Welcome to the Adriatic. Approaching from the south (likely from Corfu or the Ionian islands), you are crossing from Greek (Schengen) waters into Albania, which remains outside the Schengen Area.

For a southern approach, your primary and most efficient Port of Entry (POE) is Sarandë. While Himarë is sometimes used in the summer, Sarandë offers the most robust infrastructure for clearing customs and immigration.

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1. Best Port of Entry: Sarandë (Saranda)

Sarandë is the gateway to the Albanian Riviera. It is a commercial harbor with a dedicated quay for yachts, though it is not a “marina” in the traditional sense.

• Coordinates: $39° 52′ 15” N, 020° 00′ 10” E$
• Mandatory Agent: In Albania, maritime agents are essentially mandatory for private yachts. They handle the complex bureaucracy with the Port Captain, Customs, and Border Police. It is highly recommended to contact an agent 24–48 hours before arrival.
• VHF Contact: Call Sarandë Port Control on Channel 11 (backup Channel 16) when you are approximately 2–3 nautical miles out.

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2. Sailing Directions & Navigational Hazards

The passage from Corfu to Sarandë is short (approx. 15 nm from Corfu Town), but it requires attention to traffic and depth.

• The Corfu Channel: This is a busy international strait. Monitor your AIS and keep a sharp lookout for high-speed hydrofoils and car ferries running between Corfu and Sarandë.
• Sarandë Shoal: As you enter the Bay of Sarandë from the south, be aware of the Sarandë Shoal on the west side of the bay. It is marked by a red buoy. Keep this well to port.
• The Town Quay: You will likely be directed to the southern end of the main commercial quay.
  • Caution: There is underwater rubble and “rip-rap” extending roughly 5–7 meters out from the quay wall in certain sections. Always use a fender board and do not back in too close until you have confirmed the depth with your agent or a lead line.
  • Berthing: Usually involves an anchor-moor (dropping anchor and backing onto the quay).

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3. Entry Protocol (Checklist)

1. Flag: Fly the Yellow ‘Q’ Flag as you enter Albanian territorial waters and keep it flying until you are officially cleared.
2. Courtesy Flag: Once cleared, fly the Albanian courtesy flag (Red with a black double-headed eagle).
3. Documentation: Have the following ready for your agent:
   • Original Boat Registration.
   • Proof of Third-Party Insurance (minimum €50,000 coverage is standard, though some authorities may require local Albanian insurance).
   • Passports for all crew/passengers.
   • A certified Crew List.
   • Radio Operator’s Certificate (VHF).

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4. Safety & Weather Considerations

• Southerly Winds (Sirocco/Jugo): Sarandë harbor is poorly protected from the south. If a strong Jugo is blowing, the surge at the quay can become dangerous. In such cases, the agent may advise staying at anchor in the bay or moving north to the more sheltered Port of Orikum (the only proper marina in Albania, located in Vlorë Bay).
• The “Bora”: While more common in the north, strong northerly katabatic winds can occasionally gust down the mountains. Ensure your anchor is well-set if staying in the bay.

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5. Facilities & Amenities

• Fuel: Duty-free fuel is often available for yachts, but it must be delivered by a tanker truck. Your agent must arrange this in advance.
• Water/Electricity: Available on the quay, though connections can be “non-standard” (European 2-pin or large industrial plugs).
• Provisions: The town is immediately adjacent to the port with excellent markets and restaurants.

Safety Disclaimer: Maritime conditions, local regulations, and port fees can change without notice. Always consult the most recent Notices to Mariners and maintain contact with local port authorities via VHF.

Would you like me to provide contact details for reputable yacht agents in Sarandë or a list of anchorages along the coast toward Vlorë?

Answer; Here’s a practical winter overview for a private cruising yacht going from the NSW/QLD border to the Whitsundays, assuming a moderate-draft coastal cruiser, flexible timing, and a preference for conservative stopovers rather than long offshore jumps.

