Southport skyline
We are finally approaching the southern limits of the infamous Great Barrier Reef. Following a couple of weeks with catching up with family we left Iluka on 5 July for an overnight sail to Southport. We were greeted by a very different skyline in the morning to the coastline we have been traversing of late and rapidly headed up the inland waterways to escape from the Gold Coast buzz!
The Moreton Bay waterways are interesting, with lots of shifting sands, sand islands, and the backdrop of Stradbroke and Moreton Islands to the east and Brisbane to the west. Weather meant a desired stopover at Moreton Island was not in our best interests. However, we did make up with a visit to St Helena Island National Park where I rowed ashore and walked around the ruins of the island prison that are accessible to the public without a guide.
Heading past the Glasshouse Mountains
On 11 July we pulled in to Mooloolah River on the Sunshine Coast. This followed a lovely day trip past the Glasshouse mountains. There were a few interesting ship passing moments as we approached Caloundra, and watched the big cargo ships head off through the channels to the Port of Brisbane.
As the Mooloola River is a densely populated river surrounded by high rise and modern housing and only 4 hours drive north of Evans Head/Lismore, I was only too happy to hire a car on 12 July and head south to welcome a new family member to the blue planet – another little granddaughter.
Tonight (15 July) we plan to head north to the bottom of the Great Sandy Straits. From here it is the edge of the reef and we have a smorgasboard of islands and stopovers to choose from ….
Hina 
Hi KL
Love the blog , love, the pic of GC skyline. Congrats on new granddaughter . Enjoy GSS and GBR. So happy to see you are TRUELY on your adventure, ‘your journey’ to new horizons. May the breeze fill your sails and the sun charge your soul.
Enjoy
Rod
Happy sailing you guys and congratulations on the new grandaugter. Is Xan or Jade the new mum? Wished I’d known you were in Iluka as so were we. Had some friends up from Sydney (Sandy Flower and Stuart Henderson) with all the kids and we had the Woody Head House for a week. On the day you left however we all went to Lismore to catch up with Narwung (Alex McLauchlin) and Steph Carson who we all have known for it seems like forever. A great day!