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hi all,
new to this site. just have 1 question. im planning a 3 month holiday to the cape. leaving sydney at the start of july. just wondering if anyone knows any good camping/fishing spots. i have a 4WD, landbased, and keen to get away from the rat race.
i don't rape rivers and i pick up my garbage.
any help would be appreciated.
cheers
If you haven't done so already, grab a copy of Ron & Viv Moon's book - "Cape York - An Adventurer's Guide". It is THE Cape York Bible and will give you all the information you require - camping areas, aboriginal/station contacts, distances between A & B, where you can pick up supplies, etc.
July's a pretty busy time up that way so even though you're in a remote part of Aus, you still may have to camp with others. You may also find that some campgrounds are booked well in advance (in areas like Seisa, Punsand Bay).
My favourite camp is at Stone's Crossing on the Wenlock River. We usually fish it in April so the water levels will be a hell of a lot lower in July.
The camp at Sailors Creek on the OTL is not a bad one either. At the time of year we were there, there was a gorgeous little freshwater creek (I do mean little) running and that was great for a dip after being on the road all day. We camped in the old linesmen's hut and, there is a loo there too!! No fishing though.
Being land based,You can fish along most of the beaches however you do have to watch access as sometimes, you're not permitted to travel them.
However your fishing opportunities will be good along them for queenies, trevally, blue salmon, cod. As long as the water is clear, you'll have heaps of fun sightcasting.
Frangipani Bay at the tip is absolutely gorgeous however it depends what stage of the tide you're there for as to how the fishing will be. As the tides were pretty ordinary when we were there, we picked up a few good sized bream on fly, whiting and mullet in the cast net.
Punsand Bay was okay for salmon and queenies.
Weipa landbased options are okay with access to a lot of areas around town. Using metal jigs off the wharf (or plastics) can be productive. Tunas, mackerel (pelagics) often show up there. Big Barra have also been caught there however being in the middle of the dry, barra do slow down heaps (best to be there March/April/May for some of the best fishing on the cape).
You can hire boats in Weipa so this may be a very good way of seeing a bit more of the area.
Mapoon just north of Weipa is okay for beach fishing (make sure you get your permit to enter town).
Anyway, I've rambled on long enough! Make sure you have a good holiday and take it easy around the corners as head ons are all too common at that time of year!!
wow fisheasy, thanks for your insight. that was more than helpful. 8)
i do have a copy of ron & viv moon's book. its great. from what i can gather, all i can do is just take my time and see what comes up. i have made notes on the spots you have reccomended.
thanks again.
Thanks Matty. There's heaps to see and you're actually one of the clever ones who is taking the time required to do it in a relaxed way. The Portlands Road is also not a bad one however it depends on how windy it is on the east coast (with the se trade winds). We made a great camp on the Wenlock (before you cross the river on the left hand side) however the water levels were quite low, even in April (last year).
Follow Ron & Viv's book as you would miss a lot if you didn't have it in the glovebox!! Signage on the cape is poor (sometimes there are no signs!).
Cape Vriylia (I can't remember how it spelt!!) is also not a bad place to fish.
All in all, follow your nose, have a drink with fellow travellers and find out as much as you can.
Make sure you've got good springs on the car too.
We changed the springs before we left for our trip to King springs and they collapsed before we even hit Weipa - phoned Pedders in Cairns and they freighted up some of their own which are pretty damn good (got a refund on the Kings!!). That was probably the only disappointment!
Oh, and by the way, you actually drive through rainforest prior to getting to the tip - that's one thing no-one told us and, hint - hint - if the tide is low when you do reach the tip, head to the beach and walk along the bottom of the headland to the tip - lots easier than walking over the top (though you do miss a pretty good view).
Also when we were there last year, the barge across the Jardine was $88. Souveniers were also cheaper at the Weipa Newsagent than the Croc Tent. Make sure you pop in there first before you head up the cape to check prices!!
I went up to the Cape last year in July and it was pretty busy. I can thoroughly recommend Virlya Point. Its a great spot to camp, fresh water is available (usually) from a creek near by and the fishing is OK off the beach at low tide. Try fishing around the rocks on a falling tide with lures. There are plenty of small cod in and around the rocks, too small to eat but good fun. In one hour I picked up five plus one small coral trout, all went back. Just be prepared incase of the big one hitting you.
Getting Ron and Viv's book is good advice. Follow the instructions to find that creek with the fresh water.
The development road was toturous to say the least. Very hard on the vehicles. We broke one spring on a trailer but were able to buy a new set at the Moreton Telegraph Station at the Wenlock River.
The ferry across the Jardine was $99 from memory , that was for one vehicle and one trailer.
Sommerset was a nice spot to camp to but I didn't fish there.
Hi Guy's
when you almost get to Virylia Point take the track that heads south. There are some casurina trees on the beach that make a beaut camping spot, head a bit further south along the beach (low tide, follow the tracks along the beach, don't drive on the "hard wet sand" because you will sink to the axles )you will get to the cotteril river, you can camp at the rock bar which has awesome fishing, and fish the flats out the front till your arms fall off.
Please take your rubbish with you, wankers have left all sorts of junk there. And it is not locals, they don't take 44 gal drums in with Ayr Petrolium written on the side or put signs in trees with Bundy Boys Barra Base written on them.
Unfortunatley the Cape is being ruined by rubbish, which has been thrown from ships and left behind by tourists.
Calling it the "tip" is fairly appropriate.
Sorry to get on my soap box about rubbish, but you will see what i mean when you get there.
Ron and Viv Moons book also has all of the contacts to get the appropriate permits etc as well.
The beaches can get pretty grubby, a lot is from shipping (nets, bottles, floats) however there's no excuse for the rubbish along the bypass/otl track. From what i've seen on my trips, a large percentage is alcohol related (cans, cartons).
We actually bought some of the netting home and have used it in various ways (covers etc). Couldn't find a matching pair of thongs though.
I would have loved to have cleaned up the beaches but unless you have a couple of semis and a loader, you can't make an indent.
I've done five trips to Cape York. Next one hopefully will be in November. Flying into Weipa, getting in a friends boat and fishing the Love River.
Hi Dazza. I've only got a week so will concentrate down south. Fished as far as the Skardon last time which wasn't too bad either. Got to save for my trip to the Kimberleys next year!!
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