b'On the road out of Lakefield NationalPark we saw many wallabies and greypointed-topped termite mounds.Wemet the PDR at the MusgraveRoadhouse where we stopped for somereal coffee!As we headed off towardsCoen, we had been warned that thePDR would be badly corrugated insections with a few patches of asphalt.The corrugations were intense, andshort of Coen we turned onto the PortStewart Road to find a lovely campingspot beside the Stewart River.Not eventhe rain that fell while we were herecould dampen our spirits as we all Travelling to Pennefather beachenjoyed a lovely wash in the cleanflowing water, one car was even the mouth of the Pennefather River crossing and were surprised to find nowashed, and fruit damper was cooked where we saw many more campers/fish- one there, but it was quite late in thein the Dutch oven on the fire. ermen.The track back had us driving day!We inspected all the entry tracksNext morning we took the Old Coen through low swampy land with and tried to find the exit.The water wasTrack, a recommended 4WD track into melaleucas and lagoons.Back on the too murky to walk and we could not seeCoen.This track has been graded and main road north we travelled on to the winch point people had spoken ofis now a good gravel road. After a brief Cullen Point where the Wenlock enters so common sense prevailed and westop in Coen for supplies (and phone the sea.The moving memorials at Old headed out to the PDR, up to therange) we were on the PDR.A large Mapoon told of the mistreatment of the Bypass road and re-joined the OTT atsection prior to Archer River Roadhouse original inhabitants of the area.Then Bertie Creek.This was a lovely quietwas having major works done, so at we headed back to Weipa on the good spot to camp and swim.times we were following a pilot car gravel road. The next morning we were on the trackthrough the road works.Heading After a well-earned rest day in Weipa to early and headed south across fasttowards Weipa, we pushed on to the restock the fridges, refuel, top up water, flowing, rock bottomed Bertie Creek,Merluna cattle station where we set up wash clothes, etc. we headed off a little south to Dulhunty for a quick doublecamp and enjoyed a late lunch, free of later than usual to allow some crossing much to the surprise of thethe dust we had experienced all mechanical work to be completed on many campers there, then back tomorning.The lush green grassy one of the cars.The shortcut via Bertie Creek and Cholmondeley Creekcamping spots were a lovely treat.A Batavia Downs was a good gravel road then on to Gunshot Creek.After walkingwalking track down by the nearby river to join up with the PDR which was very the creek we chose the easier entrywas a pleasant stroll in the afternoon. A corrugated up to Morton Telegraph which was still very, very steep intolarge open shed doubled as a camp Station where we stopped for lunch. At deep water.With a recovery strapkitchen where we enjoyed pancakes Bramwell Roadhouse we stopped for attached at the back of the car (in casecooked by one of our group later in the the obligatory photo of the start of the the car fell in a deep hole and neededevening. Old Telegraph Track then we pushed on to be pulled out) the first car headedAfter a short drive into Weipa, we down the narrow track to Palm Creek. into Gunshot and was successful tostopped at Emberly River for morning We had heard many stories about this drive right through. tea.Here we could view two largeships being loaded with bauxite.We Crossing Bertie Creek on the OTTwere then able to get an early check-inat the Weipa Caravan Park where wespent the next three nights. On the firstafternoon we went on the three and halfhour tour of Weipa and the mine. Ourguide, Handoz, was extremely know-ledgeable and presented the story ofWeipa in a very interesting andentertaining manner. Accessing themine roads and seeing the haul trucksup close was impressive.We all agreedthat the tour was very worthwhile.We took a day trip north of Weipa,crossing the huge single lane bridgeacross the Mission River towards theAndoom Mine.We headed out to thePennefather River where we drove tothe top of the sand dunes then walkeddown towards the beach.There wereseveral recently laid nests of turtle eggs.Rangers soon arrived to check that thesticks around the nests were still inplace and then drove on down thebeach to check for new nests.We thendrove through the soft sand dunes toTRACKWATCH MARCH 202025'