Cape Cleveland - Paradise Bay - Windmill
Explore Cape Cleveland from lighthouse to Paradise Bay and Windmill in this epic coastal trek. Highlights include Reef Star boat ride, lighthouse tour, flying fox descent, rugged telegraph line trails, Red Rock Point, Cape Woora oysters, turtle sightings, and scenic beaches near Townsville.
SATURDAY
6.10 - 8.00 A.M. Dave Barnes' boat "Reef Star" from Ross Creek to beach at Cape Cleveland Lighthouse.
8.00 - 8.20 Landing 5 at a time in runabout.
8.30 - 10.15 Lighthouse inspection with Keeper Horrie West. Flying Fox descent to beach.
10.15 Started walking from beach at Lighthouse. On the advise of the Keeper decided not to follow the East coast as it is too rough. Followed the telegraph line but not easy going so descended to the W. coast.
11.30- 12.40 Reached small beachy cove just N. of Red Rock Point (see Aerial map) Lunch. Brackish water in well behind rough hut.
12.40 Rounded R.R.P. to Mangrove Beach; then due E. under Telegraph line to stream. Rather swampy here and would have been better to have gone E. to Tel. line at beach N. of R.R.P.. Followed creek upstream SSW and although windy the creek bed gave the easiest going. Only scattered pools of water, masses of spiders' webs and a few tree snakes.
3.20 Reached saddle. View of beach. More snakes.
4.15 Paradise I Beach (Lighthouse Keeper's name) Good campsite between two streams running into the sea. The northern one, although the smallest, gave the freshest water. No mosquitoes.
4 3/4 hours walking.
SUNDAY
8.30 Off. Coast was too awkward, especially at high tide so climbed across promontory, following creek bed.
9.45 Reached beach opposite Bray Islet. Saw 2 turtles.
11.30 Cape Woora Rocks. (Oysters)
12.00 - 1.30 Lunch at Paradise II Beach. (Fishermens' name) Chased by fish.
3.50 Reached Windmill after following road whole way and omitting Chunda Bay, and picked up by car.
5 3/4 hours.
Total walking time: 10 1/2 hours.
Transport from the Windmill to the Highway was prearranged. One V.W. was used in relays over the saltpan from the Windmill to the old Radio Station house which is approx. 4 miles from the beginning of the causeway, this section of the road being relatively in better condition and free from salt. From here a 2nd car was met and a 3rd on the highway.
As only small pools of water were available on route this is essentially a summer walk, although conditions were extremely hot.
