Camped at Alligator Creek Camping Ground in the Bowling Green Bay National Park about 30 mins south of Townsville.
Fantastic camp spot near the creek safe place to swim and beaut walking tracks and the water that cascades over the rocks in the water holes is a relaxing experience. while we swimming in the water holes the little fish were swimming all over our feet (maybe thinking they had some thing new to eat)
Toilets picnic shelter.This site sadly is only suitable for camper trailers and tent camping as it comes under the jurisdiction of QLParks
The camping sites really are undersize for even a camper trailer that has slide out sides.
The other down side of this camp is they lock the gates around 6.30pm and do not open then again until 60am.
We all wondered what would happen if we needed to get out for one reason or another.
It is truly a beautiful area,it does have a day use further back from the camp area.
We were not put off by the name of this place as we all know there is no Alligators in Oz.. Oh by the way this place is croc free also.
-- Edited by herbie on Monday 29th of July 2013 10:26:52 PM
-- Edited by herbie on Monday 29th of July 2013 10:29:05 PM
Errrrrrrr....croc free? Plenty of crocs around Townsville, and plenty of crocs in Rockhampton, I have seen them at both locations with my own eyes in the last two years. Please excercise plenty caution
__________________
Take only your memories, leave only your footprints
I don't think the big ones can get up to the camping area at Alligator Creek.....I saw babies 20-30cms long. The adult (saltie's) like brackish water (like the Bohle,
mouth of the Ross River and Cleveland Bay). Hatchlings are tolerant of fresh. Correct me anyone if I'm wrong. Julie
-- Edited by JulieM on Tuesday 30th of July 2013 04:48:01 PM
Don,t worry about the crocs- the sharks have eaten them! Don,t worry about the sharks- the stingers has killed them! Don,t worry about the stingers- the crocs have eaten them! Don,t worry................Bill
You're not wrong there Bill. lol. Years ago I saw one in the Bohle, just downstream from the bridge. Also saw a couple of 4/5 footers in Sleeper Log and the old prawn farm around the same time. Still didn't stop us from putting the nets in for a few fish tho.
__________________
Take only your memories, leave only your footprints
Yep. They travel miles from rivers. That is what makes them dangerous. They turn up in strange places, waterholes that have been clear for years suddenly have a croc in them. Even indigenous people make mistakes and get taken
__________________
Take only your memories, leave only your footprints
Are you saying that the crocs get into the small water holes.... I was not talking about the river it self.
Crocs will go miles overland. Inland Lagoons are not necessarily safe from them. One way to tell if there is one in a waterhole, is to check if there is Algae on the water. [Go to a Croc Farm if you can, and check the small pens. You'll see what I mean.]
Colour of Algae is not very good in this Pic., but you'll get an idea of what I mean.
Having said that, however, just because the water is clear, doesn't guarantee that it's Croc. free. There might be a very recent arrival, and not enough time has elapsed for the Algae to grow.
Take care in all waterways [ yes, Crocs. do swim in the Ocean too ] anywhere north of [these days I would say] Maryborough. Haven't heard that the two sighted there recently have been caught and re-located yet, and who knows if there aren't more that have remained unseen up to now. Better to be safe than sorry.
Cheers,
Sheba.
-- Edited by Sheba on Tuesday 30th of July 2013 08:03:53 PM
I don't think the big ones can get up to the camping area at Alligator Creek.....I saw babies 20-30cms long. The adult (saltie's) like brackish water (like the Bohle,
mouth of the Ross River and Cleveland Bay). Hatchlings are tolerant of fresh. Correct me anyone if I'm wrong. Julie
-- Edited by JulieM on Tuesday 30th of July 2013 04:48:01 PM
Julie, where do you think the babies came from ? At that size, I believe Mum is usually still within calling distance. And Salties' do not mind fresh water. See my other post.
Cheers,
Sheba.
-- Edited by Sheba on Tuesday 30th of July 2013 08:08:59 PM
UM..Bugger .. we wont be swimming in places again while on this trip.
If feel it is very dangerous and misleading on the part of the Q.National Parks to post signs saying this area is safe to swim .
Like we have been around the country a few times,and as you have all said they are every where up around that area, if we were under false and misleading info posted ,what hope has the over seas tourist got to go on.
All up there was about 16 odd people in the water holes at different times in the two days we stayed there.
is it a free camp, and yes crocs can get that far but it has to be brackish water surely
ide stick to the small holes so you can see whats about like just wading in a small hole would
suit me fine , as long as you can get cool from the heat .
Thanks very much for all your responses regarding where croc's can be found. I have seen croc's up in The Cape and in a few different croc farms. It is interesting also that a few weeks ago the croc that hangs around in the river out at the Calliope was sighted while some blokes where fishing near the bridge.
Julie, where do you think the babies came from ? At that size, I believe Mum is usually still within calling distance. And Salties' do not mind fresh water. See my other post.
Cheers,
Sheba
Sheba, I saw them at the bridge on the highway, some distance from the campground (10-12K's I think). Mum may have been around. It was during summer too
Alligator creek is very popular with locals for swimming all year. Never heard of a report of fully grown crocs up there. The babies may have come from downstream.
There are saltpan and mangroves further down. Didn't mean to alarm anyone. Cheers Julie
We spent a week with the "out-laws" at Alligator Creek last month. Did you notice how many wallabies are roaming about and darting across the road of a night there. It's dificult not to collect one when driving after dark.
We spent a week with the "out-laws" at Alligator Creek last month. Did you notice how many wallabies are roaming about and darting across the road of a night there. It's dificult not to collect one when driving after dark.
Was amazed at the amount of wallabies and not a lot of other wild life.
We thought it was a magic place, but we were the only ones who had payed for a camp site all the others there just landed and stayed for free due to the stupis set up the Q Parks have in place now.
Just spent some time in the Townsville area, and went up to Toomulla Beach for two nights. We camped there round the same time last year, and Billeeeeeee was fishing off the boat ramp, to his right on the other side, he saw what he thought at first was a large fish, then realised it was a croc - about 4 or 5 feet long - it swam down almost opposite him, went under water, then came up near where he was standing, by this time he was way up the boat ramp, the croc took one look at him and swam away under water.
Probably thought he would be a tasty morsel, but on closer inspection decided his skin was too tough for him!!! hahahaha!!
Some guys threw a cast net out off the boat ramp about three days ago, and netted about 3kg of prawns!!!!!!!
__________________
jules "Love is good for the human being!!" (Ben, aged 10)
... an excellent camping place ... for tents, camper trailers or small motorhomes/campervans.
Errrrrrrr....croc free? Plenty of crocs around Townsville, and plenty of crocs in Rockhampton, I have seen them at both locations with my own eyes in the last two years. Please excercise plenty caution
You're not wrong there Bill. lol. Years ago I saw one in the Bohle, just downstream from the bridge. Also saw a couple of 4/5 footers in Sleeper Log and the old prawn farm around the same time. Still didn't stop us from putting the nets in for a few fish tho.
