Cape Melville/Bathurst Bay info required

Submitted: Thursday, Oct 27, 2005 at 16:11

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Member - Beatit (QLD)

Hi all,

I know a couple of contributors (Bros, Austravel, Boshie, Rosco and Friar) are regular visitors to Bathurst Bay/ Cape Melville area. Been looking at the past posts and archives for some good info. My wife and I were there 4 years ago for a day trip from Kalpower, which was nowhere near long enough so we are planning a dedicated trip for next September with a couple of friends. Before you tell me this is a long time away, I know.

After reading all the goss I would appreciate some info,

1) What is the fresh water situation like given that it will be later in the dry season. Heard of creeks, lagoons and springs just trying to understand where they are exactly. Couldn’t recall seeing any driving onto the beach – can any of the past visitors enlighten me.
2) Fishing is a priority (probably more important than that really) so we take our tinnies. When I was there the water was pretty calm and I could see salmon foraging just off the beach. I’ve read that the reef is not far from the beach, it seems that it is on the Cape Melville end of the beach – is it easy to find (will have sounder)?
3) Where is the best place to camp, only saw the eastern side and looked magic (that’s why we are going back).
4) Any sight seeing tips.
5) Any one have any way points for either location on the mainland for such things as the monument, water, etc. And any in the drink for fishing?

Our plan is to stay a week or 2 and will be geared up for remote camping. Last trip we staked a tyre on one of those side tracks dodging the bulldust and will try to be a little bit more careful this time.

Kind regards

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Reply By: GUPatrol - Thursday, Oct 27, 2005 at 16:58

Thursday, Oct 27, 2005 at 16:58

Hi,
I was there in 2000 and in 2003, in 2000 it was an excellent spot, in 2003 not so good, it had been graded (much easier to get there), full of rubbish etc but still OK.
Do you use Oziexplorer? if you do I can send you all the waypoints for the freshwater spot and some fishing spots as well as camps etc but we did not have a tinnie, I am not sure I would be comfortable with a tinnie there, the crocs there are huge!

Will

AnswerID: 136656

Reply By: Bros 1 - Thursday, Oct 27, 2005 at 18:30

Thursday, Oct 27, 2005 at 18:30

Beatit,
Will try and answer your questions.
(1) When you arrived there last time it looks like you drove straight ahead onto the Kalpowar end of the beach. The road to the fresh water stream and also the National Park end of Bathurst Bay is to the right just before you go across that little bit of salt flat onto the Kalpowar end of the bay. I have never seen the creek go dry and i have been going for about 15 years. When you come to the creek, turn right along the bank and follow until road runs out. Fresh water bubbling out of the rocks.
(2) Fishing is great sometimes and at other times not so good. (pro's, rain, etc)
Saltwater creeks on the western end of the bay (up to five depending on how far you want to travel). The sandy mouths of all the creeks can be tricky at low tide, but navigable with care. The reef on the Cape Melville end is adjacent to the beach and can't be missed. It runs for a fair way right along the beach. You can also fish around the rocky islands at the Cape itself if you are lucky enough to get good weather. There are two rocky islands to the western end of the bay also, but yet again this depends on the weather. (If you have ever heard of bullets of wind this place is where the phrase was coined, one minute hardly a breath, the next 60-80 knots). While the wind can blow strongly for long periods, it mainly blows off the beach, so fishing is not restricted just because it is blowing 20-40 knots sou-east. Caught blue salmon and grunter off the beach on the western end.
(3) This end is where we always camp. You can get the odd sand fly if the wind is not blowing on the western end. There are some good looking camp spots in the National Park which starts roughly where you first went on to the beach in 2001 and goes all the way to Cape Melville. The western end is also where that croc attack was not long back, very close to where you came out on to the beach on your day trip.
(4) In regard to sightseeing there are some things to do. (a) Drive along to Cape Melville for the day and take the oyster pick and camera along. Check out the Monument on the way (sometimes can be hard to find, just follow the tracks). There are two radial motors out in the water and a piece of wing on the beach a bit further along. Need low tide to oyster and see the aircraft remains and also to cross a sandy tidal creek, which can be tricky sometimes if you take it too lightly.
(b) Drive back towards Wakooka and turn off to the left to go to Ninnian Bay. (would be a fairly long day to go to Ninnian Bay and back). (c) If the weather is good take the tinny and go for a cruise out to Cape Melville and then down the coast to the start of Ninnian Bay. This is a very interesting outing, beachcombing spotting pigs and crocs on the ocean beaches and seeing the very large fish passing under the boat. There is the arse end of a trawler on one of the small beaches and the motor and gearbox just in the water. But remember that this is all green zone and no fishing allowed.
(5) I have no waypoints because a GPS is a bit above my mental capabilities. Everything i know i know from going to the place. All the times i have been there have been in August sometime.
Have a great time and IMHO this place is next to heaven. You can MM me for anything more specific.
Cheers,
Bros.