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P
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Paradise
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A virtual cache by
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Welcome to Fitzroy Island!
This is also known as Koba (sometimes spelt Gabar) meaning "The Fist" by the local Gunggandji people who used the island for hunting, gathering food, and holding ceremonies for thousands of years.
I would like to acknowledge the Traditional Owners of the land on which this geocache has been placed, and pay my respects to their Elders past and present.
Getting to Fitzroy Island
A ferry service departs from Cairns multiple times during the day for a fee and takes about 45 minutes to travel to the island before docking at Welcome Bay on its western side.
You are also able to take your own boat to the island if you wish, and there is an A-class public mooring toward the northern end of Nudey Beach - please ensure you adhere to the Queensland Government's rules pertaining to the use of these if you choose to do so.
Nudey Beach
Don't let the name mislead you! The beach supposedly takes its name from Naval Rear Vice-Admiral Sir Reginald Nudey and is a peaceful, family-friendly location with some great conditions for snorkelling.
Keep an eye out for animals like goannas, skinks, and sea eagles on the shoreline and turtles, reef sharks, and an array of colourful fish in the water.
Getting to Nudey Beach
From Welcome Bay, there is a 1.2km return trail that is advertised as taking 45 minutes to complete in full.
The trail is a combination of asphalt, rocks, and wooden bridges, with a flight of stairs taking you down to the beach itself.
The terrain is very variable with plenty of dips, bends, and uneven surfaces comprising the pathway; regular walking shoes are recommended.
A Few Warnings
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As it is Far North Queensland, crocodiles are present in the area, and while sightings are exceptionally unusual around the clear waters of Fitzroy Island, it's important to be aware of their potential presence.
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Marine stingers are known to visit Fitzroy Island and could be in the water at any time, but are particularly present during the warmer months of November to May. Wearing a full-body lycra suit provides a good amount of protection against them if you plan on swimming.
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Logging Requirements
As you arrive at Nudey Beach, you'll be able to see that it consists not just of sand, but a lot of washed-up coral of all different shapes and sizes as well.
Your task is to spell out your geocaching username using coral on Nudey Beach.
It goes without saying, but please only use coral that is already dead and on the beach - under no circumstances should you damage the fragile, living coral in the reef.
In order to log this geocache, you must:
a) take a photo of your coral name up close
b) take a photo of your coral name with the rocks at the southern end of the beach in the background
c) attach both photos to your log
Examples of both of these for my username, Brain, are attached below (for reference, it took about 15 minutes to assemble).
You do not need to directly message me anything, but logs that do not have the required photos will be deleted.
Example Photos
Photo A: Coral name up close
Photo B: Coral name with southern rocks in the background
Virtual Rewards 3.0 – 2022–2023
This Virtual Cache is part of a limited release of Virtuals created between 1 March 2022 and 1 March 2023. Only 4,000 cache owners were given the opportunity to hide a Virtual Cache. Learn more about Virtual Rewards 3.0 on the Geocaching Blog.