Wed, 20th April, 2022 Kimberley Coast Cruise, WA (Prince Frederick Harbour, Hunter River, Porosus Creek, Lumbarrni Island etc) (Katelin’s 21st bday)

We got up early again to get on the Xplorer to watch the sun rise down the Hunter River (named by King after his exploring partner). The ship is anchored in Prince Frederick Harbour which is full of islands.

Still dark as we headed off - sunrise is at 7.06am. The ship is well lit though.

Hope Katelin will have a fabulous 21^st birthday. I had sent her a message before we left.

We floated around taking photos of the landscape. We should give this face a name.

Low tide will be at 8.26am (1.1m) so we might spot some crocodiles. Mainly smaller crocs here learning how to catch their food etc before heading out to stake their territory. We only spotted a log and a march fly!

The sun slowly made its way up.

Back on board for breakfast. I checked the moving map as I couldn’t work out where we were on the paper map. We went backwards! No wonder I was confused. Must have had to do with getting the right tides etc.

I decided to stay behind as I was feeling very tired so Steve joined the others on the Xplorer for some croc and bird spotting up Porosus Creek. He took the camera and got some good photos. Nice scenery shots too.

Some chose to go in the zodiacs for a closer look at the mangroves - bet they kept their arms in.

There was a professional barra boat up the end of the creek so there were plenty of crocs hanging around waiting for an easy meal. A few white-bellied sea eagles were trying to grab a free feed too.

The swirl was a croc with a fish frame in its mouth who disappeared when this guy appeared.

A cute little one.

I felt better and took my cuppa up to the Sundeck to sit in the fresh air. The Tassie couple, Peter and Wendy were there too. We spotted a pod of dolphins but Steve had the camera. They moved quickly so I didn’t have time to get my phone either. We are saying they were the snub-finned ones as they didn’t look like normal ones.

Had lunch then the ship moved again to be closer to Lumbarrni Island where we will check out some more art.

There was only a small display and you had to lay on the ground under the rock to see it.

There was another site up the rocks but Mike said it was very feint. These art sites aren’t touched up any more and probably haven’t been since WW2 when the local people were removed for their safety. Unfortunately they didn’t return to their country so no one is maintaining the art or the land now. As it is quite hot we decided to hang around in the shade while the others scrambled over the rocks. Lots of fish about.

I think that is the white-bellied sea eagle or is it an osprey. I get so confused. Mike, Ian and Jamie are always in competition to see who can identify a bird first - it is quite funny.

Ian showed us some native beans which are edible but Goyma said they tasted terrible - that got a laugh from everyone.

We cruised around and spotted an Osprey nest and we spotted some dolphins by the rocks below it but I didn’t get a photo of them.

Around the corner we checked out an amazing rock formation that Jamie has named Thor’s Hammer. It is a vertical pillar with the big part of the hammer on top and somehow is balancing there. Hard to see with the other rocks behind it.

There are quartz crystals in a hold half way up and around the base but nowhere else around the area.

The boat bumped into the rock beside us and broke off some crystals so Steve reached over to get them. Some are very clear on the end.

Jamie climbed into the cave to retrieve some too. Ian found a Kimberley honeyeater’s nest in the tree we had shoved under.

Great rock formations - you would think I love rocks but it is just the beauty and colour of the rock formations that interests me.

Headed back as the wind was picking up. The ship had moved while we were out and anchored next to Naturalist Island. Sometimes they have helicopter pickups here for the Mitchell Falls tours. One of the guests is not well with her Type 1 diabetes and it was decided to evacuate her here while they had the access to a helicopter pad. 

A storm has developed and as we headed back to the ship we watched the vertical lightning strikes - one hit the same spot 4 times, well that’s what it looked like.

Back on board for drinks upstairs as the storm built and crashed and banged around us.

Went down for dinner and forgot my camera as the sun set. Great view out the dining room window. The storm moved around us so we didn’t get any rain.

Our new position on the moving map.

Feeling better we watched ‘Top End Wedding’ in the lounge which was filmed on the Tiwi Island and around Darwin. It was funny. 

The ship moved on through the night as we lost some time waiting for the helicopter but it rides well so you hardly know we are moving.