Brief Summary

Best overall pattern: leave in June to August, moving north in short weather windows. Winter is favorable because the severe tropical cyclone season is mostly over, while farther north the SE trades are the normal background flow and NSW’s summer “southerly buster” pattern is less dominant. Still, winter is not benign: you can still get strong fronts, large S/SE swell, hazardous bar conditions, and occasional east coast low-style weather on the NSW/SE QLD coast. Pub. 127 notes that on the NSW coast, prevailing winds are W from May to September, while off the QLD coast the SE trades prevail throughout the year and afternoon strengthening can build a notable sea; the East Australian Current generally sets south, but in winter it is usually less regular and weaker than in summer.

Cruising logic: treat the trip as three different passages:

1. NSW border to Moreton Bay — exposed coast, swell-sensitive entrances, and wait-for-window management.
2. Moreton Bay / Great Sandy / Capricorn coast — a mix of inside and outside options, with several sensible bail-out harbors.
3. Capricorn to Whitsundays — generally the nicest winter section, but still watch trade-wind strength, reef passages, and shipping areas near Gladstone / Hay Point / Mackay. Pub. 127 describes the East Australian Current as beginning east of Swain Reefs and flowing south along the coast; north of Cape Moreton there can also be an inshore north countercurrent.

Top go/no-go triggers

• Any fresh to strong southerly change or large S/SE swell on the NSW and SE QLD coast. BOM warns that wind gusts can be about 40% stronger than forecast marine winds, and hazardous surf/bar conditions are specifically highlighted in current coastal forecasts. (Bureau of Meteorology)
• Unfavorable bar conditions at places like Southport/Gold Coast Seaway approaches, Wide Bay Bar, and smaller river mouths.
• Strong trade days north of about Sandy Cape if the plan depends on light-air motor-sailing rather than proper upwind capability.
• Restricted/changed local access: for example, Transport for NSW currently says Crowdy Head Boat Harbour remains closed to short overnight stops for passing east-coast vessels. (Transport for NSW)

Full Guidance

1. Route Options & Logic

Option A — Conservative / most common

NSW border → Gold Coast / Southport → Moreton Bay → Mooloolaba or Double Island Point → Wide Bay / Hervey Bay → Bundaberg / Burnett Heads → Gladstone → Keppel / Pearl Bay area → Mackay area → Whitsundays

This is the plan I’d default to for most yachts. It breaks the trip into manageable weather hops and keeps you near shelter and fuel. Queensland’s Beacon to Beacon guides are useful for the local pilotage pieces in Moreton Bay, Sunshine Coast, Great Sandy Strait, Gladstone, Capricorn Coast, and Discovery Coast.

A sensible broad sequence would be:

• Leg 1: NSW border to Southport / Gold Coast or directly to Moreton Bay
  • Good first staging move.
  • Southport can be useful, but anything bar or seaway-adjacent remains sea-state dependent.
• Leg 2: Moreton Bay / Brisbane area to Mooloolaba or northbound bypass
  • Moreton Bay is an excellent regrouping area with multiple marinas, repair options, and inside-water flexibility. MSQ’s Moreton Bay guide covers the local marked-waterway structure.
  • Mooloolaba is a common stepping stone, but the outer coast off the Sunshine Coast can carry significant E/SE swell even in fair weather. Current BOM Sunshine Coast waters forecasts show the kind of swell that can make this section uncomfortable and bar-adjacent entries poor. (Bureau of Meteorology)
• Leg 3: Sunshine Coast to Wide Bay / Hervey Bay
  • This is where many cruisers decide between outside via Wide Bay versus a more protected Great Sandy Strait style movement.
  • The Great Sandy Strait guide explicitly notes the Great Sandy Marine Park rules, including no-fishing zones and go-slow areas.
• Leg 4: Hervey Bay / Bundaberg
  • Bundaberg / Burnett Heads is a very useful resupply and regroup point before central Queensland.
  • A good decision point: continue in short hops or wait for a cleaner multi-day window.
• Leg 5: Bundaberg to Gladstone / Curtis / Facing Island area
  • Gladstone is one of the major all-weather refuge / service ports on the route.
  • Pub. 127 and the MSQ Gladstone guide both reinforce that this is an active shipping area with VTS / harbor control expectations and channel discipline. For Gladstone, vessels in the VTS/pilotage area monitor VHF 13 and maintain a listening watch on VHF 16; inbound vessels 10 m+ have specific call-in points.
  • The Gladstone Beacon to Beacon guide shows local rescue service info and notes survey vintages; this is not a substitute for charts but is useful pilotage support.
• Leg 6: Gladstone to Keppel / Pearl Bay / Cape Capricorn region
  • Good cruising waters, but do not relax too much: shipping lanes, shoal patches, and local flood-related aid movement can matter.
  • The Capricorn Coast guide specifically cautions that in major shipping lanes you should monitor VHF 13 and 16, and that the Fitzroy River flooding can affect navigation aids.
• Leg 7: Capricorn coast to Mackay / islands south of Whitsundays
  • Winter usually rewards patience here. The background trade pattern often means regular SE/ESE conditions, which can be pleasant if you’re reaching or tucked in lee areas, but can mean repetitive windward work if you push north in the wrong window. BOM’s Mackay and Townsville coastal forecasts are the right official products for the final approach planning. (Bureau of Meteorology)
• Leg 8: Mackay / Cape Hillsborough region to Whitsundays
  • Final leg should be timed to arrive in settled weather and daylight.
  • Once in the Whitsundays, winter is peak cruising season for good reason, but anchorages can be busy.

