Paradise – Flinders, Stanley and Morris Islands FNQ
21-25 Jul 2019
The Flinders Group National Park (CYPAL) is located adjacent to Princess Charlotte Bay and 340km north of Cairns on eastern Cape York. We landed on two of the seven islands in the group.
Paradise was the first to arrive there, and it looked pretty lonely and remote but then to our surprise Samantha, Moon Mist and Casuarina arrived later in the day. They showed us the way to Stanley Island, which is accessed via tender through a small gap in the mangroves. If it weren't for these guys, we wouldn't have ventured into the mangroves, and I'm glad that we did. Stanley island has a 2.8-kilometre interpretive trail to learn about the Yiithuwarra 'saltwater people'. There is significant rock art in the Ship and Yindayin rock shelters showing early contact with Europeans.
The next day Andrina from Samantha led the way again (she should be a Wild Women on Top Leader!!) and we explored Flinders. There is a rock carved with "HMS Dart, 1899". This carving is a legacy of the visit by a naval survey ship that collected water from the wells in 1899. Again we walked in the mangroves and oystered in the murky water, something that I thought we would never do. Our new confidence to venture into the mangroves and to explore remote islands is liberating.
Our pals from Catogery and Seebeezee arrived, and we were then able to show them the way to the same spots as well as try a bit of trolling. We weren't successful, but Catogery was, as usual!
We had to keep moving so that we could keep to our schedule and were sad to leave this great group of islands. Our next stop was Morris Island, which is 15km from the coast. It's a tiny vegetated sand cay with coconut palms and sisal that provide a habitat for a number of roosting birds and Green turtles and Hawksbill turtles.
Next stop is Portland Roads (Iron Range)