Fitzroy Island - Thursday 13th Sept – Wednesday 19th 2012

Fitzroy Island

16’55.694S – 145’59.271S
Thursday 13^th Sept – Wednesday 19^th
Thursday: sail out of Mourilyan at 0530hr – arrive 1330h


leaving Mourilyan Harbour - goodbye big ship

the seas noth of Innisfail - Peggey Jane following

sunrise at sea

looking out the saloon hatch (window)

MrJ hauling in the big one that broke my reel

Fitzroy Island is a National Park, 25 km SE of Cairns, is rugged with diverse landscapes featuring granite outcrops, open woodlands, rainforest, mangroves and coral beaches. It is surrounded by fringing reef, which is the home to a variety of tropical fish and coral life. Fringing reef is a type of coral reef located only in the tropics, which is found directly off the shoreline growing in a thin strip. Fitzroy Island and its surrounding reef make up part of the
Great Barrier Reef, a protected World Heritage Site, and one of the seven natural wonders of the world. One of the unspoilt islands on the Great Barrier Reef, the majority of Fitzroy Island is a National Island Park. The continental island is 339 hectares in size, with 324 hectares of protected National Park. This includes mangroves, open woodland, tropical pristine rainforest and coral beaches best experienced by the walking trails around the island, birdlife, coral reef and tropical marine life including green sea turtles.

the first sunrise at Fitzroy Island





a very popular sport on the water



the jetty

looking out from Foxy's Bar

Fitzroy Island is a safe anchorage in calm weather, there are a couple of public moorings but we prefer to anchor. To protect the marine park, it is important to only anchor on sand and avoid shallow beach access to the island. This prevents coral damage caused by anchors and chains dragging across the reef. There are no facilities for disposal of garbage or taking on fresh water.

the arm comes to Fitzroy

the anchorage

Jenny & Irwin

Brian & Annette's boat

The island has a very colourful and interesting History, starting with its original separation from the mainland (about 8000 years ago), at the end of the last Ice Age, and from then on with its continuing Aboriginal cultural links, mainly for visiting hunting trips and recreation. There were also links with England’s Captain Cook and (much later) use of the island for a considerable time as a significant Chinese Quarantine Station (for the Queensland goldfields). Subsequently it was used as a Mission School and then, during World War II, as a Coast Watch Station. The island has also been important as a significant Lighthouse Base, with the last permanent lighthouse structures on the main island still being an important community attraction. Since its closure the marine community has been serviced with an automatic lighthouse based on the adjacent Little Fitzroy Island. There has been both a Giant Clam farm at Welcome Bay and now a Tourist Resort and Day Visitor Centre.

sunrise

plankton drifts in with the northerly winds

Fitzroy Island National Park offers some amazing walking opportunities; walking is one of the best ways to explore and experience the different rainforest flora and fauna on the Island. There are five main walking trails on the island that range from 30 minutes to 3 hours, each at varying fitness levels.

The Secret Garden Track, which we did last year (short walk), takes you for a pleasant walk from the western edge of the jetty up through tropical rainforest around huge granite boulders.

rainforest track to Nudey Beach

This time MrJ and I did the Nudey Beach track (short walk) and my ankle held up, bonus!,  This is a relatively easy walk from the western edge of the jetty through tropical rainforest and coast woodlands leading to the beautiful white coral beach. Nudey Beach is the most popular place for swimming and snorkelling on the Island.

part of the walkway/lookout on the way to Nudeys

Nudeys Beach

southern end of Nudeys Beach

MrJ explore the large rock formations

huge sandstone rock on the beach

MrJ play hide and seek

Lighthouse Road (long walk about 3 ½ km 2 hours return – strenuous in places), is a very steep concrete road that leads from the north-eastern end of Welcome Bay climbing through rainforest towards the lighthouse. You will come across a lookout during your ascent with offers views of the Northern side of the island on a clear day. From the lighthouse you will discover spectacular 360 degree views of Fitzroy Island and the surrounding ocean, which make the difficult walk worth the effort. We also did this one last year.

Summit Track which I have never done, (long walk about 3 k 3 hours return), is recommended only for fit walkers as it is very steep. The Summit can be accessed via the Lighthouse Road Trail, but walkers will have to return the same way they came, once reaching the Summit (269m). Views of the Island, the Coral Sea and the mountain ranges are the perfect spot to relax and take in the scenery.


near the water sports shack

weekend water sports

Fitzroy Island National Park is home to a diversity of animal life on the island and in the surrounding waters. Colourful hard and soft corals and a variety of marine animals can be found amongst the fringing reef just metres from the beach.

On the Island, you could come across many of the unique species found in this tropical region. Bird life on the Island includes emerald doves, sulphur-crested cockatoos, orange-footed scrub fowls, ospreys, buff-breasted paradise kingfishers and pied imperial-pigeons.
The brightly coloured blue Ulysses butterfly only found in Far North Queensland and red flying foxes frequent the area. The largest predator on the island is the 1.2m long yellow-spotted monitor which is often seen around the jetty area.

Fitzroy offers, in separate locations, accommodation ranging from affordable four star Resort, to Divers, to Day Trippers, and Camping. The campgrounds include showers, toilets and BBQ facilities, as well as picnic tables. You will need to supply your own drinking water and food. The Dive & Activities Centre, the Pacific Islands Store (shop) and Foxy’s Bar & Café are open to all-comers. During our stay, MrJ and I had a couple of sundowner at Foxy’s.

sunset from Foxys

 Sunday I dropped the kayak and went for a paddle; the water was a bit choppy but it felt good to be out and about.

a shellfish mollusk ledge on a large rock out from the island

taken from above the water

Tuesday I was feeling a bit sick with a bad headache and not from over indulging in red wine, but this did not stop me from going ashore to meet friends and go exploring. MrJ is still rowing the dinghy.

