Drinking Water

[Emujim]

I would like to know how far it is between places to top up drinking water, i dont want to risk drinking river water. Myself & wife & 2 kids how much water will i need to carry. We will use river water for washing and that stuff but don't want to risk any of us getting crook from drinking it.

[ant]

Emujim,
Where are you heading? The locations you are going to will have a bearing on water supply.

As for the rivers, depending on where you are, the water is fine. Make sure it is running though. At a pinch you can boil it but I have never had to worry. I can understand your concerns though, especially when traveling with the family.

[Emujim]

Our plans so far are to go too,Creb track, Cooktown, Lakefield (kalpower), Cape Melville, Coen, Weipa, Elliot falls, Punsand Bay, Captain Billys, Chilli beach, Coen, Jowalbinna station, Cairns.

[ant]

Providing you have facilities to carry sufficient water for each person, you shouldn't have any trouble filling up at these spots. I like to factor in about 5 litres per day/per person for water. By doing this, you usually can include your washing up water in this as well. I usually drink an average of 3-4 litres of water per day - depending on time of year of course. Fluids are very important.

[Scorcher]

Hey Emujim,

I could be wrong, but other than the bigger towns (obviously Cairns, but also Cooktown & Weipa), I would guess that the water at all the other spots you meantion would be straight out of a river or bore, with no treatment anyway.

As Ant said, running water anywhere in the Cape is usually fine. Obviously the earlier in the season (April to June/July) the greater the chance that the streams are still running with good, fresh water. Later than that, many of the smaller streams start drying up,with only pools of water available.

Two of the places you meantion - Cape Melville & Elliot Falls, the water runs all year round, and is worth bottling !!

Hope this helps.

Scorcher

[campdog]

As Far as water goes, we never carry any more than 2x 20 litre jerry cans.You can top up at most roadhouses and river crossings. I wont top up from water that is not running.

[Emujim]

Thanks Guys,
We are going up mid August so i was worried about contaminated water?
I have made a 50L stainless steel tank and was going to take 1 or 2 10L jerry cans as well so that sould last us 4-5 days i guess.

[Nedly]

We were up there last year in July/August and carried 2x20 ltr jerry cans, we kept filling the jerry's as we went and only used the one.

I would make sure you carry sufficient water to Chili beach and Capt'n Billy's landing, same goes for the CREB.

[xina]

Hi Guys,
There used to be a fresh water tank beside the beach at Portland Roads for the Yachties to use. Don't know if it's still there. I last saw it 22 years ago. Geez that's another reminder of how long it is since I was there.
xina.

[plucker]

If you do have concerns with water you can always use water purifying tablets that should kill those nasty diseases. Most of the creeks north of Coen will be flowing and pristine.

[Scorcher]

If you do have concerns with water you can always use water purifying tablets that should kill those nasty diseases. Most of the creeks north of Coen will be flowing and pristine.

Having just returned, I can say that most creeks are still flowing well enough to supply good quality water.

My pick would definately be the H2o out of Crystal Creek, at the start of the Vrilya Point track, just off the PDR. Wouldn't mind bottling that stuff !!

However, Elliot/Twin Falls is not too far behind it in the quality stakes.

Scorcher

[campdog]

Had my share of that water and have to agree with you there scorcher.The creek near Varilya is Ok too. The beer is even better.

[Scorcher]

Had my share of that water and have to agree with you there scorcher.The creek near Varilya is Ok too. The beer is even better.

Hey Campdog,

I didn't run into your mates at Vrilya, but we bailed out of there on the 8th June, before they would have arrived I suspect.

Yes, the water in the creek near Vrilya is pretty good also, which I must say surprises me. After "Google Earth'ing" the catchment area that runs into this creek, we decided to have a trek into this area one day. It opens up into a massive lilly covered wetlands area, plenty of paperbark trees & dark "tea coloured" water.

Came across a BIG salty in there (mate almost stepped on it). Not sure who got the biggest fright ! We should have suspected it, given that we had only just stumbled onto it's (old) nest.

I plan to hopefully have a look at the area from the air next time, in one of the small Helo's that operate out of Bamaga. It looks very interesting.

Looks like you'll have to keep an eye out both sides next time you take a tub or get water out of the creek !!

Scorcher

[highlift80]

Good to here ya back safely Scorcher and ya's had a great time........again
My missus decided she wanted a Falcon XR6 Turbo last week and spent most of my Cape York funds so I won't be making it up there this year unless I win lotto, That's alright though I have got another year to save it all up again will definately be putting some away for the Helicopter flights that was on this years to do list I think when you do a few trips to the Cape at ground level then fly above it and see it from a different perspective well that's got to be the icing on the cake for me.

[ant]

Fair bit of interest in the helicopters eh!
At this stage, the only reputable operation that I am aware of that is operating in the cape is Cape York Helicopters. If there are any others then please let me know. Sounds like they may get some interest coming their way though.

I would love to do a trip like that but not sure how I would go buzzing around in the air like that. Don't get air-sick but do not like heights and there is a lot of glass in a chopper so nothin' to hide behind.

