Calendar


Trip Diary

08-2012 Peel Island (An Ekka tradition)
08-2012 Moreton Island
07-2012 Rocky Point
06-2012 Blakesleys
06-2012 The Bedroom
05-2012 Breakfast on Karragarra
05-2012 St Helena
05-2012 Perigee Bedroom
02-2012 Queen Mary II
02-2012 Mud Island
11-2011 St Helena
11-2011 Shorncliffe to Redcliffe
10-2011 Weinam Ck to Dunwich
10-2011 Peel Island
10-2011 Breakfast on Karragarra
10-2011 St Helena and Green Island
09-2011 Wivenhoe Dam
08-2011 Fraser Island
08-2011 Canaipa Passage
08-2011 Karragarra
08-2011 Stradbroke Island
07-2011 St Helena
07-2011 So long, and thanks for all the fish.
05-2011 Green Island
05-2011 Wivenhoe Dam
04-2011 Upper Noosa River Weekend
04-2011 Easter at Woodgate
04-2011 Mud Island
04-2011 Karragarra for Breakfast
02-2011 Bongaree
02-2011 St Helena
01-2011 Weinam Ck to Blakesleys
10-2010 Moore to Blackbutt Rail Trail
10-2010 Whitsundays
09-2010 Mud Island
09-2010 Redcliffe
09-2010 Girraween
08-2010 Upper Noosa River
08-2010 Potts Point
08-2010 Peel Island
08-2010 Gateway to City Bike Ride
08-2010 Mud Island
07-2010 Blakesleys Afternoon Paddle
07-2010 Kedron Brook to Scaborough (and return)
04-2010 Colmslie Beach
04-2010 Brighton Park
01-2010 Nundah Creek
01-2010 Blakesleys
01-2010 Upper Noosa River (with a difference)
01-2010 New Year Paddle
12-2009 Potts Point
08-2009 Raby Bay to Peel Island
08-2009 Wynnum Creek to King Island
07-2009 Sandgate to Redcliffe
05-2009 St Helena
04-2009 Wellington Point to Peel
04-2009 Breakfast on Karragarra
03-2009 King Island
03-2009 Mission Point
03-2009 Mud Island
01-2009 Morning Tea at The Pin
01-2009 Circumnavigate Macleay Island
01-2009 New Year Recovery Paddle
12-2008 Caniapa
12-2008 Pine Rivers
11-2008 Coochie Night Paddle
10-2008 Breakfast at Karragarra
10-2008 Girraween
10-2008 Coomera Falls Circuit
09-2008 Hinchinbrook Island
09-2008 Manly Harbour Festival
09-2008 Linville to Blackbutt Rail Trail
08-2008 Weekend at Blakesleys
08-2008 Old Woman Island
08-2008 Circumnavigate Macleay Island
07-2008 Upper Noosa River
07-2008 Weinam Creek to Dunwich
06-2008 Scarborough to Bongaree
06-2008 Wellington Pt to St Helena
06-2008 North Stradbroke Jazz Weekend
05-2008 Point O'Halloran to Blakesleys
04-2008 Upper Noosa River
04-2008 Aquatic Paradise to St Helena Is
04-2008 Eprapah Creek
03-2008 Paradise Point to Moreton Island
03-2008 Wynnum Ck to Tangalooma Point
03-2008 Amity Point weekend
03-2008 Bremer River
03-2008 Brisbane River - Gregors Ck to Barneys Rocks
02-2008 Play Day - Coochie Mudlo
02-2008 World Wetlands Day Paddle
02-2008 Brisbane River night paddle
01-2008 Australia Day Week
01-2008 Blakesleys 3/4 Moon Paddle
01-2008 Shorncliffe to Nudgee
01-2008 Brisbane River - Barneys Rocks to O'Sheas Crossing
12-2007 Raby Bay to One Mile via Blakesleys and Potts Point
12-2007 Diamond Head to Tipplers
12-2007 Wynnum Ck to Green and St Helena Islands
11-2007 Bike Ride Bay Islands
11-2007 Tingalpa Creek
10-2007 Potts Point Night Paddle
10-2007 Return to Gilligans Island
10-2007 Salt Water Creek and Coomera River
09-2007 Elimbah Creek
09-2007 Scarborough to Caboolture River
09-2007 Fraser Island Whale Watching
09-2007 Circumnavigate Russell Island
08-2007 Pine Rivers Night Paddle
08-2007 Linville to Blackbutt Rail Trail
08-2007 Brisbane River City Reach
08-2007 Peel Island
08-2007 Brisbane River
08-2007 Green Island Day Trip
07-2007 Pine Rivers Night Paddle
07-2007 Mooloolah River
07-2007 USS Kitty Hawk in Brisbane River
06-2007 Black Tie on Peel Island
05-2007 Harrys Hut Camping Weekend
04-2007 Theodolite Creek
04-2007 Upper Burrum River
04-2007 Circumnavigate Big Woody
04-2007 Walkers Point to Toogum
03-2007 Boat Passage to Big Sandhills
12-2006 Woodgate to Mon Repos
10-2006 Fraser Island Whale Watching
04-2005 Keppel Islands
12-2004 Fraser Island
10-2004 Munna Point Camping Weekend
10-2004 Mooloolaba to Maroochydore
09-2004 Coochie Mudlo Island
08-2004 Karragarra Island
07-2004 Wellington Point to St Helena Island
06-2004 Noosa River Camping Weekend
05-2004 Brisbane River Night Paddle
04-2004 Budds Beach to Moreton Island
10-2003 Bulwer to Tangalooma
05-2003 Eatonsville to Harwood Island

