Distance travelled – 25.1 km
Avg speed – 16.1 kph
Max speed – 34.2 kph

Gladstone

This afternoon we took a ride on the Curtis Island Ferry.

The boat is a 30-metre vehicle and passenger ferry capable of carrying 16 vehicles and 150 passengers. It loads from the front and looks very much like a world war two landing craft. The return trip to Facing and Curtis Islands takes about two hours.

As we approached Facing Island we saw what at first glance appeared to be groups of people sitting on the beach having a picnic. In fact they are all waiting for the ferry. There is no wharf on Facing Island so the ferry pulls up on the beach and lowers its ramp onto the sand whereby passengers and vehicles come aboard.

During the trip we got talking to a couple from Canberra, Waine and Betty, who coincidentally were staying at the same caravan park as us. In the evening we all walked down to Barney Point to look at the lights around the harbour particularly those from Queensland Alumina Limited just across the bay.

There were a couple of things that stood out to us about Gladstone. First it is a very tidy town. Second the water in the harbour is very clear and very clean compared to other major ports we have visited. Third Gladstone is dead on a Sunday with very few shops open, however, the parks and picnic grounds seem to be full of people enjoying themselves. We wondered if this social activity would disappear if seven day trading is allowed in regional Queensland.

A very enjoyable and relaxing day.

Zoom into the map and use the 'Satellite' layer to see our new location.

Queensland Alumina Limited

Curtis Ferry

Scene from the back of the Curtis Ferry on its return to Gladstone.

Queensland Alumina Limited at night.

Previous Report

Next Report

Top