Fri, 10th Apr, 2015 Musselroe Bay Camping Area (Mt William National Park)

Lovely morning, still and not too cold. So still the wind farm’s big propellers weren’t turning. I said to Steve to take a photo – he said ‘but even if there were turning it would look like they aren’t!!!’ Oh yeah!!

Tide is out, we definitely were only fishing in a little bit of water.

Steve had the camera and zoomed in on the pelicans.

I was on the laptop connected to the big aerial. We are going to get another one to put into the van too.

Headed off to explore Mt William National Park. There is a loop drive called the Forester Kangaroo Drive.

Spotted a Bennetts wallaby beside the road.

Turned off up to the lookout. Great view over Musselroe Bay across to Swan Island and its lighthouse.

An information board about the local aborigines and a map showing the islands (at the top).

Two Forester Kangaroo sat still long enough for a photo.

Drove down to the first of the four camping areas of Stumpys Bay Campground. Nice area under the trees. The National Parks pay boxes were blocked off here too because of vandalism. A chap was fishing on the beach so we wandered down for a chat – only catching seaweed at the moment. Looking south to Boulder Point.

Looking back to Cape Naturaliste over Stumpys Bay.

Further along there was another smaller camp area not suitable for caravans. Next one was popular with a few campers there. Looking north again.

 There is a boat launching area onto the beach. It goes out onto the point. Lots of seaweed on the beach.

Closer to Boulder Point and Coblers Rocks.

The last camp is beside the creek which is landlocked.

Four black swans like the creek.

Looking back up the creek.

We are nearly at Boulder Point.

Zoomed in on Coblers Rocks.

The sun was shining on a rock in the distance so zoomed in on it.

The swans had moved on, straight out into the ocean waves.

Looking back up the Stumpy Bay.

There is a 5 hour return walk from the camp area to the summit of Mt William (216m) but I saw there was a road up to it so we kept driving.

Turned off and headed to the carpark. There were a couple of cars there. The sign said 45minute walk to summit so off we went. Nice easy walk with a slight grade uphill.

There were huge mushrooms everywhere.

It kept going up and then we climbed up through the rocks to the summit.

Fabulous view – we climbed up onto the tower thing to see over the tree tops. Took photos as I turned around – starting with the south near Ansons Bay.

Mt Cameron in the distant (551m).

Around to the wind farm near Little Musselroe Bay.

You can see how far the Musselroe Bay goes around the edge of Great Musselroe Bay.

Swan Island but the tree blocked the view of the lighthouse.

Zoomed in on the islands. Now we can see that Cape Barren Island is very long.

Musselroe Bay.

‘Back Beach’ of Musselroe Bay on the east coast.

The rocks out from the Mt William camp areas.

Eddystone lighthouse and Purdon Bay.

Little Swan Island and Swan Island.

Back to the van for late lunch. Tried ringing Bob & Judy who live here. We met them at Kempton on Christmas Day. No answer so we decided to go for walk around the point from the boat ramp. We drove past their place and the gate was open so went in to say hello. They hadn’t heard the phone as there were working in the garden. Had a great time catching up with them. They are heading off soon towards Darwin to escape the cold here. That made us feel better!!

Drove around to the boat ramp then headed off towards the mouth. Lots of rocks around the entrance, looking back to the houses – Mt William in the background.

A boat headed in through the narrow entrance.

Interesting rock formations.

Further around the point, looking over the entrance.

Climbed up the big sand dune for a view over the Back Beach and the east coast. This flat area is the top of another sand dune that we were beside when we parked at Back Beach yesterday.

Then back to Great Musselroe Bay.

Another great view over the houses, the bay and the ocean bay around to the sun setting over the wind farm.

Zoomed in on the top of our van.

A plane zooms overhead leaving a jet stream.

A chap was feeding the pelicans. Walked up and chatted with him. He is a dairy farmer and he said he goes to Trinity Beach. Amazing how many people we talk to have been to Cairns or know someone living there. We had noticed a rocky pathway up on the point. He said a German family had a shack out there years ago. His grandfather came here when he was a little boy and they had a boat shed over the water that they stayed in. Those shacks have all gone now.

Lovely walk back along the beach. Steve got the fire going and we enjoyed a drink as the sun set. It is so nice to be able to sit outside and enjoy the clear sky and not be totally freezing.

Lou rang to tell us about the Australian Formula 500 Titles that Glen and Lexi were in at Rockhampton. We had watched the finals on Facebook.

We were having the bream that Anita and Noel gave us so we put some spuds etc wrapped in alfoil in the coals to have with it. Very nice as we enjoyed the fire and the beautiful stars above.