Anyone been here yet - Jowalbinna

Crazy Dog

We stayed at Jowalbinna back in 1996 on our way up to Cape York.

I read the link you put in and this "opening" must be a "re-opening"!!

It was one of the best things we did. We had a guided tour by Steven Trezise and met Percy. He was so interesting. He convinced us that the thylacine or similar really must be still around!! He had plaster casts of huge paw marks.

The camp ground was excellent with a big covered area in the centre for eating, cooking etc if needed. There were also safari type huts for those not camping.

We must go there again one day.

Viv

Crazy
we stayed there in 2001
we didn't know beforehand that it was there but you pass through on the way from Laura to Maytown on the old coach road
It was still early when we got there as we had only come from Laura but it looked like a good spot so spent the rest of day doing the guided walks and had evening meal with all the OS tourists
well worth a stopover
Bob

Hi Crazy,

Yes we stayed there for a night on the way back from our Cape trip in June this year. Very nice place to camp with plenty of green grass, new clean toilets and showers with hot water donkey and friendly caretakers. They have onsite cabins as well. There was only us camping and another in the cabin so we had the place to ourselves (apart from the multitude of wallabies around). It is supposed to be a regular stopover for the tour operators (it is actually owned and operated by one) so I would say it can get pretty crowded at times - we must have been lucky though.

It was around an hours drive from Laura but they were improving the track in when we drove it so I would say it would be around half an hour now. Last couple of kms were rough but fun. We used the stop as the start of our 'Old Coach Road' leg to Maytown.

We wanted to do the rock art tour but then found out the prices which were a bit over the top in my opinion so we passed. It's unfortunate that there are no self guided tours.

There is a small stream in the river next to the grassed campsites that is damed to create a waste deep pool of clear water with sandy dottom. Great place for a swim. Apart from that and the rockart there is little else.

If you do the 'Old Coach Road' from South to North (Maytown to Laura) then it is a welcome place to pull into as the road is definately extreme. Definately a nicer place to stay than Laura and surounds.

Regards
David