Portland Roads is a small settlement on the East Coast of
Cape York.
It is a beautiful spot for boat access to the Coral Sea with great fishing and birdwatching opportunities, surrounded by Kutini-Payamu (Iron Range) National Park. It has had a varied and colourful history.
- Captain
Cook sheltering in Weymouth bay after nearly being scuttled on the reef,
- Around the corner is Restoration Island where Captain Bligh made first landfall when he and his remaining crew had been cast adrift in a longboat after the mutiny on the Bounty, from Tonga.
- The explorer Kennedy's ill-fated expedition camped nearby.
- Then there was the gold rush days when a large
Jetty was built to allow freight to come and go, taking advantage of the safe harbour (it was demolished in the 60's),
- Then in WWII a military base saw 50,000 troops pass through – secretly.
- It had a thriving hippy culture in the 70's and 80's.
Portland Roads now has about 10 houses/
shacks perched on the side of the Aylen Hills. It is close to
Lockhart River Aboriginal Community with the famous
Lockhart River Art Gang and the Old Girls of
Lockhart River.
There are two accommodation rentals;
Portland Roads Beach
Shack and
Portland House catering for birdwatchers, fisherman, 4x4 adventurers, visitors to
Chili Beach,
Iron Range National Park and
Lockhart River.
The Out of the Blue Cafe specialises in seafood banquets and superb
home-made cheesecake. This is a definite highlight and
well worth the effort of getting there. They are usually open 10am till 2pm but if there are enough of you they may open outside these hours, either way best to ring ( (07) 40607161.) from
Archer River Roadhouse and make arrangements. They need notice for some of their seafood dishes. (Read they have to go and catch it)
Portland Roads has a
water tank for use by passing yachties and campers at
Chili Beach (there is no water at
Chili Beach)