Mourilyan Harbour

We departed Normanby Island at 7.00am today and will definitely be revisiting and spending more time as it is such a delightful place to visit.

As we got closest to the mainland we spotted Queensland’s tallest peak Mount Bartle Frere at 1622 metres and can be climbed for those enthusiasts.

We had a nice steady breeze of between 14-15 knots and wind at a favourable angle so hoisted the mainsail and unfurled the headsail and had a great sail for most of our journey to Mourilyan Harbour some 22 nautical miles south.

As we came closer to Innisfail Steve was checking his trolling lines to find he had hooked a Spanish Mackerel and hauled it aboard and just as I was about to snap a photo for evidence the fish unhooked, wiggled and bounced along the deck down the three steps and off the back of the boat much to Steve’s shock.  He was speechless for half an hour and went to check the second trolling line to find luck was with him this time and another mackerel was on the line. This one was definitely not getting away and was photographed, filleted and bagged before we reached our destination.

Mourilyan Harbour is a sugar port and a very safe anchorage in the river and a nice place to spend the night. The entrance is really just wide enough to get the small sugar ship in and very sheltered from every direction. Not a good spot apparently, to go in the water or dangle any body parts in the water, salt water crocodile country here.  There  were plenty of tinnies scooting in and out fishing so must be a good area for fishing.