URANGAN TO SANDY CAPE - FRASER ISLAND. A NINE DAY PADDLE. 18 th - 26 th August

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1 George Reeman suggested it. A paddle to sandy cape, 95km each way, with the probability of meeting whales as we journey. NOTE from George. The objective is to reach Sandy Cape at the north tip of Fraser Island. This is not a whale watching trip. (Good luck, muttered Albert). Day 1. Thursday. Urangan Boat Harbour to Woralie Creek. 28 klms found six club members at the harbour boat ramp. George, Bob Whiting, Garth Petersen, Albert Jansen, Graham Garrett and Dave Pass. Kayaks loaded with 12 days food and camping gear and 4 days water, keen to launch on this perfect winters day. A clear sky and light s/w breeze to help us on our way. 12 km past Big Woody Island as the wind stiffened and we were soon off moon point on Fraser and then to smoko at Coongal point area. Excitement as we saw considerable whale activity so far south! This turned out to be white water at the sth end of Coongal shoal. Around mid day we hauled our heavy boats up the beach (low tide) to camp at Woralie Creek. (A 6 man lift, 3 straps, made carrying the boats reasonably easy). Lunch/set up camp and a welcome swim in the fresh water creek beside camp.

2 URANGAN TO SANDY CAPE - FRASER ISLAND. Urangan Boat Harbour Departure End of the day.

3 Day 2. Friday. Woralie Creek to Wathumba. 21 klms. Friday dawned clear and calm. We were launched by 8.30 and paddling north toward Awinya Creek, our intended smoko spot. Whales in the distance, wind and tide in our favour, happy campers! From Awinya some went wide to use the wind and some stayed close to shore to enjoy the coastal detail. We met at the creek entrance for a hard paddle/wade through shallow out running water (lowish tide) up the creek to Wathumba camp site. Bob tried the fishing in the creek and Graham offered to top up water bottles at the Nat.Parks water tank across the creek. Others lazed/walked the beach until happy hour.

4 Pristine Waters. Under Sail.

5 Day 3. Saturday. Watumba to Rooney Point. 24 klms. Daylight brought a surprise! A large tinnie had been deposited beside the camp on the high night tide. The moon was on the wane so tomorrows tide would not lift it off. With another boat towing and ten bodies pushing he was soon on his way. Another perfect day as we paddled out across Platypus Bay. This north section of the bay is where the whales tend to gather, so we were hopeful of meeting some, especially Albert who had not paddled with the whales previously. We were not disappointed. We soon had whales around, under and beside us while a DRONE hovered over us! Probably from some whale watching craft beyond our horizon. George tried to keep us on track, but Bob and Albert were all over the bay and Garth was way behind having a close encounter with a whales tail. It is quite obvious when out there in our comparatively frail craft, that these huge creatures have no intention of bumping into us. And so it continued all morning, whales constantly in view, sometimes very close and the occasional huge turtle or pod of dolphins for variation. With such great conditions, we decided to continue around Rooney Point to find a camp site. As we rounded the point, the crystal clear water of platypus bay suddenly changed to soup ;

6 brown thick pulverized sea weed. Bob the fisherman eloquently identified this as snot weed. Not only dirty and smelly but it sticks to anything it touches, including bodies, boats and sails! We continued around the point in the vain hope it would at least thin out a bit, but eventually made a careful landing to camp on a pleasant beach under a good cover of casuarinas. Glassed Over. Bob with company.

7 Day 4. Sunday. Rooney Point to Sandy Cape Lighthouse. 14 klms. Sunday morning weather continued in perfect style, virtually no wind. Dingo tracks around the kayaks as we packed to launch through the soup. Although no wind at this time of day, this section of coast is outside the protection of the bay and a moderate wave made for a cautious launch. Garth saw most of us away with a knuckle launch; skirts on and quickly through the surf to minimize getting covered in muck. Not Albert, he launched himself, leg over each side and paddling hard! We spent 10 minutes scraping gunk off him, his boat and sail! We were soon in the small bay below the lighthouse and continued on toward the cape a short way looking for an official camp site, found only a no camping sign and returned to below the lighthouse. Safely through the small surf to the open area at the base of the track up to the light, we checked the many national parks signs and found no no camping sign, and so began the procedure of carrying the boats up. As we did so a 4x4 pulled up near the boats and NORM stepped out. He must have been a Norm as his generous belly, wrapped in a broncos tee shirt proceeded him, and his big hand had a firm grip on a can of XXXX which he was inhaling through the gap where a front tooth used to be! A most friendly bloke who soon produced 6 coldies from the fridge and insisted on taking our group photo on everyones camera!

