Quibray Bay

[khiemtran]

Come with this week as we explore Quibray Bay, a small sandy bay adjoining Botany Bay, not far from the point where Captain Cook first landed in Australia.

It will be a hot day, so we'll need to leave early. But that will see us on the bay in the best time of the morning.



With only a gentle breeze, the water of the bay rolls like mercury. Looking down, it's barely a metre deep, and we'll be able to see seagrass and oyster shells and lots of fish. If you look closely, you might see a fin or two cutting through the water. Either a small shark or a fin ray.



Most of the bay is lined with mangroves. Here and there are tempting channels that lead into them. We're going to look for one of the larger ones that leads to secret lagoon.



Like magic, a channel appears before us. (NB: This picture was actually taken at the other end, looking back out.)



As we head down it, we start to see glimpse of more smooth water on the other side.



We've found the lagoon! And it's huge. And still. It's incredible to drift with the current into this great silent space, the only noise coming from the sound of jumping fish.



The view across to the far side of the lagoon. Besides the fish, expect to see lots of stingrays on the sandy floor. When Cook first discovered Botany Bay, he originally called it Stingray Bay, because of the large numbers of stingrays he found.



Interestingly, it turns out that the channel I took wasn't actually the one I was looking for. That one was larger and further to the south.



Once back out of the mangroves, it's time to paddle back towards Botany Bay. On the far shore, we can see oyster farms and the mouths of other hidden bays. Other adventures, for other days.



Once back out into Botany Bay, we'll need to paddle against the current a bit to make it back to our put-in site. The sun is getting higher now and the day is warming up.



As we reach the beach, we'll look back one last time across Botany Bay towards the airport and Port Botany. Then it's back into the car, and off to start the day...

Comments

[mnfaure.livejournal.com]

So sad that I'm having Internet troubles and can't see your photos. Really. Must. Take. My. Laptop. To. The. Shop. This is getting ridiculous.

[khiemtran.livejournal.com]

Hope you get it sorted out! We were in Taiwan recently and had to "make do" without mobile internet access. It was quite an eye-opener to see all the things that we'd started to take for granted (like being able to access google maps or check the address of a restaurant).

[mnfaure.livejournal.com]

A very big eye-opener!

[puddleshark.livejournal.com]

Fabulous... *sighs*

I especially love the water-like-mercury.

Thank you so much!

[khiemtran.livejournal.com]

Calm water is always close to my heart. It's difficult to explain the sense of freedom you feel when you're on a body of water this big and it's all yours - you can go anywhere you want, no tracks, no trails, even if not at any great pace.

[lethargic-man.livejournal.com]

Lovely.

[khiemtran.livejournal.com]

It was! It's one of my favourite spots in Sydney now. I wish I had gone there earlier.

[amaebi.livejournal.com]

Lovely! Also, soothing!

[khiemtran.livejournal.com]

It really was. I guess not all mornings will be as calm or magical as that one, but I can't wait to go back.

[asakiyume.livejournal.com]

Thank you so much for taking me with you. I really, really wish I could be there in person. RIGHT NOW! (I know that, if I save my pennies, I can go one day, but I mean *now*)

it's barely a metre deep, and we'll be able to see seagrass and oyster shells and lots of fish. --bliss

The colors of the early morning sea and sky, the shapes of the mangroves in the water--so, so beautiful. It must have been wonderful.

[khiemtran.livejournal.com]

You'll definitely have to come out there the next time you visit! I was thinking it might actually be even better on a paddle board, as you get more of a view straight down into the water.