We continue following (in reverse) the voyage of the HMB Endeavour along the east coast and find ourselves on the Capricorn Coast amidst the beautiful townships of Yeppoon, Rosslyn and Emu Park. The Darumbal and Woopaburra peoples are the traditional owners of the Capricorn Coast and the Kepple Islands.
On 26 May 1770 Cook sailed the Endeavour into Kepple Bay and anchored overnight between Yeppoon and North Kepple Island. Unable to continue through the passage due to the shallow waters, he chucked a u-turn and sailed further east around Pumpkin Island and then continued on his merry way up the coast.
Set on a hill in Emu Park is a monument to Cook called the Singing Ship. The design represents the sail, mast and rigging of the Endeavour, and hidden organ pipes use the sea breeze to create musical notes.
There was no breeze the day we visited so we didn't hear any singing but it was fun to visit. There's also an interesting WWII memorial just down the hill.
The Tropic of Capricorn lies 23.4394 degrees south of the Equator and we've crossed it a couple of times before in our travels, at Emerald and Longreach. It also passes through Rockhampton just south of here. We'll be passing through too.
How beautiful! It would be amazing to hear that, shame there was no breeze that day. Xo
And we assume you continue to struggle through t-shirt weather!! Poor thing!