Author Topic: This is Where We Spent the Holidays.. Now with write up and pics.  (Read 10336 times)

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Offline Jeepers Creepers

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QLD - Fraser Island

Beach name:
Platypus Bay

General Beach Hazard Rating: 2
Least hazardous: 1-3
Moderately hazardous: 4-6
Highly hazardous: 7-8
Extremely hazardous: 9-10
Hazard rating refers to physical beach and surf conditions ONLY and does not include potentially dangerous marine life or boaties..

Beach

Platypus Bay is the name of the waters off the northern end of the beach system that ends at hooked Rooney Point. Between the large Wathumba Creek mouth and the point is a curving, south-west facing, 23.5 km long, low energy beach (FR16). The creek mouth maintains a 50 m wide inlet that drains the large Wathumba Swamp. A 6 km long, low, narrow sand spit encloses the swamp, north of which the beach is predominantly backed by scarped dunes up to 60 m high. The beach is relatively flat and usually narrow and often awash at high tide. It is increasingly fronted by sand flats to the north that reach 100 m to 200 m in width. Strong southerly winds do however generate small surf across the flats.

Swimming

These are five generally low energy beaches, only active during strong south-west to northerly winds. Best conditions are toward high tide and clear of the creek mouths.

Surfing  None.

Fishing  Best at high tide and in the creek mouths.

There are also some fantastic inshore reefs in Platypus Bay which offer both tropical and sub-tropical species. It’s not being unusual to be catching snapper right alongside coral trout and red emperor. Then there’s the blue water fishing for pelagics like longtail and mackerel tuna and spotted, narrow and broad barred mackerel. There’s also a host of trevally species, kingfish, cobia and even billfish.

We also have some fantastic estuaries and river systems, including the Mary, Susan and Burrum rivers and their tributaries which offer everything from wild Australian bass and barramundi to threadfin salmon, grunter, jewfish, bream , flathead and whiting.


General
A 60 km long, little used section of the island, with no facilities and usually difficult vehicle access along the beaches, owing to the many creeks and narrow beaches.

I was talking to a bloke the other day who goes up there.
He reckons, if you go far enough up ....... creek, in about 15 feet of water, you can see the crabs running around the bottom, the water is that clear.
And nice big buggers, that are of the eating variety....  ;D

« Last Edit: December 30, 2012, 06:06:49 AM by Jeepers Creepers »
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Offline gclan

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Re: This is Where We are Spending the Holidays..
« Reply #1 on: December 23, 2012, 07:33:56 AM »
So you'll be doing some fishing?

Have a Merry Chrissie and I'll be thinking of you up there catching crabs ;D


Cheers
Karen
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Offline xcvator

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Re: This is Where We are Spending the Holidays..
« Reply #2 on: December 23, 2012, 10:16:30 AM »
It's a dirty job, but somebody has to do it  >:D Try not to suffer too much  ;D
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Offline Frostd

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Re: This is Where We are Spending the Holidays..
« Reply #3 on: December 23, 2012, 01:23:34 PM »
Jeepers, are you going in by boat or by 4WD.  The last time were were there in July, national Parks had the gate locked on the track to Platypus Bay. Might be worth checking with National Parks, but you are right it is a top little spot. Prior to the track being closed, everytime we went to Fraser, we went to platypus Bay for a day trip.  We caught some good fish straight off the beach, where the track enters and almost everytime had the beach to ourselves.

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Re: This is Where We are Spending the Holidays..
« Reply #4 on: December 23, 2012, 01:29:29 PM »
Hey Jeepers, don't forget to check out northern end as per previous discussion.
PS if mowing turns to sh&$ there's a local pest control mob at Cleveland that could use your services (they already stole your name!)

Offline Jeepers Creepers

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Re: This is Where We are Spending the Holidays..
« Reply #5 on: December 23, 2012, 02:20:00 PM »
Jeepers, are you going in by boat or by 4WD.  The last time were were there in July, national Parks had the gate locked on the track to Platypus Bay. Might be worth checking with National Parks, but you are right it is a top little spot. Prior to the track being closed, everytime we went to Fraser, we went to platypus Bay for a day trip.  We caught some good fish straight off the beach, where the track enters and almost everytime had the beach to ourselves.

