Hinchinbrook

Here Rob at Nellie Bay (magnetic Island) as we're waiting for the ferry - as you can see he's still wearing his 'Where's Wally' tee shirt.
The tree behind him is pretty common around here and strangely enough it appears to have many trunks, which grow down from the tree branches as the tree gets older. They drop (very very slowly) from the branches down to the ground and then burrow in. Then they get bigger - it allows the tree to become very wide as eventually these new trunks hold up the branches - wierd.

One morning we got up early to walk to a place known as the forts. They're actually WWII gun emplacents. It a fair walk there and the main attraction was to see Koalas in the wild - largest colony in N. Queensland (brochure said to go early or late because thats when koalas as 'active'). Second reason was that the 'fort' enjoys panoramic views over all of the surrounding land - they were built to defend Townsville.
This is the view of Horshoe bay where we were anchored.
As for the Koalas, never saw a one! However at the car park before starting the walk there is a sign warning of Death Adders. So on we went up the track that led to the top. About 3/4 the way up we came upon a hand painted sign (i'm prepared to trust those out in the bush, because they are not the standand insurance job protection) was a sign which pointed of to the right showing the way to 'death Adder Valley'. That was the end for Gill - she was terrified for the rest of the trip. As for death adders - never saw a one.
Got back to the village of Horseshoe bay and met a shopkeepers who'd seen us on the way out, who asked us about the walk. When we said that we'd seen no koalas, she said "you've got to go in the afternoon, they're not about in the morning" - thanks brochure for a wasted 3 hour walk.

But we did get this phototo prove that we did get to the top of the hill.

Views of Hinchinbrook Island as we sailed up the channel. The mountains are pretty impressive and you genuinely do not see a sign of life for the full 20-30 mile length of the island.

Another view of Hinchinbrook Island. The mainland is not as untouched as the Island but it's not far off. The Australians rave about how beautiful the whole area is, but to be honest - I though Snowdonia was much more dramatic - if not so unpopulated.Snowdonia has the added attraction that not every living creature is trying to eat or poison you!

This little spot is at the top of Hinchinbrook, it is the only obvious place that you can get off the boat along the 20 miles or so of the West Coast of the island. However we didn't particularly fancy stretching our legs bearing in mind that this is undoubtedly croc territory and there didn't seem to be anywhere to run.

So in the morning we wished goodby to Hinchinbrook on onwards towards Mourilyan. As we left the anchorage (picture above) I took these 3 photos over about a 5 minute timespan - the colours are unbelievable - but genuine. Somehow the light must have changed gradually, because neither of us noticed the changes - but they were there and how magnificent!

6:50 am

6:53am

6:56 am

and Kieron - if you're reading this - I can get up before dawn!