• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content

A Cape York Blog

Cape York paradise at Portland Roads

  • Blog
  • About Us
  • Mosiguard
  • Portland Roads Beach Shack

Cape York Accommodation

December 21, 2011 by Cate

Fly/drive/stay deal – the wet season is the best time for wildlife

You can Fly into Cape York and spend some time exploring. There is heaps to see in just one area. Explore the Iron Range National Park, Chili Beach and Lockhart River area from Portland Roads.

To encourage people to visit Portland Roads Beach Shack during the wet season, we have negotiated deals with Skytrans and Lockhart River Car Hire so that our customers can get discounts when booking through us.

Filed Under: Aboriginal Culture, Birdwatching Cape York, Cape York Accommodation, Chili Beach, Exploring Cape York, Fishing Cape York, Frogs of Cape York, Insects of Cape York, Iron Range National Park, Kutini-Payamu (Iron Range) National Park, Portland Roads, Snakes Cape York, Wildlife of Cape York Tagged With: Cape York 4wd, Cape York Accommodation, cape york in the wet, Cape York travel

June 30, 2011 by Cate

Trip to The Tip

We have just done a trip up to the tip of Cape York and back so I thought I would share where is good to go. We had friends up from Canberra so it was a good excuse to explore.

Bramwell Station was a find, we took a wrong turn on the way to Bramwell Junction. They are nice people and have proper meals for a break from cooking or roadhouse food and spacious campgrounds with hot showers and a laundry. They ask how you like things cooked! And they are good at varying the menu for kids. Also good if you like to sit around and have a drink and a yarn and throw horseshoes.

Fruit Bat falls is gorgeous and much easier to get to than Elliot Falls if you don’t want to tackle the corrugations of the Old Telegraph Track. Fruit Bat is pretty shallow, there are some rocks to get past when you get in but then you have sandy bottom so not too challenging with kids or older folk. It is one of the few places that you can swim without worrying about crocs.

Everyone you meet tells you something different about the road conditions since with 4×4 what is fun for one is a nightmare for another.

Someone told us that the first river crossing on the OTT was the worst and if we thought we could handle it then that was a good gauge to see if we wanted to continue or take the bypass road.

We looked at it and decided against it mainly because I was worried, Seamus would have loved to do it, though the vehicle is in need of repair. I didn’t want to risk sitting around for hours while boys dig and winch or worse lose travel days to repairs. Maybe one day he can do it with 4×4 enthusiasts and with no family tagging along. Later we ended up needing repairs anyway and nothing to do with road conditions.

I am glad we didn’t do the OTT, maybe the info was from last season. A family who just did it told us that the first one was not the worst, there were plenty more risky creek crossings and bad corrugations, they had 5hrs of hell! (the others had said 4hrs). Though Seamus wondered how experienced they were.

Hann River Roadhouse and campground has great burgers and meals. They are very customer focused. They have a resident Emu who was hand raised by the owner, he dances when she whistles! They also have a rainbow lorikeet that is a friendly clown that will climb up your arm, and some little fluffy chooks wandering around.

Near Seisia, near the tip, we stayed at Loyalty Beach. They have a restaurant at the end of the campground where you can get a table actually on the sand. So beautiful at sunset!

We were running out of time to see the tip before my friend had to get back to Weipa to fly home, so we took a helicopter flight around the tip – expensive but so gorgeous. An awesome way to do it and something I will definitely remember. You see all the islands around. You can also take a ferry trip to Thursday Island.

At Coen there is a campground with the turn off just out of town, there is a hand painted sign saying Bill’s Place or something, I am not sure of the name, maybe Bob’s place, it says 4U2camp. We didn’t go there, but were curious. Some friends stayed there since and said that it is great, with showers and toilets and his house made of bottles.

And of course there is our place at Portland Roads with amazing views of the water. You can visit Chili Beach, maybe go on a boat trip with us in a tinny, fish, experience the rainforest – we are surrounded by Iron Range National Park, Lockhart River Aboriginal Community including the Lockhart River Art Gang and an Aboriginal Culture Guide for hire.

