Road to Weipa

Termite Mounds

A major feature when travelling through the Cape York Peninsula is the number and variety of termite mounds.

Edmund Kennedy Memorial

A memorial marking a camp site of expedition party of Edmund Kennedy is located on the way to Bramwell Cattle Station. In 1848 the expedition left Rockingham Bay, north of Townsville, to travel north through Cape York Peninsula. Few of the expedition party survived the expedition.

Bramwell Cattle Station

We stayed the night at the cattle station and took the opportunity to wander around. Earlier in the day scrub cattle had been brought in and were in the cattle yards. During dinner we were told about the cattle station and the challenges faced. Many of the properties on the peninsula were being purchased as conservation properties and the opportunities for working in the region were disappearing.

Morton Telegraph Station

On the way to Weipa we stopped at the Morton Telegraph Station on the Wenlock River. Built in 1887 the telegraph station operated until 1987. The site is now a camping area.

Weipa

Weipa, on the Gulf of Carpenteria, is a bauxite mining town. During the afternoon we went on a bus tour of the town and of the extensive mining sites. The size of the equipment used to mine the area was impressive. Mining on this site is scheduled to continue for another ten years. As the mine is the main employer in the area there are concerns as to the future of the town.

Weipa

Cape York Peninsula

The Tip

Cape York Peninsula is a large peninsula in Far North Queensland. The most northern point is Cape York.
A map of Cape York Penisula can be found on this site.

Heritage Tours bus

When the ferry arrived at the mainland we were met by our guide from Heritage Tours who took us to our accommodation at Bamaga, a small settlement with a population of approximately 700. 

Rocky terrain

The most northern point of Cape York Peninsula is generally referred to as The Tip and exploring this area was undertaken the following day. The bus took us to the beach and as the tide was not yet in we walked along the beach until we reached the rocks. The climb down to the actual Tip was steep and it was a challenge climbing over the rocks but it was worth the effort. The views were great and we had stood on the Tip of Australia. As the tide had come in the only way back was to climb over a steep, rocky hill to return to the beach.

Bamaga Museum

While in Bamaga we visited the Bamaga Museum to view displays on the history of the area.
Next day we began the trip south to Bramwell Cattle Station.

Old Telegraph Track

Four wheel drive vehicles are definitely needed to travel the roads (or tracks) in much of this region. Part of the route is along the Old Telegraph Track. On this stage we travelled for 22 km along the track. The road was extremely rough and in some parts there were large ruts leaving little room for vehicles to pass. From time to time creeks cross the road and have to be forded by vehicles. 

Crossing the Jardine River

The Jardine River was crossed by ferry. Further along the route at Fruit Bat Falls a few members of the tour went for a refreshing swim. There was also a brief stop at Seddon Lagoon to look for turtles.

Fruit Bat Falls

Torres Strait Islands



Sunset on Horn Island

In August 2008 a tour of Far North Queensland commenced with a flight from Cairns to Horn Island in the Torres Strait.
A bus tour of the island visited a number of World War II sites as the history of the island as a base for the RAAF and American troops was described.

World War II site

Accommodation was at the Gateway Torres Strait Resort providing basic accommodation. Part of the property was the Torres Strait Heritage Museum and Art Gallery with displays relating to the island during World War II and Pearling as well as examples of local art.

Heritage Museum at The Gateway

From the Gateway there is a short walk to the jetty. On one occasion we were passed by a hearse which may have carried a coffin or may have been taking passengers to meet the ferry from Thursday Island. The hearse did pick up passengers when it left the jetty.

View from the jetty

The jetty is a good place to watch the sunset and is also a popular fishing spot. Waiting for the ferry the next morning we watched an accountant catch a fish while which he put in a bucket to take to work. The fish was to be his dinner that night when he returned to Horn Island.

A memory of Horn Island was the strong wind which is usual at that time of the year in the Torres Strait. Thursday Island has a series of wind turbines to harvest the wind.

Thursday Island

A short ferry trip took us to Thursday Island where we had a quick tour of the town in a bus before exploring on foot. A bus tour of the island included a visit to the Green Hill Fort built to protect the coast of Australia from Russia in the 1880s and Historical Museum.

Green Hill Fort

After exploring the town we took the ferry to the mainland.

Thursday Island