Careening Bay is a peaceful, picturesque inlet with a remarkable place in Australia’s maritime history. In 1820, the Royal Navy vessel HMS Mermaid, captained by the famed explorer Lieutenant Philip Parker King, anchored here to repair the ship’s hull “careening” it against the beach to expose the underside.
During their stay, the ship’s carpenter carved an inscription into a large boab tree near the shore. That tree still stands today, more than 200 years later, bearing the words:
“HMC Mermaid 1820”
It has become a living monument, weathered by time yet still clearly legible a rare and tangible link to Australia’s early coastal exploration.
Surrounded by sandstone cliffs and native bush, Careening Bay is also part of the cultural landscape of the Wunambal Gaambera people, the Traditional Owners of this land. Their connection to this coastline spans thousands of years, with stories and knowledge deeply rooted in the sea, land, and sky.
Visiting Careening Bay is like stepping back in time where natural beauty, maritime history, and ancient culture come together in one extraordinary place.