Limmen Bight Fishing Camp

Limmen Bight Fishing Camp

After a good night's sleep, we drove from Butterfly Falls in the Limmen National Park, to the Limmen Bight Fishing Camp, which is located on the banks of the large Limmen River. The road in was pretty average, sandy, corrugated and narrow, and we arrived at the office and spoke to Patsy, the aboriginal owner who directed us to the campsites on the banks of the river about 6kms down the river. $10 per night.

The campsites are spread out and we were lucky to get one of the last sites, as people had just left the day before. We are right on the sandy boat ramp and have a nice view of the river. There are caravans and campsites set up and spread apart for a couple of kms.

Not long after we arrived, our neighbour Lizzy came over and introduced herself and her husband Bill and gave us some frozen fish bait. They are from Albury and have been here for 4 weeks and have been coming here for the past 14 years. There are a lot of long-term campers that come up each season, and a lot of them know each other from being regulars.

I mentioned to Bill that we are almost out of beer as we have not been near towns for quite a while. Bill said he has some beer we could buy as he has not been well and has not been drinking and did not want to carry it all the way back to Albury when they leave next week.

They were on their way to the house/office to get some water and said we can come ‘shopping’ at their camp when they get back. Lizzy said that they pay $50 a week to camp there, and that includes all the water which they get from the house/office area. They brought back 200lts in various containers which Bill then transfers to his caravan water tanks, and they do this every week that they stay here. They said you can also buy fuel for the boats and frozen bread.

When they came back, we went over to their camp. Bill’s tunnel boot (aka Dan Murphy’s) was an Aladdins cave, full of alcohol. We had never seen anything like it before. Boxes of wine, wine casks, slaps of beer etc. It was choc-a-block, better than our bar at home! Theo brought 2 slabs of beer for $100, cheaper than retail. Theo was happy and Bill was happy.

Lizzy asked me if I needed any groceries, or wine, so we may shop with them again before we leave. Lizzy said that they usually come fully stocked for a stay of 4 months and are leaving early because of Bill’s health. They are heading back home to Albury for some medical appointments and some tests.

I thawed out some frozen barra and we had it on a bed of rice for dinner, then the neighbours on the other side, Judy and Rod from Stawell came over to introduce themselves and say hi. Chatted to them for a while before it got dark and then we came inside. Luckily no mozzies or midgies tonight, hopefully due to the slight breeze.

Theo has decided that he will put his tinny in tomorrow, after being reassured by Bill that the crocs don’t usually hang around here, as they are usually further up the river, but to always be alert. We won’t travel too far in our little tinny, but it would be good to fish further than the bank. Who knows, we might catch dinner! Update. Guess what, Theo did catch a bream for dinner. Yay!

We are so settled in here that it looks like we will be staying for a few days. We have enough food, water, now beer, hopefully fresh fish for dinner, nice neighbours and for $10 a night, you could be in worse places (like cold Victoria) LOL.

Update: Today is Friday 7th July and this is our 3rd day here. We feel so relaxed and have been made to feel welcome by all the campers. If anyone needs anything there is always someone who will help. We have run out of fuel and oil for the 2-stroke boat motor. Lizzy said that Trevor might have some fuel and Russell and Jude may have some oil. Theo transferred 20lts of petrol from Trevor’s jerry can and paid him $50, and we brought some oil from Jude but it was not until we got back to our camp that we realized the oil was not suitable for marine motors.

We then drove the 6kms back to the office and asked Patsy if she had any oil, and she found a container of oil. She did not know the price, but we said we will fix her up tomorrow. Also brought some frozen bread for $5 a loaf and took some back to Lizzy who also wanted a loaf.

The homestead/camp office had to be seen to be believed. We have stayed in a few aboriginal camps and they have all been the same. Old machinery, broken down things, bits and pieces, long grass and rubbish etc everywhere, and this was no different, but I guess that is how they live. In the shed was a brand-new Ranger buggy, but the shed was chock-a-block full of pieces of machinery, old parts and broken old stuff etc. The large room next to the office was so full of things that there was no free bench space at all. There was junk everywhere, and surprisingly, a couple of kids were watching TV in amongst it.

Fortunately, it was a completely different world when you drove down to the fishing camping ground. Clean sites, no rubbish, and great views of the Limmen River, and we believe, great fishing. Yet to be confirmed.Les mer