WELCOME
This site is hoped to be the place for Jet Ski enthusiasts to come for Skiing North Queensland. To share trips, media, ideas, locations for camping, ramps, fuel outlets and amenities. Maybe learn some modifications and maintenance from the experienced. Partial alternative to the internet monsters.
2023
Whitehaven / Edward Group
Plan is out of Victor Ck, Seaforth. Midges were terrible at the ramp. We were putting in just before 7 when Anns Ski dug it heels in and refused to start. She jump started off Jump Pack. Made our way out at 7am through the lateral markers then between Inner Newry & Rabbit Islands. Before…
Percy Fog Sphinx
Evening before a sea fog rolled inland at Mackay as to be expected it was nice and thick this day. Grasstree Beach ramp up Cabbage Tree Ck has its own hurdles to be negotiated. Low water this creek dries out. We waited for water and daylight getting in the water around 630. I have a…
Bushy Bash
Satisfied the finicky wind forecast was holding good enough. Woke up to consistent rain at 0230, being our last element to hurdle the radar showing it moving out to sea and it did by 0500. We met at Mackay Harbour 0630 got away by 0700. Ann, Paul & James a debutante to our group JetSki…
2022
Hill Inlet / Whitehaven Beach
https://www.relive.cc/view/vPv4dLAdPRv Weather had not been kind for a Month now and we were keen to get on the water on a descent trip. The right forecast fell on a Sunday, so to avoid the traffic jam at Mackay Harbour we head to Seaforth with the better part of the forecast to north of Mackay at…
Creal Reef
Simon’s Relive https://www.relive.cc/view/vWqBZyzMeYq Long time bucket list item achieved. Furthest offshore we have been 140klms NE Mackay. Unable to do in the past due to not possessing a chart plotter or GPS. No islands in sight to use as a marker. We got away 0530 I had 140lts of fuel that gave me over our…
Middle Percy Island August 2024
Simon’s relive https://www.relive.cc/view/vPOp1DR9wR6 Simon and I get away from ramp at 0700 it was a fresh morning wet suit and beanie for me. There was a light westerly in close that left the sea with a bit of a ripple to start with. Knight Island our first way point with the breeze shifting to SW…
Middle Percy Island
Meet up with Paul at Ilbillbi Road House. forecast below 5knots until lunch then rising into 8knots NE. Rising tide from 930 on wards so running with the wind so hopefully that will be helpful to a good day. Follow each other in to Green Hill. This trip is a first for both of us…
Bushy Atoll 3rd Time
Been waiting for a decent forecast to fall with a tide around noon. Last visit was September 2022 being harried off the island with the falling tide as it was the first time. Planning to arrive anytime around 8.30 giving us about 2.7M of tide. A good chance to check out the lay of the…
Curlew Island
Hay Pt Ramp is easy enough with a bit of water got away just after 630 Sondra, Duane, Mornê & myself the crew. Make our way out of Harbour and head south down the coast and pass some sought of work rig/platform sitting outside Half Tide Bay. Heading for Irving Island just out from Cape…
Coppersmith Rock
We had planned a run out of Hay Pt over to Curlew Island this weekend but forecast had the wind kinder further north. So were compelled to Seaforth over to Shaw with a around a mid day return after 120klms. Team consisted of Simon, Dale, Duane and myself. Duane’s first run since his harrowing experience…
Mackay Local Islands June 2023
This was our second day in a row of calm winds holding high expectations after a quick run out yesterday solo in a superb sea. Mick, Anthony making up the group with Fox joining us for the run out and heading off to do some fishing. Getting out of the Harbour at 9.15 we head…
Proserpine River & Laguna Quays
Arrived Victor Ck, Seaforth at 535 and parked out the way of car park to rig up for launch and waiting on the others. I walk down to check out the ramp and there is Paul & Steve waiting on me on a busy jetty and Dallas and Stacey are launching. Forgot to mention to…
Mackay Bowen Return
Another bucket list item bites the waves. Simon had a surprise for me turning up with a brand new Fishpro. Only 1 hour on the clock of merry go round stuff on the dam. So still running in on this trip. Another surprise to see us off and wish us a safe trip was Jason…
Thomas & Shaw Islands via The Anchor Isles
Sondra, Mornê and Myself going out of Seaforth over to Shaw Island to catch up with Rebbecca, Michael, Brad, Sarah and Harley coming out of Shut Harbour. We get out of the Creek and Estuary into open water by 720. Its looking good and flat making a heading for Hammer Island of the Anchor Isles.…
2021
Mackay Creeks and High Sands
Combination of several short coastal creek runs due to poor weather over the last month. Thursday 22 December: Jason, Mornê & Myself had decided on a McCready Ck run and I thought Slade Point boat ramp would be suitable. We First take a run to the north and end up in Bucasia Ck. We had…
Whitsunday Island from Mackay
Tide was low around 0730 so most of the morning wasn’t great for getting into bays and beaches. More so for unexplored or inexperienced islands. A long run was looking favorable with the forecast and tides. The 4 skis with 4 POB leaving the harbour just after 0500 we carried a minimum of 100lts each.…
