Karumba, in the Gulf of Carpentaria, is situated on the banks of the Norman River just north of Normanton. It is predominately a mecca for fishing and prawning, and is the centre of the Gulf's prawning and Barrumundi industry. For us the excitement was seeing the sun set over the water.
Unfortunately like so many other places we've visited things are slowing down as we are not traveling 'in season' and places are preparing for 'the wet' ( if it truly comes this year). The temps are definitely being turned up as well, most days have been high 30's and nights high 20's.
Here the Barrumundi season was closed as it is breeding season. The Barrumundi Discovery Centre was closed. The fishing tours and all but one sunset cruise had finished for the year, unless you took a fishing tour privately. Cobbold Gorge completes their season in October and runs limited tours this month, with tourists having to drive the dirt road themselves as the bus tours had stopped. At Cobbold Gorge the Johnson River Crocs would soon be hard to see as they move into their breeding season, and 3 days after we left the Undarra Lava Tubes closed their main tour tube for the Bent Wing Bat breeding season. You can tell its spring !!
As you drive into Karumba the Muttonhole Wetlands extend the last 30kms into town on either side of the road. They are internationally recognised as an important habitat for its unique birdlife. Though it was very dry their was lots of wildlife, and plenty of opportunity to take photos of the many Brolgas, Yellow necked Spoonbills, Jabiru, Cranes and Black Swans among others including several species of wallaby.
Below the white birds were Yellow Necked Spoonbills, the others were Brolgas.
The first night we watched the sun set from Karumba Point with our new friends Dawn, Allan and their son Brent.
The next day we toured the town and read the excellent information/history boards set out around town. They detailed the Points history as a fishing and prawning port, a radio communications base for the RAAF during WW2, the mining industry, and the history of some of the buildings.
Views from Karumba Point boatramp.
In the evening we took a Sunset Cruise, after having met a few others along the road and made up a group of 8 for a cruise. We could not leave Karumba without having done a cruise at sunset. The cruise headed up the Norman River past the town on one side and back along the wetlands on the other, then headed into the bay to watch the sunset while we ate fresh tiger prawns, cheese and biscuits, fruit and had a wine. It was unfortunate we didnt spot any estuarine crocodiles but
apparently the tide was too high that night.
We completed our night by having dinner at the tavern overlooking Karumba Point Beach with Dawn, Allan and Brent as it was Dawn's birthday ! Thanks so much Allan and Dawn !
View of the boat and looking out from the ramp.
Bottom picture is looking back into Karumbe and some of the river docks.
Below is a photo of one of the boats wrecked after the 1974 floods. The water reached serious levels above the docks compromising fuel tanks and resulting in channels being dug to re- direct the water. Down the main street further action had to be taken to redirect the water away from businesses and homes. By the time they had dealt with all the problems in town the water levels in the river dropped leaving the boat high and dry. Attempts to move it were not successful. The second boat was a live cattle transport being made ready to leave Karumba. Earlier in the day we had driven past the quarantine station where cattle were being made ready for transport.
Sunset !
By Lynne
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