When it comes to value for money though, I hear the helicopters only charge for time in the air. If that is the case, you could spend a whole day utilising one and only flying for an hour or two tops. Not bad value for money considering the area you would cover.

[highlift80]

I was just thinking you could go Barra fishing from a Helicopter Ant like Troy Dann did at El Questro a few years back he just chucked a line out of his helicopter as he hovered above the Chamberlin River and had a nice hook up ??.

[campdog]

Hey Campdog,

I didn't run into your mates at Vrilya, but we bailed out of there on the 8th June, before they would have arrived I suspect.

Yes, the water in the creek near Vrilya is pretty good also, which I must say surprises me. After "Google Earth'ing" the catchment area that runs into this creek, we decided to have a trek into this area one day. It opens up into a massive lilly covered wetlands area, plenty of paperbark trees & dark "tea coloured" water.

Came across a BIG salty in there (mate almost stepped on it). Not sure who got the biggest fright ! We should have suspected it, given that we had only just stumbled onto it's (old) nest.

I plan to hopefully have a look at the area from the air next time, in one of the small Helo's that operate out of Bamaga. It looks very interesting.

Looks like you'll have to keep an eye out both sides next time you take a tub or get water out of the creek !!

Scorcher
You would have recognised them alright as their Patrol and boat was in he Capeyorker magazine, I havent heard too much from them, only that fishing was poor.
Im keen to get up that way soon.Need an extended holiday,like 3 months.

[Scorcher]

Not exactly sure about the location of the Helo's.

I saw a larger one taking off & landing near Seisia. Looked like they were doing joy flights around the tip.

The one's in particular that we saw, buzzing around us while fishing & then looping over the wetlands at the back of the beach at Vrilya Point (south), were tiny little multi-coloured 2-seaters. Similar to the ones they use when mustering. We saw 3 at one stage.

The lady at the Jardine Ferry meantioned that she thought that they operated out of Punsand Bay.

Maybe somebody out there has bumped into them before??

[ant]

I don't know of any operating out of Punsand Bay at the moment. I have heard recently that there is a crew up in the Cape starting to conduct research on numbers of feral pigs as they are due to start the years eradication program again. This consists of a chopper darting through the scrub with a passenger hanging out of the side knocking of pigs as they fly around. The numbers I was quoted a few years ago in reference to shots fired against pigs killed was quite impressive.

Still happier with the bow and arrow though. A little quieter too.

[ant]

I was just thinking you could go Barra fishing from a Helicopter Ant like Troy Dann did at El Questro a few years back he just chucked a line out of his helicopter as he hovered above the Chamberlin River and had a nice hook up ??.

Highlift, I like to fly a little more 'under the radar' than our old mate. Give me a baitcaster or flyrod and a bank to walk any day of the week mate.

[highlift80]

Yes it was a bit over the top that particular piece of footage. I would of thought that a helicopter buzzing 10 foot off the surface of the water would of scared fish away but apparently not, come to think of it I think that fish was dead when he pulled it in. lol

[Scorcher]

I suppose with the number of pigs that they eradicated last time round, and the area that they covered, shooting from the air would be the most cost effective (cheaper than 10,000 arrows Ant ??).

In the few days that we spent up at the top, we didn't notice the little Helo's again, so it may remain a mystery.

And as for flying in Helo's Ant, I've spent a lot of time with my "hobby" of fire fighting flying in them. It gives me an adrenaline rush !!!

Actually, I did some heli-fishing out of Mitchell Plateau (Kimberley's) in 1994. Took a flight around Admiralty Gulf & Mitchell Falls. The pilot was a fishing freak, and suggested that we take our rods along just in case. Set us down on a sand spit in the middle of the ocean, and we had a ball for about half an hour. Just lucky that the helo started up again, as the sand spit got swallowed up with the tide !!

Scorcher

[ant]

I am not sure which would be the bigger adrenaline rush- the flight or the fishing.

I would like to think that I will give it a go at some stage, but it is not in my immediate plans.

[xina]

Hi Ant,
Does this mean you'd turn down a ride to Temple Bay if I can ever afford to do it ?
cheers,
xina.

[ant]

Hi Ant,
Does this mean you'd turn down a ride to Temple Bay if I can ever afford to do it ?
cheers,
xina.

xina,
How could I turn down an offer like that? Count me in.

[campdog]

xina,
How could I turn down an offer like that? Count me in.
Hope its a big chopper as there will be plenty of takers.
I still want to be a posty for a day one day,

[ant]

Hope its a big chopper as there will be plenty of takers.
I still want to do a posty for a day one day,

Campdog- watch your english! Don't you mean that you still want to be a postie for a day?

[xina]

'Fraid I won't be able to afford more than one passenger Campdog. It'll take a while to save for it. By that time too, who knows what the price of fuel is going to be. I'll have to take that into account too. Have to concencrate on that Lotto win, won't I.
Cheers,
xina.

[campdog]

Campdog- watch your english! Don't you mean that you still want to be a postie for a day?
Yep that too, lucky I didnt say mailman.