Tin Can Bay

We arrived at Tin Can Bay at lunch time on Friday, set up and then went down to the Marina and Port. Tin Can Bay is at the lower end of the Great Sandy Strait, which divides Fraser Island from the mainland, - the waters are so exceptionally clear.

Where the boats navigate above or amongst the mangroves below, and just sooh much sand.

En route into town we noticed an army base CAMP KERR (my maiden name), and on reviewing the map found that it was a huge military base, and signs around town told us they were in the middle of an operational exercise.

Were they ever - as on Saturday morning when we went back to the Marina to see the wild dolphins - an army landing craft was tied up to the wharf where the dolphins normally gather.

All was quiet, then the army moved into action all around us. Very busy young men and women, and the one I spoke to was quite apologetic that their manoevres might've chased off those dolphins.

They backed in their machine

then loaded her and left for their manoevres at the Wide Bay Training area.

Once the noise of that strange motor disappeared, the dolphins appeared.

These are Indo-Pacific Humpback dolphins who spend the majority of their life in estuaries. There is a pod of 7 in this estuary, lead by a large male (who has been named Mystique). Mystique is the grand son of a dolphin who turned up at the Tin Can Bay Marina very badly injured in the 1950's, the locals spent months volunteering their care for this particular dolphin till she was in good health again, she never forgot, and came back with a member of her pod every morning (around 7 am) - this behaviour and trust in the caring local minders for over 60 years has been carried down through her genetics for 3 generations. These creatures really are incredible as are the minders.

The volunteer minders are great and very protective of these wild creatures. They offer the opportunity to feed under strictly hygenic conditions. Everyone has to wash their hands in a special mixture first, people with colds cannot feed, and only a certain amount of fish can be fed. There is absolutely no touching - the dolphin can touch you, but you cannot innitiate any activity other than holding their little bit of feed.

A great thrill for the young one below.

Mystique (18 years old)

Patch (23 year old female)

Another local below!

We decided to take the small ferry across the strait to Carlo Point.

So did the dogs below!

En route across the Strait a "Whistling Kite" flew above us

Incredible flying machine

And those talons are ready for their catch.

Next we spotted the "Carlo sand blow" above Rainbow Beach.

Carlo Point - consists of a large camp ground (accompanied by many sandflies - I hear!)

There is a Houseboat hiring company at Carlo, the owner's wife is Thai, and she operates an interesting looking Thai Restaurant in the boat shed.

This boat below sits right next to the mangroves, and on sand at low tide - the owners live in it at Carlo Point. (They would have to be immune to sandflies, mosquitos and black midgies in that position - me thinks!!)

Docking back at Barnacles wharf and cafe at Tin Can Bay - will take the Brig there tomorrow morning for a Father's Day breakfast.

Next - off to Rainbow Beach for a look.