8 Lunch and camp organized we were about to set off for the walk up to the light when Ranger Matt and his apprentice turned up. He was quite astounded that we had appeared from nowhere and made it quite clear that we could not camp here. Pack up and move to the official camp site 8km further on at Sandy Cape was his greeting. He had no chance! A compromise was reached, we would stay tonight and move on tomorrow. We parted company on good terms, but this gave the group a dilemma. Some considered the lighthouse to be a satisfactory terminus and had planned a rest day for tomorrow while others felt that anything less than the actual cape (8km further) was a cop out. Discussion resulted in the solution that Albert, Graham and Dave would take the easy option of a 16km paddle, wind and tide assisted, back around Rooney Point to find a camping site somewhere near the point. George Bob and Garth would take the tough option, a 32km paddle in which tide (and wind as it turned out) would turn against them and they would beach and launch through the soup for a break. Added to their difficulty was that Rooney point can get a bit rough with wind over tide conditions. Sandy Cape Lighthouse.

9 Day 5. Monday. Sandy Cape Lighthouse to Platypus Bay. 32 klms. Not an ideal camp site as the sand hills extended well around the point into platypus bay. The second weary group arrived around 1.30 having made good time in some difficult conditions, but in the bay it was calm with whales often passing close in to our camp. This was just too much for the novice whale paddler Albert, who could not raise any enthusiasm for a group to paddle out to the whales. Off he went, dragging Bob across the beach to launch and spend a special time with just him and whales around and under him. What a buzz was his comment.

10 Day 6 / Day 7. Tuesday and Wednesday. Rooney Point to Awinya Creek. 30 klms. Our intention was to paddle to Wathumba, but conditions were ideal for a paddle straight across Platypus Bay to Awinya; slight sea and a light north wind to help us on our way. Once again the whales were around as we paddled along the coast toward Withumba for smoko in the shadow of the high sand hills, then south across the bay. By midday, tide and wind had turned against us so the final hour or so was a hard slog on tired arms. Relieved to finally reach Awinya and preparing to carry the boats across the beach (low tide) a family, mum/dad and 2 adult sons, came and insisted on helping carry the boats up. No argument from us! They were quite fascinated that we oldfellas could paddle all the way from that point so far away it was almost out of sight. The forecast was for strong winds, nth/w to S/W, for the next few days, so we pegged the tents down well and were grateful that it was a planned rest day tomorrow. At least we had shelter among the casuarinas and clean soft grass under foot, not to mention the fresh water creek behind camp.

11 URANGAN TO SANDY CAPE - FRASER ISLAND. Windy Camp. Unpleasant Shore Break.

12 Day 8. Thursday. Awinya Creek to Coongal Point. 15 klms. Thursday dawned grey and cold but after the rest day we were impatient to be on our way home. A very heavy surf was rolling onto the beach, wind S/W 20knots gusting 25knots. We chose to wait as the forecast indicated it might ease around mid day and the tide run would also ease about then. We decided to launch at 11am as the surf was now down to 4 rows of breakers with the occasional big one rolling in from far out. Bob was the last to launch, having helped the others to knuckle their way off the beach. With the occasional big one determined to lodge in the armpit, we made our cautious way south. The wind continued to ease and we beached north of Coongal point around 1pm.

13 Day 9. Friday. Coongal Creek to Uranban Boat Harbour. 20 klms. Clear sky, light S/W and no surf greeted us on this our final day. We waited impatiently until 9am when the tide would turn in our favour. Although we had the tide, once around Moon Point we had a stiff S/W in our face and wind over tide conditions. Quite lumpy as we crossed the main channel off the point but then a great paddle/sail back past Big Woody Island and into the harbour. George led us through the entrance as he logged off with the Coast Guard. GOOD ONE GEORGE I heard Albert mutter as we entered the harbour. Report by Dave Pass

14 WHEN TO GO. TRIP NOTES. August is a good time for the whale migration and the weather is generally agreeable. The tides run strong into and out of Hervey Bay. Ebb tide to go north and Flood tide to go south. DRINKING WATER. We each carried around 15 litres. We boiled all drinking water taken from the creeks. We used creek water from Worilie Creek and at Awinya Creek. We obtained tank water at Wathumba and at Sandy Cape Lighthouse. We had info that water might be available from Bool Creek, 3.5 km before Sandy Cape Light. However, the water we found was unusable. Investigating further along the stream might be worthwhile. We did not land at Carree, the camp site at Sandy Cape. Water might be available there. (National Parks). Sandy Cape Lighthouse.

15 CAMP SITES. There are no toilet facilities at any site. Woralie. This site is shaded and beside the fresh water creek. It has road access. Awinya Creek. This is the most popular camp. Fresh water creek, shade and the whale area begins from here north. Ranger Matt told us that Awinya is becoming so popular that that number restrictions may be introduced, especially at Easter. It has road access. Watumba Creek. Popular with the boats. Well sheltered, good shade. Water tank across the creek. It has road access. Rooney Point. There is no camping between Watumba and Carree (Sandy Cape) and no beach driving, so no Rangers! Sand hills predominate between Watumba and Rooney. Inside (south) of Rooney, the hills are only 1 or 2 meters high, just an inconvenience. North side has good beaches but we found extreme weed for 10 km or so toward Sandy Cape. Sandy Cape Lighthouse. (Base of the track to the light). Not an official camp site and the ranger checks! A good site if needed and a walk up to the light will give views north over Sandy Cape. Ranger Matt told us of the tank at the right side of the track, adjacent to the lighthouse. Carree, at Sandy Cape. We did not beach there, but it looked good but popular. It has road access. Good Luck With The Weather!!

