We checked at the camp site office to pick up our directions and map to enable us to get to the top end some 40 kms away and mostly on dirt roads. They were really bad, very corrugated until we arrived at the Croc Tent where we stopped and chatted to Esther who sells souvenirs and drinks to the tourists during the winter season up here. She hailed from Victoria and she and her husband told us how they were caught in the recent bush fires there but were lucky enough to escape the worst of it all. She gave us another map and more advice as how to get there as nothing is signposted. It as though the Aboriginals who are responsible for the region don’t want people to go there. We headed off with the knowledge that she said if we weren’t back by 7pm she would send a search party out for us. We were in for quite an experience as we drove through the rain forest on tracks that we very washed out. What really took us by surprise was when we had to forge through water courses that were up to the bottom of our doors; we nosed in slowly in low gear and then pulled out quickly the other side. The car is always in locked 4 wheel drive when we travel the dirt roads and we managed to get better and less concerned as we continued. We arrived at the end of the track and took to the path which was not shown too clearly, however we pushed on and knew we were OK when we hit the broken boardwalk which was falling to bits. This area was all handed back to the original owners the Gudang tribe some years ago and some of the maintenance seems to have fallen
Some of the track we had to drive along.
by the wayside. What a walk, through the rainforest and then out into the open to huge granite boulders which we had to climb up and over. Away in the distance we could see the cairns that people had built to guide the way as there were no sign posts. Up and over we went, it was hot, but we were determined to get there! Cape York or its traditional name Old Pajinka was up ahead we walked down to the point and stood under the sign, “You are standing at the most Northernmost point of the Australian continent” Another couple was there which was good as we had a photo taken of us together standing under the sign
We walked back to the car and then before we set off we walked through the now deserted PAJINKA Wilderness Lodge that had been run very successfully for 20 years before it was handed back to the local owners of the land . Unfortunately it had been abandoned by them in 2004 and over the last few years the huts and buildings have become derelict.
We walked back to the car when Beatrice noticed we had lost our front number plate. I checked the photos and knew we still had it when we crossed on the Jardine Ferry. We would have to keep an eye out for it as it must have shaken off on the corrugated roads. Or it’s at the bottom of a creek crossing. (Not sure what to do about it so I’ll have to find out tomorrow).
Our Number plate is probably at the bottom of this water crossing. I asked Beatrice to dive in and look for it, I said I would keep an eye out for the crocs, but she declined!
Some of the track we had to drive along.
by the wayside. What a walk, through the rainforest and then out into the open to huge granite boulders which we had to climb up and over. Away in the distance we could see the cairns that people had built to guide the way as there were no sign posts. Up and over we went, it was hot, but we were determined to get there! Cape York or its traditional name Old Pajinka was up ahead we walked down to the point and stood under the sign, “You are standing at the most Northernmost point of the Australian continent” Another couple was there which was good as we had a photo taken of us together standing under the sign
We walked back to the car and then before we set off we walked through the now deserted PAJINKA Wilderness Lodge that had been run very successfully for 20 years before it was handed back to the local owners of the land . Unfortunately it had been abandoned by them in 2004 and over the last few years the huts and buildings have become derelict.
We walked back to the car when Beatrice noticed we had lost our front number plate. I checked the photos and knew we still had it when we crossed on the Jardine Ferry. We would have to keep an eye out for it as it must have shaken off on the corrugated roads. Or it’s at the bottom of a creek crossing. (Not sure what to do about it so I’ll have to find out tomorrow).
Our Number plate is probably at the bottom of this water crossing. I asked Beatrice to dive in and look for it, I said I would keep an eye out for the crocs, but she declined!
It started to rain however we made it back ,having to go through the water crossing s which were much deeper than we felt comfortable about, the water coming up to the front bumper, we did it. With the rain easing, we bought a cask of red wine, sat on the beach and watched the sunset and those mad enough to go venture into the water waist deep with their fishing nets. Maybe they can’t read all the warning signs about the crocodiles! Tomorrow we go to TI (Thursday Island) and then in the evening to the fishermen’s club to watch the State of Origin.
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