Whitsunday Island - Hook Island to Curlew beach
The name Curlew comes from this most unusual bird we sighted at Airlie beach, Hook Island and heard them during the evening at Dugong beach. They are a wading bird, has long legs but does not have webbed feet. They make this awful noise at night like someone screaming.

With a strong wind from the South and the tide against us, we opted to paddle to Curlew beach and
explore Nara Inlet for the day. Rather than attempt to round the unfamiliar pinnacles at the top of Hook
Island in a 2 meter sea.

A fast run with quartering seas after rounding Macona Inlet. Surfing into Nara at 16 km/hr !

Into the shelter of Nara Inlet for Lunch. It was a bit late to explore the Inlet and decided to go back
to Curlew beach and set up camp.

Curlew camp a mid to high tide beach. Camp is set back into a dense rainforest.

Being watched by Billy.


Rocky landing at the Caves


Overcast but still spectacular. The top of Nara Inlet viewed from the cave.


Aboriginal drawings. Unknown as to what they represent. Fish nets?

Starting off down Macona Inlet later afternoon. Weather was lousy but paddling was good.

Macona Inlet returning to Curlew camp. Paddled some ugly days but this takes the cake.
Back to Whitsunday Map or Curlew to Dugong beach