Day 33 – Croydon to Karumba (Sat May 26^th)

It was even colder this morning, at only 14 degrees, we didn’t want to get out of bed.  It was therefore a slow morning, and we didn’t end up leaving until 10am.

We called into the Croydon General Store, which was opened in 1884, making it the oldest store in Qld. They have some of the original gold rush equipment on display in their mini museum, which was very interesting.

Croydon Butcher

Museum at Croydon General Store

We saw 2 wedge tail eagles along the way, but it was the Brolga that showed its face the most today. The area around Normanton is surrounded by floodplains and wetlands which are home to abundant bird life, including the Brolga. 

We had lunch at Normanton, which was established as a port for the gulf’s cattle industry, and later grew in importance with the discovery of Gold at Croydon in 1885. So, became the port for Croydon's Gold Rush.

One of the town’s greatest tourist attractions is The Railway Station and The Gulflander, which celebrated 120 years of service last year. The Gulflander travels from Normanton to Croydon on Wednesdays, and returns to Normanton on Thursdays. The road follows the train line, it would of been great to see the Gulflander on its weekly trip. We missed the location of the train station on the way into town, so we will call in and take a look on our way west in a few days time.

Krys – The Savannah King resides here, he is an accurate artists impression of the largest recorded saltwater crocodile captured in the world. Measuring at 8.63m long, he was captured in 1957 in the Norman River.

The LEW Henry Park is behind where Krys hangs out, this would be a nice lunch stop. Its shady, with green grass and tables out of the wind. We didn't see it until after our windy, chilly lunch at a rest stop on the Norman River 2km north of town.  

The purple pub in Normanton

The Burns Philp Building which houses the information centre, is well worth a visit. With friendly staff, great displays and heaps of useful information.

The sun has come out this afternoon for the first time since we arrived into Cairns 4 days ago, so it has been very welcome. We are now on the opposite side of the Qld coast!

We continued on from Normanton, through the Muttonhole Wetlands onto Karumba Point.

Karumba is well known for its fishing and prawning, and is on Norman River. Karumba Point, where we are staying, is at the mouth of the Norman River.

Mouth of the Norman River

We are camped at Karumba Point Tourist Park for 2 nights. We tried to get into Karumba Point Sunset CP, but it was all booked out, this CP is across the road from the Norman River and closet to The Sunset Tavern, which probably makes it the most popular of the two.

Karumba Point Tourist Park, is also pretty full, apart from the unpowered sites which we have all to ourselves. It is known for its famous free fish BBQ every Saturday night, with fun entertainment afterwards provided by anyone and everyone. It's a big event for everyone in the park, they all rock up with their drinks, plates and chairs. One of the guys came down especially to make sure we were going. The kids had already been fed, but we wandered down with our drinks and chatted to a few of the park locals. 

We seem to be the youngest people in town, with both caravan parks full of grey nomads escaping the winter down south. I spoke to 2 ladies today, both staying in each of the caravan parks, and they have both been coming here, every year for 10 years. 

I think this is the same story for most of the people here at the moment. They come for the fishing, the laid back warmish winter and the comradery of all their friends that come too!

The park where we are staying has a happy, friendly, close nit feel about it, and they all love chatting to the kids! I guess they all miss their grandchildren.

A lot of them have Barramundi signs out the front of their camps which have their names written on them. All the lane ways have funny names, and there are places like 'have a chat tree' and the whinging tree.  

Unpowered sites are $28/night for 2 adults. I think this is the cheaper of the 2 parks at Karumba Point.

The moon is out tonight, smiling at me as I write this, so I am hoping for a clear, warmer day tomorrow. A night cap of Port is keeping me warm at the moment though, which is nice.