Island Head Creek to the Whitsundays

Tuesday, 4 August to Wednesday, 12 August 2026

We exited Island Head Creek at 0640 and set the spinnaker once clear of the island guarding the entrance. Our original plan was to head to Curlew Island, 70nm away. However this would require us to tack downwind and would mean a late arrival at the anchorage. As our current course was straight for Hunter Island, 35nm away, we decided to stop here for the night. 

Hunter Island

Hunter has a very pretty sand beach, spoiled only by the signs saying firearms are in frequent use on the cattle and deer property. Southern Exposure and Liberty were also here for the night.

Quartz veining in granite according to our resident geologist James (Sassafras)

Lots of noisy deer but no cattle

On Wednesday, we all headed off for Curlew Island, in about 10 knots of breeze. We set our spinnaker once clear of the shallows west of Hunter and had a pleasant if slow trip to Curlew, arriving in time for a late lunch. 

Early morning photo courtesy of Liberty

Thursday was a 52 nm sail to Scawfell Island, the start of the Whitsundays. We left early to make the most of the ebb tide together with Southern Exposure. We set our spinnaker and were enjoying the conditions until a whale on a collision course with us surfaced 5 m to port of Phase2. Warren called to brace as the whale dived under the boat, as he was sure it would hit us. We held our breaths and were relieved when it surfaced on our starboard side having missed both rudders and keels! It took a while for our heart rates to return to normal and we counted ourselves very lucky. Below is the distance we like our whales to be.

We made good time to Scawfell and decided to make Friday a rest day so we could have a sleepin. It was windy and rainy all day however, so no walk ashore but we did get to watch the Lions have a big win over the Hawks, thanks to Starlink.

Now that we are in the Whitsundays, the distances between anchorages are much smaller so we slowly cruised our way north stopping at Goldsmith (always a favourite), Shaw and Lindeman Islands before arriving at Whitehaven Beach in perfect conditions on Tuesday morning. A nice mackeral caught on our way to Shaw Island was delicious.

Goldsmith Island

Shaw Island

Whitehaven Beach

It was busy as usual but we caught up with Sassafras and Brett, Daron and Donna for sundowners. Brett regaled us with tales of charter boat mishaps when he was operations manager up here for one of the companies. On Wednesday morning we hiked up to Whitehaven lookout and took in the views. 

Whitehaven Beach

Looking south to some of the 74 islands in the Whitsundays

After lunch, as we prepared to leave we discovered the water pump was not working. The definition of cruising as boat maintenance in beautiful locations was never more true. Luckily it was only the pressure switch and Warren replaced it with a spare that we had on board. Our delayed departure, however, meant that we arrived at Macona Inlet just as it was getting dark so we anchored as far up the inlet as we dared as a strong SE was forecast to come through overnight. The BOM was spot on and at 0300, 30 - 40 knot gusts tore through the anchorage. Phase2 all secure however.

Pancake Creek to Island Head Creek

 Thursday, 23 July to Monday, 3 August 2026

After a week in Pancake Creek we were ready to move on, unfortunately just as the rest of the RQ fleet arrived here. Early start and we set the spinnaker which we carried until after lunch. The breeze went directly behind us (again!!) and became lighter so we were back to motorsailing for the rest of the trip to Great Keppel Island. We anchored off the old resort at Fisherman's Beach just on dark and had a quiet night.

Great Keppel Island

Next morning we sailed to Rosslyn Bay having booked in for 4 nights at the marina. The RQ fleet would be turning up here over the next few days and dinner was arranged at Waterline restaurant for Monday night as we were heading off again on Tuesday.

While in the marina the bikes (and our legs) got a workout. On Saturday, we rode into Yeppoon on the excellent bikeway and did various boat errands. 

Yeppoon in the distance

On Sunday, we replaced the broken batten box and spliced a ring to ensure the line that caused the issue could not be a problem again - we hope.

With most jobs done, on Monday we rode on more bikeway south to the Causeway. Only an 11km round trip but a very nice spot for morning tea.