Two boats, our 30 footer and the neighbours 6.2 metre jobbie.
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Offline Frostd

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Re: This is Where We are Spending the Holidays..
« Reply #6 on: December 23, 2012, 02:33:57 PM »
Two boats, our 30 footer and the neighbours 6.2 metre jobbie.

That will be a great trip ;D ;D.  Dont forget plenty of pics!! ;)

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Offline Jeepers Creepers

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Re: This is Where We are Spending the Holidays..
« Reply #7 on: December 24, 2012, 03:54:59 AM »
Hey Jeepers, don't forget to check out northern end as per previous discussion.
PS if mowing turns to sh&$ there's a local pest control mob at Cleveland that could use your services (they already stole your name!)

Will do, oh great grasshopper.

Fancy stealing my name.... geez....

Yeah, we are going to use our boat as a base and the 6.2 cruise craft and as the fish/food gathering vessel.
They reckon the spotty mackeral are really on at the moment too.

The bloke i spoke with the day, was saying how clear the water is.
I said, have you been to Tangalooma and is it like that.
He replied, no...its much clearer than that.

Now, everytime i've been to Tangles, its beeen pretty bloody good, so looking forward to this trip.
The only snag will be the weather, but we should be good...i hope.
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Offline qlddsl

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Re: This is Where We are Spending the Holidays..
« Reply #8 on: December 24, 2012, 10:31:19 AM »
 :worthles:
if i dont need 4wd, i ain't going!!!

Offline Jeepers Creepers

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Re: This is Where We are Spending the Holidays..
« Reply #9 on: December 25, 2012, 04:28:13 PM »
Xmas day, eating prawns, chicken, fresh bread and washed down with a beer, whislt swimming etc on western side of Fraser.

We've just had a great day on the boat... a wee ripper really.

I hope this weather plays nice, as we go out again on Thursday for  3 nighter at Platypus bay.
Be my luck it'll rain.... cause thats what they've forecast and i bet its the only time this decade they get it right.
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Offline Jeepers Creepers

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Re: This is Where We Spent the Holidays.. write up and pics now.
« Reply #10 on: December 30, 2012, 06:05:03 AM »
Our plans went a little bit off course with this trip.

Rain was forecast for the Thursday and strong winds for the Sunday. What to do.....

We left on Thursday as planned, getting out of the marina around 8:30am.
Mrs. Jeepers and i on our boat and our neighbours on their boat and the return would be one day early.



We had a pretty nice run up to the top of the Great Sandy Straight with not a lot of boating traffic along the way.
We stopped at the bottom of Big Woody Island for morning tea and whilst there, i said to Mrs. Jeepers, seeing its called Big Woody....... This was met with a firm NO..... we have company she said..... bugger

We were off again and as we rounded the top of BWI (We needed to top up the fuel in Urangan Harbour), we have two choices, take the shortcut through the shoaling area or take the long way from waypoint to waypoint.

Seeing we have a draught of 3 feet and not wanting to run aground, we went the long way while the others took the shortcut.
Just a minor top up of 165 litres  :'( had us ready to go again. A bloke beside us at the fuel berth was up to 1,200 litres and still going when we left.

Steve led me out through the shortcut, as there was plenty of water nad no shoaling, so that saved some time.
We had planned on going well up into Platypus Bay, but the weather reports forced us to use plan B, anchored out of the direct wind and with an escape route should it turn bad.

We found a nice spot along Hawk Nest Beach and this was our new home for a while.



If you need the settings......



The water was a lovely colour, but the ol box brownie isn't doing it justice...... sorry about that.



Our neighbours shot off to try for some dinner whilst the ol girl and i explored a few areas.

It turned out, it was drinks and steaks on the BBQ for tonight, as the fish refused to play nice.
As the sun set over the water.......



The moon came alive over the top of Fraser Island which created a nice setting.



