Onto our first remote bush camp for our North Queensland trip – Cape Melville National Park. We took the dodgy 4WD track north of Cooktown that follows the coast directly to Cape Melville. It’s a rough track, really slow going and we didn’t make it to the proper camp site before dark so ended up camping on the side of the track. Next morning we rolled into Cape Melville Crocodile Camping Area on the beach and set up camp for a couple of days stay. Joe did some fishing in the nearby creek but it was windy and difficult conditions. No luck. We found a funny looking snail thing washed up on the beach which Joe used as bait but it failed to attract any bites. Sharni got hammered by the midges – check out the welts on her arm. Same deal on her other arm and both legs. Joe also got many midge bites but he’s a hardened fishing veteran and doesn’t react to the bites. There’s a little fresh water rock pool with cool clean running water flowing through a few km from the camping area. We went there on our way out for a quick wash.

Heading west to catch the peninsular development road, we passed through Lakefield National Park. We stopped off at the Kalpowar Crossing camping area which had excellent facilities – laundry, showers, flushing toilets, bbqs, good campsites by the Normanby River. We would have loved to stay a night but unfortunately the Queensland government have made it impossible to pay for a site. You need to book online despite being in a very remote area and far away from any phone or internet reception. Instead we just used the toilet and shower and had a look around. Sharni enjoyed the cooling water on her midge bites.