Around Bundaberg - History and Happenings

Bundaberg Floods 2013 - Part Three

2013-02-06T14:52:00.000-08:00

Bundaberg is a city divided by the Burnett River. Until 1995, it had but one road bridge between the the two sides of the river. The first bridge across the river was the railway bridge, opened in 1891. The was followed by the first road bridge in 1900.

Kennedy Bridge, the main link between Bundaberg and East Bundaberg

The railway bridge

Bundaberg Road Bridge

The Tallon Bridge

Finemore Caravan Park

Bundaberg Floods 2013 - Part Two

2013-02-06T14:04:00.000-08:00

The Bundaberg airport was the busiest it has been since the last airshow. There was a wide variety of aircraft coming and going.


Adjustable props on a Hercules C130 cargo plane

Blackhawk

Qld Gov't Hawker 800XP

Brindabella Airlines BAE Jetstream 41

Bell 206B of Becker Helicopters

US-registered Lockheed 382G

2013 floods, from my eyes, and lens - Part One

2013-01-31T13:20:00.001-08:00

I must admit that when I first drove to Burnett Heads, I was so shocked to see the damage from the mini-tornadoes, I could not bring myself to photograph the carnage wreaked by Mother Nature. Recording the misfortunes of others I could not do. The dismembered houses and fences covering the streets, power poles at all angles and the trees just broken off at the base, scattered everywhere.

Now what the media have ignored is that many people live in boats of all shapes and sizes on the Burnett River. One of the attraction to Bundaberg for yachties is that they can sail up the river and moor in the middle of the CBD at Midtown Marinas.

Now their homes are either sunk, washed out to sea, or dragged by the current downstream. The banks of the river and the beaches from Burnett Heads to Woodgate are littered with bits of broken up boats and some lucky ones which are relatively intact, like this boat at Bargara

After this photo was taken, a hole on the side of the boat was being welded up and they were confident of re-floating it. It was one of the lucky ones.

*****************************************************************

The boat in the next photo was dragged from upstream somewhere with it's 2 tonne concrete mooring, down the river.. This poor fellow got caught out with no warning of the impending flood - he had a toddler onboard with him. The brave volunteers at VMR pushed the rescue cat up the river to the area opposite the sugar terminal to rescue both soles from potential death.

The next day, the boat was gone - I don't know whether it sank or was washed out to sea.

**************************************************************************

Next I have possibly the last ever photo of the cane-ferry - not the greatest photo but it was taken a full zoom from the sugar terminal.

The cane ferry (used for moving trucks of cane across the river)

It was last seen upside-down, somewhere out to sea.

***********************************************************************

Here are a couple of photos of the tug terminal - luckily the line boat in the first photo was slipped (taken out of the water) a couple of days before the floods. The (Bundy-based) tug in the first photo, the "Ballina", together with visiting tug "PT Monto" were moved to the main wharf at the sugar terminal. The "moth-balled" tugs "Broadsound" and "Belyando" remained at the molasses wharf. Crews for these two tugs were flown in, in case they need to be moved.

April 2011

January 2013

New bridge for Bundaberg ????

2013-01-31T12:33:00.000-08:00

Where do I start ?? Firstly I apologise for the recent lack of blogging late last year - I guess I was blogged out!!!

First item for this year was the arrival, assembly and placement of a large barge which arrived in Bundaberg from Newcastle on three semi-trailers. The two barge halves were placed in the water by the ship-lift at the Port Marina, and then Stewart's largest crane assisted with the assembly and fitout of the barge.

The two barge sections with a green container mounted across them.

After I left the site, the spud poles, the excavator and a drilling rig were loaded onto the barge, before it was pushed upstream by that small tender seen in this photo.

Interestingly, the destination for the barge was the area of the cane-ferry crsssing which is one of the narrowest sections of the Burnett River.

Now, the only information I could glean from the contractors was that they are testing the ground (taking core samples) for a possible new bridge.

Unanswered questions in my mind (at the time, I might add) -

1. Would this open up Bundaberg Port to potential coal exports?
2. Why build a bridge there when it would be more useful closer to the CBD, say just downstream from the sugar mill, where it could relieve some pressure from Quay Street?

Our Latest Eco Visitor

2012-08-31T15:17:00.000-07:00

Almost 6:30am - can you see the Eco visitor ? [30/08/2012]

This time of the year in Bundaberg, the days are glorious, but 6:23 in the morning, although beautiful as you can see, it is still a little fresh.

