Magnetic island

 

With a few weeks spare between ARRO events, we decided to replenish the boat and head off further afield than the Whitsundays, glorious as they are, we had been showing our many visitors around and needed to stretch our sea legs.
With tentative plans to join the Shag Islet Rendezvous in late August, it seemed a great opportunity to head on up to Magnetic and then back to Gloucester for the Rendezvous.
Another bonus was that we could take Maddy with us. After so many trips around the Whitsundays and all being National Parks, we had not had her on the boat with us for quite a while.
First stop over at one of our favourites – Gloucester. Then on to Cape Upstart, Cape Bowling Green and into Magnetic Island.
We were now in peak whale season, and after not seeing any last year, I was hoping to spot a few on this trip, and they didn’t disappoint with sightings every day!
Cape Upstart is a huge bay with a few private houses – thinking passionate fishermen as there isn’t anything else here. Nice big beaches to walk the dog, even if it means pulling the tender a long way over the shallows at low tide!
Cape Bowling Green has a dubious reputation with yachties of a safe but unpredictable anchorage. It is one of the lowest capes on the coast – merely being a sand spit really. We pulled in late afternoon, only to find it flat as, perfect! A great place to beachcomb the long spit and stretch the legs. Back on board and as the night progressed, so did the rocking. Little sleep for us and once Maddy threw up in the early hours of the morning, it was time to up anchor and head to Magnetic.
On the way to Magnetic we passed Abbott Point, a coal loading facility for Central Queensland. We saw so many whales in this huge bay it seemed an anomaly – natures finest playing in waters where potential pollution is transiting?

Into Magnetic late afternoon and dropped anchor in Horseshoe Bay. As is usual, I debated the spot (with myself as I chose it in first place) and thinking it might have been a little too close to the cat beside us, so decided to up anchor and try again. Oops – no go! Windlass failed! OK, so we’re staying where we were. Spoke to neighbours as the headed out on their SUPs later and explained situation – all good.
Next morning was a Sunday and it was like Bondi, so many people, boats etc. Come Monday and it was a peaceful little place again. Spent a lovely week here doing beach walks, bush walks, bus trip over to Nelly Bay to get supplies and generally lazing around.
We booked into Townsville Breakwater Marina for two nights to have the windlass looked at, with a lovely berth against the park and only a short stroll along the Strand to go for dinner – all dog friendly. Yay.
Weather not so good for return trip from Townsville so we headed back over to Magnetic for a couple of nights.
Return trip via the same anchorages and despite our last nightmare stop at Bowling Green, we tried it again and low and behold, perfect!