Hook Island
From CruisersWiki
Hook Island Cruising Guide
An online cruising guide for yachts sailing to Hook Island
(Click links for more information) | |
| 20°7′S, 148°55′E |
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| Photo gallery |
| Local chartlet |
Overview
Hook Island is one of the Whitsunday Islands off the coast of the Australian state of Queensland. The island is almost uninhabited, quite rugged and almost completely contained within a section of the Whitsunday Islands National Park. The island has two prominent geographical features on the southern side of Hook Island; the Nara and Macona inlets, two fjord-like recesses that are popular anchorages. The island's northern coast is noted for its colourful underwater coral growths, to which snorkelling and diving enthusiasts are attracted.
Some of the oldest archaeological sites ever found in Eastern Australia are the caves and midden of the Ngaro People on Hook Island. A site at Nara Inlet is the oldest indication of Aboriginal occupation in the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park.
Cruising the region
See Whitsundays
Charts
See Whitsundays
Radio Nets
See Whitsundays
Weather
See Queensland
See individual anchorages.
Check-in facilities (Customs and Immigration)
None.
Ports and Popular Stops
Ports
None.
Anchorages
There are many anchorages around the island. The southern anchorages are well protected from the prevailing southern winds while the northern anchorages afford spectacular snorkeling.
Nara Inlet
Nara Bay is a lovely and secure anchorage on the SW of the island.
CAUTION: Follow the buoys when entering the bay.
Anchor on the E side in 5-6 m depth allowing enough scope to accommodate the more then 2 m tide. Good holding. Avoid the small cove on the W side which is surrounded with reefs and shallows.
You can visit the Ngaro cave on the NE side of the bay.
Butterfly Bay
20°4.4′S, 148°55.9′E Butterfly Bay, on the N side of the island, actually consists of two coves: a large on the W and a smaller on on the E.
Anchorage is restricted on both coves but there are many Whitsunday Islands National Park moorings. Use of these moorings is restricted to 2 hours but if you are in possession of one by 4 PM you can stay moored overnight.
Anchoring outside the restricted area can be problematic as the depths exceed 12 m.
Maureen's Bay
20°4.0′S, 148°56.4′E Maureen's Bay, just E of Butterfly Bay, is a very attractive and relative well sheltered cove, exposed to the N.
Once again anchorage is restricted but there are about 4 Whitsunday Islands National Park moorings. Use of these moorings is restricted to 2 hours but if you are in possession of one by 4 PM you can stay moored overnight.
Anchoring outside the restricted area can be problematic as the depths exceed 14 m.
The snorkeling here is excellent.
Launcheon Bay
20°3.0′S, 148°57′ELauncheon Bay is a further E of Maureen's Bay but it is rather exposed to the N and may not be the most secure place to overnight. Nevertheless it has the most spectacular underwater on the island.
Once again anchorage is restricted but there are about 3 Whitsunday Islands National Park moorings. Use of these moorings is restricted to 2 hours but if you are in possession of one by 4 PM you can stay moored overnight (not recommended).
Anchoring here can be problematic as the depths exceed 16 m.
Macona Inlet
20°9.3′S, 148°55.7′E Macona Inlet is a nice and secure anchorage on the NW of the island and E of Nara Inlet. Anchor anywhere convenient at 4-6 m depth. Good holding. Allow enough scope to accommodate the more then 2 m tide.
CAUTION: Follow the buoys when entering the inlet.
Marinas & Yacht Clubs
None.
Yacht Services and Repairs
None.
Marine Stores
None.
Repairs/Yards
None.
Fuel, Water, & Electricity
- Fuel
- N/A
- Water
- N/A
- Electricity
- N/A
Offshore Islands
List Islands
Things to do Ashore
Tourism
Ngaro Cave Paintings - Click for larger view |
Underwater in Maureen's Bay - Click for larger view |
Corals in Luncheon Bay - Click for larger view |
Stingray in Luncheon Bay - Click for larger view |
Visit the Ngaro cave on the NE side of Nara Inlet. A nice wooden footpath leads to the cave which has some aboriginal paintings.
The view of the inlet from up the hill is very nice and the hike to the cave is one of a few hikes possible in the Whitsunday islands because of the very thick vegetation.
The snorkeling in Maureen's Bay is wonderful and in Launcheon Bay spectacular.
Grocery & Supply Stores
None.
Eateries
None.
Internet/WiFi
N/A.
Laundry
N/A.
Motorbike & Car Rentals
N/A.
Garbage Disposal
?
Transportation
N/A.
Routes/Passages To/From
Popular passages/routes, timing, etc.
Cruiser's Friends
Contact details of "Cruiser's Friends" that can be contacted for local information or assistance.
Forum Discussions
List links to discussion threads on partnering forums. (see link for requirements)
External Links
- Hook Island (Wikipedia)
- Whitsunday Islands National Park
References & Publications
See Whitsundays.
Personal Notes
Personal experiences?
Last Visited & Details Checked (and updated here)
Date of member's visit to this Port/Stop & this page's details validated:
- April 2011 --Istioploos
Contributors to this page |
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Names: Istioploos |
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| HOMEPAGE | Wiki Contents | Queensland | Whitsundays | Hook Island | |