G’day all,
What a great spot to camp is Gunshot Creek. You just have to camp on the Northern bank of the creek and just soak up the moment of being there. Put it this way…you travel how far?? to get there and to spend only a few moments there is sacrelidge. I had to withdraw myself, take a cold beer down to the creek with a chair and just enjoy. When you are there imagine how many other 4WD enthusiasts would do anything to be there right at that moment…and if that doesn’t get the hairs standing up then you probably don’t enjoy the great outdoors with 4WD in tow as much as me! Take my advice, take a moment, take a stroll, kick back have a beer, swim and whatever else you need to do to just reflect.
Taking A Moment...Gunshot Creek
Ok, all of that said we left Gunshot about 10:00am with the plan of heading towards Fruit Bat Falls. We passed through a couple of creeks before coming out at the Northern Bypass. 6klm’s further and you go straight ahead and onto the Northern section of the Telegraph Track. Within 5klm you hit Fruit Bat Falls and a little further on Elliot Falls and Twin Falls.
Fruit Bat Falls...Great Place For A Swim
Fruit Bat Falls is located about 2klms further off the Telegraph Track and is a great place for a swim…and that is exactly what we did. The water was beautifully clear and sooooo refreshing. Any thoughts of crocs passed quickly by and me and the kids had a ball swimming and playing around. The falls themselves…lest we forget…are certainly worth a visit and again cause you to think about the vast array of changing landscape and vegetation you travel through on a trip to the Cape. Fruit Bat Falls is worth a visit and, yes bring the bathers.
A quick stop for lunch and on our way again. We passed the turnoff to Elliot Falls as we planned to stay there a night on our return trip.
The next stop is Canal Creek…and you can very easily get this one wrong. There are a multitude of different entry and exit points here and the other tricky thing is the large potholes, really sticky clay and crystal clear water (which hides big holes). Tread very carefully here and go for a look or a walk before crossing…you might save yourself some pain.
We entered the creek on the left hand side and then did a constant zig zag up the far bank avoiding pot holes and sticky clay. This proved difficult with a trailer having to take constant care not to end up dropping the front or rear end into a big hole…phew safely across and on our way again. This crossing is fun and a different kind of challenge and one you will enjoy for sure.
We continued on along the track until we reached the bypass (just before hitting Mistake Creek and Cannibal Creek and the infamous log bridge). At this point the decision was to take the bypass track and head for the ferry. We made the decision to pick up the Telegraph Track from the Jardine River on our return trip.
Hitting the developmental highway we travelled another 40klm to the ferry crossing of the Jardine River. It cost us $88 for the car and another $16 (I think for the trailer). Fuel here was $1.85 P/L which was cheaper than anywhere we found North of the ferry.
Across the ferry we headed for Siesa and a camp for the night. We arrived there about 4:00pm set up camp and had a look around. Must say the caravan park here is just a big dustball and the amenities average…but remarkably probably among the better ones we saw on the Cape side of the ferry.
The camp ground is right on the ocean and the view is spectacular. I took the time to take a walk along the beach chatting to one local who gave me the thumbs up on a few fishing spots. He was having a chuckle at a dinghy which had just returned to the beach with very few fish. He noted that the dinghy should be over flowing and almost sinking if they knew what they were doing. We both anjoyed a good chat and laugh before we continued along the beach to the jetty.
The jetty is reknown for a good fishing spot. Again I had a chat to a few locals on the jetty about the fishing who told me that at the right time the jetty is awesome…but had been slow for a good few weeks. They said the best times around here were in the wet. They also said that without live bait around the jetty you are wasting time.
Must say, I saw very little caught here and on the beach which kind of reiterated what the locals had been saying.
We walked back along the beach and enjoyed one of the prettiest sunsets I have witnessed. The sunset over the western ocean with the back drop of many small islands that make this area glorious. It was about this time that I was really annoyed that I hadn’t bothered to bring the dinghy…next time huh.
With darkness all around and early night and trip to Cape York beckoned for tommorrow. Can’t wait…a dream come true.
Bushman Bud…Enjoying Australia
Tags: 4WD, 4WDing, 4x4, Adventure, Bushman, Bushman Bud, Camping, Canal Creek, Cape York, Free Camping, Offroad, river crossing, Sieisa, Telegraph Track, Track