CENTRAL COAST - BRISBANE WATER - ST HUBERTS ISLANDS - KAYAK - 16 december 2014

Well, firstly, I thought that St Huberts Island was the one island covered in houses. BUT the two smaller islands next to it were marked down as St Huberts Island so there must be a few of them.



I parked at Park Road, Woy Woy. The shore was lined with a sandstone retaining wall. At Park Road, there was a break in the wall with a few steps down to the water.

I launched into the bright morning sunrise and paddled across to the first island.

The island was lined with mangroves and a few breaks with small white and beaches. It is shallow near the shore and clusters of oyster periodically scrapped along the hull of the kayak. Luckily, the kayak was made of plastic! It was very quiet. The water carried  a few voices of boaties so that they seemed very close.

After circumnavigating half the island, I paddled over to the second island. This island was totally covered with mangroves and there wasn't really any dry land. I was able to partially paddle under a few trees but it would be better with a high tide as it was too shallow.

I paddled back over to the first island where there was a small wharf attached to an oyster farmer shed. A little further on, there were some oystercatcher birds on a small, white, sand beach. I watched them for awhile then landed the kayak a little further around on another small beach. From here, I explored the island but the dry land was very small.

I landed at another beach on the island then headed back to the start.

There were a lot of birds, mainly in flight, but they were too fast for me today to photograph.

A nice paddle of 2.08 km with a beautiful sunrise and relaxing, calming water.

CENTRAL COAST - BRISBANE WATER - RILEYS ISLAND - KAYAK/HIKE - 7 DECEMBER 2014

I parked at the pubic wharf at Davistown. It is a pretty area with Rileys Island opposite and sandy beaches on either side of the wharf at low tide.



The paddle was enjoyable and I was able to keep close to the island as the tide become fuller. The island shore was mainly mangroves and surrounded at parts by oyster leases.

There was a lot of activity in the area - fishing boats and other kayakers. Some of the fishing boats caused a wake that oscillated in the still morning.

The birds were abundant - ibis, cormorants, lapwing, oystercatcher, silver gull, egret and I think a whimbrel. They were roosting on signs and trees or foraging in the mangroves, shallows or deeper water.

I landed on the island in two places but there were no real paths to follow. At one point, where there were a lot of grasses where spiders had made webs that were sheet like between the blades.

A pleasant kayak with mirrorr reflections, birds and an island.

3.60 km

CENTRAL COAST - TUGGERAH LAKE - TERILBAH ISLAND - KAYAK - 30 november 2014

A beautiful, morning with a hint of a wind.



I drove to The Entrance North and parked in the car park just after the bridge.

There was no wind, the water was reflecting mirror images and a number of birds lined the channel which was opposite Teribah Island.

While getting ready to launch a couple of pelicans stood on the edge of the shoreline and preened themselves. Shortly, a number of starlings appeared and hopped across the grass with their heads darting quickly in various directions while pecking at the ground for food.

I launched the kayak in glassy conditions. I caused a wake with the kayak just to watch the ripples. I paddled across the channel to Teribah Island and followed the shoreline to circumnavigate the island.

The paddling was fun as the water became very shallow due to the outgoing tide. I sat close to the front of the kayak to lift the back so I could paddle over shallow sections. Just near the end of the ride the water became too shallow and I was forced to abandon ship and wade through the shallows until I reached deeper water.

The birds were out and about in large numbers. I counted at least seven different species of birds.

Cormorants were in flight, roosting on trees and boating signs drying their feathers or diving under the water foraging for food. Stilts were standing on one legged watching the world. Black Swans flowed regally over the water in large groups. Spotted Doves sat in the trees looking like they were trying to make a decision to where they would go next. Ibises preened themselves amongst the pelicans. Dollarbirds roosted in the trees just watching - they have such pretty, shiny, subtle colours.

A great kayak of 2.22 km!

INDONESIA - SULAWESI - BIRA - PALAU LIUHUKAN LOE - 9 TO 11 JUNE 2014 - 'ISLAND IN THE SUN'

Info

Homestay – 08114211418 – he can also provide a cheap but safe boat to the island – 250 000 fan room, 35 000R a meal and 200 000R for a return boat.

