http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/Australia/Queensland/ Travel adventures in journals and photos from Oceania , Australia , Queensland en-us Sun, 19 May 2013 01:54:17 +0000 Sun, 19 May 2013 01:54:17 +0000 A long passage to next safe anchorage its still blowing like crazy so we left 4am. Arrived at Morris Island 12 hrs later. Morris Island isnt an island as such more like a glorified sand bar However it has a large reef so once again even though the winds were very strong the sea was protected and calm and we were very comfortable. We didnt launch our Zodi at all as it was quite wet http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/Australia/Queensland/Caboolture/blog-786457.html Had a big sail for our next anchorage so decided to leave while there was still a lot of wind to get us there. wind had dropped from 2530 kts to 2025kts sw we left early in the morning. Actually had a pleasant day sailing only to find out that the anchorage was very rough and rolly. Werent going to stay there so continued on to Cape Melville. Arrived 9pm. Neither of us like anchoring in http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/Australia/Queensland/Palm-Cove/blog-786454.html From Flattery we moved on to Lizard Island We didnt do much for the first 2 days as it was still very windy and raining. On the first night we had sundowners with 2 couples off 2 other boats. Gary and Lyn from KicknBack and Bob and Helen from Makani Kai. Went for a walk to the other side of the island one day and just as we got to shore a massive downpour happened. Luckily we hadn39t start http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/Australia/Queensland/Lizard-Island/blog-786447.html Sarina gt Rockhampton gt Yeppoon gt Gladstone gt Bundaberg not all in one day23rd November to 7th December 2011Leaving Sarina we had mixed feelings again we had a great spot on the beach which all of us had enjoyed particularly Jackie so we were sorry to leave this campsite but we are headed towards Rocky and Yeppoon which we were looking forward to. Our first stop was Camilla b http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/Australia/Queensland/Rockhampton/blog-786433.html Diesmal schreibt die Chefin. O.k. so fngt39s an Wir stehen im Flughafen von Cairns sprich Kns und haben zuerst mal Probleme ein Telefon aufzutreiben. Dieses brauchen wir um die MietwagenCompany anzurufen damit die uns abholt wir haben natrlich wieder mal die exotischste am Platze die nur in der Stadt eine Filiale hat um unseren Karito in Empfang zu nehmen. Frank schaf http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/Australia/Queensland/Cairns/blog-786286.html Woke Wednesdayto the first sunny morning of our trip.We had plans to head further north but the westerly winds were not good for anchoring on the west side of Moreton Island and without any other anchorages that attracted us strongly and as we had perfect conditions at Peel sheltered and few other boats which is rare we decided to stay where we were.Took the dingy through the beautifully clear w http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/Australia/Queensland/blog-786179.html Woke to more rain. When it cleared motored into the northerly wind and an hour later we were at Horseshoe Bay Peel Island. S27 30.212 E153 21.813 A good chance to properly test if the autopilot followed a waypoint on the chartplotter and it worked well. Not as far as we would have liked to have got but a lovely place to stop in a northerly wind and we even had some sunshine.We have been here be http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/Australia/Queensland/North-Stradbroke-Island/blog-785858.html Cairns North Queensland.The trip to Cairns almost nearly did not happen. I had booked with JetStar at 0900 hrs from Sydney and being a domestic flight assumed that I have to go to the domestic terminal. Little did I understand that it was a flight to Osaka in Japan. Luckily I had given myself plenty of time that I could take a transfer bus to the international terminal and still make the flight. http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/Australia/Queensland/Cairns/Cairns-City/blog-785856.html Woke to rain and it continued for most of the morning so decided to stay put and relax and get this blog up to speed with some old entries. Naomi made pumpkin scones.When it did settle there wasn39t a puff of wind and the bay was like a millpond.Discovered the speaker for the VHF isn39t working will put that on the to do list.Went for another beach stroll. http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/Australia/Queensland/North-Stradbroke-Island/blog-785719.html I39m typing this from a hammock outside my hostel in Airlie Beach. It39s actually not that easy to type whilst lying in a hammock but I39m here now and way too lazy to get up.There39s probably not a huge amount to say in this post. I spent