I’m looking out at the fading orange predawn glow, under a mackerel sky. It’s pleasantly warm. I am but a speck in the universe. Borroloola … We’ll be on our way in a couple of hours to Hell’s Gate via Robinson River. Still on National Highway 1 but the next section is unsealed and from what we’ve heard quite exciting.
The road here from Daly Waters was easily managed. It’s in the process of becoming splendid and while that’s happening its 390 km of two lane highway, one lane highway and kilometre after kilometre of dirt sidetrack. You reach the McArthur River mine about 70 km from Borroloola. The road is good from there on. The mine is owned by Glencore. Lead and Zinc ore goes from there to Bing Bong on the Gulf of Carpentaria by quad road train hence the good road. There is a lookout tower at Bing Bong. You can see the loading facility, there is otherwise nothing for the tourist, no shops, no accommodation. About 5 km of stony track away is Mule Creek where you can launch a tinny or fish from the bank (watching out for crocodiles, of course.)
Borroloola has a population of about 800, 75% are aboriginal, the Yanyuwa people. There is a school, a couple of fuel outlets and stores. The caravan park is pleasant, good facilities including a shop and a swimming pool and very friendly management. There are a couple of boat ramps for people wanting to fish the McArthur River. It once had a remarkable library, a story in itself – see wikipedia.
King Ash bay is an alternative camp site. Very suitable for the fishermen and women.
Before leaving Broome and after updating the Calendar Game score I added White-browed Crake to the year’s tally so left Broome on 330. The banks of the McArthur River yielded two more species, the Lemon-bellied Flyrobin and the Buff-sided Robin. The count down to 365 is on. I also had success with Crimson Finch in the Pandanus. Not far from town I found an Australian Bustard.
bobmcgee 