Top End trip with kids

Member - Tony B (Malanda FNQ) replied:

Dryden. Boat should have high sides, I like 12-13ft Min and a 15 hp will suffice. Mount it on the camper if you are towing one. Good to keep it off your vehicle.
Fishing remote and crocodiles is another thing. I have done it with my kids on the Cape and in the Gulf, remote rivers fishing off the banks and in the boat. We have had no problem with the kids to date. But and here is the but> We were fishing the banks of the Morgan north of Cooktown my two kids aged around 10 and 12 My Father and I. Spent the day walking the banks and casting lures and even cast netting on sandbanks, all ways aware that there are large crocodiles there. The kids would be apart from us trying there owns spots at times. We had a great day and told a mate about the spot. He went with his wife and two very large dogs the next weekend. The mate spent some time on a bank where my son had spent quite some time fishing the week before two days in a row, on the second day he left and the dog (very large dog) lingered. My mate heard a loud splash ran back and the dog was never seen again. The crocodile was also never seen.

Moral to the story it is not always safe fishing in crocodile country and you will not always see what is lurking in the depths.

I have been back fishing at that spot a couple of times and still not seen a crocodile, but we know it is there. Spoken Rule is not to go to the same spot at the same time each day to set a precedence. A croc will sit and watch and will set up an ambush opportunity.

Lots fish up North with no problems and more than likely you will be in the same boat. But you have to know the danger is there.

Have a great trip :-). Cheers Tony Thumbs UpThanks 0

Member - Doug T (NT) replied:

A boat with good high sides like below I feel would be the minimum.

Yellow Water Billabong, Kakadu

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Dryden replied:

Thanks guys for your comments. I think we'll leave our beloved dog at my sisters place! Seriously. The National parks issue topped it off. Do you think it's safe for the kids (3 and 5yo) to ride in a 3.5m tinny with high sides and a 15hp on the back up there. Othewise i'll bring my nephew so the kids don't need to come in the boat much. Thumbs UpThanks 0

Dryden replied:

Thanks Guys.

Will not take the dog and will not take the kids out in the boat. We'll post again you've been a great help.

Cheers Thumbs UpThanks 0

Serendipity of Mandurah (WA) replied:

Hi Dryden

I have lived in the territory for years but now in WA and would have to agree with the previous comments. We camped all over the territory with primary aged kids but would always take croc care. I always tried to find a high bank to camp on - 3metres plus so I would be up top or just plain camp a long way from water. Don't leave food or waste around as it will attract crocs or worse the bloody dingos at night. They will come into camp and take everything while you are asleep.

As for walking the banks on croc infested country - just don't do it. Crocs are smart enough to line up the kids rather than the adults. You could walk along with your kids right behind you and the kids will get taken. The only safe place to swim in the territory is a swimming pool in the caravan park. In any water hole if you can't see the bottom don't go near it. I have seen crocs over 5m lying in 500mm of dirty water.

With your tinny - 3.5 is fine for billabongs but can get a bit hard for run off rivers - especially with a 15 on the back. Unfortunately that is about all you could roof rack. The hornet trophy is just too heavy. If you go out don't over load a small boat with the whole family - it is just too scary. I had a situation where a 4m croc lined up my 8 year old and was going to take him out of the boat. All we could do was stamp our feet and briefly scare him away then get the hell out of there. That was a 4.2 m boat. I have had many crocs stalk the boat while fishing. And remember you only see 1 in 10 crocs. I hope they bring back the croc culls - there are just too many floating handbags out there for my liking. I have two bent propellers from hitting crocs unseen out in the middle of the water.

Most of the water holes around Darwin have boats to hire at the water hole or for hire in and around Darwin. Consider that as to dragging a boat with you. Unless you have a collapsible trailer it can be a real hassle to take the camp trailer out to a billabong just to launch the boat.

Dogs attract crocs. Dogs attract dingos. Dogs attract large ticks. Don't take them. Incident while living in Darwin - a guy walking his two dogs near Rapid creek and a pack of dingos comes out of the bush - kills the younger dog and severely mauls the pit bull mastiff. Bit unfortunate and never lost my dogs in Darwin.

Sounds like a great trip - and with a bit of croc sense you will have a memorable time.

David

Pic is on the South Alligator and my son is saying -'Can we go now - they are starting to move'.


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Travelling Pixie replied:

recently went up through north of Australia with an 8 and 10 yr olds.

tried some fishing in Darwin and Kakadu, gulf, north queensland and elsewhere.

to be honest, the constant worry about kids doing something unexpected made fishing so stressful it just was not enjoyable. fortunately we didn't have any dramas. i am sure kids that live in croc-areas are alot more savvy but for city slickers, expect anything to happen

towing a boat around, launching and retrieving at ramps (where crocs can hang out), kids leaning over the sides, finding somewhere to clean fish (when campsites often don't allow it)...i reckon just take some basic fishing gear, leave the boat at home and hire one if you feel desperate to get out on the water.

as nice as it would be to have your own, it would be alot of work

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Axel [ the real one ] replied:

6mth trip last yr , April thru September , 23,000 klm . ... 3.66 boat on roof , towing camper trailer ,, boat put in water ??????
TWICE ,,,, extra fuel used to cart boat = 1+ klm per lt ,,,,,, save your $$$ and do the odd charter , lots easier and local knowledge = better fish. Thumbs UpThanks 0