However, the ship on the righthand side of the above photo is the latest sugar ship to Bundy, the "Eco Vanguard". She is 169m long and 27m wide and her last port was Darwin.

The "Eco Vanguard" sailing up the Burnett River, assisted by "PT Monto" and local tug "Ballina" [30/08/2012]

These days two tugs are required for ships in our port, and on this occasion, the local tug "Ballina" was assisted by "PT Monto" which was on her way from Gladstone to Brisbane.

"PT Monto" alongside the "Eco Vanguard", preparing to take on a bow line [30/08/2012]

Loading a ship this size can be completed in under 24 hours, and so the next morning, "Eco Vanguard" sailed down the Burnett River, heading for Kinuura in Japan with 25000 tonnes of our finest sugar.

"Eco Vanguard", somewhat lower in the water - next port, Kinuura, Japan [31/08/2012]

New Creation for Bundaberg

2012-07-23T16:44:00.000-07:00

Well - as of yesterday, Bundaberg has a New Creation - not another turtle roundabout nor another whale wall. The New Creation is a 178m ship which came from Kaohsiung Taiwan to load sugar to go to San Francisco.

The most interesting part of a ship arriving in Bundy for me is when they turn the ship around prior to it docking at the sugar terminal. In this next photo you can see the port anchor in the river as the pivot point for swinging the ship.

Swinging the "New Creation", with the Line Boat in the foreground and the tug "Ballina" pushing.

Eventually the ship is pointing down the Burnett River, ready to be pushed to the wharf. As I write this, the ship will be almost loaded and ready to depart for SF on the next high tide, just before midday. I believe this to be the first ship for the "Ballina" under its new captain, following the retirement in June of local icon, "Captain Steve".

Tug "SMIT Leopard", "New Creation", the Line Boat and tug "Ballina"

I wish Steve a happy and safe retirement and thank him for helping me with my shipspotting in Bundaberg.

Serious Pollution in the Burnett River

2012-06-21T18:06:00.001-07:00

For some weeks, night-shift workers at the old Toft's site over north have experienced a pungent smell coming from the direction of the river. Yesterday fishermen in the upper reaches of the town reach saw what appears to be raw sewage floating down the river.

On Wednesday last, a large barge arrived in 2 pieces, from Sydney. On Thursday, a semi load of equipment arrived for the now assembed barge. An excavator was also loaded aboard.

Apparently there is a broken sewer pipe under the river - how do they fix that, I don't know. My guess would be to place a completely new pipe under the river bed.

Unfortunately, photographic access to that part of the river is difficult to find.

All this and a big fishing competition on this weekend at Burnett Heads.

Rain, Rain, Rain

2012-06-02T17:26:00.002-07:00

Wolfenden Road, Calavos - 3rd June 2012

After Bundaberg Airport weather station received over 118.6mm of rain to 9am this morning, I went to look at some roads in the area that I normally see in milder conditions.

The Elliott River at Dr May's Crossing - 3rd June 2012

Goodwood Road at Yellow Waterholes * 3rd June 2012

Both Coral Cove and Innes Park golf courses were inundated. Then there was hazardous water and debris across School Lane, Back Springfield Road, Dahls Road, Three Chain Road, Hummock Road, Dr May's Crossing Road, Douglas Road, Darlingtons Road, Cockeralls Road and, no doubt many others - take care.

More Port Happenings - 1st June 2012

2012-06-01T00:35:00.000-07:00

Stranded "Stargull", on the rocks at Burnett Heads 1 June 2012

The main reason for my visit to Burnett Heads today was to buy 3 potato scallops (or potato cakes, as you Southerners might say) from Baltimore's Take Away at the port marina. But first I had to join the others visiting Bundaberg's latest tourist attraction. The steel New Zealand yacht "Stargull", which ran aground yesterday, is so far up the beach that I'm not sure how the salvage will be done.

While my potato scallops were cooking (they are the best in Bundaberg), I wandered along the marina, looking for unique visitors, when I found the "HMAS Labuan", an LCH in navy parlance. This "Landing Craft - Heavy" was built in Maryborough Queensland in 1971 and is normally based at the navy base in Cairns (HMAS Cairns).

