Cairns, our departure point

We have been in Cairns for just over a week now. The city of Cairns is a real tourist destination with international flights coming and going all the time. We have been busy trying to get everything ready for the trip to PNG. We are now organized and have been cleared by customs to leave by Thursday. The boys have even had a go at buskin they earnt themselves a couple of dollars each but it was a good experience for them.


While we have been here we have also checked out the area. We have been swimming in the lagoon, a huge pool on the water front which is free and used by everyone as there is no beach just mud flats at low tide and crocs in the river. We have been swimming a few times there which has been fun. There are signs all along the foreshore warning people not to swim because of the crocs.



We have met up with a few boats here some we had met before we came and had BBQ’s and even a movie night most of the boats we have met have kids on so our guys have had a ball playing with everyone at every opportunity they get. We have even been to the movies here.
We took the sky rail up to Kuranda up in the hills behind Cairns. It was the longest sky rail I have ever been on it is 7.5km long with 114 gondola’s on it. We got off on both of the stops along the way to check out the sights, waterfalls and rainforest. The trip without stops goes for 45 minutes and the view back to the ocean below is amazing. Amy was a little scared to start with holding onto my arm but was fine after a while. At Kuranda we had a look around there was supposed to be a market on but the whole place was set up like a market. A lot of shops along the street looked like market stalls. We didn’t really think a lot of the place itself we did this trip for the sky rail and scenic train ride back down through the valley.

The train ride was great the train is the original train which was once used to transport hospital patients and workers to and from work. The trip was 1hr 45mins during that time you heard about different things that happened along the train tracks construction and other things as well, it was very interesting. All the windows open right up and we could take heaps of pictures and see everything at a slow pace. We almost stopped in front of one of the waterfalls the boys were busy taking photos of the falls and the train itself as it went through tunnels and over bridges. It was a great day out. It was all too much for Amy she fell asleep on the train on the way back.

Hinchinbrook Channel

The Hinchinbrook Channel is supposed to be one the prettiest channels with good fishing, crabbing and crocodiles. There aren’t many places to get ashore and no walking trails except at the northern end of the channel. We dropped anchor at Haycock Island a very small island in the river. We took a dingy ride to try and get ashore and have a look at the island but no where to get up with no oysters. Then we decided to take a fishing rod and do a bit of trolling and try our luck. Ian was saying what we should do if a croc attacked the dingy (not that they would) and scared the kids so we didn’t troll for long. There were heaps of mangroves around but not too many sand flies.

We then moved another few miles up the channel to a creek we dropped anchor Ian suggested to Warenta that we raft up as it is really calm. The creek isn’t very wide and all the boats are almost in a line going down the length of it. One of the boats here is Kalida a boat we had met on Magnetic Island they have 2 children and the kids were glad to see their boat.


We spent a few days here doing nothing at all but sitting around and relaxing. We had a BBQ with Kalida aboard Warenta which was great fun, we also met up with a couple who have two boys off Stardancer. The kids had a great time playing with each other. They are both heading up to Cairns which is where we will clear customs to go to PNG.







Moving further north we stopped for a night a Dunk Island where we went for a bit of a walk and collected some shells before going onto Fitzroy Island where we planned on staying but it didn’t look like it was going to be comfortable so we moved on to Cairns it was a big day’s sail over 80 miles further than we have gone yet in one day. We did see a humpback whale when we were around Fitzroy Island for a couple of minutes but I wasn’t quick enough to get a photo.

We are now in Cairns and are getting everything ready for the passage to PNG. We have had a few things to sort out and we have to stock up on supplies as well as things to trade while we are over there. We plan on leaving here around the weekend or Monday

Trying to get Palm nuts on Dunk Island.