a week on the west coast staying with Rich Miles and probably got a little more comfortable than I should have. I originally had planned to spend t http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/Australia/Queensland/Airlie-Beach/blog-785698.html Almost there.The problem with the regulator got worse when the company in New Zealand contacted us to say there would be a 46 week wait this was after we had rung them a week earlier to check they could send it straight away... good oneFortunately we were able to get one locally albeit at a much higher price tag. Got that installed.Got the chart plotter tweeked again and seems to work only t http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/Australia/Queensland/Gold-Coast/blog-785674.html Settling into life on the water.Mum and brother Nick go home which frees up some room and a chance to get repairs done.Went out for a weekend with friends a chance to calibrate our new Simrad chart plotter.Was still working with a longer commute to top up the cruising kitty. http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/Australia/Queensland/Gold-Coast/blog-785668.html Seeking refuge from the tight confines of the boat we head out to the rainforest.3 nights at Border Ranges National Park with a stop at O39Reilleys Lamington National Park on the way. Luke http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/Australia/Queensland/Gold-Coast/blog-785597.html Mother39s Day and Naomi was woken with breakfast in bed.Left Tipplers at about 830 motored to Jacobs Well taking in the last view of the Gold Coast39s highrises and then sailed up the Main Channel with some rain and gusts but overall a lovely sail that took us up to Moreton Bay. Naomi baked scones along the way for morning tea.Pulled into Blaksleys Anchorage North Stradbroke Island w http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/Australia/Queensland/North-Stradbroke-Island/blog-785567.html Hello thereYes I am still alive It has been a long time since my last post so I39ll try to catch up.Last time I was in Tamworth enjoying some really good country music. After the festival I headed to the Central Coast to do some housesitting. I was lucky enough to live in a beautiful house in the middle of a forest with 5 horses and a lovely dog to look after. This wonderful place belongs http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/Australia/Queensland/Cloncurry/blog-785547.html After 25 days we kept driving many hours until we reached Rainbow Beach which is the starting point to get to Fraser Island. When arriving at the hostel we met other travellers who were trapped in their hostels for days as it was raining like crazy for days and many streets were flooded and no official transportation was possible. Consequently all tours to Fraser Island so far were cancelled... http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/Australia/Queensland/blog-785537.html Well this tour will certainly remain unforgotten Highlights floodings a psycho tourguide broken bones me being kicked out of an organized tour the death of all my electronic devices a fairy tale scene and a lesson about justice....But one after another . I was a bit concerned if the tour would take place now as there were reports about massive floodings all over the east coast so I ema http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/Australia/Queensland/blog-785535.html Well it39s finally here our time to leave.All last minute preparations finished well most of them. Everything packed onto the boat key returned to the marina office water tanks filled. A miserable gloomy day with frequent showers but had lovely hour or two with friends who came to see us off most of us huddled in the saloon. Then came 230 time for us to leave fortunately coinciding with http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/Australia/Queensland/Gold-Coast/blog-785484.html Out of contact for a couple of days left Karumba and headed for Burke and Wills road house which is quite unique and famous every one stops there to fill up and have a snackwe had intended to stay overnight but it was still only just after midday so we decided to push on to Gregory Downs a small hamlet on the banks of the Gregory river which is the gateway to adels grove.One pub which also s http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/Australia/Queensland/Mt-Isa/blog-785474.html ....and so more travels afoot for Pilate Peter and Cruisin Susan. This time in keeping with the watery theme we are off to Russia to cruise from Moscow to St Petersburg along the Volga Waterway with 12 other friends of like mind. To whet the appetite so to speak we will tempt you with some preliminaries. We have just returned from a six day sojourn with elder daughter Ella and her Spanish partn http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/Australia/Queensland/Brisbane/Bulimba/blog-785470.html