Option B — Faster outside-moving plan

Use bigger windows to skip some intermediate ports:
NSW border → Moreton Bay → Hervey Bay / Bundaberg → Gladstone → Mackay → Whitsundays

This works for a faster or better-equipped yacht, but it reduces margin. The East Australian Current can help or hinder depending on where you sit relative to the main stream and coastal counterflows. Pub. 127 describes the main south-setting current as lying 20–60 NM offshore, with reverse or weaker sets and an inshore north countercurrent in some areas.

Option C — Maximum shelter / exploration plan

Favor Moreton Bay, Great Sandy Strait / Hervey Bay, Bundaberg, Gladstone, Keppel Bay, and then choose shorter weather hops north. This is slower but often the least stressful and best for a genuine cruising rhythm.

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2. Weather / Sea / Visibility

Planning timestamp: based on official sources checked 25 March 2026 (Australia/Brisbane time).

Winter on this run is broadly the right season because:

• tropical cyclone risk is far lower than summer, and BOM notes Australian tropical cyclones mainly affect the warm season; MSQ’s severe weather planning resources are there for abnormal events. (Bureau of Meteorology)
• SE trade influence is a standard winter feature over Queensland and the Coral Sea. BOM notes winter months when the SE trades are active, and Queensland coastal / GBR forecasts routinely show easterly to southeasterly flow regimes. (Bureau of Meteorology)

But winter risks remain:

• Frontal southerly changes on the south half of the route.
• Periodic east coast low / coastal trough style systems that can still produce bad coastal sea states even if they are not common every week.
• Persistent E/SE swell on exposed entries. Current BOM products for the Sunshine Coast and Gold Coast already illustrate how modest winds can coexist with larger swell and dangerous surf conditions. (Bureau of Meteorology)
• Morning haze/fog can occur on parts of the QLD coast; Pub. 127 notes coastal fog or mist 2–3 times a month from May to September in some sectors.

Practical winter rule:

• NSW border to Moreton Bay: wait for the back side of a southerly change, or a stable W/SW period with manageable swell.
• North of Fraser / Sandy Cape: accept that the default is often SE-ESE, so shape the itinerary around shorter hops and lee-side stops rather than fighting it every day.

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3. Currents & Tides

The East Australian Current is the key background current. Pub. 127 says it flows south from east of Swain Reefs to Cape Howe, occupies a broad belt 20 to 60 miles offshore, and can range from about 0.5 kt to more than 3 kt, with stronger values near the 200 m contour; close inshore north of Cape Moreton there may be a 0.2 to 1 kt north-going countercurrent. In May to October south-setting current over 2 kt is less frequent than in summer, and from May to July it is “neither regular nor strong” compared with the rest of the year.

