Last day at Dunk Island and Mourilyan Harbour

A "selfie" photo at the top of Mt Kootaloo.  I told the Captain that we had to pout like Victoria Beckham - that everyone doing a "selfie" had to look like that.  He just stuck his tongue out...same effect really.

On our last day at Dunk Island we took the National Park pathway to the top of Mount Kootaloo (height 271m or 894 ft).  The park sign said that the walk to the top was 5km long and would take 2 and a half hours round trip.  My foot has been getting better and better so off we went.  It was a hot and sunny day - with an emphasis on HOT.

The path here was good.  Shady for the most part as we walked up through the rain forest.  And, thankfully, there weren't any rocks to climb up or climb down.  Just a flat pathway angling upwards.

Lovely views down through the trees to the bay and pier below.

The Captain wanted to do the walk because there is a relic from WW2 on top of the hill.  During the war Dunk Island was part of a network of surveillance points along Australia's east coast.  The airstrip that was used for the resort was also built for the war in 1941.  A part of No 27 Radar Station, at the top of Mt Kootaloo, was still evident and the skipper wanted to see it.

As we approached the top of the hill and this sign - and I was still coming up around the corner - I heard the Captain exclaim, "Is that it!"  Yes, this is all that's left of the No 27 Radar Station.  Still it was interesting to read the sign about how soldiers had to walk up the hill through the jungle with the parts to build it and monitor it.  That would have been very hard work.

The viewing platform at the top of the mountain was pretty spectacular on such a fantastic day.  We have been very blessed with weather on this leg of the trip.  Thank You Universe!

After our walk we went back to the boat and had a bit of a lie down.  My foot was killing me - ache, ache, ache.  I wonder when it will be perfectly well again!  Just on sundown Barry and Anne, from the boat 'Momentum' - who we've seen on and off all the way up the coast - came over and invited us over for drinks.  They are lovely people and we had a great visit and chance to get to know each other.

This morning we left early to start the last few days of sailing before arriving at Cairns - our last stop in Australia before going to the Louisiades.  Again there wasn't any wind to sail, except for a bit here and there with the MPS (spinnaker like sail).  Our destination - Mourilyan Harbour - a strange little harbour that is virtually invisible in the hills until almost alongside the entrance.  I don't know how they get big ships in here - but they do - for bulk sugar loading because the entrance is so tight and the harbour so small.

The view from our anchorage.  The entrance to the harbour is just on the right - literally through the trees to a narrow opening.

We were warned there are crocodiles here but, of course, that didn't stop the Captain getting out the crab traps and motoring alone into the mangroves all along the side of this "harbour" to set his traps.  I knew if I protested it wouldn't do any good so I didn't bother.

Tomorrow we will leave early for Fitzroy Island - after the crab pots (and the crabs the skipper just said) are collected!

OH Look!  It's wine o'clock.  More tomorrow.