Cumberland Group
Forecast had been conflicting and fluctuating all over the place but at least providing a few windows. Like Sunday being borderline and worth a look ? With high tide at around 0900 falling through out the day. I couldn’t bring myself to commit to a group ride. Fortunately Duane had no reservations and had one…
Gloucester Island
I was Not going but that was only until I woke up at 3am thinking should I go? at 318 decision made. Fueled up and text Mornê at 424 ” Am going to Airlie doing Gloucester maybe Bowen ” They including Rebecca & Michael were unsure of what they were doing. Arriving boat ramp 2…
Shute Harbour
This was a weekend of last minute decisions and none were decisive. Forecast playing a big part of Sunday. The 3 of us sketched the idea we would launch out of Seaforth and head north that would give us some protection. Should the forecast stick it would be 13knots SE just off the coast at…
Lindeman Group
Seaforth > Anchor Islands > Lindeman Group > Repulse Group 134klms According to willy weather the tide was 2.7m at 715. We still followed the markers except for the very last one. Once in open water it was looking good not flat but good cruising 50k plus with out bone shattering. Party of 5 Simon,…
Beverly Group
Feature photo and all drone/overhead shots compliments of Mornê du Rand. Weather window finally appeared after nearly 2 months to enable a decent trip attempt. The area had been a bucket list item for a while because it spooked me a bit. For a number of idiosyncrasies. Was never going on my own so thanks…
Back To Bushy Atoll
Weather had been so bleak of the last weeks or is that months. Forecast had the wind softening Friday, Saturday and Sunday. We chose Sunday if only to give the sea more of a chance of settling after the blows we had received. Got away at 0700hrs from Mackay Harbour entrance where we could see…
Bushy Islet 26 Feb 2022
Adventurer’s included Mornê, Rebecca, Michael and Myself. Bushy had been in our sights for a while now. We had been waiting for a break in the weather and just as it appeared we jumped at it. Forecast soured a bit on the day with a chance of a storm. We weren’t to be deterred and…
Keswick Brampton Drone Run
Giving the drone a run and testing methods in Egremont Passage and Brampton Roads.
Phantom Cave In The Lindeman Group
Note the chart plot below was planned but not completed. The Repulse Group to the west on return run was missed out. The lump of land above is Cape Conway on the mainland. Decided this was needed for the non-locals. Seaforth is a Coastal Town 30 minutes north of Mackay. Just 5ks out the other…
Calder Circuit Solo 150KLMS
Another bucket list item resolved Calder Island. I have one more Island and that means I have been to every island seen from the Mackay coast. Made it a bit more interesting doing a circuit. Leaving the Harbour with still an hour and a half to the bottom of the tide, need to be mindful.…
Five Islands with 8 Ski’s
One of our local Jetski facebook pages Mackay Jetski had a group run planned for Saturday. So I tagged along with Morne the organiser and six other Ski’s. Most intros dealt with and trailers parked in overflowing car park. Moved off to wait the final arrivals in the marina. We had a fall at the…
Keswick St Bees
Weather windows have hardly existed this year so every opportunity must be taken. I honestly thought we would be turning back. Headed out after a late start, my bad. Sun was shinning so that’s a start and out the harbour. It wasn’t bad picked up a little over the shoals and a bit of easterly…
Cumberland Group
Tuesday was our first window in the weather since the beginning of the month. Wasn’t convinced forecast would hold so no defined plan. Just headed out to the local Cumberland Group. At the ramp before 6 with a small queue was fellow skier’s Sebastion and Duane who were taking there Skis with another fisherman in…
Hardy Reef from Airlie
Gus had been planning this trip for a couple of years and asked me along thankfully. Not certain but we could be one of the first Jet Ski’s to do this trip. Aligning the elements for this trip is a must including tide times and height that isn’t big out there and a 100 mm…
Beyond Brampton Aborted
Feature image is Brampton Island. We had a unusual day with the weather. I heard a boat report that he was out in a north easterly with the wind coming out of the south. (having a go at the forecast) Once heading for Cockermouth we noticed the sea picking up and decided to make our…
Brampton & Keswick Islands
Lee Roy and myself 04 June 2021 from Mackay Harbour Here is a link to all my videos were you should be free to view without being controlled by WordPress. Feel free to download any of the files as a .mp4 file to do as you wish without any controls from any entity outside of…
Sir James Smith Group of Islands
Feature image is Coppersmith Rock. With the weather being so bad of late a couple of us took a chance on a 15 knot forecast after 1000am. I thought a cunning plan had been realised, head south along the coast and have a following sea for the return. What are plans for if not to…