Operationally:

• On the southern legs, stay flexible with your offshore distance. Too far out can put you in more adverse south-set; too close in can increase rebound sea, fishing traffic, and shoal risk.
• In the reef / passage zones farther north, tidal streams through reef openings can run harder than the broader background current. Pub. 127 notes tidal currents through GBR openings can reach 2 kt at springs, sometimes 3 kt in narrower openings.
• Inside places like Great Sandy Strait, local tides and banks matter more than the EAC.

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4. Navigation & Hazards

Main recurring hazards on this route:

Bars and swell-sensitive entrances

• Don’t build a schedule around crossing bars “because the next place is only 40 miles.” Wide Bay and smaller river mouths can shut down your plan quickly.

Unsurveyed / shifting inshore ground

• Pub. 127 warns some parts of the NSW coast within 1 mile of shore lack detailed surveys and may contain uncharted obstructions.
• MSQ local guides repeatedly note survey-age limits and flood-related change. The Capricorn Coast guide specifically says depths may change after floods and that navigation aids in the Fitzroy can be affected.

Commercial shipping

• Gladstone, Hay Point/Mackay approaches, and parts of the Capricorn coast are not casual puttering water.
• For Gladstone, VTS/Harbor Control procedures and VHF monitoring are explicit in Pub. 127.

Fishing traffic

• Pub. 127 notes commercial and recreational fishing operate along the east coast throughout the year, especially between Newcastle and the Evans River, with trawlers dominant off NSW.

Marine park / protected area rules

• Great Sandy Marine Park rules apply in the Strait area.
• The Great Barrier Reef / Coral Sea section is environmentally sensitive; Pub. 120 identifies the GBR and adjacent areas as Particularly Sensitive Sea Areas.

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5. Safe Harbors / Alternates / Anchorages

At overview level, I’d think of the following as the main “reset points”:

• Gold Coast / Southport — first practical break after the border, depending on conditions.
• Moreton Bay / Manly / Scarborough / Brisbane approaches — major regroup and service zone.
• Mooloolaba — useful but conditions-dependent.
• Hervey Bay / Urangan / Great Sandy Strait / Tin Can Bay — strong cruising area with many sheltered options, but channel knowledge matters.
• Bundaberg / Burnett Heads
• Gladstone / Auckland Inlet / Curtis / Facing Island area — one of the best all-weather logistics stops on the route.
• Keppel Bay / Rosslyn Bay / nearby anchorages — good cruising base between weather windows.
• Mackay district
• Whitsunday arrival anchorages / marinas

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6. Port Entry & Formalities

For a domestic Australian coastal cruise, the main formalities issue is not customs/immigration but local operational compliance:

• current Notices to Mariners for NSW and Queensland,
• port or VTS instructions where relevant,
• marine park and speed/no-anchoring zones,
• and any local weather / closure advisories.

Official sources to check before and during the trip:

• BOM Marine for forecasts, warnings, tides, and coastal observations. Pub. 120 lists BOM marine as the official weather source.
• Maritime Safety Queensland notices to mariners and dashboard. (Queensland Government)
• Transport for NSW marine notices / project updates where local closures matter. (Transport for NSW)
• AMSA MSI and Australian Hydrographic Office notices for broader safety information. Pub. 120 points to AMSA navigation warnings and AHS Notices to Mariners.

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7. Communications

Minimum practical comms setup for this run:

• Dual fixed VHFs if possible, or at least one reliable DSC set plus handheld backup.
• AIS strongly preferred.
• Mobile coverage is useful but not a primary offshore system.
• EPIRB registered and tested.
• Some form of offshore messaging / satcom if you expect to make overnight or reduced-visibility coastal legs.

Useful official contacts / systems:

• JRCC Australia is the SAR coordination center; Pub. 120 gives 24-hour contact details.
• Gladstone VTS / Harbor Control uses VHF 13 and 16.
• The Capricorn Coast guide also flags VHF 13 and 16 in major shipping lanes.

