Kalumburu Feedback

Submitted: Friday, Oct 03, 2008 at 11:37

ThreadID: 62240 Views:2991 Replies:5 FollowUps:3

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Kalumburu

Kalumburu is a unique aboriginal settlement in the far northern Kimberley. With an entry permit, the Kalumburu community welcome visitors to visit their beaches and to enjoy superb reef and river

Kalumburu

Section: Treks

Kalumburu is a unique aboriginal settlement in the far northern Kimberley. With an entry permit, the Kalumburu community welcome visitors and invite you to visit their beaches and enjoy bountiful

Peter_n_Margaret

The pic of Honeymoon Beach appears to show a swimmer. Locals will often say that swimming at the beaches is OK. Most unwise.
Big salties are common at Honeymoon, as they are everywhere in the North.

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Reply By: Member - MUZBRY (VIC)(MURRAY) - Friday, Oct 03, 2008 at 11:59

Friday, Oct 03, 2008 at 11:59

Might be a dorsal fin??

Muzbry
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AnswerID: 328255

Reply By: Motherhen - Friday, Oct 03, 2008 at 12:31

Friday, Oct 03, 2008 at 12:31

When we stayed at McGowan's (near Honeymoon) we did NOT swim. Locals say it OK to swim during the day in the shallows with someone on watch - but really not worth the risk. Time of year makes a difference; all the same there may be less of them out there in the middle of the year - but i can do without swim in croc country.

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AnswerID: 328260

Reply By: wendys - Friday, Oct 03, 2008 at 14:46

Friday, Oct 03, 2008 at 14:46

We stayed at both camping areas in July 2007. There was a big croc regularly cruising the bay at Honeymoon and slide marks showed he occasionally ventured up the beach in the vicinity of the big boab camp area. After we moved to McGowans was a croc on the beach on a couple of mornings. The locals do have a different attitude to the risks involved and I suspect that not all losses to crocs make the media in the way that happens when tourists are affected.

AnswerID: 328271

Reply By: Kroozer - Friday, Oct 03, 2008 at 14:52

Friday, Oct 03, 2008 at 14:52

I agree that you shoudnt purposely put yourself in the position where there could be a chance of being attacked. But that said, i have lived in the Kimberley all my life and have never missed an oppurtunity to go swimming. Take the right precautions and dont do it every day in the same spot and you will be right, Keep to the shallows. You dont realise that Broome is still croc country, and crocs live very close to Cable Beach, and very large sharks, but this never stops hundreds swimming there every day. Believe me, i have seen crocs very close to all the main beachs around Broome.
If your going to swim make sure someone is watching out, and keep to the clearest and shallowest part, preferably a long way from mangroves and rocks. I have swum at Kalumburu, though i come from Wyndham which is Crocodile country and have spent alot of time in water, both swimming and collecting bait, but never do you ever take a risk with deep water. Keep to the shallows and preferably to running water. We only ever swim in the wet when the creeks and rivers are flowing, cant swim in the Gulf thats for sure.

AnswerID: 328273

Follow Up By: Peter_n_Margaret - Friday, Oct 03, 2008 at 21:05

Friday, Oct 03, 2008 at 21:05

I have spoken to a Policeman who has personally shot 4 crocks ON Cable Beach.

Cheers,
Peter

FollowupID: 595588

Reply By: Kroozer - Friday, Oct 03, 2008 at 23:30

Friday, Oct 03, 2008 at 23:30

Right, he hasnt told you a porkie pie there has he? The only time i know of anyone firing at them is sharpshooters from the TRG who have never hit there target yet. Have never heard of the Police firing at them, never mind hitting them. Do you know roughly when this was supposed to of happened?

AnswerID: 328369

Follow Up By: Peter_n_Margaret - Saturday, Oct 04, 2008 at 06:43

Saturday, Oct 04, 2008 at 06:43

No, but confirmed by local resident Collyn Rivers.

Cheers,
Peter

FollowupID: 595621

Follow Up By: chook2706 - Tuesday, Oct 07, 2008 at 02:37

Tuesday, Oct 07, 2008 at 02:37

I know that a copper shot one at Cable Beach within the last couple of years. Cant remember exactly when though.

I know CALM or whatever they are called now shot a 14 foot saltie on Sandy Beach along the Ord towards the Argyle Dam a few months ago. That is the one of the most popular swimming areas on the Ord (Upstream of the diverson dam). There are quite a few salties living in the Upper Ord River.

Will agree with Kroozer on this one. If you wish to have a swim, swim where it is shallow, where you can see the bottom and have a lookout. Also a rocky bottom is good apparently (crocs dont like the rocks on their stomachs, bit sensitive???) I have swum at Kalumburu a couple of times, there are a couple of good shallow spots up there.

Other than that use the pools at Kununurra, Wyndha, Emma Gorge or Home Valley.

Dont go into water which you cant see through ie the Wyndham boat ramp. The amount of times I have seen people launching their boats, standing in water up to their chests is unbelievable. I have seen a croc there several times, who would be at least 3.5 metres long.

There arent a lot of croc attacks which is why it makes the news. Most croc attacks are through stupidity, the last one in the East Kimberley was a freshie near the Ivanhoe Crossing, not fatal but some good scars. Mucking around in the water near the freshies nest or trying to pull some sticks out of the nest will do it to you.

FollowupID: 596046