QLD - Cape York - Paradise in the Wilderness - Portland Roads,
Cape York - from Heather Donovan
From: Heather Donovan - ("H.Donovan" )
Paradise in the
Wilderness - Portland Roads, Cape York.
On the remote east coast of Cape York Peninsula is the
stunningly beautiful 'hamlet' of Portland Roads. A small, palm-fringed
bay opens out to the Coral Sea. Several 'tinnies' are pulled up on the
little beach bordered to the west by mangroves. A few shacks are
scattered around the bay and up the steep hillside. The track leads to
a rocky point where once a large wharf served WW2 military airfields
inland in the Iron Range.
Today only prawn trawlers, and occasional cruising
yachts, call in to Portland Roads especially when the fortnightly
supply ship is due. At low tide a walk around the point reveals an old
stone fish trap which still works well - we found a couple of little
sharks in it. Apart from being alert for crocodiles, stonefish and
other 'nasties' ( and it's really quite safe) it's a great spot for beachcombing.
The only amenities in Portland Roads are a
couple of phone boxes and a natural spring; no store, no fuel, nothing!
Locals rely heavily on solar power and bottled gas and must order in
all supplies on the 'mother ship' whch services the prawn fleets.
Accommodation is available at the delightful Portland
House which sleeps up to seven people. On the steep hillside it
overlooks a garden of hisbiscus and frangipani to the bay. Light, airy
and open to sea breezes, the upstairs living area is a great spot to
relax and watch the many colourful sunbirds, honeyeaters and
butterflies feeding at eye level.
Portland House is fully self-contained, including
linen, a great range of reading matter and wide range of CDs and tapes.
Visitors need only bring their food and drinks or,
alternatively,catering can be arranged with next door neighbour Sandy
Woods who is a great cook. Mosquito coils are provided and highly
recommended as sandflies can sometimes be a pest. Otherwise this is a
wonderful place to just relax, maybe do a spot of fishing. In the
shallows trevally and mangrove jack abound; offshore an abundant supply
of Spanish mackeral, barramundi, jewfish and barracuda. Apart from a
handful of locals you'll have it all to yourself.
This truly is an unspoilt paradise in the wilderness.
Getting there: a long, rough drive of approx.
800kms from Cairns via Archer River (stock up on fuel here) and the
Iron Range National park OR a 90 minute flight with Skytrans via
Lockhart River from whence you can arrange for the taxi to make the one
hour trip to Portland Roads.
Accommodation at Portland House is $50 p.p. per night
or $120 full board and, whether for two people or seven, you'll have it
all to yourself.
For further details contact Sandy Woods: Tel/fax
(07)4060 7193 or 0417 264 074.
We welcome your comments, advice, suggestions, recommendations and even your horror stories. Every story in Travellers Tales has been carefully checked. There are, as far as we can determine, no attempts at free publicity from proprietors masquerading as happy travelers.
If you have a tale to tell send us an email and we'll let others know about your experiences.