The journey

I was off to Palau Luihukan Loe, which was a small island straight opposite Bira Beach. The boat/homestay owner met me at my guesthouse at Bira and helped carried my gear down to the boat.

On Bira beach the waves were breaking and it was difficult to get to and on the boat without getting reasonably wet. The waves and wind made for an exciting boat ride. The wind ripped my cap off my head and in the ocean it went. The captain sent one of the crew overboard to get it. He was a poor swimmer but the boat had kept going in the direction of the island. I was a little concerned for the guy’s safety. The captained slowed the boat and waved him to swim over. It took a while.

We arrived at the island landing on stretch of white sand with a village skirting its edge. Behind that the island rose about 10 metres covered in rough vegetation. The main occupation on the island was fishing with some goat rearing in the interior.

The homestay was clean and situated right on the beach. It had a small restaurant where meals were served. The meals were cheap and filling, being fish, rice, and vegetables.

I settled into my room, had lunch and a snorkel but the visibility was poor due to the wave action. I walked along the beach, found another homestay at the other end of the beach and walked through the village. The opposite end of the beach looked better for swimming but not snorkelling. The people in the village were either friendly or indifferent. Oddly, there were motorbikes on the island. It was odd as there was only one path 15 minutes leading to the other side of the island.

I sat on the beach and watched the sunset and had a few bintangs and met several new guests from Makassar. Friendly hairdressers.

The next day, I had an early morning hike to the other side of the island. There was a concrete track connecting to the village on the other side of the island. Along the track, I met a number of school kids and families. The other village was more spread out and there was a long white sand beach. A very long jetty was at one end of the village. At the end of the jetty was a sunken boat. It was quite large and was bashing against the pier with the wave and wind action. The people of the village were friendly.

On return, I went for a snorkel. The visibility wasn’t as bad as yesterday but not as good as the day trip. No rain today! On most days, so far, there had been periods of rain.

The sunrise at last! After days of cloud, it turned it on this morning. I sorted the bill, had breakfast and then a wavy ride back to Bira.

CENTRAL COAST - SPECTACLE ISLAND - KAYAK - 21 april 2014

We drove to Mooney Mooney Creek car park near Peat Island. There were a lot of cars parked there. The car park had a lot of huge pot holes and there was a sign saying there were going to be parking charges soon.

After checking out the tides and a launching spot, we launched. The water was a little turbulent around the bridge area. Going under the bridge, we had driven across many times was cool.


After the bridge, there was a strong current until we reached shallower water out of the boat channel.


We paddled to Spectacle Island and along the mangrove area. Eventually, the mangroves decreased as we reached the island proper. We came ashore on a sandy area and walked around a bit. The island looked very steep and would harbor heaps of snakes so we stuck to the little beach.

We continued around the island. There were - small beaches, oyster farms, flat tidal rocks and an inlet into the mangroves. At the end of the inlet, there were four abandoned boats in various stages of rot.


We paddled back and used the boating channel to drift back to the bridge. the current there was pulling us along at about 3km/h.


A good kayak. I usually don't like more open water kayaks but the island shoreline diversity, bridges and currents made it an interesting paddle.


distance - 4.72km
time - 2h 7m

AUSTRALIA - QUEENSLAND - Tallebudgera Creek - Kayak - october 2010

The bridge across the creek is a good place to start a kayak due to easy parking and a creek beach.

I was surprised with this kayak not quite knowing what to expect. The beach start is fun with a strong current, followed by paddling under a heavily used bridge. Either side of the creek has white sand beaches with barnacled rocks in the murky shallow waters.

Once past the urban area, the sounds of traffic are lost to the sounds of the bird life. The creek becomes mangrove along its banks.

I stopped for awhile at a small sand island in the centre of the river.

CENTRAL COAST - Brisbane Water - Riley Island - kayak - 13 July 2010

The weather was cloudy but no wind. I drove to St Hubert’s Island and launched from the north east of the island.

