PANGKOR ISLAND MALAYSIA

 

PANGKOR ISLAND

MALAYSIA

Pangkor Island is a less known island on the West Coast of Malaysia. Although both Penang and Langkawi Islands are more popular, Pangkor has its charms. Located north of Malacca in the Straits of Malacca it is close to the costal Malaysia Peninsula and easily accessible by a short ferry trip.

Pangkor goes back to 1670 with ruins of the Dutch Fort still there. It has resorts, golden beaches and crystal clear waters.

Penang Island is not far but it is much busier place. Pangkor is quiet. One can enjoy nature at its best. Well worth a visit.

PULAU TIOMAN MALAYSIA

 

PULAU TIOMAN

MALAYSIA

Tioman Island is a miracle of nature. Its underwater world is rich in coral and fish.

No doubt it attracts passionate divers. 

Tioman means pristine beaches, crystal clear waters, amazing underwater world, nature at its best.

The richness of rainforest and wildlife invites keen hikers.

Located on the eastern side of Malaysian Peninsula, Tioman is a perfect stopover on route to Borneo and Singapore.

GLADSTONE PORT CURTIS CENTRAL QUEENSLAND

 

GLADSTONE

PORT CURTIS

CENTRAL QUEENSLAND

A Spanish explorer, De Quiros, noted in his discovery of Great Southern Land back in 1606 a safe anchorage that later in 1840s has been named Port Curtis. At the same time a black diamond, coal, has been discovered here and the area was developed as a port to be able to ship the treasure.

The settlement of Port Curtis was named Gladstone in mid 1850s after the Colonial Secretary William Ewart Gladstone.

Now, Port of Gladstone is shipping coal and with Boyne Island and Tannum Sands, picturesque water front communities it is also a tourist destination.

Mt Larcum, some 600meters tall, is well visible from road or sea whichever way one approaches Gladstone. Nearby islands, Heron and Lady Musgrave are famous for their coral reefs and turtle breading colonies. Port Curtis region is full of history and natural treasures on land and is surrounded by scenic islands.

ROCKHAMPTON CENTRAL QUEENSLAND

 

ROCKHAMPTON

CENTRAL QUEENSLAND

Rockhampton, a Central Queensland city on the banks of Fitzroy River is a tourist destination in itself as well as a start to exploring and fishing the freshwater estuary.

Rockhampton can be reached by air or road but the most interesting trip is by boat through Port Alma. Ftzroy River, Tunuba in the local indigenous language, is a habitat of barramundi and fishing is more than popular here. The river is also popular with crocodiles so swimming is a big no no here. However bird life is amazing.

Rockhampton progressed from a frontier town to gold rush city and bustling port. Its heritage and history are well preserved. Rockhampton is a great start to an amazing adventure on Fitzroy River or hike to Mount Archer through Nurim National Park or Mount Morgan accessible by winding road and offering scenic views.

YEPPOON CENTRAL QUEENSLAND

 

YEPPOON

CENTRAL QUEENSLAND

Some 20 years ago Yeppoon was a quiet fishing village. It has developed into a holiday resort and is stretching from Emu Park in the South, scenic Byfield National Park to the North and Great Keppel Island just a few nautical miles of the coast.

Nearby Rosslyn Bay has a Marina and is a starting point for ferry services to Great Keppel Island.

Rockhampton is a city only some 40 km away and its residents enjoy Yeppoon as a nearby holiday destination with access to excellent fishing grounds and stunning sunsets.

Yeppoon is a pearl of the Capricorn Coast.

GREAT KEPPEL ISLAND CAPRICORN COAST CENTRAL QUEENSLAND

 

GREAT KEPPEL ISLAND

CAPRICORN COAST

CENTRAL QUEENSLAND

Great Keppel Island is located just 8 nautical miles of Rosslyn Bay on the Queensland Coast. And Rosslyn Bay hosts the marina and fishing industry of the region. It is the terminal for boats departing for Great Keppel and almost a suburb of Yeppoon, a costal settlement.

Great Keppel Island and North Keppel Island are only 5 nautical miles apart and while North Keppel is rocky, uninhabited except by wildlife and rock wallabies, Great Keppel has resorts and sandy beaches among rocky formations. There are regular ferry services and a number of day visitors.

Great Keppel Island is a perfect place toenjoy nature, walks, swimming and snorkeling.

TOWNSVILLE NORTH QUEENSLAND

 

TOWNSVILLE

NORTH QUEENSLAND

Townsville is only three nautical miles away from Magnetic Island and well visible with Castle Hill as its landmark.

It has been established as port. The statue of the founder, Robert Towns stands humbly on the banks of Ross Creek in the shade of trees so Mr. Towns often has company of heat oppressed locals and visitors. Townsville has a hot climate.

Nearby mountain ranges invite for a walk through rainforest and a swim in a waterfall. Just a stroll down the waterfront along The Strand is a pleasure.

Flinders Street is lined with bars, pubs and restaurants. Townsville is a worth visiting tropical city.

