Minjerriba - Dunwich for Breakfast

Becoming a regular Sunday paddle in recent times. It is around 13 kms from Cleveland to Dunwich if you paddle over the reef platform on the north side of Peel Island, or around 15 kms if you have to paddle around the reef.  It is just over 13 kms if you paddle back to Cleveland via the southern side of Peel Island making it at least a 26 km round trip.  We are stopping in the bay near the research station just south of the little ships club.

Today's paddle had some downwind sections for part of the trip and some fun runners to link together.

Breakfast at the Fruit Barn is worth the walk!

Scouting out a sea cave on Humpy Island

On a recent trip to the Keppel Islands, some of the crew decided to have a day off the water to explore the cliffs on Humpy Island to scout for some potential new sea caves.

The entrance to this cave is a little narrow and there is a large rock over the entrance where I was standing to take the picture so low tide access is recommended as is low swell.

The cave isn't as impressive as the well known sea cave on northern end of North Keppel Island (see below), but it is worth exploring if you have the opportunity.

North Keppel Island Sea Cave - advise bringing kayak lights to see in this cave as it goes back and hooks around so you have no visible light.  This cave could have done with a good flushing out!

This is the bay on the southern side of Humpy Island that has the sea cave - the point is on the south-east side of the island.

Minjerribah for Breakfast

Sunrise was a moody affair this morning with light winds and glassy conditions for a paddle from Raby Bay to Minjerribah for breakfast at "The Barn".

A Cleveland Point we surprised what may have been a hump backed dolphin as we silently glided over to get a better look at what creature was breaking the glassy surface of the bay - video footage to come.

We paddled past the reef platform and mangroves on the northern side of Peel Island, watched by a beautiful Brahminy Kite and  a very large sea eagle who was on the hunt for breakfast.  The mangroves along this stretch are home to many different shore birds as well as a creche for our local fish population - plenty of wildlife to keep you interested.

13 km's later, we found ourselves parked on the beach between the passenger jetty and the Research Station.  There was a flock of large birds closely watching our arrival which turned out to be (Royal) spoonbills.

The northern end of the beach provides some habitat for migratory birds. Along with the spoonbills, there were pied oyster catchers, a white heron and the ubiquitous "bin" chicken.

A short walk to the shops for breakfast - pays to keep an eye up along the path that leads around the point as there are often koalas in the surrounding eucalyptus trees.

We paddled over to Goat Island on the way home to get a good angle for the wind which never came. There is a stealth campsite on Goat Island with high tide access - and a nice surrounding reef.  Another 13 km flat water paddle saw us come home via the southern side of Peel Island.

Moreton Island Paddling

 A typical Queensland winters morning - around 8 degrees and a classic clear sky and a gentle south-westerly breeze. The colours at this time of year under our clear skies are always dynamic.

The 10-15 knot South Westerly failed to show and there was just a hint of wind around so a nice flat water paddle was on offer for the crossing to Moreton Island from Bribie Island.

We had a few days of strong westerlies earlier in the week which had blown the sea stars out of the sea grass and onto the western beaches on Moreton Island.

This lot were clustered around the shallow pools near the Bulwer Wrecks.

This is the resident tern on his favourite perch.

Some green to go with the blue - Bulwer Wrecks.

Cockpit view on the crossing - all shades of blue.