16 Fraser Island Recreation Area map Great Sandy National Park No vehicle zone: Beach driving is not permitted from Towoi Creek to Sandy Cape Lighthouse gate Carree zone 9 * Sandy Cape Diray zone 9 Survive your drive All road rules apply. Conditions change. Speed limits: 30km/h inland roads 40km/h beach pedestrian areas 80km/h Eastern beach 50km/h Hook Point inland road Great Sandy Marine Park The Fraser Island Section of Great Sandy National Park is surrounded by Great Sandy Marine Park. Visit < for further information. Caution: Moon Point to Towoi Creek soft boggy sand and deep creek crossings; potentially dangerous. Rooney Point Platypus Bay Teebing (Wathumba spit) Wathumba * South Pacific Ocean Ngkala Rocks Duling zone 8 Ocean Lake Orange Creek Ocean Lake zone 8 Marloo zone 8 Orchid Beach Waddy Point Middle Rocks fenced fenced Be croc wise Estuarine crocodile sightings have been reported on the west coast of Fraser Island and the Great Sandy Strait. Camp at least 50 metres from the water s edge. Never clean fish or discard fish or food scraps near the water s edge, campsites or boat ramps. Take care when launching or retrieving your boat. WARNING Look and listen for aircraft landing and taking off along the eastern beach. Great Sandy Marine Park Bowal Creek Towoi Creek Awinya Creek Bowarrady Creek Wungul Sandblow Woralie Creek Lake Bowarrady Corroboree Beach Burad zone 7 Wyuna zone 7 Red Dundubara Canyon Guruman zone 6 Coongul Creek Cathedrals on Fraser (private) Lake Yurru zone 6 fenced Moon Point Boomerang Allom Lakes K gari (private) Eugarie zone 6 Moon Point * Lake The Pinnacles fenced Coomboo Knifeblade Wahba zone 5 Sandblow Maheno Wreck Maheno zone 5 Yidney Scrub Caution: Deep wash-outs at Hervey Bay Eli Creek Lake Eli zone 4 mouth of Eli Creek. Beach passable 2 hours either side of low tide. Kingfisher Bay Garawongera Urang Guluri zone 4 Creek Happy Valley Yidney Rocks Lake McKenzie Kirrar Sandblow Winnam zone 3 fenced hikers Poyungan zone 3 River Poyungan Rocks Heads Great!Walk Wanggoolba Creek Gabala zone 2 A detailed Fraser Island Great!Walk Cornwells zone 2 Lake Wabby topographic map can be purchased Central Station Lake One Tree Rocks zone 2 online, over the counter or by phone Birrabeen at fenced fenced Eurong QPWS office Ungowa great-walks/topographic-maps Lake Benaroon Wongai zone 1 Eurong Garrys Anchorage No vehicle zone: Beach driving is not permitted from Coolooloi Creek to Moon Point. Scale 0 Marine stingers are present in the ocean, especially in the summer months. Swimming is not recommended. Great Sandy Strait hikers Lake Boomanjin fenced Hook Point inland road Coolooloi Creek km Govi zone 1 18km beach access ramp Dulara Midyim 11km beach access ramp Garulim Hook Point Inskip Point Rainbow Beach Dilli Village (private) fenced Caution: Beach is only passable at low tide. Indian Head fenced fenced Caution: Soft boggy sand on the Indian Head bypass track. Be Dingo-Safe! NEVER feed dingoes. Always stay within arm s reach of children, even small teenagers. Walk in groups. Do not run. Running or jogging can trigger a negative dingo interaction. Camp in fenced areas when possible. Lock up food stores and iceboxes (even on a boat). Never store food or food containers in tents. Secure all rubbish, fish and bait. Follow dingo safety advice provided with permits and on signs throughout the island. Legend Recreation area Other lands 4WD track Walking track No vehicle zone hazardous beach Great!Walk* Central Lakes scenic drive Southern Lakes scenic drive Lake Garawongera scenic drive Northern Forests scenic drive Beach camping area Distance (kilometres) QWPS Information Centre Ranger station 4WD tent camping Boat access camping Walk-in camping 4WD camper trailer Private accomodation Shop, gas, ice Fuel Toilets Waste transfer station Picnic table Sheltered picnic table Gas barbecue Telephone Lookout Walking track Barge landing Police station Ambulance Wreck Sandy Cape lighthouse Dishwashing area Portable toilet waste disposal facility Water treat before drinking No camper trailers Do not swim in the ocean State of Queensland. Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service, Department of National Parks, Sport and Racing. MA250 February 2016