The Whitsunday Islands

Although Port Newry was lovely we decided to push on to Burning Bay, Shaw Island after just one night because we were in search of fish. Shaw island was stunning! Three other boats were anchored there for the night but we were well away from them. Not much to report in the way of fish except for one small pretty fish which we returned to the briny. Not so the dolphins. Six or seven adults and several young dolphins were enjoying their breakfast, a school of small silver fish, just near us. The adults fished while the young ones fished sometimes but mostly played in the shallows; a confusion of tails, flippers, bellyflops, side flops and smiling grey and white faces.

From Shaw Island we sailed, assisted by a strong ebb tide, to Cid Harbour for a night and then on to Nara Inlet, Hook Island. It was as lovely as we remembered it (click on photograph to see an enlargement). Meet Cocky de Nara! He is one of a large flock of cockatoos who live in the trees around the inlet. These cockatoos are raucous, seemingly aggressive towards each other and thoroughly magnificent. Although not exactly tame, they enjoy visiting boats and chewing on lines, sheets, wind instruments etc.