Page 70 - Bush 'n Beach Fishing Magazine

Josh Lyon holds up a lovely Normanby River barra.
LStunning southeast Cape – part two
AST month we Comprising a spacious swept through the explored the 5370sq km, this nation- buildings in 1957. magnificent al park encompasses In my view, the first
Cape York
by ‘BILLABONG’ BAZZ LYON
country around Cook- a wealth of rivers, bil- of the better camping
town, both south and north.
in places, Endeavour Battlecamp Rd winds through the impressive Battle Camp Range, which is formed from attractive sandstone.
ganawarra people. Many of their de- scendants are now back on country, running cattle and very produc-
labongs, swamps, and expansive savannah woodland plains.
areas starts at Twelve Mile Lagoon on the Normanby River.
This time we’re di- verting down Endeav- our Battlecamp Rd and heading towards the wonderful Rinyirru Na- tional Park.
The range is so named after a signifi- cant armed conflict be- tween gold miners on their way to the distant Palmer River Gold- fields and the local Bal-
tive ranger programs. When you reach the crossing of the Nor- manby River, you are almost out of the high country and soon after reach the boundary of Rinyirru National Park.
If you are into bush camping, fishing, na- ture and simply experi- encing one of the abso- lute gems of the Cape, Rinyirru is a prime des- tination.
The turnoff lies just opposite New Laura Ranger Station, and in- cidentally you can get mobile phone reception here.
It is well worth stop- ping to view the pic- turesque Isabella Falls, about 6km in from Hopevale Rd.
It’s such a shame for those who just gallop up to the Tip and back and miss this place.
Twelve Mile Lagoon typifies most of the bush camp areas in the National Park – beauti- ful, shady and usually discrete sites set adja- cent to a river or bil- labong.
Now with bitumen
While still on En- deavour Battlecamp Rd, a quick diversion into Horseshoe Lagoon is well worthwhile to view the waterbirds – except later in the year when water levels drop.
A great catch of tasty cherabin.
Page 70 – Bush ’n Beach Fishing, September 2020
The homestead was abandoned when a cyclone-driven flood
If you prefer better appointed camping, Kalpowar Crossing 3km from Lakefield features flush toilets,
The rustic Old Laura Homestead, near the Laura River and listed on the National Her- itage List, is a great place to visit and hints at what life was like in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centu- ries.
There are detailed maps at the various interpretive shelters around the park and you can book online at Lakefield ranger base.
The Normanby fea- tures a wealth of great bush camping areas including Old Faithful Waterhole, Mickey Fein and Dingo Plains.
* continued P71 www.bnb shing.com.au