Striking Sunset Over Serene Waters

IMAGE BY DAVID HOGAN

The waters along Moreton Island are an adventure boater’s playground, and an extraordinary marine sanctuary. Protected from the open ocean and often sheltered from winds, the western side of the island is the spot to find your peaceful anchorage.

A stunning stretch of calm turquoise water, this is one of our family’s favourite destinations. It’s a day trip north of the Broadwater or across Moreton Bay from Brisbane. The area is teeming with marine and bird life. It is not uncommon to see dolphins, turtles, dugongs and rays, even whales when they are in season. Looking at the shore, it is a natural spectacle of sand dunes and curious vegetation.

Days Gutter (on the banks of Kooringal) is our favourite spot – a beautiful deep-water anchorage that is limited to a high-tide arrival and departure. Surrounded by sandbanks, this unruffled area is worth the effort to get into, as it feels like a special place – with the wildlife, oysters, and beer.

We are very lucky to have the sand islands, which give us protected boating and limit the fetch. In this way, the weather reports do not impact as much on our boating and it is usually possible to have a pretty good time most of the times you go out.

Winter tends to provide better boating conditions. However, there are lots more people out to talk to during the summer months. In any season, it is advisable to check the weather reports, as Moreton Bay can be NOT fun if the wind turns and you are in an exposed anchorage.

I encourage others to take up boating, as this is an activity where the whole family can be close together. It does not get old and all generations can come together with a common love, where tradition passes easily from one generation to the next. It is best to join a club – either a club of members who own the same brand, or a boat club with organised events such as the Southport Yacht Club. In this way, the learning is passed on organically and is very valuable, as it builds good habits and adds confidence.

About the photo: 

The sun sets over water on Moreton Bay to the west of Moreton Island making for a great photo (which is not as easy to photograph where we come from further south). Sometimes, it takes just three minutes or so for the sun to set; it needs to be watched closely to capture the magic moment.

Photos with tranquil waters like this are often possible during the first hour in the morning and the last hour of daylight yielding the best results. The water is clearer, and wildlife more prolific on Moreton Island.

Although I have used a Canon 6D in the past, I find that the Samsung 9 does a great job, and is easier when you wish to be responding to a sudden event.

This was a close family get together after a tough year, and Moreton Bay was a perfect place to relax. We anchored at Lucinda Bay alongside our boating friends and their son’s boat, so it was a special gathering at the Christmas-New Year break. The two boats are a Back Cove 37 and a Kellick 33, both single engine diesels, which are very economical. They both sleep four people with ease and are quite comfortable for bay cruising and the occasional reef trip.

Text by John Hogan

John is an active member of the Gold Coast boating community, CEO of Superior Jetties, Chairman of Global Marina Institute, and a board member of Marina Industries Association.

Interview by Andy Kancachian

First published in the April-June 2019 print edition of Boat Gold Coast magazine.