Stunning Hinchinbrook Island

Spectacular sail into Zoe Bay averaging 6 knots on screecher and main in 10 knot SW wind... wish it was always that easy!  From Orpheous Island Lucinda Sugar Wharf looks way out in the ocean, but it is 5.76 km long and you can see it for miles.  The ragged peaks of Mt Bowen (1121m) and Mt Diamantina (918m) were in view most of the way, despite the bushfire haze over the mainland.  Ruggdly stunning, the great U-shaped valley beside Mt Bowen almost looks glacial, even in tropical FNQ.

“Achtung!” signs for crocs are around the mangroves, creeks and campgrounds and with just enough tide up to park the dinghy near the start of the Zoe waterfall walk, we set off with one eye on the creek. 

It was lovely to hear the cheerful call of the Mangrove Gerygone as we left the mangrove creek.  You can see lots of regrowth since Cyclone Yasi, with casuarinas, acacia and ferns sprouting all along the track.  Dusky honeyeaters, sunbirds, fantails, monarchs and grey-shrike thrush darted about in the rainforest.  

The creek crossing was the only challenge on the shady walk and the waterfall glistened down to a large rock pool, which abounded with Jungle Perch, a threatened species of freshwater fish, and a freshwater turtle popped up to say hello.

Seeing lots of bushwalkers on the beach in long pants and shirts we guessed there might be plenty of bities and we soon found some.  Aiming to catch a barramundi, we then explored the extensive mangrove creek in the dinghy, although a higher tide would have been useful as there are plenty of sandbars to negotiate.  

Skipper Pete hard at work.

No luck with barra, but made up for it around the rocks with a mackerel.

Back on the beach our Shorebird Count = 1 red-capped plover, 2 pied oystercatchers and 1 reef egret (dark morph), who enjoyed a long walk with us the length of the beach, and stopped now and then to catch some brekky in the breaking waves. 

Walking to the top of Zoe waterfall is a hands and knees climb with a rope installation near the top (great if you have done any abseiling).  Small cascades split the huge pink granite rocks between a series of rock pools, some full of tadpoles.  The steep descent is more scary than the ascent as any slip could be fatal.  One rock at a time with the odd tree to hug on the way.  Thank you trees!

Yep, that's Heatwave in the bay, the little white dot!

With a complete absence of wind we motored around to Macushla Bay, passing close to Cape Richards to hook up another mackerel.  A big day at the office!