Eco South

We depart from Dungeness jetty at Lucinda and enjoy the 7 must see sights on southern Hinchinbrook Island

The Jetty

Our first destination is the Lucinda sugar loading jetty. You get close to an architectural masterpiece, which is 5.76kms long and has over 600 pylons. There’s a separate recreational jetty for use by the Palm Island Barge, which takes freight to the indigenous population of nearby Palm Island. This is a is a great location for taking pictures and in season, there’s a chance you’ll see migrating humpback whales. The jetty is also a known fishing hot spot for lure fishing around the pylons and if conditions are right, we do that. After familiarising yourself with the local landmarks, we then cross Hinchinbrook Channel to Hinchinbrook Island.

The Bluff

A 10 minute cruise across Hinchinbrook Passage will takes us to The Bluff, a geological marvel of crevices, overhangs and small caves, carved for millennia by water, wind and weather and tree roots clinging on to the rocks bonsai style. Great photo opportunities

The Bluff Inlet

We then enter Bluff Inlet and weave our way through a narrow serpentine mangrove creek. As we get further upstream, Mt Straloch (953m) and Mt Diamantina (922m) come into view, and the creek opens up for unparalleled veiws and amazing panoramic photo opportunities.

As we arrive at the very end of Bluff Inlet, we are close and personal to these amazing natural structures, being only a few hundred metres from the base of the mountains and we can see the flora change from mangroves to eucalyptus trees as the elevation changes.

The Herbert River

After exiting Bluff Inlet, we cruise back across Hinchinbrook Channel to the mouth of Herbert River, the site of the old Herbert River shacks, some still used today and are an amazing part of our local history.

Haycock Island

We then cross Hinchinbrook Channel again and cruise to Haycock Island and do a lap around this little island and see amazing flora and fauna. It’s a hot spot for predatory sea birds, like Ospreys and Brahminy Kites seeking their prey. The island was also used for bombing practice in WW2, but has since fully recovered from any damage caused by that.

The nearby flats and Paluma and Gayundah Creeks are an amazing mangrove creek system and a known crocodile habitat and they are often seen on the high banks. It’s also a great place to see migratory wading birds.

These areas can be alive with marine activity and as we slowly cruise along, Stingrays, Turtles, Barramundi and mullet will dart off in front of us. It’s raw nature at its best, as it’s an eat or be eaten world on the flats, drains and points.

Deluge Inlet

We then follow the Hinchinbrook Island shoreline for about 20 minutes and arrive at Deluge Inlet, a real highlight of the day.

The inlet is the largest of all Hinchinbrook Island’s creeks, with the mountains, Mt Bowen (1121m) and The Finger (1022m) towering above.

Lush vegetation is at the heart this unique wilderness location. The inlet transitions from full saltwater, to brackish, to a rainforest stream. It’s a true wonder of diversity, from mangroves to gum trees, Tea Tree and Melaleuca lowlands, to untouched tropical rainforest and gin clear water. Once we reach the furthest point we can navigate upstream, there’s a cool, safe swimming hole, which is a perfect place to cool down on a hot day. A truly amazing place, a natures amphitheatre, with unparalleled mountain views, and photo opportunities.

We then cruise back to where the tour started at Dungeness Jetty at Lucinda, giving you time to embrace and reflect on the rugged beauty of Hinchinbrook

”Leave only your footprints … and retain the memories … don’t destroy what you come to enjoy”