My wife & I will be heading off to Queensland about this time next year. Can anyone tell what we could expect on our travels? I will be travelling to Cloncurry, Karumba from the Three Ways NT. Then from Karumba to Cairns via Atherton QLD.
The main things Im concerned about:is the road bitemised, are there any creek crossings, good parks to stay. Can I fish at Karumba? And anything else that may be of some help.
Coming from the NT to Qld. the very first thing you'll notice as you cross the border is how good NT roads are. Yes you can fish at Karumba, just don't stand too close to the creek banks in case of a saltie having a go at you. A lot of people visit the gulf to go fishing, barra bite better in the warmer months. If you're really keen on barra fishing get there as soon as you can after the wet. I'll be visiting your state about the same time hopefully. I would like to visit Kangaroo Island and travel the coast along the bight.
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We have just come across from Karumba where we spent 6 weeks. The fishing is not as good as in the past as the "wet" this year was actually very dry and that has an effect on the fish stocks. Road from Karumba through Normanton, Mt Surprise down to Cairns is excellent. Be aware though that there are long stretches of road with only one lane, best to keep your UHF radio on to be warned of any road-trains approaching. A word of warning, be sure to book a site in Karumba as this is their high, high season.
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I'm not a fisherman, but a mate who goes up to Karumba for at least 4 months every year tells me that the Barra are few & far between but there are usually lots of other fish about. Something about water too warm for Barra. He always comes home with a freezer full of fillets. Just not Barra.
As was mentioned the roads are sealed even if somewhat narrow often with sharp edges, unless very recently fixed. Watch out for Cattle trucks on your way up from Cloncurry. I put on my blinker & carefully get right off the road as soon as possible when I see anything coming.
You'll need to book a CP site well in advance.
From what I've heard most of the fishing is done from tinnies & snappy handbags are a real issue around the waterways.
edit .. Agree 100% with Pambaz' post
-- Edited by Cupie on Wednesday 12th of June 2013 10:43:13 PM
Developmental Rds between Normanton and the coast but just use care ,use a CB and be ready to pull right off the road. Truckies are usually pretty good but it is best if you slow down and move over. No creek crossings.
Have a look at all the lovely towns along the way on the savannah WAy,Croydon and Mt Surprise are very interesting.. Undarra Lava Tubes a must see and we thought Herberton just lovely.
We didnt go much on Karumba but we don't fish. Normanton is where we stayed and just took a day trip to Karumba. We stayed at the park in the street opposite the Purple Pub ,can't think of the name of it, but it was good with a pool and hot spa.good size sites too
Not sure if you will do Adeles Grove it's lovely but a big detour off the Matlida Hwy. we did but stayed at Gregory River free camp and did a day trip in without the van.
Just check out the information centres in each town and you will soon know about all the attractions. Also other travellers are a mile of information.
I'm not a fisherman, but a mate who goes up to Karumba for at least 4 months every year tells me that the Barra are few & far between but there are usually lots of other fish about. Something about water too warm for Barra. He always comes home with a freezer full of fillets. Just not Barra.
As was mentioned the roads are sealed even if somewhat narrow often with sharp edges, unless very recently fixed. Watch out for Cattle trucks on your way up from Cloncurry. I put on my blinker & carefully get right off the road as soon as possible when I see anything coming.
You'll need to book a CP site well in advance.
From what I've heard most of the fishing is done from tinnies & snappy handbags are a real issue around the waterways.
edit .. Agree 100% with Pambaz' post
-- Edited by Cupie on Wednesday 12th of June 2013 10:43:13 PM
Even up here in Weipa the Barra are a little less,but today we got three ,the locals recon it was visitors luck not skill. But we got heaps of muddies .So yes the fishing is out of whack big time.Hot as hell here today over 31c we were out on the water and the sun felt like 40c .Never seen so many Crocs as in this trip. ...An old block told me that is because they are not getting fed as freely as they would if the fish where plentiful.
-- Edited by herbie on Thursday 13th of June 2013 12:27:43 AM
We stayed at Normanton in June and did a day trip to Karumba, stayed at the caravan park in Normanton behind the motel with the big Barra, basic but ok. Karumba is 75kms from Normanton on a good bitumen road. We are not fishermen but did visit the Barra breeding place in Karumba, barra are bred there to supply barra to various waterways in Qld. The adult specimens there are huge. Interesting talk on Barra and well worth the visit. Can also hand feed them, check visiting times with info centre at Normanton and other info on Karumba.
Some RV travellers camp at the free camp near the bridge at Normanton and fish in the river there for Barra.
Nobody was catching any Barra either at Normanton or at Karumba, one fisherman told us even the charter boats were not catching them, something about the water not being the right temperature.....
-- Edited by Duh on Thursday 13th of June 2013 11:23:03 AM
