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During my stay on Cape York I saw many wild animals: Emus, kangaroos, wild pigs, dingos, a snake, and a freshwater crocodile. It was very exciting. So make sure that you open your eyes and try if you see something! However, these encounters can also be dangerous.
The wild pigs will usually run away when they see you, but still, you should not try to go nearer - the same goes for the dingos.
Especially when being around the water, you have to be absolutely cautious - do not swim, be careful when boating, and do not stay near the shore of creeks and billabongs, especially do not wash your dishes there. There are freshwater and also saltwater crocodiles living in this area - the freshies are not as dangerous, but they could still attack, and the salties kill people. So please, be aware!
You should also not go nearer if you see an emu, but just enjoy his or her graceful moves and watch. If they feel threatened, emus can kick or snap at you.
Cape York is home to the Eastern Brown Snake, the Northern Death Adder and several other venomous snakes. So you should take the usual precautions against snakes. Don't run around in high grass, don't stick your hands into grass or bushes without having a look before, watch out where you put your feet... There is no need to panic if you are cautios and conscious of what you are doing, and use your common sense!
So - why do I write all this in a Things To Do tip and not in the Warnings or Dangers section?
Because these species belong to the Cape York flora and we are sharing the place with them. We are as well a danger to them as they are to us (just see all the killed animals on the streets, or the people who hunt them), and so I think they are not a real danger, we just have to watch out and obey some basic rules when we are in their territory. I never saw these animals as a danger - after all, the Australian outback is one of the last real wildernesses, and we just have to follow the basic guidelines, and then we can enjoy their company and marvel at them - they belong to this place!
So be happy when you see a wild animal, keep silent and watch it, and feel grateful that you have the chance to see it :-)
Updated Sep 22, 2011
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Again, it's a bit difficult to place this tip, as it is both a restaurant and an accomodation, but I place it as "Thing To Do" - because when you travel to Cape York, it is 99% certain that you will have a stop here. It is where all the roads meet - going north to the tip, going south to Cairns, and going east to the national parks. It is located 136km north of Laura and 106km south of Coen, on Peninsula Developmental Rd.
Musgrave roadhouse also has a very interesting history, being founded in 1887 as a telegraph station and named after the then governor of Queensland, Sir Anthony Musgrave. You can still see some of the original telegraph posts. In those days, it was an important stop and shelter place for explorers and packhorse mailmen, stockmen and wagon teamsters. It was the centre of this part of the peninsula. In the 1930s, it was bought by the Shepard family who still owns it today and turned it into a roadhouse in the 1970s.
The roadhouse sells all the essential things, from fuel over basic things like toothpaste and shampoo to food, hot meals, drinks and beverages, and also some other stuff like CDs and souvenirs. There are also public phones.
If you are looking for accomodation, there are cabins (88AUD per night) and a campground with facilities (10AUD per person per night).
The roadhouse is open from 7:30am until 10:00pm every day.
Updated Sep 22, 2011
Address: Developmental Road
Phone: 07-4060 3229
A very good place to rest under a tree :):):)
Written Nov 20, 2003
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Reviews and photos of Cape York attractions posted by real travelers and locals. The best tips for Cape York sightseeing.
A very good place to rest under a tree :):):)
Q: Can anyone please advise what the OTT is like these days and if it is advisable for a 4wd to travel ALONE on this track looking at...
A: Hi,sorry to take so long in replying. The OTT is a rough track in places,you need a 4wd imho to access some of these tracks and also to cross the many creeks and major...
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