Moreton Island (Mulgumpin) is a large sand island off the coast of Brisbane, Australia, known for its pristine beaches, towering sand dunes (including the world’s highest coastal dune, Mount Tempest), and clear lagoons, making it a popular destination for 4WD adventures, camping, and wildlife encounters like dolphin feeding at Tangalooma. 98% of the island is a national park, offering activities like snorkeling the Tangalooma Wrecks, sand tobogganing, and exploring its natural beauty, accessible by a 75-minute ferry from Brisbane.
What a calm sea we have “endured” for the last 36 hours as we head north up the coast of New South Wales towards Queensland; a bit like a glass of tonic, shaken but not stirred at all.
I looked out our deck door at 4:00am to find the pilot boat making its way to the ship to help the crew in the ship’s bridge navigate the sand bars of the Moreton Bay. We went through a period of graze-cruising in the early morning light with the sun threatening to show its light source and imply “I’m now in control” for the day. We had, before the cruise, decided, or should I say “suggested”, that if we were to enjoy the inventions of the Noordam Chefs, an early morning visit to the gym was necessary. The score is 1 out of 2.
We chose to miss the tender transfer to Moreton Island and to take another morning with ease on Noordam after breakfast. Our afternoon had us improving the tan on the stern deck.
Don’t the lounge beds look like rows of Starlink satellite receivers?
Sea days are always a good time to relax and realize that life doesn’t have to be rush, rush, rush.
On our arrival into Brisbane, we had Bob and Lyndell pick us up at the new Brisbane Terminal to spend the hours together. Bob and I started work at the same place in the 60s in Sydney. It’s always good to catch up with their lives whenever we can. Our ship departed around 4 pm and headed towards Townsville in the north.
We have a couple of clients on board with us who haven’t traveled for some time due to health complications that prevented them getting away. We are having dinner together each evening and finding some interesting menu items to choose from. They have a sense of humor too.
Our arrival into Townsville has been cancelled due to the coming cyclone, and so our itinerary may change as far as docking in Cairns for the night. Oh well, best to keep everything and all the passengers safe.
great life - retired got nothing on 