Our two weeks at Loyalty Beach has been fantastic. This second week has not been as busy as the first week. Many of the school holiday campers have gone so the campground is not so crowded. It really has been bush camping at its finest with the beach only 75m from our camp, far enough to put some space and other campers between us and the salt water crocodiles that are prevalent here, plenty of power and water. The bonus has been the fresh crayfish (lobsters) that the local boys sell. We've spent this week relaxing and doing a few things around the caravan. Daily chores like washing and cleaning still have to be done (unfortunately!).
The town of New Mapoon is only a couple of kms from us. This Aboriginal Community was established in the 1960s against the wishes of those who would be moved here. Mapoon Mission was about 90 kms north of Weipa, about 400kms from here. In the 1960s the Government of the day decided to close down the mission and forcibly remove those living there to New Mapoon. This was done to enable the mining of bauxite in the area. Because many did not want to be relocated, they were forcibly removed and their homes, and the mission, were burnt down so they couldn't return. The "town" of New Mapoon was established after the people were moved here. Now there is an Art Centre and an information gazebo with plenty of information about the story of Mapoon/New Mapoon. Mapoon has now been re-established as an aboriginal community close to its original location near Weipa.
During World War II there was an active armed forces presence on the Cape York Peninsula. Near Bamaga there are a number of aircrash sites. Some are well hidden in the rainforest. Others are easily accessible and are well marked. We visited one near the airport where a DC3 crashed when flying from Brisbane to New Guinea in 1945, killing all those on board.
The wreck itself is well preserved and the site is well maintained with a memorial to those who lost their lives.
A more recent aircrash is memorialised at the Bamaga Airport. In 2005 and small plane was en route to Cairns when it crashed on approach to Lockhart River killing all on board. The memorial is just outside the airport terminal building.
We decided to do a day trip to Fruit Bat Falls in the Heathland Nature Reserve. We packed our morning tea and lunch and set off for the Jardine River Ferry which would mark our half way point. Once across the Jardine River we continued on to the falls on the Eliot Creek. We walked the 200m to the creek along a well maintained path and boardwalk. This is a very popular swimming spot and the carpark was well patronised. We had our coffee and cake while perched on a rock at the waters edge and watched the many fish in the creek.
After an hour or so we made our way back to the ferry which had just started running after their lunch break. We lunched at the nearby campground before crossing the Jardine River again and making our way back to our little piece of paradise at Loyalty Beach.
We've got crayfish for dinner tonight (again) before we pack up camp and start our way south tomorrow.
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