Early start at 6.30am to look at the boab Mermaid Tree. In 1820, Captain Philip Parker King on the ship HMC Mermaid needed to do repairs on their 17m ship and to do this have to "careen" or dry dock on land. This bay was chosen and on a low spring tide they dragged the ship up onto the sand and spent 2 weeks doing repairs which included making nails out of hard wood found on the island. The boab tree was marked to recognise this achievement. It is estimated to be 600 years old.
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| Careening Bay |
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| Mermaid Tree - est. 600 years old |
In the afternoon we went to Bigge Island to look at some Aboriginal rock art Bradshaw and Wanjina paintings.
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| Bradshaw Art |
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| Microbats |
We anchored at a very picturesque sheltered bay called Prudhoe Island and had a great after dark treat when we were literally surrounded by blunt nosed sharks who were chasing the garfish that were attracted by the lights on the boat plus the crew were cleaning fish and throwing fish bits overboard.
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| Today's catch |
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| Prudhoe Island |
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| Dinner |
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