What five year old doesn’t want a birthday party? Our grandson, Tommy, wanted to go camping instead. While he is very friendly and chatty with family, he is shy and hates being the centre of attention. In the lead up to his birthday, he was super excited about turning five, receiving presents and helping mum make a boat birthday cake. However, on the day he was very embarrassed and shy about opening his gifts and didn’t want anyone seeing his birthday cake and singing ‘Happy Birthday. So a boat trip out to the Granites – a group of islands in Melville Bay – seemed like a good plan. We had just returned from camping at Cape Arnhem so were happy to have just the day there.

Ganinyarra (Granite Islands) are just about 15 minutes by boat from Nhulunbuy so Kyran packed his boat, and friends Drew, Sam, Talei and Lincoln decided to bring their boat along too. It was also Sam’s birthday although she wasn’t so shy about it! Vanessa and I stayed behind to organise food etc, and by the time we arrived, they had already set up our camp for the day. We were the only people on the island all day.

As always, the weather was perfect, and we had a wonderful day……….

Relaxing

Swimming, snorkelling and enjoying the water

Fishing

Yes, there are crocodiles in the water but the things you do for grandchildren! Actually the water was beautifully clear and shallow so we felt relatively safe. I’m very careful but the water was very inviting.

Sam set the campfire and John cooked sausages on the webber. We had lunch in the shade of the gazebo then Vanessa lit the candles on Tommy’s birthday cake. Tommy was horrified and refused to blow out his candles while we sang ‘Happy Birthday.

Mid afternoon we packed up the boats. We had all had enough sun and sea. On the way home the boys tried some more fishing but had no luck.

Some of us finished the day with a drink at the Boat Club, and Tommy was able to go home to play with his birthday toys.