North White Cliffs – Fraser Island

We moved 12 miles further north and anchored near the Kingfisher Resort on Fraser Island.  As the tide was low we were able to go ashore and stretch our legs as we had been on the boat for two solid days and we all needed a bit of exercise.

While exploring ashore we came across some welcome poles from the Wondunna Clan, Luke thought it was very fitting as last weekend it was the AFL Indigenous round and of course in Luke’s eyes they represented goal posts.

South White Cliffs – Fraser Island

With shallow water to navigate to our next anchorage, we had to sit tight until the afternoon so we spent the morning baking a cake and of course eating it too!

On the way out of Garry’s anchorage we came across this boat.  From a distance Rich thought it was a wreck, up close we still didn’t really know what to make of it!

After a bit of sand skimming over the shallow parts of the Great Sandy Straits we made it to our next anchorage and were rewarded with a sunset.

Mooloolaba to Fraser Island

We had an early start departing Mooloolaba just after 3am.  Calm seas, a light breeze on our port quarter and a little bit of current with us and conditions couldn’t really get much better.  Although there still wasn’t quite enough breeze to just sail and we still had to run the motor.

We made good time and went through the Wide Bay Bar with the tide still flooding and calm conditions.  We stopped in Garry’s Anchorage for the night.

Mooloolaba

We checked out another Catamaran this morning but it didn’t tick many of the boxes, so we’ll keep looking.

We then did a big shop before hitting the beach for the last time.

Our neighbour in the Marina came on board our boat and sang us a song about the Wide Bay Bar entrance at Fraser Island, seeing as we were going through their the next day.  All bar crossings can be dangerous with the wrong conditions and this was a song about a guy trying to cross it in 6 foot seas!  Not quite what you want to hear the day before, a bit like watching Air Crash Investigations before you’re about to fly.  But Luke was impressed with his guitar playing and singing.  Luke even stopped playing his football game on the tablet to come out and listen to him sing.

Mooloolaba

Beach in the morning and beach in the afternoon, with Chloe spending almost the whole time in the water!

Mooloolaba

Strong winds were forecast so Rich decided to pull out the windsurfing gear.  Unfortunately the strong winds weren't actually that strong and it wasn't much of a sail.

Moreton Bay to Mooloolaba

Another beautiful sunny day, with light winds from the south and a 6 hour motor sail to Mooloolaba.

Near the Marina we discovered crazy mirrors, ice creams and a jet ski!

Manly to Moreton Island

We finally got a decent sail in, it’s a shame we were only going 15 miles.

We anchored near Tangalooma Resort, between the shipwrecks and the beach.  It was a beautiful spot but the only problem was on high tide during the middle of the night the shipwrecks didn’t quite stop the swell getting in and it made for a rolly night.

Manly, Brisbane

Pancakes and coffee at the Marina café.

The boys kicked the footy in the afternoon while the girls got out the nail polish.

Manly, Brisbane

We checked out the weekend markets in Manly.

Manly, Brisbane

With the washing piling up it was time to hit a Marina. Plus, more importantly, a football game to watch that required Foxtel and hence a pub.  During the day the boys did their reconnaissance and booked a table right next to a TV at the Manly Hotel.

Moreton Bay (Deanbilla Bay)

Another anchorage but this time with a bit of civilisation.  We went ashore on North Stradbroke Island and had lunch and ice creams.

Massive tides means a lot of dragging the dinghy!

But then it could be worse!

We have had some beautiful sunsets while we've been in Moreton Bay.

Moreton Bay (Peel Island)

With the ferries starting early, we couldn’t move on quick enough.  We didn’t go far and stopped at Blakesleys Anchorage for a swim and a bit of down time.

In the afternoon we moved to Peel Island for beach footy and chased tiny weeny crabs.

Gold Coast Waterways (Lamb Island)

We took the boat into Horizon Shore Marina to fill up with water and there just happened to be a café so we grabbed a coffee!

We then headed off to our next anchorage, once again moving from lateral mark to lateral mark to ensure we stayed in the deep water.

As I had chosen this anchorage, it became my fault when we soon realised it was also the passage for vehicle and passenger ferries and experienced a rolling night on the anchor!

Luckily there was an upside, Rich caught a fish, a gummy shark.

Gold Coast Waterways (Jacobs Well)

We went ashore again in the morning for coffee and kick of the footy.  We then moved back to the anchorage in The Spit (as this one has a 24 hour limit!)

We had our last swim in the surf beach before farewelling the Gold Coast.  As we were taking the inland waterways we had to work the tides otherwise we were in danger of running aground, hence we couldn’t depart any earlier than 2.30pm.   We had two fairly shallow passages to navigate and we were also hoping to be anchored before dusk.

With only 50cm of water under the keel, we managed to get through the shallow parts and dropped anchored around 4.30pm near Jacobs Well.

Gold Coast

Happy Birthday Spin, thank you to Jill and Noel for spoiling Spin on her 2^nd birthday!

We moved anchorages and along the way filled up with diesel and water.  Water was getting pretty low as I was on rations this morning when washing my hair and managed using only 8 litres of water! 

We didn’t go far and motored across the Broadwater near Australia Fair so we could hit the shops and replenish the pantry and fridge.

Gold Coast

The morning was spent doing a few jobs on the boat with Rich installing a new wind generator on the boat.  I'd have some photos except for we were both precariously perched on the transom of the boat, arms outstretched with Rich wiring it, while I held it in place.

With the beautiful weather continuing the afternoon was enjoyed on the beach.

Gold Coast

We had a great day catching up with my oldest and dearest friend Kerri and her family.  The bonus for the boys is that they have Foxtel and 5 TV’s so the boys were able to watch North scrape home a win against the Bombers.

Kerri and I caught up over a few glasses of bubbles!

Gold Coast

After a good night’s sleep, school work was on the agenda for the morning, as too was baking bread.  

Unfortunately while the rolls were in the cockpit rising, someone sat on them! Luckily it was the lightest person in the family.

In the afternoon we hit the surf beach.