Scawfell island
The weather has been unfriendly of late and Wednesday / Thursday were the options. I opted for Thursday, forecast chopped and changed the last 24hrs. Had to be the worst forecast I have gone ahead on. Leam and his partner still keen as so off we go. Forecast being a good morning with freshening from…
Airlie Return Mackay, Solo
Wind had been around for what seemed like and may of been weeks. A window was appearing in the forecast and Friday was the day. Unable to find company for a ride, I saddled up in preparation of a big one should conditions allow. The feature image is Happy Bay, Long Island. Used 2 images…
Seven Island Circuit Cruise
We left the Harbour 0500 to a breaking overcast morning. Conditions were good with a spaced lump as we left the Harbour and improved as the day wore on. Our first leg was Brampton/Carlisle, 34klms Nth of Mackay Harbour. Ross had his first encounter with a flying fish, that he was delighted to tell me…
Goldsmith Island
Sir James Smith Group is a mob of islands NW of Brampton (Cumberland Group) and south of the Lindeman Group, Goldsmith being the largest of that group. Smith group can be reached from Seaforth, Victor Ck easily enough with about a 35k trip rather than 50ks from Mackay Harbour. I didn’t buy a jet ski…
Solo Brampton, Keswick & River
First solo trip since the shark encounter and was a little shaky on it in the preparation. Decision to go was made at 0700, probably gave me less time to think about it. Not like 2 Fridays prior, 0530 at the boat ramp full of nerves I pulled the rear door of the van down…
Whale Season Farewell
Possibly my last whale sighting for this year. September has been a month of wind, barely a day under 15 knots for any period. A window appeared this week and I have taken advantage of it twice. Rolly was company for this trip and wasn’t sure of his ski’s economy and wanted to test it.…
Carcass
Wind was easing this week for the first time this month. Late decision to go for a quick run and have a go at driving the ski off trailer at launching. This was such a simple process off and back on. Will need to see how it goes at the river ramp with plenty current…
Whitsunday Islands
Daydream, Nth Mole, Whitsunday, Hamilton Island & More My first Whitsunday’s trip. WOW this is a boaters paradise and jet skiers Shangri-la. There are plenty of boats around the popular spots. Should you end up in the water there’s more chance you get run over before you drowned. I had no plan for this spare…
Keswick, Scawfell & St Bees
Put in at Mackay Pioneer River Ramp. Planned loop was Baileys Islet > Scawfell Island > St Bees/Keswick Islands > Home. We headed out through Eastern Pt bar (that had enough water to pass over). Sea was a gentle swell in a rippled surface with a breaking overcast sky. After about 10ks, was unable to…
Seaforth – Cave Island, Hillsborough and Newry Island.
First time launch at Victor Ck ramp can be deceiving and lots of markers (thankfully). I was a bit early which gave me a chance to see boats go directly across the creek to the first marker. If you look at the feature photo that was taken just outside the ramp one would think just…
Fog, Fog, Hay Point, Fog
Plan was a round robin trip Bailey Islet – Scawfell – St Bees – Harbour. Not to be, after 11ks into the 33ks to Bailey Islet 77° out of Mackay Harbour. That heading is + 5° of the sun rising that day at 72°, so had a pretty good marker. Fog wall and dark, couldn’t…
Keswick/St Bees Islands
My first solo trip over 10ks out, had just returned from a Brampton/Carlisle Island group trip at 1100hrs, and decided I wasn’t done yet. First time fuelling up at the mariner was an education! Wasn’t sure if I could go through the security gate and get back in to the fuel dock. Reluctant go up…
Jet Ski North Queensland 
there are a no. of things I have been playing with – and noted your idea of the pool noodles – mine are a little different but very close to the same concept (i.e. hooking under the gunwale) will take some photos one day and there maybe a way for subscribers to upload small articles etc. Another frustration was the high cost of Salt washes and flushing in Australia – so did a little research on what is in these over priced products – and found that I could make a $100 supply for less than $2 – quite a bit of markup there! Also there seems to be a culture of similar charges out there for Oil Filters – the factory ones being 5-10 times the cost of the same or essentially similar filters that have a different no. and or brand on them. Doing some research on which ones fit my Yamaha, and I am sure most can do similar tests and verifications for their skis. In general replacing filters and oil more frequently (because doing your own) is cheap insurance for the longevity of the engine etc.
Will investigate and get back soon Thanks
Hi George, met you today at the ramp, i had the vhf radio on my ski, thanks for the lift from the parking back to the ramp. Hope to see you on the water, regards Steve.
Your are welcome and well met. Was good to see a serious set up not just radio. Hopefully catch up on a run.