Gypsy Cruising

13 September

Butterfly Bay to Whitehaven

Mid tide is at 1pm today, and therefore a perfect time for us to visit the Hill Inlet lookout at the northern end of Whitehaven Beach.  As we’d done last time, we anchored off Betty’s Beach in 3m of water, in what has to be one of the most picturesque anchorages one can find anywhere.  The pathway up to the lookout, which isn’t particularly high, has had a considerable amount of construction work completed since our last visit, and it’s clearly now ready for lots of traffic.  Is this a sign of what further is to happen to this area?

I’ve previously posted at length about this place, so I won’t do so again now.  Suffice to say that coming back here for repeat viewings doesn’t seem to diminish its effect.

Mike overlooking the wonder of Hill Inlet

Mike and Susan

Remarkably, we’re the only boat anchored off Betty’s, and everyone else continues to mindlessly follow the herd by mooring around in Tongue Bay where the swell intrudes and the coral and rock reef prevents a landing except in the top half of the tide.  The result is that we can swim off and enjoy what must be one of the most remarkable and beautiful beaches in the world with not another soul in view, and with our boat anchored only a few meters outside the small waves breaking on the shore.

Gypsy Princess the sole vessel anchored off Betty's Beach, with her dinghy sitting on the beach

Back on the beach, looking out at the boat

From the same spot, looking northwards to Border Island

Hundreds of small crabs were the only other occupants on the beach, all busily going somewhere

We lifted the anchor just after 4pm and made the short way down to the other end of Whitehaven Beach for the night.  I made Piña Coladas, to which I played my calypso steel drum music for the occasion, before switching to Rachmaninov for sunset. We had Nachos for dinner and watched Captain Ron.  Another wonderful day at Whitehaven Beach.

Two views from our Whitehaven Beach anchorage at sunset