Filed Under: Cape York Accommodation, Exploring Cape York, Portland Roads

May 22, 2011 by Cate

Restoration Island – the ultimate Wwoofing experience

Restoration Island view from Chili Beach

Dave's place on Restoration Island viewed from Chili Beach

Portland Roads is the access point for Restoration Island which is just a quick boat ride across the water.

Restoration Island is listed in the Wwoofing directory. In February 2010 this Wwooofer called to find out if Dave was taking anyone. He said no since it was the wet season and he was going away, but after a chat about his skills they struck a deal for him to caretake his place while Dave was away for a few weeks!

He had an amazing experience, having this peaceful, tropical paradise all to himself for 7 weeks. White sandy beaches lined with palm trees backed by rainforest. Friendly neighbours took him fishing and he got to know the local aboriginal people from nearby Lockhart River. His adventure included experiencing a cyclone and being stalked by a croc. Cyclones are common in the wet season, a regular occurrence that the people of Cape York take in their stride.

Restoration Island is home to our neighbour Dave Glasheen. Dave gets media attention for advertising on RSVP for a mermaid to share his paradise home. The media are fascinated by his lifestyle living alone on this island, he would like a girl Friday, but he would prefer the news reports to help him find investors to develop the island as a tourist mecca.

Any development would be eco-friendly, preserving the beauty of this paradise. Dave is open to options but it could be an exclusive eco resort where visitors can enjoy the tranquility of a tropical island with access to the Great Barrier Reef as is Lizard Island.

For any prospective mermaids out there, there is some company at the small settlements nearby Portland Roads with about 10 houses, Packers Creek with about 5 and nearby Lockhart River which has a post office, supermarket and health centre. There is an airport at Lockhart River which flies out to Cairns 5 days a week.

Restoration Island looks across the water to the beautiful Chili Beach. A popular camping spot for people exploring the Cape in their 4×4.

The island has historical significance as the landing place for Captain Bligh in 1789. It was their first landfall after the mutiny on the Bounty at Tahiti where they were set adrift in a small boat. The name Restoration was appropriate since they were restored by the fresh water and feasting on seafood. Also the date was the anniversary of the Anniversary of the restoration of King Charles II.

See Daves site Restoration Island Blogspot

Filed Under: Cape York Accommodation, Exploring Cape York, Portland Roads

January 5, 2011 by Seamus Campbell

Q. Can I visit Cape York in the wet season?

A. Yes, you can visit Cape York in the wet season.

Most people think that it is impossible to visit Cape York in the wet season. It is true that the major rivers flood, cutting off road access.

However you can still explore the Kutini-Payamu (Iron Range) National Park, Portland Roads and Chili Beach. Forget your vehicle and take a flight from Cairns.

1. Hire a 4×4 from Lockhart River Car Hire and stay at the Portland Roads Beach Shack, or

2. Hire a 4X4 campervan from Lockhart River Car Hire and camp at Chili Beach,  or one of the designated camping spots in Iron Range National Park.

Roads

The road from Lockhart River to Portland Roads does not cross any major rivers. It is graded and well drained, so the rains do not make it impassible. Occasionally Chili Creek may rise and make the crossing difficult, but it is tidal so will recede within an hour or two.

Flights

Skytrans flies in to the Iron Range Airport at Lockhart River 4-5 days a week.

Transport

Lockhart River Car Hire has a fleet of vehicles that are utilised by workers in the area in the dry season.
Paul and Laney
Piva from Lockhart River run the local family owned business.

Filed Under: Birdwatching Cape York, Cape York Accommodation, Portland Roads Tagged With: Cape York 4wd, Cape York Accommodation, cape york in the wet, Portland Roads

December 25, 2010 by Seamus Campbell

Jun Matsui photos – Dec 2010

We had 2 guests stay for a week in December this year – a birdwatcher and a guide (Jun Matsui) from Sicklebill Safaris. They had flown in to Lockhart, hired a 4wd and stayed with us.

