Day 9 & 10

Day 9 (Destination - Punsand Bay and the Tip)

We set off from Eliot Falls early and 'did' the remainder of the Old Tele Track as far as the turn to the ferry. Some of the creek crossings north were a bit tricky and required walking first. The last one being Nolan's Brook which is also quite notorious for being challenging and can be deep and sandy. Being dryer and having watch dozens of Youtube video's before our trip, Brett knew what to do and kept to the right.

Cannibal Creek

The log bridge over Cypress Creek

Mistake Creek(?)

Sam Creek (?)

Nolans Brook

As we pulled up at the ferry to buy a ticket, a guy approached us asking if we'd give him a hand. He'd reversed into a ditch while trying to show his kids a wallaby. Brett was happy to christen his new snatch strap and even happier in the knowledge that a Rodeo had pulled out a Hilux.

Alcohol restrictions meant only 1 carton of beer and 2 ltrs wine

Jardine River ferry

Jardine River

We got the ferry across the Jardine River ($125 return) and continued on our way. We stopped at Bamaga to fuel up and buy some more groceries and make a couple of phone calls at a phone box, then continued on to the Croc Tent - the souvenier shop. There was a tiny pademelon piglet in a fenced pen with a huge stuffed crocodile which looked quite funny.

Pademelon piglet and friend

We decided to head straight to the tip, parking and then in typical Cape fashion finding no signs to tell which way to walk. It wasn't too hard to work out, we just walked up the rocks toward the only area sticking out further than the beach. Finding there was a bit of a track worn by the many fellow walkers before us and several piles of rocks along the way. I think the idea of the rock piles was that you are supposed to add a rock of your own to the pile. The walk is almost 1km from the carpark but we made it and found the familiar sign declaring that we were standing at Australia's most northern most point. Took the obligatory photos and enjoyed the views from the area. The woman at the Croc Tent had said someone had caught fish there recently with a pink lure, so of course Brett decided to take his fishing rod with him.  He got a good bite but that was it before snagging the lure and giving up. We watched a huge sea turtle swim by and enjoyed the fabulous views abit longer before heading back to the carpark.

The beach by the carpark at the tip

Walking to the sign declaring we were at the 'tip'

One of several rock piles on the walk to the tip

Waiting for me to set up the camera

views from the tip

Fishing at the tip

Sea turtle

Views from the tip

Views from the tip

Leaving the tip, we drove the short distance to Punsand Bay camping grounds. Soon discovering we had some Optus reception so took advantage catching up on news back home. The reception was a bit sketchy and seemed to be best standing out on the beach.
We decided to stay 2 nights here. There is a nice rustic bush style bar and restaurant area which Brett was very pleased to learn had Great Northern beer on tap. They also do wood fired pizza's so that took care of dinner.

Day 10 - Punsand Bay

I was able to ring Megan (my daughter) for her 16th birthday today which was good. She has been spending a week in Brisbane with friends and going to the Rhianna concert.

Today was a relaxing day. Attempted some fishing off the beach first in the morning but had no luck. After talking with the fellow who owns Punsand Bay camping grounds who recommended walking further along to where some rocks are, and to go around 4pm when the tide is coming back in. Yay success, caught a couple of small cod and a grasse emporer. All too small to keep but it was fun trying just the same.  It was dark by the time we stopped fishing and so it was a late dinner (curried sausages again) by the time we got back to camp.

Our campsite at Punsand Bay

Fishing at Punsand Bay

We were intending to spend longer here but decided 2 nights was enough. As we hadn't taken the legs for the camper, we couldn't use the Rodeo to get around. Time to pack up and move on again. We had heard that the fishing at Vrilya Point was pretty good so that is where we're heading tomorrow.

Day 7 & 8

Day 7 (Destination - Eliot Falls via Old Tele Track)

It is my 40th birthday today and I can't think of a better way to spend it. Brett made a lovely breakfast of bacon, eggs and beans on toast. I was supposed to get out of helping today but I can't sit still for long. It has been another wonderful day.

We packed up and left Bramwell Station around 9am, drove the short distance to Bramwell Junction to fill our water tanks again (we were told the water at Bramwell was safe for drinking but when Brett filled one of our containers, it looked about discoloured and had some floaty things in it so we decided against drinking it). The water at Bramwell Junction was much better.

