Bundaberg (Bundy) to Darwin Australia Blog (May to July 2013)

Great Keppel Island – Thursday, May 9 and Monday, May 13 

Nice swimming beaches and great walking treks.  We spotted the pheasant coucal and heard the laughing kookaburra.

Rosslyn Bay (Keppel Bay Marina) – Friday, May 10 to Monday, May 13

Marina has great access to public transportation to Yeppoon for grocery shopping.  Lovely walking paths nearby where we spotted the many butterflies, brush turkey, kookaburra and a black cockatoo. 

Cape Capricorn – Wednesday, May 8

There was a quaint lighthouse with a family living on top of the hill next to the lighthouse.  The lighthouse family had to take a tram to get to their home.  Unfortunately, in strong winds, the anchorage was very roily so we opted not to stay!

Bundy to Lady Musgrave Island (Saturday, May 4 to Wednesday, May 8)

We’re off on Saturday, May 4!  After being in the Port Bundaberg Marina for six months, we finally threw off the dock lines.  First stop on our 1800 mile trek to Darwin is Lady Musgrave Island.  Lady Musgrave Island is about 56 miles from Bundy – very narrow passage into the lagoon but well-marked.

We sailed up to Lady Musgrave in very light wind conditions hoping to catch a nice big fish – instead all we got was a frustrated booby who thought our lures were his dinner.  We left at the crack of dawn and arrived about 4:00 p.m. – just enough time for a quick dip!  Our grandson Brenton Millard was thrilled to see his first reef in the aqua blue tropical water along with a giant sea turtle that magically popped his head out of the water just as we were anchoring!  Both loggerhead and green turtles nest on Lady Musgrave Island.

Sunday, May 5, was a picture perfect day for snorkeling in the glassy 77 F degree water.  We joined Rutea and Galatea for a lovely snorkel on a couple of balmies (coral heads) filled with tropical fish and sea turtles.  Water clarity was awesome.  Later that afternoon, we did a dinghy float with Galatea (Dan and Hugh), Marieke (Swedish; Ingvar and Saeya), Rutea (Neil, Ruthie, Corie and friend Mary) and Lardo – we tied off to each other and floated into the sunset as we shared appetizers.

That night, the wind picked up.  The anchorage was too roily anchorage for a decent night sleep.  The following day, Monday, May 6, was too choppy to snorkel, but we did take the dinghy for a wet ride onto the island in about 20 to 25 knots of wind.  This small wooded island with lovely white beach is home to lots of noddy terns and shear water birds.

We looked at the weather gribs every day hoping for a break in the weather – it was pretty bleak in that the forecast was for strong winds all week.  So we all decided to remain in the anchorage on Tuesday.  We didn’t even accept a Mexican train dominoes challenge from Rutea after we witness Ingvar fall off his dinghy as he was entering from our boat in the choppy conditions.  Galatea took off but Rutea, Marieke and Lardo decided that we would all set sail to Cape Capricorn, Curtis Island on Wednesday, May 8.