North again

The journey is continuing on from Townsville with the new motor being much quieter than the old one. We headed to Magnetic Island’s Horseshoe Bay where we had been before when the issues with the old motor were going on. We only spent one night here before heading off to Palm Island. Palm Island is an aboriginal owned island and permission has to be sought to go ashore which we hadn’t arranged prior, we looked around for a good place to anchor but decided that we would continue on to Orpheus Island where we could go ashore without any issues. On the way there the motor stopped, we couldn’t believe it not with the new motor. Ian found that there was air in the fuel lines, he got the air out and we were back in business. We later found out that the pipes had been put on wrong and the motor was running on the return pipe back to the fuel tank.
We arrived and stopped the motor as always Kathleen told us that she could hear water running into the bilge. Ian stuck his head to the motor room and found that water was coming out of the air filter which didn’t make any sense. We quickly turned off the sea cock and the water stopped coming out. What was going on??? It took until after midnight to fix it. The fuel injectors had to be taken out so that the water could be blown out without causing any damage this wasn’t the hardest part of the night. When the motor was turned over by hand with the injectors off the little caps inside and washers were blown out of the engine and into the bilge or somewhere in motor room. Kathleen said she would go down it and try and find it. The adults can’t fit down along side the motor. She found the cap after a while thank goodness. Ian put his hand over the other 2 injectors to stop anything blowing out of them when they kicked the motor over but the force was too much and both caps and washers from the other injectors went flying. This time Michael and Kathleen got dirty as Kathleen was having trouble finding the bits. Michael was lucky and found one almost straight away. It turned out to be a long night but what had happened was when the motor stopped the fingers on the impellor had spread out and water was able to travel through the holes and the valves must have been open which was very unlucky we are going to put a siphon break in so this can’t happen again.
We didn’t go ashore that night when we arrived but did the following morning. Orpheus Island wasn’t as attractive as the places we have been. There were heaps of mangroves and no real beach to speak of. We did go for a walk around the back of the mangroves to check it out as we had time before we would have enough water over the bar at the Hinchinbrook Channel our next destination. We found some interesting shells on the mud flats a lot of the shells there were black and old there wasn’t really new looking ones. The kids were looking for mud crabs in the mangroves but didn’t find any they did however find a hole that they thought might have a crab in it. The hole was in a sand/mud bank which wasn’t in a muddy spot, they thought that they would try and smoke out what ever was in there with dry grass. I don’t know if this would have worked if it was crab but the kids had fun trying.

We pulled up anchor which was stuck firmly in the mud and headed to Lucinda just inside the Hinchinbrook Channel. We had no trouble crossing the bar following the huge sugar loading wharf in. The wharf goes out across the sea for almost 6km as there isn’t enough water for the transport ships to get in, it is an amazing sight. We dropped anchor to check out the town of Lucinda which basically has one shop a general store/takeaway/hardware, a pub, and caravan park. We had hot chips in the park for tea before having a drink in the pub. We decided to stay the night here as it was getting late and couldn’t really be bothered pulling up the anchor again today.

Lucinda jetty, 5km long

Motor is in

Well after we got the old motor out we had to wait for the new Yanmar motor to turn up. We had to wait almost a week to get the new motor trucked up from Newcastle. We had time to kill so we went for a drive to Bundaberg with a friend so he could get stuff out of a storage shed and we took our old motor down to the storage shed so we can use it on the farm when we get back home to maybe drive a pump. We hired a mini bus and had organized a trailer to bring the stuff back in. We left early we were all in the bus by 3am we stopped a few times on the way down. We tried to stay in a caravan park near Bundaberg where the turtles come on the beach but they did not allow dogs so we stayed in Burnett Heads in the tents. Our friend camped in the bus in the night while we had a bit of a camping break. We were gone from the boat for 3 days in total which was a good break from the boat and helped to stop us going stir crazy waiting for the new motor to arrive.
We got back and returned the bus and went shopping for Amy’s birthday present and some special treats for her birthday the next day. Amy has been excited about her birthday for the past few months so this was a great time.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY AMY, she was very excited and had fun opening her presents and having bits of paper everywhere. We went and saw the movie Shrek 3 in the morning. Then we went up the park for a few hours, the ABC was also having a 75th Birthday so there was some entertainment on in the park. We then had a birthday party for her with balloons, streamers and party poppers. We had her birthday cake and sang Happy Birthday to her a few times. She had a great day it was funny watching her tell everyone it was her birthday and now she is 14 instead of 4.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY IAN, he did really well for his birthday his new motor was delivered in the afternoon. The kids all sang and gave Ian his presents in the morning and I cooked him bacon and eggs for breakfast. We then went up town for a walk and had some morning tea. Then it was the waiting game for the motor. It didn’t take him long to unwrap his new toy. Ian didn’t want a cake so Kathleen went and bought a heap of iced donuts and snakes and arranged them on a plate with 39 candles all around.

Well the new motor went in without and major problems from the time we lowered it into position everything pretty much lined up. It was great that everything just went so well with nothing much to cause stress. The new motor is a much quieter than the old one and much cleaner. We are currently at Magnetic Island again giving the new motor a run in. The motor has been working wonderfully and we are very happy with it, lets hope it continues like this.

