Day trip to Whitehaven Beach

Whitehaven beach – I think the pictures say it all!

Airlie Beach to Hamilton Island

We sailed with Jill and Noel to Hamilton Island.  When we had planned this trip, I think we had envisaged a nice motor sail in flat calm water and sunny blue skies, instead we had 2 reefs in the mainsail, 30 knots of wind and the boat heeled over.  The one positive – it wasn’t raining.

A lovely dinner out with Jill and Noel.

Airlie Beach

We spent the morning at the Lagoon Pool, Chloe swimming and the boys playing table tennis.  I then did a final food shop before we head off tomorrow.

The view from Jill and Noel's room in Airlie Beach.

Airlie Beach

With rain forecast we decided not to go out in the boat, so Rich took the opportunity to service the motor.  However as the day wore on and there was no sign of rain and the sun beat down, we headed for Nanny and Grandpa’s pool.

Airlie Beach

We went into town for coffee in the morning and in the afternoon we swam and laid by the resort pool.  Luke made a friend, who fortunately was from Melbourne, so he had a mate to kick the footy with.

Airlie Beach

We explored the shops and the local Saturday markets.  Chloe bought her first bikini!

The boys watched the footy in the afternoon, with Grandpa very happy to see a Richmond win.

Airlie Beach

We took the boat out but didn’t venture far from the Marina.  We dropped the anchor so Rich could set Jill up with the fishing rods and we could swim.  With little wind and blue skies, it was a really warm day and I even had a couple of swims.

Jill and Noel's resort from the water.

Airlie Beach

We headed into the main street of Airlie Beach and discovered the Lagoon Pool on the foreshore, which is open to the public. 

Jill and Noel were arriving early afternoon on the ferry from Hamilton Island, so Rich walked across to meet them at the Port of Airlie and took them to their resort.

Shaw Island to Airlie Beach

With Richard’s parents arriving tomorrow we made our way to Airlie Beach.  Along the way we stopped for lunch and anchored in Sandy Bay on South Molle Island.

Airlie Beach Marina was a hive of activity with all the charter boats and reef boats and people coming and going.  

Thomas Island to Shaw Island

We island hopped in the morning inching our way a little closer to Airlie Beach.

Mackay to Thomas Island

We woke to light winds and blue skies and farewelled Mackay at 8.30am.  It was only a 5 hour sail to Thomas Island which at this stage of the trip feels relatively short.

With an anchorage all to ourselves and a beautiful sandy beach, it finally felt like we were in the Whitsundays.  We hit the beach for an explore, swim and of course a kick of the footy!

That night we went ashore to toast marshmallows under almost a full moon.

Mackay

Rain, rain and more rain.  It was relentless and didn’t stop all day.  There wasn’t even any AFL on the TV.  By late afternoon Luke was even prepared to watch the NRL.

Fingers crossed the rain clears by tomorrow as we are very keen to head off.

Mackay

Finally sunshine! Our first day in Mackay without rain, however we know it will be short lived with another east coast low forecast for tomorrow – hence why we haven’t left Mackay.  It feels like the Whitsunday Islands are so close yet so far…………

We went shopping again and the boys got haircuts, while the girls checked out the Smiggles shop!

Mackay

Rich had met some fellow boat owners the day before and we were invited to have a peruse of their catamaran, which they had recently renovated.  We were all very impressed and always nice to have a sticky beak at other people’s boats.

In the afternoon we went for a walk along the beach.

Road Trip: Mackay to Townsville

Back in the car, back on the road.

Townsville

We caught up with Rich’s cousin Jim and his wife Jill for coffee at a lovely café on the foreshore in Townsville.  They live on Magnetic Island and were heading off on a holiday that morning, so we were able to have a quick catch up before they left.

Rich and the kids headed back to the apartment for a swim, while I tried to vote for the Federal Election.  Didn’t quite get to cast a vote, the interstate Senate Ballot papers hadn’t arrived, but at least I wont get a fine.

Road Trip: Mackay to Townville

We hit the road just before 8am, it felt like we were having a holiday on our holiday.  I convinced the kids the 4½ hour drive was nothing compared to our last sail of 37 hours.

Waiting for the boat broker

We stopped once for coffee and pulled into Townsville at 1pm.  Unfortunately our room wasn’t available to check in to, until 2pm so we found a Grill’d for lunch.  Rich was viewing the boat at 2pm, so we headed straight there after lunch.  The kids have now got use to being on other boats so happily looked in all the nooks and crannies, however they soon got restless so we left Rich to it.

The kids were excited to get to our accommodation and went from room to room in the apartment, oohing and aahing at all the luxuries two TV’s, spa bath, proper beds and the space………

Mackay

We hired the Marina’s car for the morning in order to do some shopping.  The only problem was getting from the boat to the Marina office in the pouring rain. So much for sunny Queensland!

With the weather really set in and no sign of it letting up until the weekend, we decided to hire a car for a few days and drive to Townsville so Rich could check out a boat.  So on the way back from the shops we collected the hire car.  It was quirky car hire place with lots of memorabilia including a pin ball machine.   

