Strait the water is murky, so whether it is 20cm or 20m deep you can't tell. As we approached Moon Point it was clear that in front was a shallow patch that closed in all around and there was no option but to go over the top. We didn't touch, but at one stage the water was 2.6m deep. There are several choices of channels to take at Moon Point and we chose to round very close to Fraser Island as our destination was the Lagoon Anchorage over half way up Platypus Bay. It was surprising how close to Fraser Island we had to go. You could almost touch the shore. Once out in Hervey Bay we were clear of obstacles and it was a pleasant sail to the Lagoon.
The Lagoon Anchorage
This whole bay is ringed by a beautiful white sandy beach. The Lagoon Anchorage is in open water and as the light wind was in the south or south east we had a comfortable night. Several runabouts and a large catamaran were inside the lagoon and completely protected from any wind. Unfortunately for us only shallow draft vessels can go in there. We took Lily ashore and walked along the beach and explored the lagoon.
On Monday we again left early for a 57nm journey across Hervey Bay to Port Bundaberg. The wind was a gentle southerly and we quietly sailed most of the day - lovely! We motored into the Burnett River, past the sugar terminal and found a spot to anchor opposite the Bundaberg Sailing Club near the northern bank. It reminded me of the Clarence River, being surrounded by sugar cane fields and grazing cattle.
Bundaberg Sailing Club
Tuesday! Time to explore! We made for the yacht club and pulled Lily up on the sandy beach in front. Gary, the caretaker, came to meet us and make us feel welcome. Showers were available for the price of a small donation to the club. Later we found out that the showers were excellent. Gary phoned the local IGA manager and the courtesy bus came out from Burnett Heads, 5km away, so we could restock the larder. What great service. If you shop there he will deliver you and your purchases back to the boat free of charge. We made use of the service again today as we stocked up for a week on the water before our next shop stop at Yeppoon.
Burnett Heads shops
While we were ashore at the yacht club we met the Vice Commodore (I didn't get his name) and had a long chat about the 2013 floods. He also told us that near where we were anchored there was a sunken tree and some stumps that were washed there in the floods. Lucas has it as an anchorage, but it is probably better to anchor further downstream near the moored boats now. We anchored between a small sandy beach where some local dinghies were stored and a disused looking slipway. The bottom there is consistently flat and the tidal race seemed a little less severe. The yacht club has some very interesting photos of the floods. The depths in the river have changed considerably and in front of the club there is a yacht moored on a pontoon in 20m of water. Before the flood it used to sit on the mud at low tide. We decided not to take Rene up to Bundaberg, but stay put and go in on the bus.It is now Thursday and we have moved to the Port Bundaberg Marina to prepare for our next move north tomorrow. This marina is convenient and the facilities excellent. We have met at least half a dozen other people preparing their yachts/catamarans for the trip to Pancake Creek tomorrow. Others are aiming for Saturday. It is obvious that the 'Baby Boomers' who are not in caravans are on the water heading for the Whitsundays or further north. It is such a contrast to last year where we were the only ones silly enough to tackle Bass Strait in winter and even as far north as Sydney, we had the place to ourselves most of the time.
Port Bundaberg Sugar Terminal
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