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THE EASTERN SIDE OF KING SOUND KING SOUND AIR PHOTOEntering the eastern side of King Sound from the north is an awesome experience on anything but the neap tides. The first obstacles (not shown on the Map above) are the extensive reefs on the southern side of Goose Channel. Once into the serene Strickland Bay there is a great anchorage in the bay on the east side of Dunvert Island. Further east is "The Graveyard" which seems to be either very deep or very shallow. However, secure and secluded anchorages can be found towards In the centre of Strickland Bay are the Edeline Islands, which provide for an interesting day or two of photographing strangely weathered soft sandstone rocks (left) or checking out the graves of some of the divers probably drowned or "bent" while pearling in The Graveyard (right). There is a secure anchorage out of the tidal stream on the western side of the Edeline Islands. The shaped rocks are all around; and the graves shown in the photos (left & right) can be found above the beach on the southern side of the south Edeline Island. At the head of Strickland Bay (in the SW corner) is the Kyulgam River.
The next large bay south is Cone Bay, which derives its name from the 200m high conical hill at the head of the bay, has been a home to hermits and a pearl farm. The hermits
Our plan to explore the "Inland Sea" in 2003 was thwarted by a week of unseasonally strong north-westerly winds and the rapidly approaching high springs after the new moon. This is an area that seems ideally suited to Cat cruising so it is still on out "wish list" for a future trip to the Kimberley. We trust you have the time and patience to enjoy a few exciting days cruising the eastern bays of King Sound. |
This page was last updated 04 February, 2007 - download King Sound.pdf |
Then, if you decide to stop off at Silica Beach on the northern end of Hidden Island, you have to negotiate the 
reefs around Gagg Islands which claimed the "SEAL" in 2003. After the relatively open run south past Bayliss Island, the next challenge is Whirlpool Pass (left) between Hidden Island and Chambers Island. The run of the tide around the eastern tip of Hidden Island about one hour before neap high water is shown in the photo right. Tidal streams reach 9 to 10 knots on springs in Whirlpool Pass.
the north-western or south-eastern ends of the Graveyard. The entrances are narrow but deep, and provide some excitement when 
entering or exiting in the tidal race.
It is possible to travel about 3 miles up the southern arm of the river on an incoming tide and anchor just below the tidal rockbar (left). From this anchorage you can hop in the dinghy with the washing and the water containers (right) and travel a further 100 m or so to the freshwater rapids (below left) to actually do the 
washing 
and collect fresh water. These first three photos were taken in 1982 when we had "Spindrift III" and a yellow Metzeler dinghy. The fourth photo (right) was taken in 2003 when we returned to the Kyulgam River in "Second Innings" with our white Aquapro dinghy.
have moved on, and the pearl rafts and buoys have been removed. In the north western part of Cone Bay is a small drying bay called Datum Bay (right). This bay seemed to be a favoured anchorage for navy craft, as in 1982 the cliffs were adorned with the names of patrol boats painted in white on the darker rock faces. I guess these names have been washed off by now!
Still further south is Crawford Bay with several ugly looking drying rocks and extensive fringing reefs and drying sandbanks. If anyone is game enough to negotiate the maelstrom called "Hells Gates" between Pecked Island and Pasco Island, the next bay south is Cascade Bay, named for the fresh water stream that cascades onto the beach (left) during the wet season. Some water was still flowing in August in 1982.