We copped a little bit of rock and roll during the night, but nothing too bad.

One of the other boats up here headed off today...... Not sure what he was about to do on the flybridge but.



The fishing was attacked again the next day and shall we say, it wasn't a roaring success and leave it at that.
Steve got breath tested at one point and the cop said, no one was catching anything.
It appeared we weren't the only ones who had pissed off on holidays.

Based on the weather forecast, we moved down a little bit to Mooan Point, to tuck in closer to the beach.
Once again, a bit of exploring was in order.
There is a Barge landing point here on Fraser, but stuffed if i saw any barges running....





Through Mrs. Jeepers sunnies.



We took a stroll to see what was what and found this creek......







each time our neighbours wanted to board us, he would hit the horn and the Jeepers Water taxi Service would swing into action.



Friday night, you could see the strorm brewing over the main land, but it would appear it would not hit us hard.
I had the storm covers up etc a bit early and it got really stuffy on board quickly, so i fired the gennie and put the air conditioning on.
The others had had done the same, except they didn't have air conditioning. she said to him, why would puss guts have the gennie running?

Geez, he was dirty when he found out too.   ;D

We got the storm and plenty of rain, lightning and stuff me sideways, the boat was a rockin and rollin better the Elvis.
We were trying to watch tv, but it was awkward with the rolling.

Mrs Jeepers went o bed early and i stayed awake to make sure we didn't drag the anchor. It was in solid with 25 metres of chain, so i was pretty sure it was good, but you never know huh.

With the forecast of winds to get up after lunch, we made an early leave a must.

Steve had topped up the day before and i had plenty of fuel still, as being the Mothership, as he called us, we had done limited K's and remained anchored.

The trip was an easy run and on Steve's request, we came home a tad slower on 22 knots.
(when we went up, i sat on 28 to 29 knots, but his boat was not in its happy zone at that)

Passing the Sheridan Flats, i thought....hmmm, we should of come down here late yesterday, as a fair few called it home from the storm.

Oh well, none us got seasick or threw up, so all was good.

Back into port, we were greeted by some other marina-ites only to be told, there was a boat on its way in after being hit by lightning during the storm.

I'm told..... because i have an all steel chain anchor line, a lightning hit will travel the chain into the water and earth itself.
I have no idea if this right or wrong and i'm not keen to test it either.

We've still got our sea legs too, trying to take a whizz and i'm finding myself swaying from side to side and stuff like that.
It was a great few days, exploring a portion of Fraser and its surrounding waterways with great friends.

Oh, and look, i know this should be in Trip Reports etc, but not being the brightest, its ended up here, so don't yell at me,
Thats the wifes job.  :D

I've got an OK pic of Mrs, Jeepers in her swimmers too, but i'm told not to post it...... we'll see.

Just a general shot of the Fraser Beach



Our friends 6.2 metre Cruise Craft.











OK people, as Porky pig would say, th th th tha thats all folks....


« Last Edit: December 30, 2012, 06:31:25 AM by Jeepers Creepers »
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Offline brickiematt

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Re: This is Where We Spent the Holidays.. Now with write up and pics.
« Reply #11 on: December 30, 2012, 06:33:06 AM »
Nice one JC. Looks like you had a rippa time mate.
 :cheers:
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Offline Jeepers Creepers

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Re: This is Where We Spent the Holidays.. Now with write up and pics.
« Reply #12 on: December 30, 2012, 06:35:52 AM »
Yeah Matt, it was a good trip and one we'll do again at some point as well.
It was just a shame we had to call it early, but the winds did pick up as predicted, so the correct call.
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Offline GS

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This is Where We Spent the Holidays.. Now with write up and pics.
« Reply #13 on: December 30, 2012, 06:51:34 AM »
Thanks for sharing looks like you had a ball,
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Re: This is Where We Spent the Holidays.. Now with write up and pics.
« Reply #14 on: December 30, 2012, 09:07:02 AM »
Looked nice jeepers,not sure we want to see the wife in bathers after all the stories you have told about her :cheers:

Offline Jeepers Creepers

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Re: This is Where We Spent the Holidays.. Now with write up and pics.
« Reply #15 on: December 30, 2012, 01:13:14 PM »
This is some photo's taken by the neighbours......

