Elim Beach - North of Cooktown

paulnkattie. The camp site is run by a local man - I think Eddie Dewal. It is right on the beach that is effected by tides. So high tide for boat launches. If allowed you could tow it over to either South Cape Bedford to Launch or in between the North and South Cape. Weather would have to be good to get out from both these spots.

We have always camped at the cape, but this is no longer allowed. The camp site has not got power and I am not sure what Eddie has for facilities now - its been a couple of years since we called in and had a chat.

Very pretty place and well protected if the wind is blowing. At low tide you can do a trip North to the Mcivor River Mouth.

Other than that you can go over to Cape Flattery and camp on the beach there somewhere. We Camp at the mouth of the Mcivor. Not real good fishing there though. You would be better fishing around the cape. Coral trout available not far of the beach.

Cheers Tony

Hi PaulNKattie,

We camped at Elim Beach (Eddie's Camp) in June and had a great time.
After seeing everything we could see on the way to Cape York, Thursday Isand, Torres Strait etc. on the way home I decided to drop in at Eddie's Camp to show the people I was travelling with that there were some really nice spots much closer to home.
Of all that we saw in our trip, Elim Beach is the place that is talked of most and the spot everyone wants to go back to.
A lonely flat beach full of fish and mudcrabs, it is as good as it gets.
Give Eddie a call before you go out there as you really want to make sure that there are no ore than 2 camps so you can get a spot right on the edge of the water. Eddie charges $10 per person and he keeps the showers and toilets spotlessly clean. A bit of touch and go whether you will get hot water in the shower but it is not needed in the north.
You can launch a boat at high tide straight in front of the camp but I wouldn't be towing a big boat in the track to the camp. If you mean throwing a tinny in the water then you will have no problems. You may need to anchor 500m off shore if you want to return at low tide though. There is an old wreck about 600m from the shore that is loaded with fish but I think you will be happy just catching the mangrove jack and mudcrabs 10 metres from your tent at high tide. Ha!
You are meant to stop in Hopevale and get permission from the community before travelling through to eddie's but we were too late and just went straight through. Eddie said we did the right thing. To get permission turn left at the servo and then left again to the end of the airstrip. The last building on your right is the cultural centre and they will help you.
The track out to Elim Beach is yet to have it's maintenance after the wet and starts off well, but is a bit rough for the last 20 minutes or so. It is not well marked either but usually you keep turning left until you get to the last T intersection at the beach. The sign has been destroyed there but turn right and East until you see Eddie's Camp.

I hope you have fun out there.

Brett