Plate tree at Bramwell Junction

Taking the turn off onto the Old Telegraph Track we began our adventure for the day. Palm Creek was the first challenge we came to. It's a good one to start with because if you can't handle this one, you are probably going to struggle with some of the others. Possibly the reason 2 vehicles (who had been camped beside us at Bramwell) had turned around and were leaving. The first entry you come to looked quite hairy but we found there was a second one further around to the right which looked slightly easier.  Again, I jumped out to film it, and again Brett made it look easy - 'piece of piss' as Brett says. Another 2 vehicles turned up at the first crossing and were umming and arghing whether to attempt it. Brett wanted to stay and watch but I said 'no, lets keep going, there'll be more opportunities' (famous last words - we didn't get the opportunity again).

Lots of little termite nests popping up like meerkats on the prairie

Checking out the Palm Creek entry/exit

Palm Creek entrance (the easier one)

Palm Creek

Palm Creek

Palm Creek exit

The next couple of crossings were not as challenging, that is until we reached the infamous Gunshot creek.  Upon arrival, you are greeted by two side-by-side almost vertical drops, bearly car width, with a lovely mud puddle to fall into at the bottom. There was a track to right which might have been easier at some point but was now a washed out mess. Fortunately there was another 'chicken' track to the left which we took and got through without any problems.  The creek was crystal clear and very inviting so we stopped there for lunch and a quick dip. We had the place to ourselves, no one camped or came through when we were there.

Gunshot #1

Gunshot #2

Gunshot #3

Gunshot

Stopped for lunch at Gunshot

The infamous Gunshot (the entry/exit we didnt attempt)

The corregations in the road are terrible again, a bit rutted in places but there is usually a better track around the worse ones. There are remnants of the old telegraph poles, most are no longer standing up straight though.

One of the few upright old telegraph poles

There were several more dry creek beds to cross but nothing too challenging. Reaching Fruit Bat Falls (which is day visits only - no camping), we stopped for a look. Absolutely beautiful. There was no one there even though it looked like one of the best swimming spots we'd ever seen (that was before we came to Eliot Falls).

Fruitbat Falls

Heading off again, we were soon overtaken by the Heathlands ranger (there was a side track we hadn't even noticed) and good thing he did because we came to a creek crossing we weren't expecting (referred to as the 'unnamed ford' in some info I found later) and it looked really deep and murky. The ranger drove straight though so we just followed his path. The water was deep and it came over the bonnet but nothing else sinister underneath so we made it through without any problems. No photos though....doh! (Was too busy worrying about getting across, and Brett didn't want to repeat).  Continuing on, we stopped on the side of the road to collect some firewood (no collecting firewood inside National Parks allowed so we made sure we were on the left hand side of the road, not NP side). Reaching our Eliot Falls campsite late afternoon, we set up camp and were keen to check out the falls themselves. We found there was actually three different falls, all within a few minute walk from the campsite.  The 'Saucepan' was closest and has small 'falls' into deep clear blue holes that kids were jumping into. There were lots of spots to sit and let the rapid waters provide a free massage.

The Saucepan

The Saucepan

A short walk further on there is Eliot Falls, another stretch of beautiful clear blue water with falls that cascade over a flat rocky ledge extending the full width of the creek, but mainly concentrated in one section that could also be used as a platform to jump into the deep area below. The kids loved this one as it was a little higher than the jump into the saucepan.

Eliot Falls

Eliot Falls

Jumping into Eliot Falls

Eliot Falls

Even further along, is Twin Falls. This is the more sedate, shallow sandy bottomed section which seemed popular with the oldies and very young children. I stand corrected, THIS is the best swimming area we have ever been to. One of the most beautiful and tranquil places and we will definately come back here one day.

Twin Falls

Eliot Falls camp ground is pretty good as far as NP camp sites go. Big clean sites, not too close to the neighbours, a good fire ring for camp fires, fresh drinking water at a tap nearby, and decent amenities (loo only).

Day 8

A relaxing day today staying at Eliot Falls! Swam, swam some more, played frisbee. A very pleasant stressfree day.

....that was until some idiots on quadbikes came through the camping area at 1am and woke everyone up. Brett got up to tell them off but they took off pretty quick when they saw him coming.