Exploring Lindeman and Seaforth Islands

Sunday 3^rd September 2017

After a very calm evening with only three boats anchored here, we were soon deserted by the other two and for a while had Plantation Bay to ourselves. By the end of the day there were 6 of us.

With all of this light weather and ENE winds we hope to take the opportunity this week to explore some of the Southern anchorages on the islands which are normally not accessible when the SE trade winds are blowing hard. Plantation Bay is such an anchorage.

Once breakfast was out of the way and chores done, we put the dinghy in the water to go ashore and do a bit of exploring on Lindeman Island. It has been 7 years since we have been to Plantation Bay and the track that leads around to the resort is very overgrown, and almost inaccessible from the beach.

Mica anchored alone at Plantation Bay

The undergrowth along the shoreline  is very thick

Instead we decide to walk around the rocky shoreline to see if we can get there along the waterline. Sadly the tide is just a bit too high to get past the final point, but it was a good walk nevertheless. 

Looking back towards Neck Bay on Shaw Island

Back at the beach, we walked along the length of it, before getting back in the dinghy and heading back to Mica for lunch.

The sand was so soft we were sinking up to our ankles

We had a bit of relaxation for a few hours, before getting back in the dinghy once again, and motoring down to Seaforth Island. The island we saw the yacht lying on its side at on the way into our anchorage. Seaforth Island is a small island opposite Lindeman Island resort with what appears to be a nice beach. On arrival (about 1.3nm later), we find there is an extensive reef off the beach and at the current state of tide we had to gingerly row the last bit avoiding rocks and coral.

Approaching the beach at Seaforth Island, the yacht lying on its side is no longer here

As we pulled the dinghy ashore, this pair of sea cucumbers were being washed in by the tide

Looking across the reef to Lindeman Resort

Once ashore, the beach is covered in broken coral and shells, and there is a nice picnic area that has been cleared with toilet facilities as part of the National Park. There are some artistic creations from past visitors and a well cleared walking trail.

The picnic area overlooking Lindeman island

Local artistic contributions

We moved the dinghy a bit further up te beach, as the tide is coming in, before we set out on the walk. It turned out to be quite a short walk to the other side of the island which overlooks Burning Point on Shaw Island.

Toilets and a clearly marked walking track to the other side of the island

Since we had come all of this way we explored the whole beach, checked out some of the cyclone damage and regeneration that is already evident, and Carole had to try the oysters, using primitive implements.

This hoop pine was snapped off by the cyclone

However the bush orchids are back in flower

On the way back to the boat we motored over to the Lindeman Island Resort, but the extensive reef in front of the resort kept us from getting too close.

Lindeman Resort still looks in reasonably good shape

Back at Plantation Bay, (Mica in the foreground)