Dunk Island Adventure Nov 2020

The club held a three day adventure on Dunk Island. One keen lass kayaked over, the rest of the group went by water taxi – well, we had eskies and base camp gear to get over and they will not fit in our kayaks – right !

The island camp area provides dedicated camp sites, benches and chairs, hot showers and filtered water – luxury for us bushwalkers. The only question was whether our leader would be mellow and relaxing, or demand that we explore rough terrain. Well, exploration is in our club DNA – so ............
Saturday, with light sea breeze, ocean conditions were perfect. Short water taxi transfer to the island, then set-up camp. After lunch, we go exploring on the north east side of the island. Around rocky headlands and good coastal scenery. We found a small pebbled shaded alcove that was perfect for a rest. We saw corals, black tip reef shark, a herd of sea snails and other creatures. Meanwhile, our keen kayaker lass was circumnavigating the island in her outrigger kayak.

The tide was coming in, and a couple of spots would be tricky at high tide, so we made a retreat back to camp, for an enjoyable afternoon swim and play with kayaks and floaties. An early happy hour was called. From the beach we saw numerous turtles and fishes. A good evening then watching the sunset.

Sunday, a full day for exploring. We used the circuit track walk to reach the summit on a hot and humid morning. Great views.

Then the long descent to reach Coconut Beach, a wonderful spot with pure soft sand and azure water. A great spot for lunch and a swim.

Now some of us could have spent the rest of the day at this wonderful beach. But, our leader thought we might get bored (uh?), and dragged us off to explore to the south tip of the island – can’t be too hard, some rocky foreshores, boulders, mangrove forests, thick jungle – what could possibly go wrong. Along the beach, beautiful coastal scenes, then we are blocked by mangrove forest backed by swamp and jungle, impenetrable.

We try through the middle of the mangroves, lucky not thick deep mud but firm underfoot, so easy going through tangled mangrove roots, to the edge of the water. Then skirting along the edge, until we have a large expanse of shallow water in front.

Two go direct across the shallows, the rest back into the mangroves traverse. In the shallows are dozens of stingrays.

We all regroup, then along rocky shores, some walk in the water as it is easier, until we reach our destination, a small beach backed by a saddle.

We look at whether we can cross the saddle to the east coast, it is thick jungle, some of us are low on water, and it is very hot, so we leave that for next trip. We have a rest, then turn for home. El Prez spots something in the water, he even ran along the beach chasing it – it was a moray eel in the shallows.

After that excitement, we wander along the beaches and coast on a very low tide, back to camp.

At camp, happy hour is called early again, and swimming is in order. On the beach for sunset, more turtles and fish are observed. A great day.

Watching sunset during happy hour (it was a long happy hour), discussing options for next year, we should make it a combined bushwalk and kayak trip (there are other islands nearby to kayak to) – so the Prez formed a sub-committee to look into a plan with a support boat for next year. Can’t be too hard, when we did Herbert Gorge 5 dayer the ‘sub-committee chairperson’ organised 3 helicopters and a bus, so one support boat shouldn’t too hard. C’mon sub-committee!

Monday, is self exploring. Prez disappeared at 0520 off to Coconut Beach for morning photos.

At midday, catch the water taxi back to the mainland. Then hamburgers for lunch, and drive home. A great weekend with a great group. We were lucky with light sea breezes only. We will make it an annual trip.