WOW comes into the anchorage

Backchat sailed over to the coast on Monday; Cassini and Peggy Jane sail out on the Wednesday

a glassed out morning

Thursday we left for Cairns.

A Week in Mourilyan Harbour

A Sailor's warning sunrise in Mourilyan Harbour



Thursday 13^th Sept 2012 – A Week in Mourilyan Harbour

Friday 7^th - MrJ and I leave Dunk Island mid morning to sail for Mourilyan Harbour, catching another Spotty, 75cm, on the way and just in time for lunch. No, I kept it for a BBQ dinner.

Then we hook something big, too big for MrJ to reel in; he struggles for ½ an hour getting the fish to nearly 15mts from the boat before the huge fish breaks the reel and snaps the line. Buggar...! I be thinkin’ that our tackle be too light...!

Just as we were approaching Mourilyan harbour entrance we heard a call on the VHF radio to VMR from a boat that was trying to enter with motor troubles. There was no response from the VMR; we think that they are only operational on weekends, so MrJ answered the boat’s call and this is how we came to meet Jonathan and Joey off Peggy Jane. Peggy Jane got in ok and so did we and it is raining again.

MrJ and I choose to anchor just behind the big yellow marker buoys for the shipping swing basin. The big tanker ships come in from time to time to load produce like sugar, molasses and livestock for overseas and it is not healthy to be caught inside the limits of the swing basin if you value your life or your boat.

Saturday through to Wednesday

rainy day

 

MrJ spend most of our time on board doing our writings and photos. Not all time is spent on the computers but when the weather is foul there is not much else to do.  MrJ is also helping Jonathan to solve his motor problems as well as taking care of any maintenance or repairs on AR but still no luck in the out board department so we (MrJ) are  still rowing to shore. Jonathan also enlists the help of one of the trawler fellers and is given the use of a car to run into the small town of Mourilyan for supplies and parts. Jonathan and Joey bring me back a loaf of bread and a fresh paw-paw.

rain clouds in the early morning & a fishing boat goes out

row row row your boat!

Saturday: During the afternoon we have Jonathan and Joey over for sundowners and dinner as a treat for all the mess that their boat is in through all the work that they are doing on their motor.
Sunday morning we have morning tea on Peggy Jane and have a lovely chit chat while the weather howls around outside. What a lovely old wooden boat Peggy Jane is.
Jonathan gives our dinghy a tow back to AR.


Jonathan

Joey

 

inside Peggy Jane

Joey's shell doll

artwork on the wall

artwork on the wall

Jonathan's drawings



Joey's weaving

all smiles

 

 

 

 

 

Monday: The weather clears long enough for MrJ and I to go ashore.

The new double boat ramp that was started last year has been finished and was in good use. Several small boat were tied up to one side, fishing boat were constantly using the other side and people were on the central pontoon fishing.

 

MrJ and I chatted with one of the fishermen, while watching him sort his net catching of no-keeper undersized barracuda which were being thrown back but the sea bird were snavelling the fish up as soon or even before they hit the water.

Ashore, the local VMR building and facilities were still there. Next to the VMR is a new large car park for boats and trailers and behind this car park is a very large yard full of stacked timber that had been recovered from last year’s cyclone clean up.

 

The stock pile of logs went for a least a kilometre long and I could not see how deep the yard was. To the other side of the VMR and further around the harbour is the main shipping wharf which we were unable to get to unless we were to walk around the timber yard and MrJ did not want to do this, leaving the boat for too long in case the weather turned again.

 

Back near the boat ramp, on shore a large catamaran, Rainbows End, had been hauled out of the water and was sitting high and dry with massive damage to the outside of one hull.

 

According to the fisherman, this boat has broken its mooring during a storm and had been blown up against the rock wall of the harbour. By the time the owner could do anything it was too late and there was no one to assist. The local VMR were not around, they are active only sometimes and only on weekends, and other ships in the harbour were unable to help for whatever reasons. Now the boat sits on dry land wasting away.

MrJ and I head back to AR, MrJ rowing, but do not get very far when Jonathan comes over to give us another tow. What a nice fellow this Jonathan is!


Tuesday: It rained for most of the day, not good for going anywhere so I was content to laze around all morning editing some more of George and Maree’s wedding photos. After lunch we rowed over to Peggy Jane again for a chit-chat as well as MrJ helping Jonathan with some computer charts.

During this rainy weather a couple of more prawn trawler came into the harbour, by late in the afternoon the trawlers had moved anchorage. They knew that a ship was due in the next day and had to get out of the swing basin. AR was safely on the outside of the swing basin.

Wednesday: Excitement before dawn, well at least for me as there was boat movement in the harbour. There were now two large tugs in the harbour, one must have come in through the night and now both had motors fired up and revving to go. The small pilot boat was edging its way out of the harbour and there was a squawk of conversation on the VHR radio. The ship was waiting just outside, just out of my view.

Just before sun up the big tanker ship creeps bow first into the harbour and with the help of the two tugs was spun around and parked at the wharf with its bow now facing the harbour entrance. The tugs are dwarfed by the huge ship.

another magic sunrise

It was raining again, I went back to my photo editing and MrJ began his chart work prepation for our passage from North Queensland to the Gulf.
Thursday: MrJ and I were up early, before daylight to leave Mourilyan Harbour.