We were due to head north for a 12 to 14 week trip to the Cape and Eastern Gulf in mid April. Unfortunately the mate who we were to travel with has had some serious mechanical problems (like several thousand $ worth) and has understandably bailed out. We figure this is a trip we would rather do with someone else, so it is back to the drawing board for our winter trip for this year.
One option is to head for the Gulf and do some serious fishing, then come
home (to
Gold Coast) via
Birdsville,
Innamincka, and Camerons Corner. To retain a bit of a ‘Cape’ flavour, we might go up via
Bloomfield Track to
Cooktown, possibly around via Battle
Camp and
Laura, back down to
Mareeba, then across to
Karumba /
Normanton via the Burke Development Road (including
Chillagoe Caves). We could either head south from
Burketown (possibly via Kingfisher) or continue on to
Borroloola for some more fishing in that area. As you can see, this is still a ‘work in progress’. Change of plans only happened last night.
What I’m after is thoughts from those who know the area. Also looking for good fishing spots where we can
bush camp or at least
camp out of caravan parks etc. For example, I’ve read that there is good camping and fishing at Dorunda Station (turn West about 180 KM North East of
Normanton). But I’ve also read elsewhere that camping is not permitted there. Anyone know the facts on Dorunda and any other similar
places across the Gulf? Looking for spots where we can stay 3 to 5 days (or more) if we like it, have a
camp fire, run the genie occasionally if we need to – you know the drill.
We are pretty flexible with time. We can hit the area as soon as the roads are passable enough after the wet. Just need to be
home by early August. Our tinnie is a 3.5m Stacer with 15 HP outboard. As
well as the fishing gear, we carry crab pots and Red Claw traps.
Any ideas??
Norm C