Karumba. Any recent info?

Stevejaz · Member

Karumba. Any recent info?

Possum3 · Guru

We first went in 1996, went up there a couple of times since - It was a tropical paradise our last trip we went up for a day in 2019 as a day trip from Gregory, - I doubt that I will ever go back. The management team were rude and obnoxious, toilets an absolute disgrace, food at cafeteria was horrendously expensive and poor quality, haven't been back since pre-covid so no current knowledge.

Southern Cruizer · Senior Member

Possum3 wrote:
We first went in 1996, went up there a couple of times since - It was a tropical paradise our last trip we went up for a day in 2019 as a day trip from Gregory, - I doubt that I will ever go back. The management team were rude and obnoxious, toilets an absolute disgrace, food at cafeteria was horrendously expensive and poor quality, haven't been back since pre-covid so no current knowledge.

Like you Possum3 I was up they pre covid about 2012 and it hadn't changed much. The only decent thing we enjoyed was the Indigenous fella's doing their talk and culture thing. The rest was over the top as far as we were concerned

TheHeaths · Guru

Last in Karumba in 2019, after initial visit 2014.

We like the place, but it can be very crowded with yearly returnees, especially June, July and early August. Most parks will be full.

Didnt see much reasonable area for land based fishing in Karumba estuary area, but would be ok going into Normanton and fishing the river. Just watch for Crocs. If I was going for 6 to 8 weeks I would want a boat. Fishing was slow both times we were there due to below average wet seasons. The Barra Centre was well worth a visit, and when we went they planned a stocked fishing area for Barra that should be operating now. The centre provides fingerlings for the rivers in the Normanton/Karumba are.

I would perhaps go there for a week, a few days in Normanton taking a day trip on the Gulflander train, and a few nights relaxing at Leichardt Lagoon about 20km out of Normanton, on a local cattle station.

A run along to Burketown, a stop at Leichardt Falls, and a trip to Lawn Hill out of Gregory Downs would fill in a nice 3 weeks in the region.

-- Edited by TheHeaths on Saturday 2nd of March 2024 08:52:56 PM

Stevejaz · Member

Thanks guys. Really appreciate it. Sounds pretty much like I feared. We aim to leave Adelaide late April for some quality fishing time up north before heading inland to Winton, Yowah, Sapphire the back to Rockhampton mid July to late August, following the opal and gem shows. Much as I was hoping to go somewhere new, the thing that bothers me most is that it's a long way from Karumba to other fishing spots if I don't like it. (front wheel drive motorhome and sealed road only by choice).
Might make Cooktown the first stop then, followed by a slow coastal trip to Townsville before heading back inland. The Annand river at Cooktown looks pretty nice and apparently holds some big Queenies. My last time there was 2021. Would still love to hear from anyone who has been to Karumba in the last year or two though.
Cheers Steve.

PeterD · Guru

Stevejaz wrote:
We would be looking for an unpowered site. Nobody answers their phone or email. Not even the Tourist information Centre. I've been told don't go without a booking, so how do you book?

After the two cyclones up there (the last one over that area) there may be no one up there to answer the phones yet. Ring the police station or try the Normanton info centre to see what is happening up there. It would be a pity not to call in there on the way home and drop in for a week or three. TheHeaths have given you a bit of good advice for a short stay

If you do go to Karumba for a week or two and expect to get some fish, watch the tides. They are different to most of Oz. They are explained here by Karl Kruszelnicki. However, what he did not explain is that every 2 weeks or so they have flat tides with 2 or 3 peaks very close together (they call them double and triple tides.) During that period, the fish don't bight. Check the tide times so you don't coincide with one of those.