Week 9 July 8th – 16th
We had 4 great nights at Mt Carbine Caravan Park. Mt Carbine is about 80km north of Mareeba and 70km west of Mossman on the coast. The park was an old mining town, it has about 10 houses, swimming pool, recreation clubhouse and 3 amenity blocks all as clean as the Hilton Hotel. The park is all setup in a bush setting and a credit to Robert and Jennifer the owners. This is where we will be leaving the van for a few weeks.
Monday saw us heading to the “Tip of the Continent”. As it was about 10.30am before we parked the van, canoe and pack rack so decided that today would be a short drive. Today was going to be a test, we had to put the tent up for the first time in 10 years. So we needed daylight to get it right. Found a spot on the Laura River that was just ideal. So with John fishing, the sun going down on the river and black cockatoos in the sky, it was a good day.
Tuesday saw us rolling off the airbed onto our knees and up on to our feet to start the day. Packing up was very leisurely. From our bush camp we drove to Laura and on to the red dirt.
We turned right to Lakefield NP and the landscape changed Eucalyptus, Cabbage Tree and Pandanus Palms and termite nests that stood like tombstones in the paddocks along the way.
We had planned to go to Bathurst Heads on the east coast, but when we spoke to the Ranger at Lakefield Station he explained that the road was closed. So we headed to Musgrave Station an old property that now caters to travellers. Fuel, supplies, hot showers and info on road conditions. We asked if the road to Port Stewart was open and the answer was yes so we were off. The road deteriorated from here on, corrugations that had our teeth chattering. Port Stewart is on the east coast and is part of Princess Charlotte Bay. As we turned right to Port Stewart it was 3.30pm so time to look for a campsite for the night. And once again Ron Moon’s Cape York Adventurers Guide gave us one right beside the Big Stewart River.
Wednesday we could not believe our luck the 60km to Port Stewart was just unexpected. It was partly bitumen and dirt that was like a good country road. The road and port area were once the supply route to Coen in its hay day of gold mining. It is a wide spance of water where the Big Stewart River meets the open sea. The bay area is tidal with lots of hidden gems washing ashore in the mangroves.
The temperature hit 31c today and an overnight temp of 21c. The bay is renowned for being a large crocodile habitat, so consequently we camped a bit further inland from the waters edge.