WHAT TO EXPECT                                   AIR PHOTO

The entrance to the Hunter River through Prince Frederick Harbour is awe-inspiring to say the least.  Naturalists Island, on the northern side of the harbour just outside the river mouth,  has a conspicuous white sandy beach (left, right and 1a on the map) on its west side.  The beach is used by charter boats to ferry passengers by helicopter to and from the airstrip at the Mitchell Plateau.

      TIDE LEVELS

The tide times at Naturalist's Island are about 2 hours earlier than the times given on the Seafarer Tides CD for Maret Island, and about 1 hour earlier at the upper "T" Junction in the Hunter River.  Heights are about the same.

      PLACES OF INTEREST

North of Naturalists Island there is a virtually landlocked anchorage (centre right in photo and 1b on map) in 10m LWS.  Opposite the island, on the southern side of the river mouth, is Vin's Beach (right and 2 on map) where the thick foliage indicates a fresh water soak that runs until about July in average rainfall years.

Shortly after passing into the river, Porosus Creek provides good anchorage (1c on the map).  A further 3 miles up-river there is another good easterly wind anchorage at 1d.  Upstream of 1d, the river dries at low tide to a sandy bottom with some scattered low rocks and gravel banks.  Travelling upstream on the rising tide for a further 2 miles, it is possible to anchor at the mouth of a side creek and dinghy up the creek to a freshwater pool and waterfall (left and 3a on map).

Further upstream, there is an anchorage (1e on the map) just before the "T" junction with enough room to swing in 2 to 3m LWS.  At low tide, the mudbanks are well exposed and occupied by up to half a dozen small crocs.   This is a convenient spot to stay while visiting the Hunter Falls at the head of the southern fork approximately 2nm. from the "T" junction or Donkin Falls, a similar distance up the northern fork.  To reach either set of falls involves about an hour of walking over rocks and climbing around large boulders in the river gorge.  The Hunter Falls (right) are some 80 to 100m high and have a large deep pool at the base.

Just to the north of the "T" junction is a bunch of nasty rocks on the eastern bank of the river that cover at high water neaps.  The Spacesailer 27 "SOLACE" wedged its keel in these rocks while travelling downstream soon after high tide, and had an anxious wait through the tidal cycle before refloating with a little damage.  There is a freshwater stream and mini-falls at the head of the creek to the right off the main river just upstream of Solace rocks.