Mon, 18th April, 2022 Kimberley Coast Cruise, WA (Wollaston Island art, fishing, Wilyalkan Bay etc)

Lovely and calm as I had a walk around the Promenade before breakfast. The moon and the two planets are setting as the sun rises.

So many islands to explore if you were on your own boat.

We are in Winyalkan Bay. The little island to the right of the blue dot is Wollaston Island where we are heading this morning to check out some more art galleries.

Looking across to Verandah Beach on the mainland where we will have drinks this afternoon. The rock formations remind us of the Bungle Bungles with the bee hive shape.

Clive and Rebecca are going a helicopter flight later to check out Mitchell Falls. It is a 20 minute flight there and then they will have a short walk to the falls for a swim for an hour before flying back again. It takes off from the beach.

Into the Xplorer to check out more Wanjina art on Wollaston Island. Bit of a wet landing this morning.

Someone has been here before us and made lovely shell/coral displays, and a dead cane toad too.

Big split rocks on the beach.

We then climbed up over the rocks to the art site. Mike lead the way this time.

Lots of different styles. Some are distinct and others very faded.

We climbed up onto a rock where Ian pointed out old bones. This was a burial site but as long as we respect the area they don’t mind people coming here. He said the media/government paint one picture for Aboriginal people and their beliefs but each clan have different views on what is sacred etc.

Back to the beach. Plants are amazing how they can survive.

I reckon this looks like a boat - complete with dragon head.

Ian and Goyma showed us ‘Cheese fruit’. Ian ate one and I tasted a little bit - it smells like rotten cheese and tasted worst than it smelt. Apparently it is very good for respiratory illnesses and cures cancer so everyone should be eating it.

We learnt that this is true spinifex. The spikey stuff we suffer with in WA goldfields is something different. This breaks apart and rolls like a tumble weed to spread its seed. This is the female half - didn’t get a photo of the male which is like a long seeded spike.

As we headed back to the ship one of the helicopters returned so the next group headed over for their trip to Mitchell Falls.

The tide is rising (7.5m high at 1pm, low was 0.9m at 7am and will drop to 0.4m at 7.20pm) so we joined some others for a fishing trip on the Xplorer. We anchored near some rocks that some birds were trying to staying but the waves were washing them off.

We all had hand lines and Jo (2^nd mate I think - she is on the Bridge with Captain Josh and does all the plotting on the maps) was in charge as she has done a lot of fishing around this area. Unfortunately the fish didn’t know that and nothing exciting was below us. Steve managed to get two fish - well if you count a little stone fish as one. Another chap got a nice stripy. Normally they would get some queenfish or trevally here. It is catch and release so we didn’t feel bad dropping Steve’s two back into the sea.

Back to the ship for lunch. The chef is doing a fabulous job - the food and quantities are great. It used to be smorgasbord but with Covid now it is a set menu with a couple of choices.

Back into the Xplorer to explore the many bays and inlets of Winyalkan Bay, checking out the rock formations etc. Learning all about the different sandstones and basalt layers etc.

We stopped at Hathaways Hideaway. Story was the lady was dropped off there while the others went fishing but they didn’t come back to get her for many hours so she wasn’t happy but she had found a nice cool area in the sandstone caves to keep cool. The grey pile on the right is a huge shell midden.

Eric (Ian calls all animals Eric) also likes the beach here. I just got a photo of him as we went onto the beach as he was around the corner from where we were landing.

It is a steep access to the beach so we won’t dawdle too close to the water’s edge in case Eric has some friends.

We and half the guests got off - the others continued on doing a cruise and we will swap over later. Fabulous rock formations.

We went in between the sandstone columns where Ian told us about the area.

We heard a loud noise and thought it was the boat coming back but it was a helicopter. One lady went out and the helicopter saw her and took off again. Not sure where it was from but I bet Eric won’t be on the beach any longer.

Inside was amazing. We wiggled our way through. It was wet underfoot from seeping groundwater.

Spotted a little frog, then sadly some cane toads who will eventually kill on the native wildlife here. Ian dealt with one but we should have killed all the others too.

Further up another narrow channel we found a crocodile gecko.

Back outside. Steve and I climbed up to check out more rock formations on the other side where there was another big shell midden.

We need to collect some of these leaves as when it is put in the water it sucks up the oxygen or something and the fish are stunned and float to the surface. It doesn’t kill them so you can take the fish you want and let the others go safe and sound. Now that a good was to fish.

Swapped over with the others and explored more area in the Xplorer. Found an Osprey’s nest but Mum wasn’t happy we were getting too close so she flew off and sat on the rock.

Another great rock formation.

Dad Osprey was keeping an eye on us.

This one looks like a mushroom or water tower.

Back to the ship to get ready for drinks on Verandah Beach to watch the sun set. Unfortunately it was very hot so everyone headed into the shade of the rocks rather than the line of chairs on the beach. The crew have a big job setting all this up. Clive and Rebecca had a great time at Mitchell Falls. We are looking forward to hiking into it later on.

Unfortunately a big storm decided to rumble its way over us. The crew decided it was best to pack up so we didn’t get a ‘group’ photo.

By the time we were loaded the storm had gone around us giving us a lovely sunset any case.

After dinner we headed off to bed early as we haven’t been sleeping too well - not used to the air conditioning or the noisy sheets. The last of the First Footprints program was on but by the time we finish dinner at 9pm we are too tired. It was on the Great Flood - where the sea levels rose 125 metres around the world changing the landmasses forever - or so they say! 

The ship got underway to take us on to the next spot at Careening Bay tomorrow. As it is so calm we aren’t disturbed by the ship’s movements. Steve only took one Kwell on the first day and hasn’t needed them since.