Tuesday was moving day as Phase2 and Danu headed to Island Head Creek together with Sassafras (J45) and Aqua Therapy (Fontaine Pajot) who had joined our little group. We carried the spinnaker all day in very sloppy seas and occasional rain. Not the nicest days sailing we have had, but with more wind forecast we decided to sit it out in Island Head Creek. Southern Exposure and Liberty arrived on Wednesday in much nicer conditions. 

Early morning fog - Southern Exposure 

We have now been here a week with nice weather the first few days but deteriorating over the weekend - windy and showers. The plus side of that was I had plenty of time for a video project I was working on, I could do the blog and Warren caught some fish. I actually fished one day and caught the biggest whiting but I did only catch the one - unlike Warren.

Picture courtesy of Aqua Therapy

Tomorrow we are heading further north. How far we go will depend on the conditions we encounter.

2026 Cruise North

Friday 10 July to Wednesday 23 July, 2026

Raby Bay to Pancake Creek

We hauled Phase2 out in June at Boatworks for her annual maintenance to be ready for another trip north to the Whitsundays. Our planned departure on 6 July was delayed by a huge high near Tasmania - the largest ever recorded. So it was Friday before we slipped the lines and headed out in a light SW breeze. Sailing is often too much or too little wind and we were only able to sail for about an hour before we motor sailed the rest of the 58nm to the Mooloolah River. This entrance has become a challenge as sand is continually deposited across the entrance. We made the recommended "hook" entry and dropped anchor in the pond.

A small fleet from RQYS was also heading north with us. Danu, a Jeanneau 60, left on Thursday and Southern Exposure, a Hanse 370e, and Liberty, a Beneteau Trawler 40 on Friday with us.

Next day we departed the river early and headed for the Wide Bay Bar in light winds. Bad for sailing but it meant the big swell that had made the bar difficult/impossible had eased to the 1.5m that we favour for the crossing. We had enough wind to get the spinnaker up for a few hours and then it was back to motoring. 

First whales of the trip

We crossed the bar at 1600 (sloppy but safe) then motored up the Great Sandy Straits with the incoming tide to Garry's anchorage.

On Sunday we motored through Sheridan Flats, the shallowest part of the Straits and anchored at Big Woody Island. 

Another predawn start

We used a new track that had been marked by the vessel Jansz that was much wider and somewhat deeper (minimum 3.9m on a 2.6m tide). The fleet all gathered here ready to cross Hervey Bay for the Burnett River in the morning. We watched the Lions beat Essenden using our new Starlink antenna that Warren had bought.

Another 0630 start on Monday, where we sailed all morning, genoa then spinnaker, before the wind dropped so we were back to motorsailing. We tied up at the Bundaberg Port Marina at 1445.  

Photo courtesy of Danu

We had 2 nights in the marina, completing some unfinished boat jobs and I had a quick bike ride to the Burnett Heads IGA for some fresh food. Our group had dinner at the pub that night as Phase2 was planning to head up to Pancake Creek before the arrival of the next lot of bad weather. The rest of the group elected to stay in the marina and hired a car to visit the surrounding sights.

Our sail to Pancake Creek on Wednesday was the best so far on this trip and we anchored in the creek at 1645. 

The winds picked up as expected and we were in the creek for 7 days. Warren caught some fish, we did some repairs and I read - a lot. We had noticed that one of the mainsail battern boxes was damaged so we fashioned a repair from an old toothbrush and stickyback. We ordered a new one and hoped our repair would last until Rosslyn Bay marina.

It was 5 days before I got off the boat for a walk! 

Our last day there we walked up to the Bustard Head lighthouse - a beautiful 7km walk now that the bush has regenerated where the power lines ran, offering shade and a chance to identify the many birds. 

Oldest lighthouse in Qld - 1868

Overlooking Jenny Lind Creek

After a chat to the caretakers and morning tea, we visited the small graveyard. We once again read the inscriptions of the many children and adults that did not survive their time stationed here.

The next day we left Pancake Creek, bound for Great Keppel Island.

