Little Black Reef and more hikes

 Wednesday, 29 September to Wednesday, 6 October 2021

After reprovisioning we headed across the passage to Stonehaven anchorage to join a group of boats heading out to Little Black Reef. This is part of the outer barrier reef and about 35nm NE of the Whitsundays. 

Little Black Reef circled in red

A couple of boats headed off on Thursday, but we decided to wait for a more favourable Northerly expected on Friday. We kayaked around Stonehaven and had drinks ashore where we met some of the others doing the trip. 

Stonehaven

At 0600 on Friday, 7 yachts left the anchorage in a light northerly and we enjoyed a good sail across to the entrance of the reef. We had been given a track in by Carpe Ventum who had visited before and this eased any anxiety we had. In the end, the way in was quite easy to pick and we dropped anchor at 1230. 11 boats at anchor the first night we were there.

Track into Little Black Reef

Plenty of room inside the lagoon

On Saturday we donned our wetsuits and headed out to do some snorkelling. As we were getting ready to enter the water Warren saw a shark cruise by. Not a good start! We waited a few minutes and then snorkelled along the reef for a while until I saw a shark lying in a crevice. When I brought Warren back to show him, it took off in one direction and we took off for the dinghy. I snorkelled later on another bommie closer to the boat with nice coral.

Some nice coral and schools of small fish

The wind was forecast to pick up on Sunday so we sailed back with 3 other boats to Plantation Bay on Lindeman Island. More good weather for swimming and an 8km hike up Mount Oldfield. It was very hot and sad to walk past another closed resort.

Walk starts beside the airstrip

Now the real walk begins going UP

Plantation Bay anchorage

The only island in the Whitsundays named by Cook - Pentecost Island

We were now starting to think about beginning the voyage south. On Wednesday, we went to Hamilton Island one last time to buy some fresh supplies and finally climb to the Resort Lookout. Hot and dusty but a swim afterwards cooled us down. We had a good view of the islands we would be leaving in the morning. 

Looking south

Looking north

Time to head home!

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