Brampton Island

We left Airlie into southerlies, so we did some short hops to get some miles covered, stopping at Lindeman, Goldsmith and Brampton Islands. 

Brampton Island

Brampton Island has a deserted resort. There's a caretaker (we didn't see him/her) the rooms are locked and curtains drawn, but you're free to wander around. It had that look about it that everyone just got up and left one day. 

ex-resort

Check out the fire hydrant Pauline

The first hole

We had the place to ourselves

This little train took guests to the island wharf
for reef day trips

The view from the restaurant

The gym. 

Pelican Island, joined by a sand spit to Brampton Island

Back on the boat we had lunch..

...and a turtle came to visit

 A perfect place to spend 
our 30th wedding anniversary.

Magnetic Island to Hinchinbrook

Pauline came to spend a couple of days with us on Magnetic before we headed north, so we hired 

an inconspicuous car

On the Forts walk, so close to the mother Koala

and her sleeping baby

With Jeremy in his new favourite t-shirt,
thanks Shaun

Hinchinbrook was to be our northern most port. We stopped at Orpheus Island on the way.

Moored at Orpheus

The last pictograph warns of crocodiles.
We trod very carefully.

At the old shepherds hut

One of the entrance leads into the Hinchinbrook Passage

Lining up the port channel markers to keep us in the deep water

The changing colours as we made our way through the Hinchinbrook Passage...

We did an overnight sail from Hinchinbrook to Nara Inlet on Hook Island, had some good sailing and good fishing too.

Filleting a Spanish Mackerel

Jeremy caught a Bluefin Tuna,
made a very good sushi

Sailing with the main, genoa and jib

Hard to capture it but the sea was such a deep blue
 it was almost violet

Looking very relaxed
despite an imminent flight to Sydney
and a brief return to work

Townsville

Such a surprise, Townsville is a great place to visit, it has the feel of a frontier town. 

Start of the Goat Track to Castle Hill

Hot day to walk...

... but the view was worth it

Townsville Yacht Club, where we parked the boat

Looking across to Magnetic Island

Town water tank

Along The Strand

...meanwhile, on the other side of town

Back to The Strand,
and there are birds in the trees, 
a red-tailed black cockatoo

Cycling along The Strand, and the beard is gone

Magnetic Island

We divided our time on Magnetic Island between being anchored at Horseshoe Bay and berthed at the Nelly Bay Marina. We didn't really know anything about Magentic Island apart from ads at Roseville Cinema.

Anchored at Horseshoe

Horseshoe is a playground,
diving, snorkelling, cats, horseriding,
pedal boats, paddle boards, fishing, markets

Lunch, and the beard is growing

Horseshoe Bay

Such a useful sign

Most of Magnetic Island is National Park

Kapok flower

Curlew

Not often you see a koala in the bush

Cycling around Magnetic...

... till Jeremy got a better idea

In the shade of the banyan trees