This Video highlights the condition and marine diversity of the outer Great Barrier Reef. We sail from Hope East Island to the Ribbon Reefs and Cod Hole, during a rare opportunity of calm weather during the trade wind season. Next stop: Lizard Island, our most Northern anchorage for the sailing season.

Ep 47: We are sailing North - in Northern Queensland. The further North we sail - the windier it seems to get - and with that comes the opportunity to kitesurf and wing foil. We experience whale encounters, become the only boat left at Sudbury Reef, experience the annual 'Cairns Festival' and put our riding sail up for the first time. On this route we head from Hinchinbrook Island, to Dunk Island, Mourilyan Harbour, Russell Island, Sudbury Reef, Fitzroy Island, Cairns, Low Island, and finally.....Hope!

This Video provides a bit of detail on hiking (tramping) the Thorsborne Trail to Zoe Bay Falls from the Northern end of Hinchinbrook Island. Allegedly this is one of the top 10 multi day hikes in the world! With spectacular scenery and a stunning swimming destination - this walk had everything from beaches, to mud, to rock climbs, cliffs, and hills ... and plenty of crocodile warning signs along the way! For more information, including map and app details - visit https://absolutenorthcharters.com.au/

Ep 46: We sail into Hinchinbrook Island, which has intrigued us since we heard it called "Jurassic Park of Queensland'. We are astounded by the length of the Lucina Pier, the world's longest pier, which enables Australian sugar to be exported. Further up the river, we stop at various crocodiley anchorages, and Rachael hikes to Zoe Falls along part of the world famous Thorsborne Trail. This walk is a real adventure, and we have a separate YouTube uploaded for anyone who would like to see a bit more information - if you are looking to do the hike yourself. Otherwise, this shortened version is probably enough!

Ep 45: We sail overnight to Magnetic Island off Townsville, where we get our bow roller fixed. There are lots of great walks including the Forts Walk, highlighting Townsville's significant Defence Force and its' history. We sail to John Brewer Reef, where we have the opportunity to dive the MOUA - Museum of Underwater Art - on Queensland's Great Barrier Reef. On leaving the reef, we shut the engine down, and the engine stop valve rips out, leaving us temporarily unsure on how to use the engine....until we can get a replacement shut off valve and cable.

Ep 44: We finally sail into the highly anticipated Whitsunday Islands, through the Solway Passage. Highlighting Whitehaven Beach, Mantaray Bay, and Chairn Lookout, we experience gorgeous beaches, great walks, whales, Giant Maori Wrasse, and Giant Trevally. We enjoy sharing this experience with Rachael's parents, and their encounters with ants and spiders. We highlight a bit of Whitsunday's history, and also point out a few challenges we encounter. Most of the time the weather is fabulous, and we enjoy the calmer waters inside Queensland's Great Barrier Reef, Australia. Our route is from Shaw Island, through Solway Passage, Whitehaven Beach, Chalky's, Esk Island, Hill Inlet, Tongue Bay, Border Island, Chairn Passage, Nara Inlet, Airlie Beach, South Molle, Black Island, Blue Pearl Bay Hayman Island, Maureen Bay, Mantaray Bay, Chairn and back to Airlie Beach!

Ep 43: South of the Whitsundays, we sail the spectacular Cumberland Island chain, protected by the Great Barrier Reef, and leading up to the Whitsunday Islands. We experience massive tides, find whales, catch fish, and see beautiful butterflys - with a focus on Keswick Island, Brampton Island, and Thomas Island. Our route from Scawfell Island is Keswick Island, Mackay Marina, Brampton Island, Goldsmith Island, Thomas Island and Shaw Island.

Ep 42: We sail North from Fitzroy Reef towards the Whitsundays, and have fabulous dolphin encounters. We highlight our experiences at Marble Island (Duke Islands), and Middle Percy Island Yacht Club (Percy Group)! Our route from Fitzroy Reef is to Nor West Island, Great Keppel Island, Rosslyn Bay, Island Head, Marble Island, Hunter Island, Middle Percy Island, and finishing at Scawfell Island. Throughout this journey we have now entered the southern end of the Great Barrier Reef, and can expect a calmer sea state from here on up. There's lots of dolphin's and I don't care, I love them!

