Trip reports

Trip report

2006-07-14	Thorsborne Trail at Hinchinbrook Island Northern Queensland
Trip report:
10/07/06 – 14/07/06 Drive to Cardwell Friday 14/07/06 Drove from Kookaburra Camping Ground to Port Hinchinbrook, where we took the Hinchinbrook ferry to the Boardwalk on Hinchinbrook Is. Most went to Nina Peak for a lookout. Awesome 360 degree views even in bad weather. Lunch was at Nina Bay where Mark tried to supplement his diet with local coconuts. Walked to Little Ramsay. Camped at Little Ramsay Bay. Went for a pre-prandial swim in lagoon’s outlet. Everyone took precautions (including hanging packs and putting food in metal boxes) against rodents of unusual voracity – all to no avail, for one chewed though Mike’s brand-new tent to get to Rick’s knee. On the other side of camp, rats chewed though Ros’s pocket to get to an old sweet wrapper. Saturday 15/07/06 Crossed tidal stream on Ramsay Bay Beach. Filled up water at S Ramsay Bay Beach. Walked to side track down to Banksia Bay, took photos. Had lunch in the rainforest at North Zoe Creek beside a beautiful blue pool (warning crocodile signs). Here began the “keep boots dry” saga, which ended for some without warning. Dave fell in the creek after treading on a sharp stone with bare feet but kept boots dry. Every time we came to a major stream, boots came off. Going through the mud and mangroves behind Zoe Bay challenged even the most skilful of “keep boots dry” following. Arrived at the beach at Zoe Bay where we walked along to southernmost end and camped beside South Zoe Creek. Collected stuff and went for a leisurely swim among rocks here in the brisk water. That evening the rain began…. Sunday 16/07/06 It was still raining. Rather than enjoying a sunny rest day, we packed up camp and headed up South Zoe Creek to Zoe Falls. The normally tranquil pools had become raging torrents. After some brief photos headed through the rainforest to the 300m saddle below Mt Diamantina. As we crossed to the other side of the saddle Mike declared that “this view was why we had come to Hinchinbrook”! However the “view” was obscured by the rain and mist. We plodded onwards through the rain to Diamantina Creek where we had heard might be a major barrier to our progress. Fortunately, it wasn’t as swollen as we had feared, and we were able to have lunch after we had crossed. It was still raining and miserable and lunch was brief. We arrived at the Mulligan Falls campsite shortly after lunch. The falls were roaring and after we set up camp, some slept, some walked, but not much to do in the rain. All had an early night. As James walked past one of the tents, he called out “warning, rat entering Barnes’ tent!”. A mad flurry ensued and he called again “rat leaving Barnes’ tent”. It rained all night. Monday 17/07/06 Although it had finished raining, everything except a few essential garments (not boots!) was wet. We decided it was better to make for the ferry and see if he could bring us out a day early. We found out when he was due to land and timed out departure accordingly. The track descended from the falls around Diamantina Creek to the beach at Mulligan Bay. A dash down the beach brought us to George Pt an hour before the ferry was due, and Mark rang the ferry company to beg our passage home a day early. He did a second run to accommodate us, and we arrived in Lucinda where the bus took us back to Port Hinchinbrook. We drove back to Kookaburra to set up camp and washlines in a vain effort to dry things out. It started to rain again, but a hot shower changed our outlook on life considerably. Tuesday 18/07/06 Markedly refreshed and cheered by dry clothes and sunny weather, we bade farewell to Erica and James as they headed their own ways. The rest of us ambled north in Rod’s and Mike’s cars, stopping at various beautiful places enroute North. Report by: Ros, Elanor & Mike