For some months now, rock and gravel from Childers is being exported to Curtis Island near Gladstone by barge ("MS1802") and tug ("Agros"). It seems the operation is ramping up, as the tug "MV Pedro" and barge "Carcinos" were tied up beside the Bundy-based tug "Ballina" at the Port. The previous port of "MV Pedro" was Brisbane, after which it sailed to Gladstone to pick up the barge. Loading should commence after the next sugar ship and a molasses ship, due this week, leave the Port.

As Bundy is expecting a few ships this coming week, the rock exporting will have wait for the sugar ship to leave, as they both load at the same wharf. In the meantime, this might give you an idea of the size of "Carcinos".

Just adding to yesterday's post - the steel yacht Stargull was moved around by the high tides and prevailing winds. It is now further up the beach and parallel to the shoreline.

The THSD "Brisbane" (trailing hopper suction dredge) has arrived in Bundaberg and is working on increasing the water depth at both the sugar terminal and the molasses wharf.

More news as it comes to hand.

Yesteryear Festival at Tegege, 2012

2012-04-29T15:00:00.000-07:00

Each year in April, the Bundaberg Yesteryear Machinery Society holds an annual festival at Tegege, just north of Bundaberg. Each year the variety of exhibits changes - this year there was horse-ploughing, a bullock team, hand milking a cow, making butter, damper and billy tea, tractor pull, chain-saw demos, and the list goes on.

A 1940 D7 dozer at the sled-pull.

As well as the machinery for the man on the land, there is a wide range of veteran and vintage cars and trucks in different degrees of restoration.

A partially restored Diamond T

Each year there are one or two rare or unusual vehicles around.

A four-wheel-drive Commodore Extra-Cab!!!!!!

Now - there is a prize of a new digital voltmeter (RRP $14.95) for the first person who can correctly identify this next vehicle (persons with the surname of Walker excluded !!). Use the email link for your answers.

Get your answer in quickly - first correct answer wins.

That's it for this post - I have photos from previous years that I am sifting through for the best ones which will appear in a later post..

Railway Bridges of the Monto Line

2012-04-28T18:16:00.000-07:00

The magnificent "Upside Down" bridge at Ideraway, near Gayndah

Most visitors to the Gayndah area travel down the dirt road to see the more famous Chowey Bridge. It is indeed a noteworthy bridge, but it is not alone. These are many memorable bridges on the Monto line. The seemingly upward curving deck of the Ideraway bridge is designed that way. When, if it ever happens again, a train crosses the bridge, the deck straightens under the load of the train.

Chowey Bridge, near Biggenden, Jan 2008

Another unique bridge in the area is the bridge across the Burnett River near Mt Lawless. Of timber construction it must have been built well to withstand the several recent floods, as well as the floods from years ago.

Mt Lawless Bridge showing construction detail, Jan 2008

Mt Lawless Bridge, Dec 2011

To continue the thread of timber bridges, we go east to the area around the small town of Brooweena. Here lies this most awesome curved trestle bridge. I had read about its existence, but it took some persistence by me to track down its actual location.

Curved wooden trestle bridge near Brooweena, May 2010

Also near Brooweena is this great bridge ....

Straight trestle bridge, near Brooweena, May 2010

*****************************************************************

Well, that's it for this instalment - there are many more bridges on the Monto line to come, soon.

If you like what you see, please post a comment (there's a little icon of a pen at the bottom of each post), send me an email, or sign up to follow this blog. Enjoy.

More April News from the Bundaberg Port

2012-04-28T16:17:00.003-07:00

Queensland Fisheries vessel "K I Ross"

Well, it's April 7 and "New Ambition" is due to sail shortly, but the attractive "K I Ross" momentarily distracted me.

The pilot is onboard, the lines have been cast, and another load of sugar sails down the Burnett River.

"New Ambition", escorted by local tug "Ballina"

***********************************************************************

It's now April 8 and a few of us are at the Burnett Heads Marina awaiting for "Doris" to arrive - but, wait, here she comes!!

"Doris" at the entrance to the Burnett River, with the waving crowd!!

Swinging the ship on the port anchor, aided by "SMIT Leopard" and "Ballina"

Almost there, the first lines are there. "Ballina" and "Smit Leopard" are easing "Doris" in.

Further April port news in the next instalment - bye for now.

Realising a New Ambition

2012-04-06T00:01:00.001-07:00

Early this morning I realised a new ambition, which was to get a good photo of the ship "New Ambition" as it sailed up the Burnett River. It left Kobe in Japan around 17th March.

