm being obliging on this trip by adding a few photos of myself that Ian has taken.  The above one is the approach to the lighthouse, the one on the right is standing off a short distance to the lighthouse.  You can see the ocean in the distance.  The view over the Great Barrier Reef is fantastic.  What a life for a lighthouse keeper.  I suppose that could be said for any lighthouse keeper.

After exploring the lighthouse area, we continue up the track to the summit of Fitzroy Is which is 269m high.  You can see over the resort area, in the above photo, to where the boats are anchored.  Whew, ours is still there!  In the distance is Cape Grafton, part of the mainland coast.

We followed the path down the other side of the hill, feeling sorry for the people we passed going up.  We were experienced and had left at first light while the day was still cool.  They hadn't.

We kept a lookout for Major Skinks, which we had seen the day before on one of those rare occasions that we didn't have our cameras with us.  They had been numerous so we weren't too perturbed - till today when we couldn't find any.

Taken by Ian

But we did find quite a few of these colourful little Rainbow Skinks.







It was time to head back to Port Douglas on a brisk south-easterly.  We made good time.  We must have impressed this Black Noddy who swooped in and decided this would be a good place to land and have a bit of shut-eye.  

He features at the end of my     movie-let have a sleep and rocking to and fro on the waves.  He let Ian pick him up to relocate him to a better spot on the boat, but was quite happy to sit there on Ian's hand instead.




We're back in Cairns now, getting ready to sail again this week.  

We would like to sail south for now, and explore the east coast, but it's up to the weather man which direction we'll head off to first.

To "The Tip" and beyond

We left Lizard Island on 30 July and had a short sail to Howick Island.  We arrived early afternoon which gave the great white hunter and his trusty assistant time to throw a line in.  Yippee!!!!!!!!  The assistant caught a fish of the smaller variety and decided to keep it for dinner.  Then the great white hunter showed her how it was done and caught a lovely Spanish Mackerel Which was big enough to feed us for a week.  The assistant threw her fish back in.

The next day we set sail for Flinders Islands.  We had the islands to ourselves, Ian couldn't believe there weren't half a dozen boats at least, moored there.




Sunrise at Flinders Is.












We got up early the next day, packed our cameras and snacks and were off exploring.  As usual, the first thing I look for is birds.  It wasn't long before Ian had located the source of the new birdsong we were hearing.

It was the Red-headed Honeyeater  which occurs  across the top of Australia from about Cooktown to Broome. It was exciting for me because I had been looking for one for a few years now.

We saw lots of lizard tracks and finally found a lizard.  It was a Sand Monitor.  It must have been what Captain Cook found and named Lizard Island after.


Flinders Island is quite steep and rocky.  We climbed almost to the top.  We needed the exercise and the view was worth it.  When we got to the bottom the great white hunter was at it again.

This time it was oysters.  They put up a good fight and he had to wrestle them to the ground, but lucky he had a knife with him.  

It was Oysters Kilpatrick when we got back to the boat.








We set out next on 2 Aug to Morris Is.  Not much wind today and we had to motor some of it, but the blue of the sky and turquoise water with an occasional sandy cay and light beacon gave the day an ethereal quality. 

Morris Island was a surprise because of the unusual vegetation.  From a distance it seemed to be bristly.  

The other thing is it was supposed to have only one tree. Someone must have thought it was lonely and planted another.

Although it was already 5 o'clock when we anchored, we couldn't resist a quick visit to the island because it was so unusual.  This photo shows the vast expanse of sand reef which seems to go on forever, off the end of the island.

 We found this little fellow dining on one of the plants (some sort of cactus thing with a large yellow flower head).  I thought it was a rat at first glance but it doesn't have a pointy face like a rat.  I've put 2 photos of him here in the hope that someone can enlighten us.

Ian found some really nice timber which he had to reluctantly part with when we went back to the boat.





The next day (3 Aug) we set sail for Shelburne Bay Which is even more spectacular than Cape Flattery for its silicon sand dunes.  As we passed Hicks Island, Ian spotted a huge flock of birds on the horizon.  As we neared, we saw thousands of Black Noddys all in a feeding frenzy.  At one stage they came straight past the boat.  The birds were after a small fish which we couldn't see, but we did see the larger fish which were hunting the small fish in competition with the birds.

The great white hunter once again set to work, but it was all in vain.  The fish weren't interested in a lure when the real thing was to be had.

To add to the excitement of the day, we had some fun company for a while.









The following night we anchored at Portland Roads, just north of Cape Weymouth where the early explorer, Kennedy, had to leave 8 of his men to make a dash for the north.  We didn't go ashore as the tide was too far out and we would have had to drag the dinghy over a large area of reef and mangrove sludge. Yuk!

Sun 5 Aug we anchored at the Escape River where Kennedy met his death but his trusty assistant, Jacky Jacky, managed to escape and finally reach the Ariel to be rescued.

We sailed out at sunrise to another beautiful day.

The following day, 6 Aug, we sailed up the last leg of the east coast and anchored at Mt Adolphus Island.  When Ian said that he wanted to go there (it's about 7nm northwest of Cape York Peninsular) I said "why do you want to go there?"








When we got there I was glad and couldn't think of anywhere else I would want to stay.  It was sheltered and lined with mangroves, sandy beaches and rocks in interesting segments.  It had hills (which we didn't climb) and it had Mangrove Robins!  I'd never seen these before either.  





Mangroves are beautiful, if you can withstand the midgies.     




















This little tuft of reeds found an unfortunate place to call home.  They are in a rock depression which gathered a bit of soil and must have held water long enough for them to take root.








7 Aug and we left Mt Adolphus Island to sail past "The Tip" and then south to Seisia.  First thing we did was gather up our laundry, grab some shampoo and towels and head over to the camping ground for some overdue scrubbing.  A bit of shopping for some fresh food and we had everything we wanted - almost.  

We had run out of wine two days ago and were having withdrawals.  Lucky, a friend of Jesses (Ian's daughter) lives at Bamaga and came to our rescue.  We couldn't get to Bamaga without a car and the only bottle shop was in Bamaga. Thanks Dan.

  

The next day was for walking and taking photos. It wasn't long before we saw the iconic Palm Cockatoo.  Ian wasn't as enthused as I thought he should have been.  When questioned, he said he thought they were really common and he was expecting to see them.  I explained that I have taken tours to Cape York with people whose main desire was to see a Palm Cockatoo, and they are not always to be seen. 

  Looking along the beach to Seisia jetty (around the corner).

Early morning fishing seems to be the order of the day in this part of the world.

 Ian can see this Striated Heron, which lurks along the foreshore, becoming a comic character.

 A White-throated Honeyeater gather some nice soft spider-webs for his nest. 

Tomorrow we leave for Darwin.  We're planning in going straight over the top without stops.