Burketown to Normanton

Wednesday 6th August
Another lovely day. We left Burketown heading to Gregory River. We had been told about a free camp down from the hotel at Gregory River. There is a sign saying No Camping but when we got there, there were about 30 campers there already. Apparently the sign is to cover the council in case the river floods but there was no chance of that as they haven't had rain in months. We parked on the upper level of the river bed and the river is flowing through about 40metres in front of us.
On the journey here we passed hundreds of cattle and a lot of Brolgas

This is a big paper bark gum just beside us at Gregory river

Looking down on the lower level of the camp site where you can see some vans parked right on the river bank

Looking back from the old bridge at some of the campers

Ray enjoying a beer on the verandah of the Gregory Hotel. It is a really old pub but seems to do a good trade with passers by and campers.

Looking down at the river. You could get in the water about 200metres upstream and float down to just past the old bridge and climb out and do it again. Ray did it but I chickened out as the current was very fast.

Another view of the river.

This is a picture of a log stuck in a tree abut 20metres off the ground. It got up there in the 2010 wet season.

If you look closely you can see the log in the tree above the caravan. In that wet season the whole camping area was underwater to that depth.

This is the fire Ray lit in the brazier. We didn't need it for warmth, just for atmosphere.

Everywhere we go we make friends with a dog. This is Jenga, the boxer, who belongs to the barman at the Gregory Hotel.

Maura at the camp site at Gregory River

Ray beside his fire.
















We stayed at Gregory River for 2 nights before moving on to Normanton. Normanton was established by William Landsborough in 1868 as a port for the Gulf's cattle industry and then was the port for the Croydon gold rush in the late 1800's.There are still 3 pubs in town and the most well known of these is  the famous Purple Pub.
The Normanton-Croydon railway line was opened in 1981 and a weekly service was run to service the gold miners. But gradually the gold ran out and the town quietened down.
There are some amazing wetlands around town with brolgas, sarus cranes, magpie geese, jabirus and a multitude of other water birds.

Lets start with some food pictures. This is the fish and chips for $15 at the Albion Hotel in Normanton. Fresh whiting no less.They have a choice of about 20 meals for $15 on Tight Arse Tuesdays. The place was packed. And what's more  their house sauvignon blanc was Oyster Bay. I couldn't get better than that.

Next one was lunch at The Purple Pub. A fish wrap and the fish was a grilled fillet of fresh barramundi. It was yummy.

And this is the infamous Purple Pub, run by a woman. If she thinks you need a shower she won't serve you until you go and get yourself cleaned up. It could only happen in the Gulf.

Here I am waiting for lunch. Even the tables are purple.

Cheers from the Albion Hotel, Normanton

And cheers from Ray also.

This is a life size replica of a croc called Krys which was shot near Normanton in  1955. It was shot by a female crocodile hunter called Krystina. It is over 8.3metres long.

Another shot of Krys

And here I am sitting beside Krys.

Some Brolgas moving across the wetlands on the outskirts of Normanton. You couldn't get very close as they are very shy

A white heron feeding in the wetlands

A couple of magpie geese.

Ray standing beside the crocodile warning sign.

The Norman River Bridge at Normanton

Waterlillies in the wetlands

This is a shot looking over the wetlands.













Monday 11th August
Today we decided to go for a drive out to Karumba Point and Karumba. We had heard that the place gets packed with lots of fisher folk as the Norman river flows through Karumba and enters the Gulf of Carpentaria at Karumba Point.

This is the Norman River at Karumba. It is so blue

Looking out at a couple of fishing boats

The Norman River at Karumba looking towards Karumba Point

This is looking out to the Gulf of Carpentaria from Karumba Point. We met a really nice fellow who lives in a house with this view. His wife is the local midwife and spends time between Karumba and Burketown and he is retired and just relaxes here at Karumba Point. The house they live in is supplied with his wife's job so he is on easy street.

This is the cars and trailers at the boat ramp. There were 3 rows like this absolutely full. And we were told the fishing was no good. I think someone forgot to tell these blokes.
We bought a slab of Spanish mackerel for $25 which when we cut it up will do the both of us for 4 meals. We also bought a kilo of prawns which were $22 a kilo and very nice too.