Yeppoon to Raby Bay

Monday, 30 October to Thursday, 16 November 2023

After 4 nights in Keppel Bay Marina, we sailed across the bay to Pumpkin Island. We hadn't been to this anchorage before and were keen to do a walk on North Keppel Island. Pumpkin Island is privately owned (it was XXXX island for a time) so no access and the access to North Keppel is ideally half tide and above.

Quiet anchorage

On Tuesday, we walked 7.4km across the island to Considine Bay and then up to the lookout on well maintained National Parks tracks. The island was very dry and the palm forest was not as good as our last visit. 

Pumpkin Island (centre) with GKI in the background

On Wednesday it was an early start (0515!) to get to Pancake Creek 73nm away. We motored and motor-sailed until we passed Cape Capricorn at 1000 when we were able to raise the spinnaker in a 10 knot northerly. The wind continued to build until we had a steady 20 knots. We had a great run, averaging over 10 knots for the last 3 hours to have us anchored by 1615.

3 nights in Pancake Creek with Warren keen to see if the whiting had grown since our stop on the way north (sadly not). We also did the trip across to Jenny Lind Creek in our kayaks again where we did catch a few whiting for dinner.

We timed the tide a bit better this time

Jenny Lind Creek

On Saturday it was another early start to get across Hervey Bay before the next southerly change. It was a nice 10-15 knots NE breeze that was perfect for our genoa. We anchored at Hawks Nest on Fraser Island at 2115 after covering 103nm. 2 nights here before we headed down to Kingfisher Bay Resort on Tuesday and to watch the Melbourne Cup. We had lunch with the crew of the Seawind 1160 Trim. 

After the race we headed down to Garry's Anchorage and then onto Pelican Bay for 2 nights. Elevation came to join us and we enjoyed sundowners and walks with Lois and Kel. It was the first time I had seen their new boat - very impressive.

Elevation - an impressive Buizen 48

We crossed Wide Bay Bar on Friday morning and enjoyed a good sail to Mooloolaba with genoa and then spinnaker in the steady NE breeze. There was some concern in the morning when a Mayday call was put out after a plane ditched into the sea and 2 people were in the water. A nearby fishing boat went to their aid until a rescue helicopter arrived to transport them to the hospital. No serious injuries luckily.

We had booked a berth at the Wharf Marina for a week and this proved to be a great base. We were surprised there was little noise from the surrounding shops and restaurants and it is nice and close to the surf beach and supermarket. 

We caught up with cycling friends Helen and Scott with a loop around the Kawana lakes bike paths. 

We celebrated Warren's birthday at the French restaurant Brasserie Cent Six with Lynne, Dave and Tracey on our last night in Mooloolaba. Highly recommended and a great way to finish our holiday. 

On Thursday, we left the marina a day early to catch the last of the northerly before the next southerly change rolled through. We tied up to our pontoon just before 1600 after 98 days away and having travelled 1398nm. 

Pensive on the last day of our cruise north

Scawfell Island to Yeppoon

Sunday, 22 October to Sunday, 29 October 2023

Well the BOM had the wind direction right today but the strength was lacking unfortunately. We sailed for a couple of hours hoping the wind might build but it faded and eventually we started the engine and dropped the sails. We had plenty of company with 10 boats also making their way to Middle Percy Island. It was 63 nm to the calm anchorage in Whites Bay where we dropped anchor as the sun set.

Sunrise at White's Bay

We had another early start to get to Port Clinton. Slightly more breeze today so we managed to sail half the day. Lots of boats anchored inside Perforated Point so we went to the bay to the west. We decided to spend Tuesday here doing a few jobs and getting off the boat for a long walk. You can't leave the beach as the army uses this area for training exercises at certain times and they warn about unexploded ordinances!

Very soft sand made for slow going on the beach

On Wednesday, we finally had enough wind (just) to sail most of the way to Great Keppel Island. We shared the anchorage at Long Beach with about 20 other boats, some heading further south on Thursday while we headed across to Keppel Bay Marina to hide from the next big SE change due on Friday. 

Leaving Port Clinton shows how massive it is

We had 4 nights in the marina, shopping and enjoying the company of the other cruisers here. To counter this, we had 2 long rides on our bikes to the northern beaches and the Pineapple Rail Trail. 2 bonus rides for Warren to the bakery for fresh bread! 

