Date : 11-18th February 2025
Travelled : 1100 NM from Sydney to Cairns.
Visited : Morton Island, Airlie Beach and Cairns, Queensland.
Stayed : Holland Americaโs Zuiderdam
Our neighbour Dave offers us a drive to the White Bay Terminal which we jump at as the public transport is very limited. Via the new M8 less than 20 minutes. There are no queues and our bags are whisked away our tickets checked and weโre on board. All very smooth taking less than 10 minutes.
Our cabin is already available and we toss our carry on bags and go exploring. Even better we are advised the Zuiderdam will relocate to Circular Quay tonight making our second day in the city much more interesting.
The Captain announces free wine for the departing Sydney farewell until the Zuiderdam clears the heads. The party is in full swing when the Captain announces the departure is delayed because of some technical issue, but the wine continues to flow.
Finally on our way the swell lifts as we pass through the heads turning north. It slowly settles overnight much to Pamโs pleasure. Settling in to life on board we find the coffee shop in the Crows Nest Cafe, has a good double shot and the Ocean View Bar has half price drinks from 6-7 every evening. Three laps around the promenade to the mile, the gym is excellent and thereโs always live music playing somewhere in the evenings.
Arriving at Morton Island (just north of Brisbane) itโs bucketing rain. We had no real plans other than to do some snorkelling around a wreck in shallow water on the north of the island but the rain continues till lunchtime. As itโs 40 minutes in the tender each way we decide Morton Island will be another time.
Once again we continue north, the sailing very smooth. Valentineโs Day is celebrated with a concoction of towels made up by our steward and some very fancy deserts for dinner that evening.
Another evening sailing finds us in the Whitsundays, we anchor in the bay with views of Airlie Beach. We have a coffee and go down to the deck 3 promenade to do our required laps to find the heat and humidity absolutely oppressive at 8 am. Soaking in our own juices after a couple of kilometres, we call it quits and go for breakfast.
Seems no point waiting for the cool change which is expected in April. We take the ferry which is being used to supplement the tender process to the marina.
We previously visited Airlie Beach in our motorhome in June 2024 finding it very touristy and full of Swedish and German backpackers. Airlie is very quiet today except for the beachfront public pool. We have a swim but the water is tepid and not refreshing.
Two hours later having walked the shop fronts we find our way back to the tender and the Zuiderdamโs airconditioning and a comfortable afternoon by the pool.
Another two nights of very slow sailing up through that barrier reef to Cairns. The Captain informs us a speed of 8 knots will have us there on Tuesday morning at daybreak.
We also visited Cairns back in May 2021 on a previous motorhome adventure, so our aim today is just to walk the main shopping streets of which there are several and the waterfront. So once again itโs coffee then 4 laps of the promenade, breakfast before walking into the city.
With a population of 150,000 Cairns is the regional capital of North Queensland. We wander the shops lingering at whatever catches Pamโs eye, luckily nothing sticks.
We are back on the Zuiderdam in time for a swim before lunch and a couple of games of table tennis by the pool. As I post this blog the Zuiderdam is easing away from the dock to continue north.
We have 4 days cruising Ribbon Reef, Cape York and the Gulf before Darwin.
Michael + Pam
One thought on “Cruising the North-East Coast, 2025 ๐ฆ๐บ”
Michael and Pam – good to see you travelling and enjoying yourself again – shame you missed out on snorkelling the wrecks at Tangalooma – certainly was a bucket list for us – not sure if we told you however, we have bought another Hymer and it has just been delivered to our friends house, (Ralf and Martina), in Stelzenberg, Germany and we fly out for Frankfurt in a couple of weeks for an 18 month trip.
Cheers Rob and Krys