MAGNETIC ISLAND QUEENSLAND

 

MAGNETIC ISLAND

QUEENSLAND

Magnetic Island was named by Captain Cook back in 1770. The settlement of the island started in 1864 and now it has a residential population using fast ferry service to Townsville over the 3 nautical miles that that separates the island from the city. The trip takes only 20 minutes.

Magnetic Island is part of the World Heritage Marine Park and it attracts yachts and tour boats to explore the underwater beauty of reefs and fish. It has walking tracks that take those eager to exercise from Horseshoe Bay to Florence and Nelly Bays. Hiking offers fabulous contact with nature and wildlife. Snorkeling and diving are amazing and swimming in warm, clear waters pure pleasure. There are net enclosures for swimmers to protect them from jelly fish. It is not uncommon to sight turtles or swim with curious trewally fish or smaller gar fish.

Magnetic Island has a scenic coastline of colorful rocks and vegetation. It is a popular weekend destination for boaters from Townsville and it attracts many yachts.

Magnetic Island is a fabulous natural treasure of North Queensland.

THE WHITSUNDAYS GREAT BARRIER REEF CORAL SEA

 

THE WHITSUNDAYS

GREAT BARRIER REEF

CORAL SEA

The group of islands stretching from Mackay in the South to Bowen in the North are called the Cumberland Islands. They are also called the Whitsundays, the name much preferred by visitors from around the world, sort of easier to pronounce. The islands are mostly National Parks with dense bush, rainforest, wildlife, amazing rock formations and sandy beaches. Most of the area is also a Marine Park with amazing reefs and plentiful fish.

Quite a few islands are also resort islands. Daydream Island, Hamilton Island, South Mole Island, Lindeman and Hayman Island are just a few with popular resorts.

Airlie Beach is a mainland visitor paradise with bars, restaurants and discos.

The Whitsundays are popular cruising grounds and there is always a number of yachts and boats here. Sailing regattas bring yachts to the Whitsundays from all over the world.

CAIRNS a TROPICAL PARADISE of FAR NORTH QUEENSLAND

 

CAIRNS

a

TROPICAL PARADISE

of

FAR NORTH QUEENSLAND

Cairns, established in 1876 as a port for goldfields to its west, is now a cosmopolitan, second biggest city in Queensland. The area was populated by Yidinji Indigenous people and Yie-Nie, the Peace-maker was their King. Eventually a treaty between Yidinji tribe and European settlers has been signed to help Cairns develop and built a railway.

Cairns was named after a State Governor at the time Sir William Cairns.

Cairns was built on a swamp that provided indigenous people with food and floral medicine. One of the main streets is called Lake Street. Although it is named after Captain Lake the Skipper of one of the first ships arriving in Cairns, the name seems appropriate since the city was built on the wetlands.

During the WWII Cairns was a base for operations in the Pacific. Now Cairns is a gateway to Great Barrier Reef, the National Heritage Reef and many nearby islands and hosts many international visitors. The climate is tropical and the sunsets impressive.

FITZROY ISLAND FAR NORTH QUEENSLAND

 

FITZROY ISLAND

FAR NORTH QUEENSLAND

Fitzroy Island a short hop from Cairns, merely 15 sea miles away, is a perfect weekender. It can be reached by quick and frequent ferry service and offers excellent snorkeling, rainforest walks and Foxy's Bar and Restaurant.

The island has many walking tracks leading to remote beaches or a lighthouse.

The views are spectacular and wildlife plentiful.

Hiking all the way to the Summit can be exhausting but the view enjoyed by Captain Cook back in 1770 is stunning.

Fitzroy Island is a great spot to relax, enjoy the beaches on day trip or stay at the resort or camping ground. 

LIZARD ISLAND NORTH QUEENSLAND

 

LIZARD ISLAND

NORTH QUEENSLAND

Lizard Island was visited by Captain Cook in 1770. He found it a great spot for navigation purpose and climbed the 350 meter hill to see the reefs that need to be avoided sailing the area for the safety of his ship.

A climb to Cook's Lookout is not easy. It is a steep approach with many boulders on the way. Today the area is dry, vegetation is olive in color rather than spring green. The view is spectacular though and the effort of climbing is well rewarded by magnificent views and there is a strong possibility of sighting a lizard. Captain Cook has a close encounter with Endeavour Reef, called so after the name of his ship and the climb to the top of Lizard Island gave him a clear picture of the reefs now called Great Barrier Reef.

The history of Lizard Island is rich. The Watsons settled on Lizard Island in 1880s to run a beche-de-mer, sea slug business. Mary left alone has been attacked by local indigenous people that treated the area as a sacred site and escaped in a sea slug boiling tub to a nearby island only to die from lack of water.

Now the tragic history is almost forgotten and Lizard is a well protected anchorage. It has a popular and upmarket resort and holds fishing competitions. Lizard creates a spectacular diving and snorkeling ground in its lagoon created between Palfry and South Islands.