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Cape Melville, Ninian Bay, Bathurst Bay

Submitted: Monday, Jul 04, 2005 at 18:58

Austravel

Hi,

Just returned from a trip up to Cooktown to Cape Melville, Ninian Bay and Bathurst Heads. The road up through Starke is pretty rough and takes at least a big full day or 2 days as we did. Kalpower has been handed back and the rangers tell me that soon there will be a charge to access previously free areas or access denied. Not sure of costs but it maybe similar to other areas owned by the locals. Though must stay wasn't at all impressed with Bathurst Heads compared to Cape Melville and Ninian Bay. Still a nice area but not on par with the other two. Couldn't believe the damage and rubbish left at the old mine barracks (some call it an old resort), some people shouldn't be allowed to travel!

If you need any other info on this area based on our trip let me know.

Regards
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AnswerID: 118873   Submitted: Monday, Jul 04, 2005 at 23:17

BLUEBAG53 replied:

Thanks, will chat soon.
Regards,
Bluebag53
Reply 1 of 4
AnswerID: 118894   Submitted: Tuesday, Jul 05, 2005 at 06:53

Eric from Cape York Connections replied:

It always amazes me how people go some where and throw rubbish every were.
Beats me.

All the best
Eric
Cape York ConnectionsCape York Connections
Member: Lapsed Membership
Reply 2 of 4
AnswerID: 118895   Submitted: Tuesday, Jul 05, 2005 at 07:36

bundyman replied:

Yeah in 2000 when I first went to Bathurst Bay it was stil relatively unheard of (used) and there was no litter to be found anywhere. However when I went back a year latter the place was in a terribel state and I was disgusted like you. There was over 50 people camped on that beach compared to 12 (including 4 of us) at the same time the previous year. I predicted back then that they'd close the place down very soon. Some people must think that no matter where you go that a regular garbage truck service comes every monday morning.....%$^$^ing morons!!!

I gather there isn't mush left of the old resort now. It had pretty well been raped when I was up there. How nice a spot though. I could live there very easily.

Glad you had a good trip.

Cheers,
Hughesy
Reply 3 of 4
FollowupID: 374070   Submitted: Tuesday, Jul 05, 2005 at 10:11

Austravel posted:

Agree I could easily do the place up and live there. It's really trashed now though. Glass broken, walls smashed, bikes have destroyed the floor coverings in the main building, rubbish everywere including in all the toilets, everything worth anything has been pinched, people have sh*t all over the ground and not even covered it up. That's just the tip of it.

In the bay itself there is little shade and some people have created tracks up into the nearby hill causing quite a bit of damge doing so.

Guess we'll see what happens regards to access pretty soon.
FollowUp 1 of 1
AnswerID: 119001   Submitted: Tuesday, Jul 05, 2005 at 21:42

pauls replied:

Hi

I was recently at Kalpower but didn't go as far as Bathurst Bay / Cape Melville (due to time constraints). Is the road from Kalpower onwards any worse than the road from Laura - Kalpower or is it much the same.

Paul
Reply 4 of 4
FollowupID: 374200   Submitted: Wednesday, Jul 06, 2005 at 06:09

bundyman posted:

Not sure what its like now but in 2001 from Kalpower Stn to Bathurst Head took around 3-4 hrs and I thing its less than 100km. Manily putting along in 2/3 high. Its just a track - not a formed road like from Laura.

Cheers,
Hughesy
FollowUp 1 of 2
FollowupID: 374229   Submitted: Wednesday, Jul 06, 2005 at 11:21

Austravel posted:

Hi Paul,

As Hughesy stated the Laua road is a formed road but very very rough. The road into Bathurst Head is much better in places. That said you can't go as fast as on the Laura road but it's much smoother, very few corregations as compared to the Laura run. The last approx 15-20 k's of the Bathurst Head road turns into a track but still pretty good. Don't really need 4x4 just the clearance. The road into Cape Melville is quite a bit rougher so just need to go slower, but nothing major about any of the roads just keep the speed down.
FollowUp 2 of 2
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