As is usual these days, the local tug "Ballina" was supported by the Gladstone based tug "SMIT Leopard" which had come down to Bundaberg for the occasion.

The "New Ambition" will be loaded with sugar tonight and it's off to San Francisco on tomorrow morning's high tide. By now "Doris" should be moored off Bargara awaiting her turn on the high tide on Sunday morning.

"SMIT Leopard" and "Ballina" head to the river mouth to greet the ship.

Swinging the ship on its port anchor.

The small white boat is the line-boat, which carries the lines (ropes) from the ship to the wharf.

Bundaberg's Newest Export

2012-04-04T00:12:00.002-07:00

Today approx 100 truck loads of rock from Childers left for Curtis Island at Gladstone. This follows the successful export of rock from Holcim's Innes Park quarry in May last year.

Bundaberg Sugar Terminal, low tide, with Gladstone tug "Agros" and barge "MS1802" awaiting the pilot's orders.

Another spectator, having a feed while awaiting for the barge to leave

Barge "MS1802" being pushed into position by local tug "Ballina"

Traffic at the river mouth - left to right, barge "MS1802", pilot vessel "Kareela", unknown yacht, Bundy tug "Ballina" and the towing tug "Agros"

This week could be a busy week at the port with a "race" between "Doris" whch is sailing from Whyalla, and "New Ambition" which is sailing from Kobe in Japan. Both ships are due off the river mouth tomorrow. Twenty minutes ago (16:40 EST), "Doris" was off Forster and is expected off Bargara about 23:00EST tomorrow. "New Ambition" has not yet appeared on the local AIS ship location system yet.

Model A Ford Annual Meeting - Ipswich 2012

2012-03-22T00:00:00.002-07:00

I recently discovered an old workmate was travelling with 4 other Model A Fords from Perth to Ipswich. I left sunny Bundaberg yesterday lunchtime and it hasn't stopped raining since I left - constant drizzle, not even real rain!!! Last night I camped at Chinchilla Weir, just out of Chinchilla, of course.

This morning I phone up my friend and they had stayed the night in Auguthella, so I was a fair way east of them. I decided to drive to Roma and meet up with them there. One car had a problem with a wheel bearing and stub axle, and another has been running on 2 cylinders for tha last 2000km.

More later but here are a couple of pictures from today's drive.

Nissan beats Holden at Mebourne GP meeting

2012-03-17T20:13:00.001-07:00

Although you wouldn't know it from Ten's coverage of the GP meeting, Nissan beat Holden in both races at the GP meeting.

The Group A/C races have always profided close racing and great entertainment, but again were not part of Ten's coverage this weekend - damn!!!!

Oh well, back to the box -it's still raining here in Bundaberg

PS to see the results of ALL motor racing in Australia, go to http://www.natsoft.biz/cgi-bin/results.cgi?2012

JS Comet - Arrival and first attempt at departure!!!!

2012-03-07T23:28:00.005-08:00

A new ship to Bundaberg, the "JS Comet", sailed up the Burnett River yesterday from Tasmania, assisted by local tug "Ballina", with the "SMIT Leopard" from Gladstone standing by.

For this docking the port anchor was dropped into the river, and the "Ballina" then pushed the stern around until it was again parallel to the wharf. Then the tugs eased the ship the remaining metres to successfully tie up.

These days the 178m ship can be loaded in under 24 hours, so ETD was set for 7:30 this morning. The departure to Melbourne seemed normal from my position on the bank of the river in line with the bow, the lines had been cast off and the "Ballina" was easing the ship away from the wharf, when all of a sudden the starboard anchor was despatched into the deep. One of the linesmen then made a dash for the moored lineboat in order to ferry the mooring lines back to the wharf.

Panic on the fore-deck !!!! Notice the starboard anchor has been deployed.

Further enquiries told me that the ship's engine had stopped - now that wouldn't be good if it happened five minutes later.

First Ship for 2012

2012-01-31T17:21:00.001-08:00

At yesterday lunchtime, the first sugar ship (in fact the first ship) arrived at the Port of Bundaberg for the year. The "CSL Atlantic" arrived from Melbourne via Brisbane, and was met with the two tugs dancing in the river. They weren't dancing actually but just moving to their position the greet the ship. Once again, "SMIT Leopard" had come down from Gladstone for the occasion.

