Bon Voyage Burketown

Only 1 and a half days stopover in Burketown. It's just time to get a bit of an inkling there is much more to see.

Probably to have a decent look around, take in the tag along trip, go hot air ballooning and do some relaxing, it would warrant a few days at least. The town feels pleasent but we know this is about as cool as it ever gets. We actually had coats on this morning but as the day progressed the temperature rose to mid 30's.

The town is very remote and isolated. No big shops, and fuel is a bit more costly. It is a long way from Townsville. Many people come here every year after the wet for the fishing. It seems everyone has a boat here and visitors seem to drag one in. Huge fish can be caught in the Albert River and even more by taking the 40 kilometre trip down to the open sea.

The boating is not for the faint hearted though. Signs at the boat ramp drive home the point that you must be well prepared, carry spares and be experienced in gulf weather conditions.

The rewards are great but so are the consequences for poor preparation. The rivers up here have a huge population of "lizards", the local term for man eating estuarine crocodiles that are commonly 3-5 meters long, weighing up to 1,000 kg. You are at extreme risk if you get tossed in the water. Boaties are required to advise their planned movements and set a SAR time. (Search and Rescue) Safety equipment such as flares, radio etc are mandatory, even in the river.

I don't think I would be keen to break down or capsize in these parts.Читать далее