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8. Checklists

Pre-departure

• Fresh service on steering, autopilot, and engine cooling/fuel filtration.
• Ground tackle sized for coral/sand/mud variety.
• Bar/entrance planning notes prepared in advance.
• Latest electronic and paper backup charting for:
  • Moreton Bay
  • Sunshine Coast / Wide Bay
  • Great Sandy Strait / Hervey Bay
  • Bundaberg
  • Gladstone
  • Capricorn coast
  • Mackay / Whitsundays
• Download and save the relevant MSQ local guides for offline use. (Queensland Government)

Heavy-weather / conservative triggers

• Don’t depart on “forecast easing later.”
• Avoid night entry unless it is a known, straightforward, well-marked harbor and you already have the approach loaded and checked.
• Reef areas and unfamiliar shoal water: favor daylight.
• If repeated upwind bashing starts breaking crew or gear, stop and wait.

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9. Medical Readiness

For this run, I’d want:

• trauma/wound kit,
• seasickness meds that your crew have already tested,
• antibiotics and prescription meds discussed with your doctor,
• splinting and burn supplies,
• oral rehydration,
• spare glasses/contacts,
• written emergency contacts and allergy list.

This is mostly a coastal cruise, but some legs can still put you many hours from a clean marina berth or ambulance handoff.

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10. Sources

Official and operational sources used here:

• NGA Pub. 127 East Coast of Australia and New Zealand for prevailing seasonal winds, NSW/Qld current patterns, Gladstone procedures, and coastal cautions.
• NGA Pub. 120 Pacific Ocean and Southeast Asia for Australia marine weather / MSI sources, JRCC Australia, AMSA/AHO pointers, and GBR sensitivity.
• MSQ Beacon to Beacon guides for Moreton Bay, Sunshine Coast, Great Sandy Strait, Gladstone, Capricorn Coast, and Discovery Coast.
• BOM marine/coastal forecasts, coastal observations, and climate pages checked on 25 March 2026. (Bureau of Meteorology)
• Transport for NSW Crowdy Head update. (Transport for NSW)

The summary recommendation is: plan a June–August departure, use Moreton Bay, Hervey Bay/Great Sandy, Bundaberg, Gladstone, and Keppel/Mackay as your main decision points, and assume patience with weather windows is more important than mileage.

Verify with the latest charts/ENCs, Notices to Mariners, and local authority guidance before departure.

Answer;

Yes. For June from Cairns to the islands east of PNG, the normal logic is a Coral Sea crossing to Milne Bay / the Louisiade area using the SE trade season. In winter the Coral Sea is commonly dominated by southeast trades, and PNG waters in the south and southeast also regularly see strong SE flow warnings, so June is a workable month but often not a light-air milk run. Expect a lot of close or cracked-off reaching, not a lazy downwind drift. (Jack and Jude)

My blunt view:
Good season, but not casual sailing. The trip can be fine in June if you wait for a decent window, but the Louisiades and Milne Bay approaches are reefy, current-affected, and not the place for arriving tired at dusk. PNG Customs also requires you to notify arrival at least 48 hours before arrival, fly the Q flag, and go directly to a Customs port before going ashore. (customs.gov.pg)

Recommended passage concept

1) Cairns departure

Leave Cairns only on a clean, settled trade pattern with no Coral Sea low developing and no strong-wind warning cycle building behind you. Use the BoM marine forecast and warnings as your pre-departure baseline. (Bureau of Meteorology)

2) Coral Sea crossing

For a yacht leaving Cairns for eastern PNG, the usual broad aim is to make Milne Bay / Louisiade waters on a north-northeast to northeast heading at first, then adjust west or east according to your intended first clearance port and sea state. The practical first-clearance target for this area is usually Alotau, which PNG lists as a Customs office and port contact point. (customs.gov.pg)

3) First PNG clearance

PNG says arriving small craft must first call at a Customs port to complete Customs, Quarantine, and Immigration formalities; all persons stay aboard until cleared. The master must provide passports, visas, incoming passenger cards, and the small-craft arrival report. PNG also states a cruise permit may be issued for non-commercial transit. (customs.gov.pg)