It wouldn't be Fraser Island without a dingo. This is me and the neighbours wife in these shots.





Mr and Mrs Jeepers in the rubber ducky.





I said she caught me with a couple of oars, not..... oh never mind....  ;D



Me being stupid, something i'm very good at it too.



Just a few shots of while we were getting under way. Wave to Mrs Jeepers.





The ol girl gets up and goes too, for a 3.5 tonne boat.....



Both couples had a really good time and we are thinking now, that Easter might a good time to do it all again.  :cheers:
 
« Last Edit: December 30, 2012, 01:50:26 PM by Jeepers Creepers »
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Offline Jenko67

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Re: This is Where We Spent the Holidays.. Now with write up and pics.
« Reply #16 on: December 30, 2012, 03:45:30 PM »
Hey Jeepers.. I might give you a call when I go to Coolooola Cove to see my mate.. Nice boat..... ;D

Offline Jeepers Creepers

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Re: This is Where We Spent the Holidays.. Now with write up and pics.
« Reply #17 on: December 30, 2012, 03:49:52 PM »
Hey Jeepers.. I might give you a call when I go to Coolooola Cove to see my mate.. Nice boat..... ;D

Hell yeah, anytime bloke....  :cheers:

Just keep an eye out for worlds fattest mowerman.

What street does your mate live in? Its not Endeavour drive, is it?
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Offline Jenko67

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Re: This is Where We Spent the Holidays.. Now with write up and pics.
« Reply #18 on: December 30, 2012, 03:54:28 PM »
Hey Jeepers.. Sentinel Court. Off Golden Hind Ave.

Regards

Scott

Offline Jeepers Creepers

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Re: This is Where We Spent the Holidays.. Now with write up and pics.
« Reply #19 on: December 30, 2012, 04:02:22 PM »
Send me a line next time ya coming to town, we'll catch up.

I mow a fair few in Golden Hind, but not in Sentinel
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Offline Robbo

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Re: This is Where We Spent the Holidays.. Now with write up and pics.
« Reply #20 on: December 30, 2012, 05:25:29 PM »
Hey Jeepers, Great trip report and story (as always) and awesome pics. Thanks for sharing them with us. Looks and sounds like you had a great Christmas.
By the way, if ever you get sick of mowing lawns, i reckon you could take up writing books. If you keep your abstract humour in them i would buy them for sure.

Cheers

Robbo  ;D

Offline Foo

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Re: This is Where We Spent the Holidays.. Now with write up and pics.
« Reply #21 on: December 30, 2012, 05:59:58 PM »
So what happend to these said crabs you speak of??????  :'(

Foo

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Offline Jeepers Creepers

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Re: This is Where We Spent the Holidays.. Now with write up and pics.
« Reply #22 on: December 31, 2012, 03:41:28 AM »
Would you beleive, Steve forgot to put the pots in, the dill.

He was running a tad late that morning and it just slipped his mind. It won't happen again, as we reminded him of it on a daily basis.
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Offline Foo

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Re: This is Where We Spent the Holidays.. Now with write up and pics.
« Reply #23 on: December 31, 2012, 07:13:57 AM »
Would you beleive, Steve forgot to put the pots in, the dill.

He was running a tad late that morning and it just slipped his mind. It won't happen again, as we reminded him of it on a daily basis.

 :o Wwwwwhat, hope you reminded him with a slap around the earold every day and not just verbally. >:D

Foo
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Offline Jeepers Creepers

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Re: This is Where We Spent the Holidays.. Now with write up and pics.
« Reply #24 on: January 01, 2013, 06:23:44 AM »
:o Wwwwwhat, hope you reminded him with a slap around the earold every day and not just verbally. >:D

Foo

He's heading around to crab creek (2 klm down the road) this morning, so with any luck, mudcrabs are on the menu real soon.
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