Always the best part of bringing a ship into a river port is swinging the ship around. At the moment this takes place between the Sugar Terminal and the molasses/oil berth. This is always done before the ship is loaded, when it is more controllable.

Thanks to Pilot Liz for another successful docking.

See you at the Port around 2pm today for the sailing of the "CSL Atlantic"

Customer Service in Bundaberg

2011-12-28T12:17:00.000-08:00

Much has been written about the low standard of customer service in Bundaberg. But like any subject, there are exceptions. If any of my followers have experienced good service in Bundy, please add them to this blog by way of a comment.

Here is my list, so far -

No matter what time of day, whether it's raining or really hot, at the Neighbourhood Store in Elliott Heads Road Kepnock, I have always been welcomed with a smiling face and great service - well done to the owners and staff.

Justin at Bundaberg South Post Office always manages to greet customers with a smile, and remembers a lot of them by name.

The crew at the service desk at Kmart always seem to work well as a team to ease the queues at the other checkouts, and even when the queues are long, they always manage a smile.

Of all the sports stores in Bundaberg, the one with continual great customer service would have to be Avanti Plus in Bargara Road, East Bundaberg.

Bruce and his team at Hansens Auto Electrical are always happy to see you and the girls at the counter are always helpful.

I was ready in the newspaper today about someone having difficulty in getting good burgers and chips around Bundaberg area. Obviously they haven't been to the kiosk on the beachhead at Elliott Heads. Not only is the food great, but the staff are polite and courteous. I am always impressed by the way the younger staff address us oldies!!!

I needed to get my car serviced last week, preferably at home. I called Coral Coast Mobile Mechanic and was impressed with the thoroughness of the work - well done Michael.

Each time I go to Peter Walton Tyres, the staff and waiting room are always clean and tidy. The staff always great you with a smile. It seems to be the only place in Bundaberg to get a wheel alignment done correctly.

That's it from me for the moment - I'll add to the list when I remember or experience more great customer service.

HMAS Aware - the final chapter

2011-12-25T11:44:00.000-08:00

For many years, the former Attack Class patrol boat , “HMAS Aware” has been rusting away in the Burnett River between the Sugar Terminal and the Bundaberg Port Marina. Launched in Brisbane in 1967, the “HMAS Aware” was based at Darwin for a time, seeking Vietnamese refugee boats, and later transferred to Adelaide. It was decommissioned and sold to private ownership in the 1990′s. For sometime it was used as a dive boat and then arrived in Bundaberg in 2006. It had been an ugly sight – it was listing to one side and there had been some very unsympathetic additions above the deck (believed to have been added in Melbourne). At one point, it was advertised for sale for a mere AUD$85,000. See photo below, courtesy of http://www.boatsamillion.com/

In 2010, the surviving owner, a former crewman from the vessel, was fined $10,000 for failing to keep the vessel insured. This action has probably prompted the removal of the vessel from the river. Here are a couple of photos I took today of the 33m beauty as she lay awaiting the cutting torches.

By crikey, I just got those first photos in the nick of time – have a look at this …………………

HMAS Aware - the following day

Put "Aware" in the search box for other posts about "HMAS Aware"

Captured by Coonarr Charisma

2011-12-22T11:42:00.000-08:00

One of the best walking beaches around Bundaberg is about 24km south at the most exclusive locality that is Coonarr Beach. I say exclusive as it is surrounded by nature reserves, and there are but 6 houses there and probably 6 vacant blocks of land. It physically cannot expand.

Walk to the beach and look in either direction - to the north in the distance one can see the township of Elliott Heads some 4km away, on the other side of the Elliott River. To the south, all one can see is 14 km of sandy beach, beyond firstly Coonarr Creek which is fordable at low tide. Then one can walk all the way to Theodolite Creek near Woodgate, after crossing One Mile Creek which is approx 12km from Coonarr Creek.

If you are contemplating walking here, take a large hat, sunblock and water - with our perfect unpolluted skies that sun can really burn, and there is little shade along the way.

Undaunted, I sauntered south into the wind,

Unthwarted by thongs or thrifty tourists,

I sallied through the shallows in the sand and shells and shingles.

The only souls around were the soles of my feet.

Twisted tossed trees trimmed the beach, stranded without soil or strength.

Eroded sandy cliffs remain after the scouring by the recent tides.

The sea eagle soars, searching for a single scrap of scaley seafood.

Small birds swiftly dart into the scrub on my approach.