4) Cruise east of PNG after clearance

Once cleared, you can work outward through Milne Bay, China Strait area, Samarai/Basilaki side, Misima, Deboyne, Conflict, Panasia, Sudest/Vanatinai, and farther east depending on your appetite and charts. Milne Bay Province itself is a huge island field with 600+ islands, which is why you need to think of it as a chain of short pilotage legs after the ocean crossing. (Papua New Guinea)

What the passage usually feels like in June

You are likely to get some combination of these:

• SE to ESE trades, often fresh rather than gentle. (Jack and Jude)
• Short trade-sea chop on the beam or forward of it leaving Australia.
• Better comfort if you avoid pushing off straight after a surge in the ridge.
• Stronger acceleration zones around island gaps and reef passes once in PNG waters.
• Fast tidal streams, overfalls, and ugly wind-against-tide patches inside the Louisiade group. That is well attested in long-running cruising reports, and it matches the sort of reef-lagoon geography there. (OCC Forums)

My routing advice

Best conservative plan

Cairns → Alotau first → then cruise eastward.

Why? Because that keeps you legal and simple. You clear in properly, rest, sort local information, then head toward the prettier outer islands once you’re not rushing formalities. PNG Ports lists Alotau with Customs, Health and Quarantine contacts, and PNG Customs lists Alotau among its offices. (PNG Ports Corporation Limited)

More aggressive plan

Cairns → direct toward the Louisiade side, but only if you have formal clearance arrangements nailed down and you know exactly where you are legally allowed to make first entry.

Do not assume old cruiser gossip is still valid. PNG’s official rule is still: first call at a Customs port and give prior notice. (customs.gov.pg)

Practical sailing directions

From Cairns to open water

Get out cleanly through the Reef routes you know well, in daylight, and do not start the offshore leg already fatigued. The real trip begins once you are clear of reef pilotage and can settle the boat.

Offshore leg

Steer for boat comfort first, VMG second. On this run, many boats make a mistake by pinching too hard into fresh SE trades and bashing themselves silly. Better to sail the boat fast and free, then shape the approach later.

Approach to PNG

Do not arrive on the outer reefs at night. That is the big one. The eastern PNG groups are magnificent but full of reef edges, unmarked shallow patches, current lines, and passes that are best handled with sun up and good light behind you. (OCC Forums)

Daylight rule

For this cruise I would run a hard rule:
No new reef pass, no new anchorage, no unverified shortcut after about 1500 local unless conditions are obvious and the sun is perfect.

Formalities you must sort before departure

Leaving Australia

Australian Border Force says it is an offence to depart without clearance for yachts and pleasure craft. (Australian Border Force Website)

Entering PNG

PNG Customs says for small craft:

• notice of impending arrival not later than 48 hours before arrival
• first call at a Customs port
• fly Q flag
• remain aboard until cleared
• passports, visas, incoming cards, and small-craft paperwork required. (customs.gov.pg)

Safety ashore

Australia’s Smartraveller advises high degree of caution in PNG overall because of serious crime, with higher levels in some areas. That does not mean “don’t go.” It means use normal cruising judgment: keep a low profile, ask locals where to anchor, and be careful in towns. (Smartraveller)

Best cruising pattern once you are there

After clearance, a sensible east-PNG island cruise in June is:

Alotau / Milne Bay base → Samarai / Basilaki side → Misima area → Deboyne / Panasia / Conflict side → outer Louisiades if conditions and charts suit.

That gives you a staircase outward rather than one big blind leap. It also lets you turn back west if the trades harden up.

Main hazards

1. Fresh SE trades for days at a time.
2. Reefs everywhere.
3. Current through passes and between islands.
4. Poor arrival timing.
5. Relying on old online gossip for clearance.

Bottom line

For June, this is a good adventurous cruise from Cairns, and one of the better times of year to do it. But I would treat it as:

an offshore passage followed by demanding tropical reef pilotage.

Not difficult in the grand-ocean sense if you pick your weather well.
Very easy to make hard work of if you arrive tired, late, under-planned, or casual about formalities.

If you want, I’ll do the next step properly and give you a day-by-day passage outline from Cairns to Alotau or Cairns to Misima/Louisiades, with likely headings, mileage bands, watchkeeping notes, and the main decision points.