Keppel Bay Marina to Burnett River Mouth 16th - 24th August 2026
This blog will be a little different to the others in that it is going to be mostly photos as I think there are some interesting ones.
The Blowhole on Double Head, the results of past volcanic activity. It is very deep, a bit like the gap in Albany.
We ended up spending 8 days in the Keppel Bay Marina, partly due to strong south easterly winds and also an accident I had. Chris and Jodie (Wiikirri) live on a farmlet 20kms out of Rockhampton, so as this is their home port they very kindly took us on several tours of the area. Firstly we went to a slipway out of town on the Fitzroy River, where Donny and Jacquie from Sandra, (also came across the top with us last year) were working on some serious hull jobs. He had cut out some rust patches, had installed a new motor and propellor and was sanding the hull ready for new antifouling. They were busy so it was a quick catch up, but nice to see them again.
The Barrage on the Fitzroy River, Rockhampton. Keeping the salt water at bay.
Old Customs House Rockhampton
We spent the morning touring the sights of Rockhampton and then having lunch at a very nice restaurant on the waterfront. After lunch Chris drove us out to his farmlet to show us around. We saw the work he has done on the place, his cattle and paddocks. Then he took us on a tour of a neighbouring mango orchard and water supply infrastructure at a nearby creek. We had a lovely day. Thanks Chris.
Queensland Bottle Tree on Chris and Jodies property. It has studs in it for measuring years of growth.
The following day Chris and Jodie took us north along the coast to Waterpark Nature Reserve. It was interesting and the landscape changes from open woodland to rainforest. There was a very nice camping area there for bush camping and a large waterhole nearby. It is a really nice place to get away from it all for a while. Nearby is a cafe/shop where we had a really good lunch. I can recommend it for a yummy light lunch. Also located nearby was a pottery, but it was closed. Otherwise there seemed to be some small farms around the reserve.
This guy came out of the bush at Waterpark. Not sure where he came from.
Splat!
Chris and Jodie loaned us their car after our morning out and we drove into Yeppoon for some stores for our trip south to the Burnett River. We had several heavy bags of shopping and as Olivia was well out on one of the marina fingers it was a long walk. Some of the floats that make up the walkway stick up on the ends and I came to grief on one of them. The edge was raised up slightly and seemed to be floating differently to the others. Maintenance!!!??? I caught my toe and face planted. Splat!! My nose hit the cement and I just lay there for a few moments wondering what was broken. Luckily my fall was broken by the shopping, in particular the UHT milks which got squashed, but did not break.
I was lucky. No bones broken, not even my nose!
The culprit. It moved up and down very slightly.
Several people came running and Peter helped me up and everything seemed ok bar from a very bloody nose which kept on oozing blood for the rest of the day. The following day nothing seemed damaged but for a feeling that the whole body had had a shake up. No bruises, sore patches or stiffness. Thank goodness for UHT milks. One of the marina staff came and took photos and the next day workmen were there doing some much needed maintenance. We decided to have an extra day in the marina just to make sure everything was ok.
The following day we visited a sail loft where Jenny works, another of Sandra's crew from last year. It was interesting to see what is produced there and how the industrial sewing machines work making sails, shade sails and other related items. The machinist sits in a work area below floor level so that the large sails etc are spread out on the floor for working on. Thanks Jenny. It was interesting to see you at work.
Sunrise at Burnett River Mouth
On Friday we set off for our voyage to Burnette River, via a night at Hummocky Island and Pancake Creek, behind Clews Point just north of Bustard Head. The whole trip was into S and SE winds which though not strong meant plenty of tacking. Our 20nm trip to Hummocky Island took 33nm. The anchorage was very rolly for part of the night, depending on wind and tide. The Pancake trip was not too bad as we did the prescribed 50nm from 5am and anchored at 4pm in a quiet lovely anchorage.
On the third day we had 61nm to the Burnett River. It was a long tedious day. Due to headwinds 60nm turned into 82nm and another after dark anchorage entry. Luckily we have been here before. This river goes upstream to Bundaberg and has a port for sugar exports just upriver from the outer anchorage. There is a marina in the river and a very nice shopping centre nearby. We had morning coffee at one of the best cafes that SACAS has assessed, 'Kellys By The Sea'. We gave them 9.75. Point 0.25 was deducted for the view, which was a street view. No sea or park view.
Here we are in the Burnett River Mouth
Kellys. Really lovely country style food. Yum!
We rewarded ourselves with a day of rest in the Burnett River. We are thinking it is time to step on the gas as we want to get to Lake Macquarie in NSW to let Olivia rest there for the summer. So much for not much text and more photos this time. There is more photos - but I seem to get carried away with the writing.
More Rockhampton
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