Pineapple Rail Trail

Black cockatoos on the bike path

A Slow Start to the Trip South

Airlie Beach to Scawfell Island

Friday, 13 October to Saturday, 21 October 2023

We started our trip south with a short sail to South Molle Island. We picked up a mooring in Sandy Bay which was a good anchorage in the SE winds. On Saturday we hiked 8.7km to the top of Mt Jeffreys for a fabulous 360 degree view of the Whitsundays. 

View south from the summit at 195m

During our hike, we watched the Australian warship, HMAS Warramunga do laps of the Molle group and Daydream Island. Interesting except when they were still steaming past at 20 knots at 10pm giving off a sizable wash!

Track of HMAS Warramunga

HMAS Warramunga

On Sunday, we sailed to Plantation Bay on Lindeman Island. On Monday, another walk this time to the top of Mt Oldfield - 7.7km. We met the caretaker on the return trip and he told us the resort had been sold again to a Singaporean company who have big plans and hope to start work by the end of the year. Of course, we have heard this before but hopefully this time will see this resort back in business.

Phase2 in Plantation Bay

On Tuesday we sailed to Goldsmith Island to sit out the big SE blow expected. On the way we were pleased to catch our first spotted mackerel of the trip. 

Roylen Bay, Goldsmith Island

We had 3 nights at Goldsmith before the wind eased enough to tack down to Brampton Island. No cruiser likes sailing to windward but we were ready for a change of scenery and with slight seas it was a very pleasant sail. 

Inquisitive Moray Eel checking us out at Brampton Island

On Saturday, we sailed east to Scawfell Island to improve our sailing angle for the expected NE winds on Sunday. So far the forecast northerlies have not appeared and our progress south has been very slow. Let's hope they have it right this time.

Lots of boats waiting at Scawfell for a northerly

Whitsunday Cruising

 Saturday, 23 September to Thursday, 12 October 2023

We were hoping that with the arrival of our youngest son and his family the winds might start to ease but unfortunately this was not the case. We decided to spend another night in the marina and hoped that the easing of the winds expected on Monday would occur. 

Things were slightly better but it was still a double reef in the main for our trip to Happy Bay on Long Island. The anchorage was quite crowded and with the strong winds we decided after lunch to head across the passage to Cid Harbour. A good decision and we spent 2 nights here. Granddad taught our granddaughter how to fish and she then promptly caught a big bream. 

No bites fishing off the back of the boat

Success at Sawmill Beach

With some heavy rain on Tuesday morning, we did puzzles and played Uno, a lot of Uno! On Wednesday we ventured up the Passage to Stonehaven where we picked up a mooring. The gusts were ferocious and our son and daughter-in-law did well to manage a paddle. 

Always gusty at Stonehaven

Calmer on the beach

Our time with the family was coming to an end so we made our way back to Airlie Beach.

Stickers were a good idea until we had to remove them!!

We said goodbye to our family and then stayed another few days in Airlie to watch the Lions battle for the AFL Premiership. Sadly they went down to Collingwood by 4 points in a great game. 

4 of our family at the game including our eldest son Ben

With some nice weather forecast, on Tuesday 3 October we sailed back across the passage to Macona Inlet.  We then motored in light winds across to Cateran Bay on Border Island where we hiked up to the lookout and then had a swim.

Cateran Bay

Lovely calm weather so we then headed down to Whitehaven Beach with a stop at Hill Inlet on the way to catch some bream for dinner. Next day we did another lookout hike, swim to cool off and a beautiful calm night again once all the day trippers had left. 

Ah....the tranquility

On Friday it was back to Cid Harbour as the strong winds had returned. We had 4 nights here before the winds eased and we made our way to Blue Pearl Bay for my first snorkel of the trip. On the way we caught a Big Eye Tuna which we enjoyed for dinner that night. 

First keeper of this trip trolling

Moray Eel top left - I didn't want to get closer

On Wednesday, it was then back to Airlie for the last time this trip - to refuel, re-provision and get ready for the voyage home.