Eco North

We depart from Hinchinbrook Cove in Cardwell and we tell you about the damage from Tropical Cyclone Yasi in 2012, the traditional owner’s history and usage of the area when first settled, as we cruise to the most north eastern tip of Hinchinbrook Island, Cape Richards, which overlooks Gould and Brooke Islands.

Missionary Bay

On arrival at Cape Richards, we enjoy the scenery, then cruise a short distance to Missionary Bay, one of largest and most diverse mangrove inlet systems in Australia. Missionary Bay is a marine wonderland and you may see feeding Dugongs and Turtles on the seagrass beds and Snubfin River Dolphins. We’ll also tell you why it’s called Missionary Bay and some of its past history.

Macushla Cove

As we cruise through Missionary Bay, we show you the camping area at Macushla Cove and talk about the missionary Lyons family history there, while showing you the remnants of mango trees they planted, concrete building foundations, an old water tank and explain that the place was named after their boat Macushla.

Jurassic Walk

We then enjoy another 20 min cruise to our next destination, Creek 7, the location of the Ramsay Bay boardwalk and disembark the boat and start to walk the boardwalk. This is especially exciting, as this is the start of the world famous Thorsborne Trai. We follow the boardwalk for about 200m through the mangroves and lowlands to the sand dunes and the beach at Ramsay Bay. We then walk the beautiful beach to the rocks near the base of Nina Peak, with The Thumb and Mt Bowen (1121m) shadowing you. It is an amazing mountain scape and you realise how untouched and pristine Hinchinbrook Island is.

We then walk inland through the rainforest and dappled light to the little creek at Black Sand Beach, which is one of the kayak beach camping sites. We relax under Pandanus Palms, or explore the beach. We then walk back to the boat at Creek 7 and board it. You will have experienced one of the 8th wonders of the world, and a true wonder of nature.

Hectate Point

From Creek 7, we then cruise along the Hinchinbrook Island shoreline for about 25 minutes and arrive at Hectate Point, the site of the old failed Page Family sawmill, established in the 1880’s, then dismantled in 1887, when the family moved to The Haven

The Haven

From Hectate Point, we cruise the shoreline again for about 10 minutes and arrive at The Haven, where we disembark again. We explore the day use area, which is also the location of the Bandjin or Biyaygiri traditional fish traps and middens.

The stone fish traps are possibly the largest and most complex coastal fish traps in North Queensland. We’ll tell you about how they worked, their middens and their rock shelters and other reminders of Aboriginal people’s presence. We’ll also tell you more of the history of the Page family, who moved there from our previous location, Hectate Point. After their Hectate Point sawmill failed, at the Haven, they grew small crops, grazed sheep and extracted lime from midden piles. Page’s Creek is named after the family.

We’ll also tell you about the Lewis Family, who in the 1930-1940’s established an early tourism venture, building a guest house and cottages and establishing a coconut plantation.

We then walk the 1km which loops along Page’s Creek and though beautiful rainforest. It’s also the only access to the western coast of the island and Hinchinbrook Channel.

Flats

We reboard the boat and begin to cruise back to Cardwell. On our way there, it allows a bit more time too embrace Hinchinbrook’s natural beauty and eco systems and stop to observe any marine wild life we see, which could be Stingrays, Turtles, Barramundi, and schools of mullet.

Upon arrival at Cardwell, we disembark and say our goodbyes and you can head back to your accommodation