Lady Musgrave Island and Coral Cay

Anchor a-weigh at 4 am from Bundaberg, with the moon already set, it was dark and eerie motor-sailing out of the Burnett River.  Blue lights flashing on the leads and red and green lights flashing on the channel markers were the only breaks in the darkness.

Just as we left the channel a loud bang and our outhaul had broken again, so we reefed the main to keep sailing. 

Pods of dolphins entertained us as we sailed, leaping and cavorting all around the boat.  Up to 20 in the first group, it was hard to tell if they were the same pod reappearing every hour or a different pod.  Nonetheless, they all appeared to be having fun and we loved their company so far from land.

The entrance channel to the lagoon can be tricky, as one ketch found out, landing on a bommie then had to wait until high tide to move.  Inside the cay was very calm, the water so clear we could see fish and coral everywhere, turtles bobbing up to watch us.

Perfect for kayaking to the beach and walking through the forest track full of nesting black noddies, who took no notice of us.  On the ground shearwater tunnels are everywhere, while buff-banded rails stroll casually around the forest floor, unafraid of humans.