Island-hopping adventure

By Catherine Lawson

 

Midway up Australia's rugged western coastline, beyond the rusty ironstone hills of the Burrup Peninsula, Flying Foam Passage leads boaties into an archipelago of reef-fringed islands. Clustered in a 45km-radius from land, the 42 islands, islets and rock outcrops that make up the Dampier Archipelago lure boaties across Searipple Passage and Mermaid Sound to pitch a tent on Dolphin, Angel or the Lewis islands.

 

Irresistibly close to shore, these islands are accessible to anyone with a tinny, sailboat or sea kayak on board, keen to adventure through the archipelago and free camp for up to five nights‚ no permits required.

 

 

 

 

Humming along

By Stephanie Jackson

 

I've always opted for the simple life when I'm on the road, but every now and then I yearn for a touch of luxury. And when I decided to visit Fraser Island, I was determined to travel in style.

 

A four-wheel-drive vehicle is essential to negotiate the island's sandy trails, and although these can be hired on the mainland, I was in an uncharacteristically lazy mood. And that meant someone else would have to do the driving. I handed the task to David Robertson of Fraser Expeditions, with confidence that his Hummer Tour, with a maximum of four passengers, would be as good as it gets. And although it's slightly more expensive than day tours that cater for larger groups, every guest, David said, 'is treated like someone special'. And that sounded like luxury to me.

 

 

 

 

Merimbula magic

By Melanie Ball

 

Wings spread wide, with finger-like feathers adjusting for each whisper of breeze, the white-breasted sea eagle wheels overhead, demonstrating perfection in flight as nine kayakers demonstrate contrasting paddling styles on the blue below. Also briefly in the raptors shadow is an immature Australian fur seal, lolling atop the rocks to our left, seemingly indifferent to its spectacular surroundings and the scrap-plastic ligature around its neck.

 

'I wish I could help' says Will, our kayaking guide, who has attempted to free several snared animals, 'but they always take off before I get close enough with a knife' Leaving the seal to almost inevitable strangulation, we paddle back towards the sculpted red rock wrapped skirt-like around the shore of Ben Boyd National Park.