It was a perfect morning with a mirror image of the island reflecting off the water of the channel. The wind held off throughout the whole kayak affording a perfect reflection for the whole trip.

The island had a few sandy stretches to land and walk around but mainly it was mangroves with oyster shells clinging to every rock. At one point, there were a number of old rusting tanks possibly from some sort of past farming occupation. The area around the tanks looked like it had been cleared in comparison to the rest of the island.

The bird life was a bit scarce on this journey – some cormorants, herons and ducks.

Though the water was glassy the surface was very swirly in some sections where the incoming tide crossed currents.

It was about a two hour quiet and scenic trip.

Thailand - 1982

Travelled up the east coast of Thailand. Stayed at koi Samui for a week, then north to Bangkok. Stayed at Chang mai and did a jungle trek for five days. It was very muddy but the villages were all so different.

Indonesia - Lombok - Gili Meno - 2009

Gili Meno is the middle island of the Gili Island group. It small and surrounded by white sand beaches and palm trees. The pace of life is slow and relaxed.

Where to stay

Bird park Resort
0370 642321
www.balipvbgroup.com

Good heart
081339556976

Hotel Gazebo Meno
0370 635795

Villa Nautilus
0370 642143
www.villanautilas.com

Kontiki Meno
0370 632824

Biru meno
08133657322

Tao Kombo
08123722174
tao_kombo@yahoo.com

Kura-kura bungalows
Casablanca hotel
Blue coral
Pondok Santay
Pondok Siri
Zoraya
Lumba-Lumba

What to do

Bird park

Cycle

Snorkel – best at the surf reef in south of island, meno slope and gili meno wall

Surf

Walk around and through the island

Talk with locals

Visit Gili Trawangan or Gili Air

Visit Lombok mainland

Volcano trek to Rijini

Snorkel tour

Cimino ride

Diving

Visit local school

Charter boat ½ or full day – fish, snorkel, and laze around on waters, visit islands or combos of these. 400 000 to 600 000 rupiah

Do nothing

Inter island transport

Catch inter-island ferry to Gili Trawangan (30 000 rupiah) or Gili Air (30 000 rupiah). The boat leaves Gili Trawangan at 9:30am then stops Gili Meno then Gili Air and returns at 3:00 from Gili Air, then Gili Meno, hen Gili Trawangan. The boat leaves Gili Trawangan at 4:00 pm, then Gili Meno, then Gili Air.

Public boat to Bangsal, Lombok – 10 000 rupiah – leaves every hour once it has 25 passengers.

Charter boat to Gili Trawangan or Gili Air – 250 000 rupiah one way.

Indonesia - Lombok - Gili Air - 2009

Gili Air is the closest Gili Island to the mainland. It is very relaxed and quiet. Transport on the island is horse and cart, bicycle and walking. There is a track/road around the circumference of the island. A paved road runs from the harbour through the centre of the island. A number of tracks run in various directions all over the island. The harbour is a quiet affair.

Accommodation

There is a lot of accommodation that is cheap and clean. Rooms vary from fan to air con. There are also a number of ‘hotels’ that have passed their ‘used by’ date. A number of new hotels have been built near the harbour. You can book before you go or find accommodation when you arrive. Upon arrival there are many touts near the jetty that will take you to available accommodation.

Gili air hotel
Supier room - 550 000 air for 2
giliair@mataram.wasantara.net.id
62 370 634435

Eating

there are restaurants spread out along the island though most are on the south, east and north coast in sections.

Activities

Snorkeling – just let the current pull you along. Note that in some places the currents are very strong and the drop off to deep water is very steep.

Diving – diving centres are located on the island
.
Cycling – the ‘road’ gets a little bogged down in sand in some places on the west coast.

Hire a local boat and snorkel.

Go on a snorkel cruise – this stops at a number of places around the three Gili islands.

Locals are very friendly so have a chat.

Cimodo tour around island

Surf – surfboards are available to hire

Walk around and through island

Transport

Horse and cart rides (cimodo)

Walking

Cycling

Getting around between islands

There are ferries between the Gili islands or you can hire a local or speed boat.