Ep 41: We Sail from Pancake Creek to Fitzroy Reef in the Bunker Group, Queensland, Australia. After a bit of a botched up pass entry, we enjoy our first coral atoll experience, anchored surrounded by nothing but ocean, at the Southern end of the Great Barrier Reef. Dion got his first drone, and what an exciting location for a first launch!

Ep 40: We depart Mooloolaba, Sunshine Coast (Queensland, Australia) in ship shape to sail a two night passage around the outside of Fraser Island (K'Gari) to Pancake Creek. Dion starts to develop a migraine, and although we have the option to turn back at that early stage, he wants to carry on, thinking it will pass. Rachael carries on solo sailing, and the migraine continues to develop....with nowhere safe to stop, and bad weather hot on our tail, we carry on sailing the 240nm to our safe haven at Pancake Creek. Warning: this is best not watched if you have a queasy stomach (or while eating).

Ep 39: We sail from the Gold Coast to Moolooloaba (Sunshine Coast), in Queenland Australia. We learn to pump for yabbies in Moreton Island, hike the Glass House Mountains, check out The Aussies (Surf Life Saving Nationals), and try to fix our newly broken traveller and V-Berth leaks. We are excited to be finally kicking off the 2024 cruising sailing season, after spending the cyclone season in the Gold Coast area.

Ep 38 We get a haul out at GCCM (Gold Coast City Marina) next to Boat Works. This longer episode shows some of the summer yacht jobs list including antifoul and raising the water line, swapping out the engine mounts, repairing rot, some rigging changes, and plumbing.... with a couple of challenges as usual.

Ep 37 We spend the summer sailing in the Gold Coast, Queensland, to avoid Australia's cyclone belt during cyclone season. The weather is not as 'summery' as we had hoped.... We get a new Rocna anchor, fix stuff, and check out South Stradbroke Island and "Cock Rock"!

Ep 36: We take you through our first sailing experience of getting hit with "super cells" in Queensland's Moreton Bay - sudden and violent isolated storm systems that the area is renowned for. This episode shows parts of our sailing journey from Mooloolaba, Sunshine Coast, south along Moreton Island and the famous Tangalooma Shipwrecks, Stradbroke Island, and the Gold Coast Broadwater - where we head up the Coomera River, to leave our yacht Maya at Sanctuary Cove Marina.

Ep 35: We cross Queensland's most notorious bar - the Wide Bay Bar on the Southern end of Fraser Island (K'gari). This is our first EVER bar crossing, before we sail down the coast and cross the Mooloolaba Bar - on the same day - on the next high tide cycle 12 (ish) hours later! Two bars on one day! (Yes - some serious planning went into this). We anchor in the 'duck pond', do some site seeing in Mooloolaba (Sunshine Coast) and head to Australia Zoo - Crikey!

Ep 34: We catch the tides to motor down the Great Sandy Straits of Fraser Island (K'Gari) - in very shallow water. Along the way we take a 20km walk to Lake McKenzie, an inland sand lake. We check out a couple of shipwrecks from the 1930's, and finally see the sea at Inskip Point!

Ep 33 Sailing: We cleared customs at Bundaberg Australia, and sailed south to Fraser Island. In this vid, we have a scare dragging anchor, discover Soldier Crabs, and tour the Bundaberg Rum factory. We cruise through Hervey Bay, Pelican Banks, Moon Point, Big Woody Island, and River Heads - along the upper areas of Fraser Island - or K'gari as it's known by its' Aboriginal name. Next - we explore the lower (and difficult to Navigate) Great Sandy Straits!

Ep 32: We prepare our 41ft Bavaria yacht for the 812 Nautical Mile sail from Noumea, New Caledonia to Bundaberg, Australia in November 2023. We show you a bit of each day of the passage, in conditions that were mostly lighter than expected!

Ep 31: We set sail to Laregnere Island, a beautiful wildlife and marine sanctuary. After moving on to a night anchored at Dumbea Pass - surrounded by nothing but ocean - we detour to Baie Papaye to hide from some nasty weather. We then prepare for our passage to Australia......only to pull the pin and sail to Baie De Prony instead, with concerns of a developing cyclone nearby!

Ep 30: Our sailing journey has taken us to some spectacular places, and we have learnt many lessons along the way. In this episode we share some of our time in New Caledonia, a kitesurfing and wingfoiling haven. We check out Ilot Matrie, Ile Goelands, and Ilot Amedee by yacht (sailboat).