The time was fast approaching when it would be necessary to proceed to Port Jackson, both on account of the winter season, and from the want of some kinds of provisions.  Before this took place I wished to finish as much of the South Coast as possible, and would have recommenced at Cape Bridgewater had the wind been favourable; but it still blew fresh from the southward, and all that part remained a lee shore.  I determined, however, to run over to the high land we had seen on the north side of Bass’ Strait, and to trace as much of the coast from thence eastward as the state of the weather and our remaining provisions could possibly allow.

In steering north-north-west from King’s Island, two small isles were seen lying off the north-west side; the first opening from the northern extreme at S. 50 deg., and the second being clear of it at S. 36 deg.  W. These are the same which Mr. Black named New Year’s Isles; and his Harbinger’s Reefs were seen to extend, in patches, nearly two leagues from the north end of King’s Islands; but there is, as I afterwards learned, one or more passages between the reefs, and another between them and the island.*

[* The New Year’s Isles form a small roadsted, in which the brig Harrington from Port Jackson, commanded by Mr. W. Campbell, had rode out the south-west gale; and was lying there at this time, engaged in a sealing speculation.  Bass’ Strait had not been discovered much above two years, and it was already turned to purposes of various utility; a strong proof of enterprising spirit in the colonists of New South Wales.]

At three in the afternoon the northern land was in sight, and the highest hills of King’s Island were sinking below the horizon as seen from the deck.  Their distance was twenty-five miles; and consequently the elevation of them is between four and five hundred feet above the level of the sea.  At five o’clock a bluff head, the most projecting part of the northern land, was distant three or four leagues; it was Captain Grants’

Cape Otway, and bore N. 54 deg.  W.
The extremes of the land, N. 58 W. to 23 deg.  E.

We then hauled to the wind and stood off and on; at daylight [SUNDAY 25 APRIL 1802] bore away for the land with a moderate breeze from the southward; and at eight o’clock, when Cape Otway bore N. 69 deg.  W. ten miles we steered north-eastward along the shore.  On the west side of Cape Otway the coast falls back somewhat to the north, and projects again at the distance of ten or eleven miles, where it is not, as I think, more than three leagues to the east of the headland seen under the lee at eight in the evening of the 20th.  From Cape Otway, eastward, the shore trends east-north-east about three leagues, to a projection called Cape Patton, and according to Captain Grant a bay is formed between them; but at three leagues off nothing worthy of being called a bay could be perceived.  Beyond Cape Patton the coast took a more northern direction to a point with a flat-topped hill upon it, and further than this it was not visible.