Fai Tira photo blog Lizard Island

Four BWR boats and an independent boat from Falmouth left Cook Town for Lizard Island at first light on the 17^th September. The BWR boats were Enchantress, Chisel, Lucy Alice and Fai Tira.  It was a broad reach all the way and with 20 to 25 knot winds, the miles quickly diminished as we travelled at an average of seven knots.

Lucy Alice and Enchantress in full flight.

The next morning the BWR boats had arranged to go snorkelling on the reef.  Eight of us took to the water and were all astonished at the size of the numerous giant clams scattered amongst the corals. 

A different type of clam with spectacular colours inside.

Coral Worms that disappear into the coral when you get close to them.

large cuttle fish whose colours blended into its coral background.

Later on in the day we set off to what’s now known as Cooks Lookout.  The path although well defined was quite steep and as it was very hot it caused us to rest for drinks quite often.

David and Susan trekking up to Cooks Lookout.

John and Dee on one of the vantage points.

On the way down we were startled by a Gould’s Lizard crossing out path.

Captain Cook used the island as a vantage point to find a safe passage through the barrier reef for his recently repaired ship Endeavour.  Whilst climbing to the highest point he encountered large lizards (hence the name).  The Lizards are known as Gould’s monitor lizards and are from the same family as Indonesia’s Komodo dragon.

He was about a metre long and was not fazed by us at all.

John and Sue perched near the top. Fantastic views from here.

The sign at the top next to the Carne.

The summit was marked by a large carne and stored at the bottom in a wooden box obliviously left by Cook himself was a visitor’s book with Pete leaving his entry.

The journey down was a lot quicker than the ascent but still very hot.

Later we headed to the beach for sundowners and a pot luck supper. 

Dee and Natasha enjoying their supper.

Alison, Natasha’s mum from Kalida.  She told us that the family had been travelling for about seven years and had been staying at Lizard for the last six weeks hence the lack of supplies. We had re-provisioned them from Port Douglas.

The next day we had a early start heading for Bathurst Bay,  Morris Island and then Flinders Group of Islands.