BURKE DEVELOPMENT ROAD - KOWANYAMA

We were told at Undarra by a Ranger to go check out Kowanyama which is on western coast of York Peninsula approx 300 ks ( as the crow flies from Weipa) and  100k from the Burke Dev Rd. then 100ks out..  Its an Aboriginal Settlement started by a Mission Presbyterian (I think) and is now a dry settlement.  Fisherman Love it going out to the surrounding creeks ( Id call them rivers) to bring in Barra and wotever. Kowanyama is also trying to attract the tourist....  
You must ring beforehand to book a spot on the creeks as this is controlled by the local community.  there are 4 creeks with 4 sites and   only 3 vehicles at each site at any one time.  At 45.00 per vehicle per night!! They are booked out months ahead..  We stayed the first night in the new caravan park.
This has 4 en suite sites with new amenities ....  but the cleaning of same is not in their culture it seems.  this cost 50.00 per night???  Not cheap . Then next night we went out to a fishing spot at Topsy Creek.

Looking at Topsy creek from camp


On the Gulf...  walking back to camp..








Campsite with the Sandflies


The directions to these places are Hilarious....  Vague if you ask outright as apparently their culture doesn't ask direct questions but once you hint at it you get soooooo much info it is confusing.
However we made it to Topsy and had a great relaxing time......  Until 5 pm when I realised I had not sprayed for sandflies...    OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOH @#$%^&   I have bights and blisters up and down my arms and legs... ITCHING NEARLY DROVE ME CRAZY..  thank goodness I had the antihistamines and SOOV AND PANADOL.   I slept in 4 hours blocks.  As soon as the panadol wore off   I was awake.  And to make it worse the nights were HOT!!!  However it was a great experience and we walked on the beach on the western side of Cape York...  Yahoooooo!!!!!



Chris Henry the artist who painted the mural the on the amenities   came and spoke to us telling us about their town . he also painted the Post Office Bank etc giving a message to all re no drinking , violence etc.  Quiet impressive....

 It is a dry town and there is a fine of 75,000 if caught.  B & I stashed our alcohol in the bush ( 100ks away) on the way in as we thought they would be entitled to search the vans... ????  But they didn't. There was certainly enough warnings and signs.  Apparently the DRY community is supported and some people come from other areas to dry out.  A great experience
  I'm cooking dinner outside  the night we were in town and we had 8-10 kids talking to us and trying to help???  Telling us we should eat 5 veges and 2 fruit every day!!  Pleased something is getting through to them.
Kowanyama means many waters  and we could see why??  We saw numerous natural dams and  creeks as we approached the town.  We were also warned when I rang the day before  not to hang around the creeks on the way as a Croc had been sited about 1hrs out???  We're still waiting to see a crocs in the wild..


Way out of Topsy

Billabong Flowers