Jim Jim falls open Twin falls and Maguk still closed

Well Tjilpi, you are only 'round the corner from there, so take some time off and go have a look.

No doubt the track in has changed since my last visit in 1989. The special ambience of the falls will still be there though. If you have the energy climb to the top of both Jim Jim and Twin Falls then do so.

I used to drive in there twice a week in the dry seasons of 1979/80/81. Have been in 75 times...lol...and still enjoyed every minute of it.

Cheers

Willem
Was there myself in 1979 working for Theiss at what is now Ranger Uranium and Jabiru but then was just construction camps and earthworks and we used to travel to Jim Jim, etc on our days off.
Absolutely loved the place but haven't been back since, tried last year but cyclone put a stop to that, maybe next year, just want to see what town, etc looks like as there was only survey pegs there then.
Cheers Ray

Ray

Funny thing. I too worked out at Ranger in '79/80 on occasions. Looked after a mates sandblasting operation out there. We sandblasted those.... petjukas?...long cylindrical tanks...and the big round ones too. I lived in Darwin and surrounds from '68 to '92 with some short stints away every now and then.

Cheers

In which context? Please explainwhat you mean.

If you are calling Parks Australia North useless, no good, couldn't organize a p1ssup in a brewery, Aholes that couldn't give a bleep then I agree.

By the way when did you up set me?

Any way Maguk opened today as well.

That's what I meant Steve. Also meant keeping the thread going would bring on a few more bleeps - must be cr*p telling customers you can't take them off the bitumen and I assume that's what you've been putting up with.

Willem, the tracks into Purnululu and Mitchell Falls seem to be deliberately left in poor condition by DEC (formerly CALM) to restrict access thereby keeping visitor numbers low. Typical of the lock it up mentality in most of Australia now. Now some of this may not be completely bad but I'd prefer a bit more honesty in the way it's done. JMO

Peter C

The perception that CALM in WA has this policy has been around since the 1970's but my dealing with them proves otherwise. I have been to many remote parks in WA and have received the necessary information and advice from CALM employees without prejudice.

The closure of tracks in Kakadu is due to the normally heavy wet season rainfall which makes vehicle access is impossible. The parks people wait until the tracks have dried out sufficiently so that tourists don't get bogged and get into trouble. In the 1970's and 80's it used to be a 4 hour trek from the Kakadu Highway to Twin Falls for the 75 kilometre journey. NPWS then upgraded the track against all local advice, mine included, and created even more access problems. Eventually things settled down and as I havent been that way in many years, I am not aware of any other access problems, suffice to say, that when it rains 2000mm in three months, nobody drives anywhere.

Cheers

Willem, I agree that CALM are good for information. For remote/northern parks their advice is pretty sure to include words like 'vehicle access is restricted to high clearance 4wd only'. They sure don't seem to be breaking their necks to change things but I may be wrong on their motives.

Recent restrictions on fishing around Ningaloo and Rottnest (Marine Parks) are controversial (to say the least) and don't give me any hope for balanced management practices in future.

I'm not really looking to bash CALM, overall they do a pretty fair job managing our natural environment, I just question why there's a highway in to Mt Leseur and a goat track in to Purnululu?

Willem, the value of your advice and contributions to this forum will always far outweigh mine but I'll hang on to my opinion on this for the time being.

Cheers too