This article is part of a weekly series on cruising in The Sun Herald, Sydney. If you have done an interesting shore excursion and are interested in being featured, please send an email to jane@janeefraser.com.au.
WHO Harold Dunn from Milsons Point, Sydney, on his 15th cruise.
WHAT Visiting a remote Aboriginal rock art gallery.
WHERE Stanley Island, off Cape Melville on the eastern side of Cape York Peninsula, far north Queensland.
THE SHIP Harold and his wife cruised around Cape York and Arnhem Land on the Oceanic Discoverer, a 72-passenger vessel operated by Coral Princess Cruises (www.coralprincess.com.au).
“We approached Stanley Island through various passages between the islands. Which way they go depends on the conditions, but we came to a sheltered point where we could get onto the island, to walk across to the ocean side.
“Once we were on the ocean side, it was about half a kilometre to walk along the beach to the rocky headland and we saw quite a bit of wildlife. The naturalist who came with us pointed out lots of interesting plants and birds along the way. In the water we saw turtles popping up and down.
“At the end of the beach, we veered inland and the flora there was really interesting; we saw a group of beautiful orchids flowering. We continued on to a mangrove swamp and there were lots of birds around, such as sea eagles.
“Then we came to a high rock face where you go up on an elevated timber gallery. Above you is a big variety of Aboriginal art. It’s a magnificent gallery, about 300 metres long. Many of the paintings are… (click here to keep reading)