Jun (the guide) found a cuscus in one of our mango trees just up the road; came running back to tell us – of course we were all terribly excited and very thankful that he’d made the effort to let us know.

We watched it eat a couple of mangos for about 30 minutes. Thanks Jun!

He also sent us the following photos.

Spotted Cuscus - photo Jun Matsui
Spotted Cuscus – photo Jun Matsui
Spotted Cuscus - photo Jun Matsui
Spotted Cuscus – photo Jun Matsui
Palm Cockatoo - photo Jun Matsui
Palm Cockatoo – photo Jun Matsui

Palm Cockatoo - photo Jun Matsui
Palm Cockatoo – photo Jun Matsui
Eclectus Parrot Male - photo Jun Matsui
Eclectus Parrot Male – photo Jun Matsui
Eclectus Parrot Female - photo Jun Matsui
Eclectus Parrot Female – photo Jun Matsui

Green Tree Python - photo Jun Matsui
Green Tree Python – photo Jun Matsui
White-faced Robin - photo Jun Matsui
White-faced Robin – photo Jun Matsui
Soldier Crab - photo Jun Matsui
Soldier Crab – photo Jun Matsui

Red Lacewing - photo Jun Matsui
Red Lacewing – photo Jun Matsui
Large-tailed Nightjar - photo Jun Matsui
Large-tailed Nightjar – photo Jun Matsui
Frill-necked Monarch - photo Jun Matsui
Frill-necked Monarch – photo Jun Matsui

Echidna - photo Jun Matsui
Echidna – photo Jun Matsui
Cape York Melomys - photo Jun Matsui
Cape York Melomys – photo Jun Matsui
Black-headed Python - photo Jun Matsui
Black-headed Python – photo Jun Matsui

Filed Under: Birdwatching Cape York, Cape York Accommodation, Portland Roads, Snakes Cape York, Wildlife of Cape York Tagged With: birds of Cape York, birdwatching, Cape York Care Hire, Jun Matsui

June 16, 2013 by Seamus Campbell

Portland Roads Beach Shack holiday accommodation

UPDATE 1st Jan 2016.
Portland Roads Beach Shack has been sold. The new owner is no longer running it as an accommodation business.

 

This is the place we are were caretaking. We have the cottage halfway up the hill, and this is where the visitors stay. This video shows the stairs, the deck and the view from the deck

This video shows the bedrooms, the deck and the view

The Beach Shack accommodates up to 4 people with a double and two single beds. It is self contained with a bathroom and cooking facilities for self-catering. The living area is on a good sized deck with great views looking out over the Coral Sea. The house is set back from the road for privacy and sits high on the hill to catch the sea breeze. Portland Roads is in the Tropical Rain Forest of Far North Queensland, 600kms North of Cairns. Portland Roads is a great stop if you

  • are on your big 4×4 trip up to the tip of Cape York,
  • want a break from camping
  • are exploring nearby Iron Range (Kutini-Payamu) National Park, a favourite with birdwatchers,
  • want to check out Aboriginal Art of the Lockhart River Art Gang.

Filed Under: Cape York Accommodation, Exploring Cape York, Iron Range National Park, Kutini-Payamu (Iron Range) National Park, Portland Roads Tagged With: Cape York, Cape York Accommodation, Portland Roads

November 7, 2010 by Seamus Campbell

Rainbows and sitting in the rain – Sun 7th Nov 2010

Rainbow at Portland Roads

Rainbow at Portland Roads

Very cold today – had to put a long-sleeved shirt on when it got down to 25 degrees! Also rained most of the day and when it didn’t we had a beautiful rainbow.

I had 3 young men from Weipa staying (trying to fish but unable to stay out long in their boat because of the wind and waves)

They came back disappointed, and sat in the warm water of the bay, drinking and looking out at the rain

Boys from Weipa sitting in the rain

Boys from Weipa sitting in the rain

 

Filed Under: Cape York Accommodation Tagged With: Cape York Accommodation, fishing Cape York, Portland Roads, Weipa

Copyright © 2023 A Cape York Blog Built by Boldacious Digital