BURKE DEVELOPMENT ROAD - KURUMBA

We move onto Kurumba & Normanton.  Kurumba is THE BIG FISHING TOWN.  People book 12 months ahead and stay for 4-5 months.  we were told to book but didn't know when we'd arrive but were lucky enough to get a small spot at the Caravan Park in Kurumba village. ( Which is all Kurumba is.) Being a small vehicle and not needing power we are often "fitted" in.

Of course our first port of call is the Pharmacy as I'm running out of SOOV...( My sand bite salvation cream).  We are told that "Mrs Mac" who owns the pharmacy here and Normanton makes her own concoction...  which is excellent the assistant says.  ( Smart woman this Mrs Mac as the place is sand fly heaven and she must make a fortune) By this time everyone that sees me stops me to commiserate re the bites.  I could not hide them they were up my legs and arms....  However Mrs Mac is SPOT ON.....   GREAT STUFF.   Along with antihistamines and the cool change in the weather helped with the sleeping as well.  I would go to bed with a little ice pack and take  2 panadol.. Then 4 hours on the dot Id wake up and take another 2 panadol.

Parked Fishing Trailers...

More about Kurumba......   It is a very friendly little village full of tourists.  Most men go fishing early and the women stay behind.  ( Some women go fishing too.) They have craft mornings and coffee mornings at the restaurant across from the Park.  It really did have a good atmosphere.   The favourite Tourist Caravan park is "out at the Point"  where you are in a convenient spot to see the Sunset every day.

The town has a Lead,tin and zinc smelter and of course commercial FISHING!!!!. And during the wet is often flooded in for a few months..  ( all tourists gone by then).  Most of their supplies come in by water through a narrow channel through the Gulf.  Around this are the Gulf is quite shallow.

We took the Sunset Cruise with drinks and nibbles....  Great time and also a brilliant feeling of "being on the gulf of Carpentaria.  We have now walked on the beach on eastern side of Gulf ( Kowanyama - Topsy Creek) and now we are sitting out on the water watching the sunset....GOOOOOOD STUUUUUFFF!!!!  

The second night we have fish and chips "at the point" Pub to watch the sunset again but the cool change had come in with cloud cover so no sunset.  Best fish and chips ever....  Every one talks about Barramundi ( Im sick of hearing about it actually) and its good......  BUT the Fish and Chips were some type of White Salmon..... Much Yummier!!

(L) This is parked outside the CVP.

(R) We liked the names of the 2 Bars at Kurumba Pub!!

We stay here 2 days catch up with the mundane washing, cleaning etc etc and swimming in the pool which was heaven on my bites then head off to Normanton 80ks away.

Some people stay Normanton and travel to Kurumba.  Not a lot at Normanton except the PURPLE PUB  and the site of the biggest Croc killed in ?????.  Shot by  woman years ago??  Most impressive.  we stayed there the night of the last State of Origin Game......  The purple Pub was humming. We could hear it from the CVP. Normanton also has the best steaks around.  Recommend the local butcher even tho he gave us "hell" when he knew we were NSW.  We went back next day for another.  Also there is an old Railway Station which is still in operation for tourists and possibly still brings in mail too .. not sure about that??

                                                                  

                                            

   (L)  Life size model of Croc

(R)  Purple Pub...