Links

SEQSK Discussion Group
SEQSK Newsletters
Adventurer Anthony Malloch

Fraser Island
Date: 31-08-2011
Wathumba is very different and a remarkably beautiful place on the top of the tide so the next day we headed back up there to visit the National Park campground. We also planned to check out the camping options on the northern spit, keeping an eye out for whales as we went. We found the campsite host to a gaggle of 4WD towing an impressive array of campers and a double axle boat trailer. An emboldened dingo strutted around, it was the only dingo we saw in the middle of the day, although tracks indicated that they daily visitors at Awinya.

The campground was well kept although the showers out of action. It was a surprise to find flushing toilets. We went directly across the lagoon heading for the beach just west of the first clump of mangroves. We climbed the bank and came across a magic place marked by pandanus. It was a level area that could accommodate a couple of smaller tents. More sheltered from the SE compared with the end of the spit this place held a commanding view over the sand dunes and turquoise water to Rooney Point. Simply magnificent and a great staging post for day paddles out into Platypus Bay or further north.

Moving west along the spit we paddled past the fallen trees adorned with black cormorants. We pulled ashore to check out a ladder which turned out to have a handrail fashioned from a star picket and the remains of a boom. The ladder climbed the bank to a large open level area shaded by pines. A generous dingo box was in good condition and there were the remains of a substantial camp fire. Moving on we paddled by two larger catamarans moored in front of an attractive beach which we left unvisited before pulling up close to the end of the spit. The area amongst the casuarinas on the end of the spit was exposed to the SE and not all that attractive. It was peppered with white papery remnants .

The only downside was that to visit here at the top of the tide came with tidal opposition for the 11Km return paddle. We took our time, staying in close to shore getting out to take a look at clues suggestive of creeks draining swamps. All creeks, with the exception of Awinya had what looked like sponges of dense green weed that formed a thick mat which put up little resistance when stood on. It was not clear whether this actually grew in the creek or had been swept in there by the tide. What was clear was that when it piled up on the edge of the creek it stank. It certainly spoiled the appeal of many creeks, including Bowaraddy. The sandy shore was dotted with the pretty pink of pig face flowers, the sunshine yellow of hibbertia and purple of scaevolea fans.

From the kayak cabbage palms and pandanus looked like they marked an attractive tropical place to camp. The realty was they heralded a swamp thick with reeds and a rampant vine. About as romantic as coconut palms and rats. Eventually we landed on a deserted beach followed by the usual routine of a warm shower, feet up in the hammock, sundowners, this time to the setting of a classic blazing sunset. Tonight we had a surprising amount of company offshore - around six yachts had anchored in the relative shelter from the SE which by now was here to stay. Dinner turned out to be a tasty surprise and will be back on the menu - lime and pepper cous cous, dehydrated onion, garlic, mixed with a large can of tuna in oil splashed with fresh lime juice. A slip of a moon appeared then sank as a fiery trace. We spent sometime staring into the heavens for an unseen shooting star, then yielded to a sleepy retirement.
Next day
Setting out
Who said there were no hot showers ?
Colour co-ordinated sailing
Coming ashore at Wathumba Campground
4WD occupants
Checking out the spit
Directly across from the Campground
A small level campsite
With a magnificent view to Rooney Point
Ladder stairs up the bank
To a large level campsite with a dingo box
Kayaks resting on the point
Leaving Wathumba
Typical creek with masses of weed
The swamp it drained
Pig faces were out in the dunes
As were hibbertia
And scaevolea
Typical western beach at low tide
A pretty looking campsite
Marked by cabbage palms
Invaded by a vigorous vine
And backed by a swamp - forget it
Another typical creek
The weed that formed mats in the creeks
Plenty of tracks around
Sailing on the SE
Nearly there
Coming ashore at Awinya
Time to put the feet up
Afternoon hues
How good this this ?
Time to enjoy the important things
The crew
Classic sunset
Even a finger nail of a moon

Next day