Pirates of Hinchinbrook Island - Wheeler Island to Mission Beach

August 2nd - Wheeler Island to Mission Beach via Dunk Island - Day 9.

A 15km trip with an expected 4 hour paddle time in medium conditions

Well our last day on the water - paddling between islands to reach Dunk island before heading across to Mission Beach where our journey would come to an end. We started on the water at about 9.30am. We mixed up the boating a bit with Ian and Peter swapping boats. Pete and I was the lead boat on our last day.

We paddled over to Bedara Island first, standing off on a beach on the west side of the island looking a what was a pleasant beach. From this vantage point we could see some of the sparsely spaced accommodation.

We then continued to paddle between Bedara Island and a rocky outcrop on the eastern side of the island, taking care of the lee shore. Once clear of the rocky shore of Bedara Island we adjusted course to point into the middle of Dunk Island, trying to take into account the wind and drift from the currents.

The crossing was uneventful rounding the first point on Dunk Island in pretty good time and taking about an hour and three quarters to complete the crossing.

Once around the tip of Dunk Island we were once again in calmer water enjoying the shelter from the prevailing easterly winds. Given that it was high tide we were able to paddle alot closer to shore, but eventually had to push further out to avoid rocks in the shallow waters.

Rounding our last point on Dunk Island we landed on a sheltered beach getting out to have a look around Dunk Island and also to have lunch. We spoke to a couple who were off one of the large cats that we saw on Gould Island. Their year was spent 6 months on their cat sailing from Toowoomba to Cairns and back, a pretty chilled life style - he did some fishing, she read, did yoga and craft. generally by lunch they wanted to be at their anchor for the night.

Dunk Island was a sad sight indeed. Cyclone Yasi had smashed it and had yet to be restored. Cyclone Yasi happened in 2011 - Locals speak in terms of before Yasi and after Yasi. The camp ground was in the process of being re-built, the accommodation still had roofs peeled off, like the skin of an orange, the ceilings in what would have been luxury accommodation - collapsed and lying on the floor. The lower level windows smashed as a result on the surging waves driven by the winds of Yasi.

There was other accommodation that was new and looking very swish - I believe where the island's caretakers lived. The airfield whilst maintained and serviceable was run down with the windsock stays broken and lying in rusty heaps on the ground. The runway lights broken. One of the pools was filled with sand not the sparkling clear fresh water that would have been there pre Yasi.

A walk along the pier revealed lovely clear waters teaming with a wide variety of fish. Lunch and sight seeing done we headed back to our boats to complete our journey to Mission Beach. Aiming off at the southerly most town (South Mission Beach). After hitting our point we followed the coast line to the 3rd settlement, finding the spanish house and landing our craft.

We got the trollies from Jame's place at Coral Sea Kayaks to transport the kayaks back to his place. Washing our gear in freshwater and loading up our suit cases with the clothing and items we had been carrying for the last 8 days in our kayaks.

It was great to get to our accommodation where we could shower and wash off a weeks worth of salt, deet and sweat and to get into some dry clean clothes.

We had a wonderful meal at Buko in Mission Beach and a great nights sleep in a comfy bed.