Crabs speedily scamper for seclusion.

Shellfish draw delightful designs in the damp sand,

only to have them washed away in the waves of the incoming tide.

That's it for this edition - I feel like going for a walk !!!!!!

Mystery Object at Dr May's Point

2011-12-21T12:16:00.000-08:00

When I walk north from Coonarr Beach towards the mouth of the Elliott River, It is amazing how nature periodically buries and unburies the relics from the past. Those of you following this blog will remember my post about the bus from Dr May's property.

About 440 metres south of that site, I had previously discovered a metal cylindrical object but lately it had completely been covered by sand. It is now uncovered again. It is about 1 metre long and probably 500mm in diameter. The end that is still intact is rounded, and it has been constructed using at least one row of rivets. It has a "shaft hole of about 80 or 90mm at each end, but they are offset by 90 degrees.

Can anyone offer any suggestions as to what it was????

In the same vicinity, another concrete trough has revealed itself. I have no idea what they were used for. Does anyone have any ideas???

Finally, on my return walk to Coonarr Beach, I found this poor turtle washed up on the beach.

Kolan River Kayaking - #2

2011-12-20T11:59:00.000-08:00

One of my favourite spots to launch on the Kolan River is at Smiths Crossing. A crossing at this point used to exist, but the local council have now totally removed the bridge section. The causeway on the southern approach remains and continues to make a great spot to launch.

From Smiths Crossing, one can paddle upstream for some 6km until a shallow section is reached. If you head downstream from Smith's Crossing, after about 3km you arrive at the bridge for Rosedale Road. Another 8 or 9 km will get you to Avondale Weir, where you see a great view of the steel bridge for the main north railway line.

Along the downstream section, there are lots of birds and animals to see. In a small backwater just downstream from Smith Crossing, I found this amazing sight. To the untrained eye, all these turtles appear to be the same, but several are not Kreffts Turtles - at least two are in fact the rare white-throated snapping turtle [Elseya albagula].

More about kayaking the Kolan, in a later post.

Last Week in Bundaberg Port

2011-12-18T12:13:00.000-08:00

On 13 Dec 2011 at the morning high tide, "Doris" left for Melbourne with a load of raw sugar, aided by the tug "Ballina". The tug "Wilga" returned to Brisbane a couple of days earlier. Our next sugar ship is not due until the middle of January 2012.

The dredge "Everglade" came to Bundaberg from Port Douglas in April this year to restore the shipping channel following the floods. It appears that the dredge is now being prepared to leave Bundaberg following completion of the works. The spud poles have been removed and the cabin is sporting a new lick of paint

And now finally, in earlier post I related and illustrated the demise of the former navy patrol boat "HMAS Aware". Now there is nothing left at all. Here are a couple of photos of the last pieces being carried away.

Doris Graces Us With Her Presence

2011-12-10T16:23:00.000-08:00

"Doris" arrived from Sydney yesterday. At this morning's high tide, the pilot steered the 182m vessel up the river aided by the tugs "Ballina" and "Wilga".

Now some of my blog followers may be asking about shipspotting in Bundaberg and how to find out the information of arriving and departing ships. My main source of ship schedules are various pages from the Port of Gladstone website. Remember that the Port of Bundaberg is under the control of the Port of Gladstone.

So for the longer forecast, the shipping comapnies nominate approx when the ship might be due - up to 3 weeks in advance http://www.cqpa.com.au/webscripts/ShippingNotifications/ShippingNominations.asp?terminalid=92 Remember that there are two berths in Bundy and sometimes they sneak in a molasses ship at the other berth.

Closer to the estimated arrival time, I check qships for finer information selecting the port of Bundaberg in the top right corner http://www.qships.transport.qld.gov.au/Public/PublicMovements.aspx

Then 2 days out, I check the Duty Pilot Vessel Movements, looking for notations "BDB" or "sugar" - sometimes it is not obvious!!! http://www.cqpa.com.au/webscripts/Pilots/Schedule.ASP

So there you have it - all you would be shipspotters, come on down and see it happen. The best viewing area is between the Bundaberg Port Marina and Wallace Creek - the ship channel is closest to the bank at that point.

One last thing - to find out about a ship that is coming into port, or anywhere else in the world goto http://www.marinetraffic.com/ . Here is a link to the page on "Doris" http://marinetraffic2.aegean.gr/ais/shipdetails.aspx?MMSI=215080000

See you there.