CAPE  LEVEQUE     

Although this page is titled Cape Leveque, it is really about the whole One Arm Point Reserve stretching from Thomas Bay in the west around Cape Leveque past One Arm Point and into Cygnet Bay on the east.  An aboriginal mission was established at Lombardina in the south eastern corner of Thomas Bay in the 1890's.  Although the bay is "shallow", it provides good protection from the prevailing easterlies during the cruising season.  The sandy beach is miles long and the protecting reefs north and south of the bay dampen the ocean swell.

About 10 miles further north, the rugged outline of Cape Leveque is clearly visible.  The cape, with a small offshore island (left), is formed of red sandstone and laterite rocks and fringed by white sandy beaches.  Anchorages on both sides of the cape are problematic, with the western anchorage offshore from the barge landing (right) being over a rocky bottom and subject to ocean swell. 

The eastern anchorage is over coral, weed, rock and sand.  Both anchorages are subject to tidal flows which tend to hold a boat side-on to the prevailing onshore swells and both landings can be difficult due to the rocky beaches and the surge from breaking swells.  The northern anchorage is preferable as it offers easier access to the beachside restaurant, the lighthouse, the camp store and the campground area (right).

Entering King Sound from Cape Leveque requires a well timed dash between the eastern tip of Alarm Shoal (position approximate) and Karrakatta Rock (submerged) before turning southeast to be washed through Escape Pass if all the islands and rocks (left) can be avoided.  If the easterly wind is light, there is a tenable anchorage out of the main tidal streams in the central to southern part of Curlew Bay.

Once you arrive in King Sound, there are anchorages in the northern, western and southern parts of Cygnet Bay.  We anchored (with permission) near the covered raft where the pearls are seeded (left).  In 1982, we were invited ashore for our kids to spend a rare day at the pearl farm school. The following day our children returned the hospitality by ferrying the local school children out to our yacht by dinghy for morning tea.  Enjoy your trip around Cape Leveque and visits to the nearby bays before crossing King Sound or heading for Broome.