Magic at Maggie

We got our parts back from the workshop and we got the motor going again. There was some water in the engine which caused all the problems to start with. We flushed out all the sludge and put new oil in. After a quick test run there was water getting in the oil. We worked out that it was getting in through the water pump, so after we bypassed that we went for a test run out to Magnetic Island, Maggie to the locals. We had a glorious time there with perfect weather but we had developed an oil leak. We tried to reseal some gaskets but no luck. Then as we were about to leave the starter motor wouldn’t work. After an hour or so it was going but it was enough for us to decide to get another motor. So now we are at the Breakwater Marina at Townsville waiting for a new Yanmar 29Hp. The motor now is a 20 Hp so there should be a bit of extra to spare and it’s got to be quieter.

Yesterday we pulled out the old motor. Altogether the motor and gearbox weighs 200kg but after taking the flywheel and gearbox off the weight was reduced to 150kg. It was a 5 person job. We used the halyard and toping lift to take the weight and slowly inched it up. Then today we degreased the bilge and pumped and scrapped out all the crap and lost tools that have fallen in over the last 20 years. Kathleen jumped in and got the very bottom as she was the only one who could fit.

Pull harder Wendy!!

Kathleen fits in the keel.

A productive day.

This houseboat belongs to Bob on Horseshoe Bay, Magnetic Island. He has been here for 22 years. The people that own water front properties are making it uncomfortable for him so that he will move, but I don’t think he is going anywhere. He has got to know the local wildlife intimately and feeds Whistling Kites, spangled Jacks and any other birds that come down.

With sunsets like these I know exactly why bob is staying put. That’s Daniel and Amy. Michael took this photo with Hayden’s Nikon D2X, a very expensive professional camera. We have some great shots of the Whistling Kite with this camera.

Trouble in Townsville

We had spent nearly a week in Bowen. There is a major film being shot at the moment with Nicole Kidman and Hugh Jackman. The end of the main street is shut off and has been set up as a military scene. It is meant to be Darwin during the war. We didn't get to see any shooting as they were doing night shoots but it seems that half the town has jobs as extras and all the locals are excited about all the attention.

We were also tipped off that there was good calamari fishing at Horseshoe bay. Within about 10 minutes we had 3 large squid before some swimmers spoiled our fun, not before Michael and I had covered ourselves in ink.

While we were there we sent away for our PNG visas. We have decided to go to the Louisiade Archipelago. They are a group of islands off the eastern tip off the New Guinea mainland. We have spoken to a few of other cruisers who have highly recommended there as well as Wendys dad, Grumps.
Leaving Bowen it was 120 miles to Townsville, which we spread over 3 days, Cape upstart the first night and Cape Bowling Green the second. Shortly after leaving Cape Bowling Green the motor suddenly died. We were able to sail all but the last couple of miles. Our sailing companion, Hayden towed us into the harbor and hasn’t let us forget it since. We sent the injectors and the injector pump to the workshop for a rebuild and are waiting to see if that gets us going again.


At the moment we are still waiting for the parts for the motor and still praying for the rain to stop and all going well we will go out to Magnetic Island to give the motor a run and then either leave for PNG from here or Cairns.

Amy the super snorkler

Whitehaven Beach, Whitsunday Island.

For the last couple of weeks we have been cruising the islands of the Whitsundays. This has meant that there has been an anchorage within 2 hours of everywhere. It has been our first chance to snorkel in coral since Lady Musgrave Island, and the snorkeling has been pretty good. At first everybody would go in the dingy to the dive site and someone would stay with Amy while everyone else went snorkeling. However Kathleen decided that Amy shouldn't be missing out on all the fun and with a bit of time and a lot of bribing taught Amy to snorkel, and doesn't she love it. At first she couldn't stop talking through her snorkel saying look at this and that and now she goes off a little bit to explore for her self.

Amy, 3 years old and can swim as fast as anyone

Amy showing mum something "really cool"

So far the best snorkeling for coral has been on Border Island and the best fish and marine life has been at Manta Ray Bay and Bait Reef, which is on the Barrier Reef.
Huge wrasse that came up meet us at Manta Ray Bay. These guys are about 4 feet long and let you pat them in exchange for some corned beef or a sausage.

We left Bait Reef this morning and arrived in Bowen this morning, which is 50 miles in 9 hours with the wind at 10 - 15 knots on our beam the whole way. We managed to just beat Hayden, who we have been cruising with for the last couple of weeks, even though he was "just running the motor to charge the batteries".

We might stay here for a couple of days before shooting up to Townsville. After that we have to decide whether to go to the Louisiade Archipelago or continue to Cairns but at the moment we are leaning towards PNG.