                                               

Mackay

It was great to have a full night’s sleep and we all slept in to 8am!   After breakfast we explored our new surrounds while on the hunt for coffee.  Apart from a few restaurants and a playground there really wasn’t much else in walking distance of the marina but we were lucky enough to find a café with good coffee!

With overcast skies, strong winds and intermittent rain the afternoon was spent watching footy and doing laundry.

Pancake Creek to Mackay

The wind picked up during the morning and we could finally turn the motor off.  We had about 15-20 knots behind us with a following sea, so by the afternoon it was a fairly rolly ride.  The bonus was our speed was good and we arrived at 3.30pm.

Just south of Mackay is an anchorage for ships waiting to load up at Haypoint, one of the largest coal export ports in the world.  We sailed straight through the two anchorages passing the massive ships.

Each grey triangle represents a ship on anchor.

Pancake Creek to Mackay

Well we thought navigating our way into Pancake Creek was challenging during the day, how about tackling it at 2am in the morning.  Rich was confident he could do it, so I stood on the bow with two torches trying to locate the lateral marks so we didn’t run into them.  We managed to spot 3 out of the 4 marks and once we were clear of the shallow water and out to sea we were very relieved. 

We were headed for Mackay 220 miles (36 hours) and crossing fingers we would arrive late afternoon on Saturday.

We had calm conditions with light wind behind us.  Everyone kept busy and we were looking forward to watching the football at night.  Unfortunately the TV signal gave way 5 minutes before the game started and although it was only Haw v Ess Luke was still very disappointed he couldn’t watch it.

Pancake Creek

We decided to spend a day at Pancake Creek.  Rich and the kids went ashore to explore, while I stayed on the boat and did a bit of cooking. 

Bundaberg to Pancake Creek

As we had 60nm to travel to Pancake Creek and wanted to arrive during the day, we left Bundaberg at 3.00am.  Finally light winds from the west and south west.  It was beautiful flat water sailing and for a short period we even got to turn off the motor.  We spotted a few dolphins along the way but they weren’t interested in coming over to say hello.  

Rich trolled a fishing line, but still no luck.

The entrance to Pancake Creek was challenging, with minimal navigational marks and a falling tide.  But Rich got us through to the inner anchorage which would give us a much calmer night on the anchor.

Hervey Bay to Bundaberg

We had planned to stay another day and leave on Wednesday, but when we woke to light winds from the west we decided to go that day and left around midday.  

We planned to sail overnight to an anchorage called Pancake Creek, 100nm away.  Unfortunately once again the winds we not as forecasted and by late afternoon were strengthening from the north.  It was slow going so we pulled into Bundaberg around 8pm and anchored just inside the river.

Great Sandy Straits Marina at Hervey Bay

Hervey Bay

With strong winds still blowing from the north, we decided to do a bit more shopping and hired the car again from the Marina.

In the afternoon we walked along the beach at low tide and had ice creams.

Hervey Bay

For some reason we thought it would be a good day to head off to Bundaberg, let’s just say the forecast was a little off – with both wind speed and direction.  We had just literally left and hoisted the sails when the wind gusted to over 30 knots.  Rich made the wise calling of turning back.  Unfortunately while tacking the boat, I had a brain fade and somehow got my hand caught between the winch and sheet (rope).  Luckily there was not too much damage to my fingers or hand, as these type of incidences can see fingers chopped off.

Hervey Bay

Well the forecast had been for rain and it certainly hit with a vengeance overnight, both wind and rain.  We ducked out a few times in between the deluges for coffee, laundry and more playing on the Xbox at the Sports Club.  

We also had plenty of time on the boat, watching footy and Chloe kept occupied playing with her toys.

Although we copped a bit of wind and rain, compared to the rest of the East Coast further south, I think we got out of it fairly lightly.  But we were pleased to be tucked up in a Marina.

Hervey Bay

We hired the Marina’s car for the bargain price of $15 for 2 hours and went shopping, stocking the boat with all the heavy items we dread lugging back from the shops on foot.

(and no we didn't steal the trolley from the supermarket, there just happened to be one at the Marina......)

The kids had discovered Xbox games at the Sports Club and conned me in to taking them up there in the afternoon.  The trade-off was they had to go back and forth with me to the laundromat.

Hervey Bay

The night before was the rugby State of Origin clash and the local Sports Club was all geared up for the big clash.

We opted to watch a little bit of it, but on the boat.

It was an overcast day with rain forecast, so what do we decide to do, hike 2kms to the shops.  We got about 500metres from the boat and then it started to rain.  The kids were keen to turn back but instead we stopped for an early coffee.  We then pushed on to the shops with a few sprinkles of rain along the way.

Chloe spent the afternoon making her own Monopoly game.

North White Cliffs to Hervey Bay

Last night we had our first roasting of marshmallows on a beach fire.  It was pitch black and everyone was armed with a torch.  The kids were super excited and had a blast.  

The photos aren't too bad considering how dark it was.

With rain forecast for the next few days we headed into the marina at Hervey Bay.  Our run of sunny days was definitely over and it drizzled all day.  The jumpers were even dragged out of the cupboards.